Four Days in Corpus Christi






We left South Padre Island after a good bike workout and headed to Corpus Christi. On the way we arrived at the check point crawling forward for a half mile with large trucks other work vehicles until we got to the check point. Beside us a law officer was inspecting a suspicious looking car with the dogs sniffing all around. The young girl in a uniform asked us if we were U.S. citizens and took a look at the mess in our car, we said yes! She said, "Have a nice day!" and let us through.

Everyone stops for inspection here!

We arrive at Corpus Christi at our La Quinta hotel we found through Hotwire. We got a great deal with four days for $200. The room came with a free breakfast, Wi-Fi and since they did not have a workout room, they gave us a free membership to the Corpus Christi Athletic Club right down the street. We thought we had a good deal until we went as saw the club, and we were in awe at what a great place it was. After unpacking we went back to the Club and played tennis indoors and did a light cardio workout. The next day after a light breakfast John did a spinning class and Mary did a Cardio Salsa class. Happily, we then went exploring Mustang Island and Port Aransas the home of the Summer Surf Camps directed by the Quicksilver Pro Surfer, Morgan Faulkner. It was past two in the afternoon and sessions were over so we went back to the Club to play more tennis.

John can't read the menu without the use of a flashlight!



John with the Old Woodie



John and Charles of the Surf Museum

That evening, being Saturday Night, we went down town looking for some action. We went to Landry's on the water in downtown Bay Side. We had a light meal while we listened to a great rock band overlooking the marina. We got a tip to go to the Executive Surf Club, an outside dance and music spot. We stopped in at the Surf Museum next door and met Charles who gave us some pointers about Windsurfing at Bird Island State Park. We then followed the great rock and roll sound coming from the Executive Surf Club, and checked it out. There didn't seem to be anything executive about it as the band was playing on an outside stage, and everyone was sitting on wood benches and bleachers. It all was pretty casual, and it reminded us of Rozzati's Beer Garden on Whisky Hill Road in Palo Alto near Stanford.

U.S.S.Lexington

The following day didn't seem like a windy day so we made plans to go and see the Battleship Lexington anchored as a museum in Corpus Christi. As we approached the ship we couldn't believe the size, it being three football field lengths. Everything about it was big: the anchor, ropes, chains, and decks. We had been on large ships before but none with a variety of fighting airplanes parked on the deck. Besides a Blue Angel Jet there were many others dating back to the fifties with propelers and strait out wings. Several jets had wing swept wings and many had fold up wings that would enable more planes in a small space below. The next part of the exhibition took you into the living quarters of the ship. We went up and down stairs into the officer's quarters as well as the navy shipmen. We realized that anyone over six feet would be vertically challenged on this ship not to mention anyone being claustrophobic. Finally, the last part of the exhibit we wanted to see was that of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. We were both teaching school in Ewa Beach during the filming of Tora,Tora, Tora. The Japanese Zero planes would go right over the school and we would all go to the window to watch how low they passed overhead. Even if we knew it was just movie making, it was still pretty scary. Checking out the exhibit made us think of how destructive that day must have been with so many ships attacked on that Sunday morning. For instance we didn't realize the flight pattern of those planes coming in two swarms through and around the Pali. We had toured the Arizona Memorial in Hawaii, but at that time did not realize the vast number of casualties as they were listed on this wall. These men were the first to fall and many more would give their lives in the battles throughout the Pacific. When we left the ship, we were exhausted and felt great reverence toward the men in uniform. We remembered how the story was told through the Victory at Sea series we watched on black and white tiny T.V.in fifties, but this exhibit almost put you there as you walked through the Lexington.

Mary with her Sarasota sign

The next morning we had breakfast and headed toward Bird Island Basin National Sea Shore. The drive took us over two bridges and down Padre Island. We were surprised to see a thriving community of new homes and a string of condos newly built. Beyond these there was nothing but brush and dunes as far as the eye could see. About five miles down the road we came to a State guard house where we had to pay $10 and $5 for parking. We drove towards the bay and saw the several RVs parked near the main Worldwind building. According to their brochure this half mile stretch of beach on the protected Laguna Madre is internationally recognized as one of the top windsurfing sites in the mainland USA.
We arrived about noon and only light wind was blowing which was fine for the beginners who were out there learning about the wind. Randy, the instructor, was teaching two teens how to up haul and catch the wind. He had been an instructor in Hood River about five years with Big Winds and knew many of the same people that we knew. Small world especially when you are into a sport like windsurfing. Don the owner, had sailed the Caribbean with his wife and two boys for many years and found that San Padre had what he wanted in the way of schools for his boys and sailing needs. He bought a house on the Island and then bought the windsurfing business that had been established in the 70's. He was well equipped with the newest gear which he buys every year. His boards are mostly Fanatic and Ezzy sails with a few other types of equipment thrown in. Since Mary was looking to buy a used 120 liter board she asked him about the latest types that were popular now. Most boards are shorter and wider and have more flotation so they are easier because it is easier to balance and to jibe and tack. That's what Mary wanted to hear as she looked at last year's Fanatic model.
By one in the afternoon the wind had not come up yet though it was starting to gust. Don gave Mary some paint and a pointed board so she could make a sign for the Post. There were signs made by previous sailors from all over the world but Mary could not find a sign for Sarasota. She spent the next hours designing a Sarasota sign with a circus tent in the background. Don liked it and found that Sarasota was 995 miles away as the crow flies and she put that on the sign as well. When the paint was dry, Don nailed to the post in the direction of Sarasota.

By two in the afternoon, more sailors had arrived and were rigging their sails. It was time to take our sails and equipment to the beach and do the same. Mary rigged her 5.6 sail and planned to use the Mistral Screamer and John rented a 6.0 sail and a Fanatic Shark board. Randy told us to stay along the dark line where the sea grass started to grow as the wind was blowing off shore and if we went too far it would be difficult to get back. John was doing fine but Mary liked to go fast and practice jibing which took you farther out. Soon she found she was off course and in order to get back one had to point into the wind which was not so easy to do now that there were lots of white caps in the water. Eventually, she got back which is always a triumph. All in all it was a great day of windsurfing.