Tag North America

Night Falls on South Padre Island

Spanish guitar strummed in the background as we watched the sunset over south padre island one last time.

Spanish guitar strummed in the background as we watched the sun set over South Padre Island one last time. Despite the soothing heat and the reviving air, our colds still linger. We decided we'd spend one more day in the heat to heal before continuing our travels. So, this evening we took a walk to enjoy the sunset and it did not disappoint.

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Sea Turtles Inc.

Sea Turtles Inc. originates with Ila Fox Loetscher, the "Turtle Lady of South Padre."

They float serenely in the water. They are super cute. They are sea turtles and they can be found all around South Padre Island. If you are lucky, you can swim with them in the wild. Yet, when they are unlucky, there is a place that will help them: Sea Turtles Inc.

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The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center

Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) congregatnig on a patch of mud at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center

Padre Island is a major birding destination. The island protects a salty, shallow bay, ideal for many birds to rest and eat during their migrations between Mexico and the rest of the USA. The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center is perfectly located at a mixing of fresh water and salt water. It is a destination for birds of every variety, and those who wish to see them.

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South Padre Island

As far as I can divine, March on South Padre Island is an extended period of debauchery known as Spring Break. Wave after wave of college students descend onto the small spit of land along the Gulf Coast for each of their respective weeks off to experience everything that their parents earnestly told them not to do in the last eighteen years of their lives.

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Oh So Sick

Visions driving along the Texas-Mexico border.

I have now resorted to using chapstick on my raw nose. Too many tissues have left my nose in unseasonable competition with Rudolf. Being sick on the road certainly is a mixed bag.

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Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park is a dramatic Texas Wilderness, the beauty of which is completely lost one me.

Big Bend National Park is 1,252 square miles of mountains, desert, and river in south east Texas. It sits in a niche along the Mexico border where the Rio Grand sweeps around half of the park's border. It is host to magnificent cliffs, breathtaking expanses, and vibrant wildlife.

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Route 170

Route 170 along the Rio Grande is a constantly compounding collection of cliffs, hoodoos, ravines, wildflowers, and ruins. We are headed to Big Bend National Park but via 67 to 170, setting us up for a winding road along the Rio Grande. It is yet another spot where we rejoice in our relative isolation but constantly bemoan our limited time. The route is about as close to the US-Mexico border as you can get without swimming in the Rio Grand. In our theme of traveling the border, you can't do much better than this.

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The Chinati Foundation

The Chinati Foundation is a contemporary art museum. Its houses a collection of permanent installations across the rambling campus of a decommissioned air base. But it isn't a spot you just wander in to. No, It takes an appointment, a guide, and a lot of time.

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