Spring Break Continues in Corpus Christi

Friday morning we were off to take in the sites in Corpus Christi....to us, that means the water!  The drive along the bay is always interesting. The architecture of the houses is so diverse and ranges from smaller, less expensive homes to ones that probably cost quite a bit.  And the city has wisely spaced parks all along the route so everyone can enjoy views of the bay....not just those in the uber-expensive mansions.  The Naval Air Station used to have a gate open almost as an extension of Ocean Drive but these days that gate is open so seldom that you might as well forget about it and plan a different route out the front gate, down the highway, and then taking one of the roads angling back to the bay.

One of the largest and nicest parks along Ocean Drive is Cole Park closer to downtown.

The guys were immediately interested in the large skateboard park.  Some boarders were having a great time.  Of course, a couple of bicyclists had to get in on the act even though they are not "allowed".  These are not young kids either....late teens on those little bikes.

There is also a great playground that lots of people were enjoying.  The smell of grilling hamburgers filled the air as there were also lots of picnickers taking advantage of the picnic tables scattered around. And there were fishermen out on the pier.  You can see back to the windsurfers park but there was only one windsurfer there today.  It's a great park to relax and people watch.

We had a surprise in store for the kids....a boat ride.  Helen and I did the last time we came down but the weather was awful and rainy. Today was beautiful. I can remember taking my kids years ago on Capt Bill's boat which was much larger but it hasn't been here for years. They also have a harbor ferry but it only runs in the summer.

Out on the boat taking a look back at the harbor. If you aren't familiar with Corpus Christ, they have three "T" head piers you can drive out on with lots of boats tied up....you can see the masts in the background.  The tour boat is tied up at the People's T Head. There are also a couple of restaurants out on the T Heads. We opted to take the grandkids to a huge Whataburger right across Ocean Drive before we headed out for our tour as grandma knew they would enjoy that more.

Many years ago, replicas of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Marina were built in Europe, sailed across the Atlantic, toured many cities on the East Coast, and ended up at the museum in Corpus Christi.  DH and I were down here with our kids when they first arrived. Over the years, two of them were taken out of the water (not good for wooden ships). The Nina stayed in the water and was recently refurbished where needed and is now anchored downtown at the one of the T-Heads. It is hard to believe that 32 men sailed across the ocean on the original Nina back when they thought the world was flat. It seems so tiny. And those openings along the side are not that far above the water line. I guess they might have been for rowers when that was necessary.

Now this little beauty anchored nearby costs several, several million dollars. It actually took $20,000 in fuel costs to sail from the Atlantic to her birth here in Corpus Christi.

The kids were really enjoying their tour and we were still in the T-Head marina area.

We saw boats from San Antonio, Kerrville, and lots of other landlocked cities further north in Texas so I guess those owners make the trip down here real often to go out sailing.

The Captain and his "crew" standing just left of Morgan graciously offered every kid on the tour a chance to pilot the boat once we were out in more open water. Steve got a picture of both kids but I somehow missed Cameron doing his stint and he actually got to pilot through the channel markers.

You get some great views of the Lexington from a distance.

And again from right up close.

Again we were fortunate enough to see dolphins swimming around us. The Captain slowed right down and was really good at telling the passengers where to look for the dolphins coming up.

This is the Corpus Christi Aquarium which the Captain told us was a great place to visit. I think we might have to do that on another trip.

Before 9/11, the boat tour used to take you up the actual harbor which is beyond the bridge. Now there is an enormous fine for anyone who goes beyond the bridge who does not have a specific reason for being there.  I understand, of course, but it is a big disappointment for me because I love seeing the big ships.  My Dad was one of the original pilots for foreign ships coming through the Great Lakes and I miss those days. This is one of the ships tied up at a pier just past the bridge.

Looking up at the port harbor which actually goes back for 12 miles.

 

This is the Corpus Christ Convention Center. There are also several museums right behind it.

The kids like to take their turn at taking pictures and, Cameron especially, are pretty good.

Back on land again. I just love looking at the boats. Lots of pelicans around too.

It's our last day here and tomorrow we are headed back to San Antonio.  The grandkids will go back to Brownwood on Sunday. I think they had a great Spring Break even though the weather started out pretty iffy.  They are pretty open to new adventures and love going anywhere in the RV.

                          

 

Tomorrow we will just spend some time on the beach right at the CCNAS RV park and get ready to roll out right after lunch.