A Better Texas

Time sure gets away from us! As I sit down to start writing this post I realize it’s only been two weeks since the last one, but we’ve done so many things I can’t write about them all.  I should also start with a disclaimer about the last post as it was a less than stellar review of San Antonio.  My review remains the same, but as we’ve spoken to several people since then who’ve been there recently and loved it, I wanted to share that fact and that maybe our opinions shouldn’t sway you from making your own!

The next stop after San Antonio couldn’t have been more dissimilar.  We thoroughly loved our stay in Corpus Christi and can’t say enough good things about it.  On one of our first nights in town we stopped at a local pub, which we didn’t realize was a very ‘local’ pub!  If you’ve ever seen American Werewolf in London, there is a scene early in the movie where the two main characters are back-packing across the moors in Wales, and they walk into a pub where they are met with less than friendly greetings from the locals.  I recalled that scene as soon we walked into this one and wondered if we’d made a mistake.  It turns out our only mistake was that we were looking for a bite to eat and they didn’t serve food. As soon as we said that though, the hard-looking group took turns telling us about the best places in town for dinner.  We ended up eating at several!

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I’m only speaking for myself here, but I’m going to admit that starting in Corpus Christi, I’ve added a few unwanted pounds to the mid section.  There’s a balance between trying new food and staying healthy that I don’t think I’ve figured out.  And that has only become worse the further east we’ve traveled!  With a small amount of reflection, I believe I’m able to break down the problem into three main bullet points.  First, most foods are fried.  Second, portions are not lacking.  Third, the food is sofa-king good!  I might have to do an entire post just about the food but for now I’ll stick to activities (besides eating). However, here are a few pics of some culinary delicacies we savored.

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The USS Lexington:

This air craft carrier turned museum is anchored in Corpus Christi Bay.  Nicknamed the ‘Blue Ghost’ by the Japanese in World War II, the ship had been reported sunk 4 times. At one point during the war the ship was struck by a Kamikaze that killed 50 crew members and injured another 132.  We were moved to tears when we reached the mid-ship chapel where Amazing Grace was playing on bagpipes and the names of the crew killed in action were displayed.  It’s the second time on this trip we’ve seen an example of the young men that gave their lives so we could be doing the things we do today, and we don’t take that for granted!  Walking through the ship we were astonished by some of the more mundane services that we didn’t realize were part of a war ship, (but would have to be), like the dental offices complete with dentist chair and rudimentary tools. I feel sorry for the guys that needed a root canal back then! Somewhere below deck we found a fully functional post office and a machine shop that reminded me of the molding department back at the chocolate factory in Blaine.  Of course the flight deck was a highlight and displays a flight museum in itself.  

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Padre Island:

We took an afternoon drive out to the island we could see from the RV Park.  Not knowing much about it, we turned as usual, to Google Maps and followed the main route to the island to see what was out there.  Lots of upscale homes, some with yachts moored in front, were the first things to see after crossing the bridge to the island. Further on is Mustang State Park where beach access roads started appearing. We eventually decided to take one, and discovered they lead not to a parking lot, but right onto the beach where you can drive on the sand for miles!  What a great place to get out with the pups and let them romp around in the waves!  Not to mention the sun was out and the temp in the mid 70s.  It was a pretty sweet afternoon for January, albeit a stinky car-ride home. Dogs and salt water … 🤣

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Horses on the Beach:

I mean – who wouldn’t want to go horseback riding on the beach?  Thankfully, somehow the weather gods gave us another pass for this one.  The warmest and nicest day of the week was the day we picked for this activity.  We had an hour of walking along the picturesque Padre Island surf and sand on horseback while taking in the sun, the waves, and the local culture.  Fishermen lined the beach, and we saw a few being reeled in. Others were just out enjoying their day on the sand doing beach things. I’ll admit that unfortunately my knees are not shaped for horseback riding and Tami’s back is also not so happy with this activity, but was it worth it?  Thumbs up from both of us!  By the time we got ‘home’ from the ride, thick clouds were forming and shortly the heavy rain, wind, and thunderstorms began!  That storm led to 6 tornados that touched down in Houston about 200 miles to the NE. We would be heading there soon, but our storm was thankfully limited in magnitude.

