Mustang Island, TX (USA)

More class today - though not as early or as long (finished at 1545). I was able to drive around during the (longer) lunch break today - found some places I'd like to visit before I head back... After class was over, I headed back to Padre Island again - but this time I turned on TX-361 and drove over to Mustang Island. I was planning to stop at the State Park (I do have a pass, after all...) but it didn't look like it had more than a beach, so I drove farther north to Port Aransas. Along the way, I saw tons of available condos and homes - mostly in unfinished neighborhoods. It would be a nice place to have a summer place or vacation home... I was tempted to take the (free) ferry across to the mainland, but I decided against it (since I didn't know the hours). Instead, I looked around town and discovered the University of Texas Marine Science Institute and lots of boats for deep-sea fishing and dolphin watching. At around 1745, decided to get something to eat. I settled on Fins restaurant, which overlooks the marina and the ferry. It turned out to be a great choice - not only because of the food, but because it was located in the hub of activity for this town, apparently. I saw returning fishermen (including large boats with lots of tourists) bringing their catches to be cooked along the dock. The ferry was a non-stop enterprise (waiter told me it runs 24/7/365). Pelicans and sea gulls roamed around the harbor and made a racket (that's OK). My dinner included some shrimp gumbo and a grilled mahi po-boy. Shiner beer helped digest the dinner... The style of po-boy was much different than Salvo's (see DEC 2008) but it was good. I chatted with the waiter for awhile and then walked along the marina. After awhile, I drove back towards my hotel, stopping for souvenirs before leaving Port Aransas. As the dun was beginning to set, I walked along the beach at the State Park. The sand had completely covered the parking lot and beach access roads... Reached my room at NAS Corpus Christi (Navy Gateway Inn) before 2030. Watched some TV for a few hours before going to bed.