Port Isabel - Texas

Wow, can't believe we have already been on the beach for 10 days.  Time flies when its warm!!!!  We've spent the last week continuing to settle into beach life and getting reacquainted with the island and surrounding areas. 

Lets see, what have we been up to:

• We fought off the old people (who don't know what a line is) at the Farmer's Market last Sunday to get the last container of new potatoes (Yummy!!!).  We also got our favorite huge bag of grapefruits for only $5.
• We've weathered several days in the low to mid 50's that were just down right chilly (yep, we basically camped indoors).
• Matt did get his first (and so far only) day of kiting in last Tuesday.  It was quite chilly and I sat on the beach in pants, long sleeve t-shirt, and a fleece, but it was bearable.
• Since Wednesday, it has been getting progressively warmer and sunnier.  It was in the mid 60's today and sunny so it was wonderful to be outside.  We did manage to hang out on the beach for some time yesterday and I of course am now sporting my first (and surely not last) sunburn of the season.

Today we decided to drive over the causeway to visit the small town of Port Isabel.  It is a very cute little town all centered around the causeway leading over to South Padre Island (SPI).  This shows the bridge leading over to SPI and the tall buildings in the background are SPI.

 We toured the historic lighthouse and climbed the stairs up to the top for a panoramic view of the town, bridge and SPI. 

We then walked around the waterfront piers and found many very large pelicans hanging out around the fish cleaning station.  There was quite the battle when fish parts were thrown out.  I can't believe how large these birds are. 

After a good lunch at the Pirate's landing, we headed to Wal-Mart to pick up a juicer so we can make juice out of the $5 bag of grapefruits from the Farmer's Market.

Much needed photo updates

So its been quite a while since I've posted photos on here so I thought I'd share some photos that have been living on my camera since we left Alaska. 

Here are some photos that I took the night that we left Haines in the snowstorm and also aboard the ferry as we traveled down the Alaskan inside passage.

Here is what the truck and trailer looked like when we arrived at the ferry terminal.  We would wait 5 hours for the boat to arrive and would have about 4 new inches of snow to scrape off when we finally got ready to drive onto the boat.

This is the ferry that we took out of Haines and into Bellingham, Washington (just north of Seattle).

Another view of the snowy ferry lot on the night we left.

Here Matt is relaxing in one of the bunks in our stateroom onboard the ferry.

Here is the truck and trailer on the car deck of the ferry.  Not any excess room anywhere.

This set of photos is from our recent Shetzer Family Reunion in Chicago.  We visited the Chicago Musuem of Science & Industry to tour the U505 German submarine exhibit.  During the war bond tours following WWII, Ted served on the  U505 during the tours of the boat.

Here is the whole family in front of the U505 along with our guide, Art.

The foreward torpedo room of the U505 - Look at the bunks, can you imagine sleeping in there?

Here Ted is in the control room of the U505.

Beach Life...

We made it to South Padre Island (SPI) yesterday afternoon after a 7 hour drive from Houston.  We arrived to sunny skies and temperatures in the 60's.  We were given an option of two spots and actually ended up choosing a spot that was 3 down from our original reserved spot.  Its great with a view out the back window of the beach and ocean.  We watched a beautiful full moon rise over the ocean last night.

Today started out cloudy and warm with highs around 67 so it was shorts and sandals!!!  Although about 3 this afternoon, we finished our errands in time for a nice cold front to come blowing in.  The winds have been averaging over 30 mph with gust over 40 mpg so we are rocking and rolling!!!  I have now chased shoes and of course Pinkie over our campsite and our neighbors.  Everything is safely inside now.

Included in our errands today was a search for a new wetsuit for Matt.  We had quite the comedy last night as Matt tried on his wetsuit from 15 years ago.  He got it on, but....  Needless to say, Matt is not an extra small anymore and after being stuck in the wetsuit for some time, we did manage to finally get him out without having to cut him out.  It was touch and go for awhile as he lay giggling and exhausted across the bed and I was giggling and exhausted after pulling on the head, arms and legs.

Tomorrow is forecasted to be cool and windy so we'll have another quiet day and hope to get Matt out kiting over the weekend.

Warm & Sunny Houston?????

Sorry its been so long since I've updated the blog, but with the holidays and all, its been a little nuts.

We enjoyed several weeks in Missouri with Angela's family for the Christmas and New Years holidays.  It was great to watch the little ones open their presents and be excited for Santa!!!

Here, Laura, Katelyn & I marvel that the Gingerbread House is still standing.

Yep...  I'd say she was very excited over Christmas!!!  She woke us up in the trailer bright & early Christmas morning.

Crazy for "Pun Bob" - That is Sponge Bob for those of you who don't speak toddler.

 More Christmas photos available here.

We have been in Houston for a little over a week now and enjoyed a couple of nice weather days before making a freezing trip to Chicago to visit the Museum of Science & Industry.  It was a great trip and the U-505 submarine was amazing.  I don't have any good pictures of it yet, but will post when I have one.  Click on the highlighted links for more information.

We will be in Houston until next Wednesday and then will head to South Padre Island again for several months.  We are ready for the warm weather as its been quite chilly here in Houston with lows in the 30's and highs only in the 40's & 50's.