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Just before we left Corpus Christi, Granny’s Tamale truck drove through the park and we split some tamale 6-packs with one of our neighbors.  We probably didn’t need those, but I recalled the excitement of running to the popsicle truck as a kid and couldn’t pass it up.  And I assumed those spinach and cream cheese tamales had to be a health food.  Leaving Corpus Christi and heading toward Houston, we spent a couple nights in between in El Campo, TX.  The park we were in was a ghost town. A little eerie at night, but great for the dogs during the day.  Gibson can be a bit vocal and we don’t want to be a nuisance, but here we were able to run around and play without any chance of that.  We had our first taste of Cajun food in El Campo, although that is only getting better as we continue east.  But Pinchers is worth a mention, and we just had to have the Slap Yo Mama seasoning on our crayfish étouffée.  

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In Houston we stayed near the NASA Space Center – one of the main reasons for stopping here.  Again, in contrast to San Antonio, we loved the city, at least where we stayed.  If you’re into the science of science fiction like me, spending a day at the Space Center is a must-do. There are too many exhibits to talk about, so I’ve included some of the best in the pics below. Near the park we spent some time driving around the rural streets and musing at the homes.  Beautiful brick houses are the norm in well planned suburbs where traffic congestion is a non-issue.  For whatever reason, the homes here are also extremely undervalued compared with what we are used to.  Twenty minutes from our park was Clear Lake – a bit of a misnomer in that it seems to be more of an inlet from Galveston Bay (and therefore the gulf) rather than a lake, and it’s far from clear.  The shores are lined with gorgeous marinas and waterfront homes.  In the town of Kemah, right on the lake, is a boardwalk with amusement rides, a classic wooden rollercoaster, and plenty of fine eating establishments. We picked Landry’s seafood house and dined on Chilean sea bass and redfish … Tami’s new favorite. Our good friend Rick grew up nearby in Dickinson and we drove by to see his boyhood home.  Through the magic of a new technology called text messaging, we had a tour guide in this town and a Rick was happy to learn that some of his favorite childhood places are still around!  Like Tookies!

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As we spoke to locals in Texas, we found that we were pronouncing many words and places incorrectly.  I mentioned that to my buddy Rick and he said that becoming a proper Texan takes time and guidance, but once a Texan, always a Texan!  As we made friends with some of our park neighbors, we really started to understand this. Being from WA state I can say I’m not a proud Washingtonian for a lot of reasons.  But Texans, despite obvious political and cultural differences, tend to exude a sense of pride in their state. There is something to say about Texan hospitality that we’ve experienced since leaving San Antonio, and haven’t noticed elsewhere.  We felt like people were generally more friendly and outgoing than what we’re used to – and what a difference that makes in how you feel about a place! Nobody says sir or ma’am anymore! They do here. Their driving however … might need a little work there.

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Lastly, some Bourbon and Chocolate!  One of the local Texas bourbons we’ve tasted and love is the Nine Banded Bourbon, from the Texas Hill Country.  The nine banded armadillo is the state mammal of Texas, and it apparently knows what makes a good bourbon!  We tried both the 90 proof and the cask strength, at 115, and both are excellent.  Although there are many ways to mix the grain-mash that is distilled into our favorite beverage, in our travels we’ve learned that the wheated mash bill tends to be our preference.  This 90 proof is not lacking in flavor by any means, but compare the two and the cask strength pops the vanilla and caramel with a hot pepper bite that brings it all together into something wonderful.  No wonder it’s a double-gold award winner for the last two years in the World Spirits Competition.  And for chocolate, I haven’t had much cake since we left home and when buying some chocolates in El Campo, I couldn’t pass up the cake on the counter display.  It’s not bourbon, but having my whiskey and cake together was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.  Jack Daniels cake … no need for further words!

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Next we’re on to Louisiana. As always, thanks for being along for the ride – it’s way more fun having y’all virtually with us!

-G&T