RonnieAdventures: RonnieAdventure #0559 - Texas 2023 Part V, Corpus Christi Area

While in the Corpus Christi area I was fortunate to be able to spend a day with my high school friend Warren and Jeanette. As we drove around, it was great to reminisce about old times, events, and people.

First stop on our tour was a "sand car" that I think was a 1954 Corvette. According to information on the web, the property owner was tired of car sellers parking vehicles on his property, so he used the space to commission an art sculpture of two people examining a car that was for sale.

Picture by Jeanette

Next, we stopped by the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve. After touring the Learning Center we hiked a few trails, but we did not stay long because it was very cold and windy.

The street-front façade of Ocean Treasures Store looked like a giant sand castle with mermaids, dolphins, and other sea creatures.

Fortunately, Warren had a four-wheel-drive vehicle when we visited Padre Island National Seashore. After stopping at the Malaquite Visitor Center, we followed the beach for a few miles in Warren's Jeep. Great ocean views and lots of shore birds. Even some seashells.

We had a large seafood lunch at Snoopy's Pier and then stopped by to see the Tall Wooden Sailors in Port Aransas. Unfortunately, except for one, all of the sailors left town with Hurricane Harvey.

At the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center there were wooden walkways and viewing platforms that extend out into the Port Aransas Nature Preserve. If it had not been so cold and windy, I could have stayed here and taken a lot of pictures.

I was told that golf carts were the primary mode of transportation in Port Aransas. You can even buy a customized or personalized cart.

Throughout the Corpus Christi-Port Aransas area there were a number of different sharks on display, some of which were used as store-front entrances.

We did not stop, but this Port Aransas light did not appear to still be functional.

There is a long pier at Port Aransas Beach and some interesting pole decorations. Apparently, some woman felt sorry of the poles that had to stand out in the cold all of the time and started knitting overs for them. Other women have now helped with the project and there are hundreds of poles that have been covered. If it had not been so cold, I would have taken more pictures. Did I mention that it was really, really cold and windy all day!

A short distance away from the pier is the Port Aransas Jetty, which helps watercraft move safely inland. Warren said the Jetty is also a popular fishing area.

We stopped by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, but unfortunately it was closed.

To get back to the mainland, it was faster to take the ferry rather than go back to Corpus Christi. And it was FREE! ("Free" is one of my favorite words.)

Fortunately, Warren knew how to get to Seaman's Memorial Tower at Conn Brown Harbor Point Park, which was not easy due to the combination of streets that had to be followed. The 80-foot tower was built as a memorial to local sailors who perished while at sea.

The "World's Largest Blue Crab" in Rockport is not what one would expect, based on pictures in tour books. In 2012 the original crab had deteriorated and was replaced with a new larger crab that was then destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. A much smaller crab was rebuilt in 2021 and for some reason it was painted green. Located in the same area are a variety of other art works.