Corpus Christi was to be our next port of call but from Galveston it was a long jump so we stayed the night at a little place called Port Lavaca. It was a very nice RV Resort and we could have happily stayed longer if our timetable permitted. The trip from Galveston was interesting with more island hopping and long bridges before we hit Pt Lavaca.
We got away early the next day and continued on the island road (who wants the highway when you can follow the beaches?) and saw row after row of houses literally on the beach. Nearer to Corpus Christi we got to our actual town where we were staying, Port Aransas. Port Aransas is just across the bay from Corpus Christi and just before we got to the car ferry across the mouth of the harbour we were stunned to see what we thought had to be the world’s largest drilling rig. Turns out it was 3 individual rigs in the bay for maintenance which is why they have a car ferry across the bay and not a bridge. Oil rigs are too big to navigate under a regular bridge.
Luckily in the freezing breeze we didn’t have long to wait for a ferry. They have 5 or 6 going at any one time and it is only a 10 minute trip at best. None the less the crew were all rigged up for the Arctic like blasts of frigid winds. And yes, that is a pod of dolphins in one picture.
We got to the RV park and wouldn’t you know it? After a long day’s drive we had our first prang with some fat stupid woman who, in Australia would not be allowed near a car let alone driving one. She was huge and disabled so couldn’t get out of her car to talk to me. (Her passenger/husband did all their talking.) Even if she could she had an oxygen tank with air pipes in her nostrils which tied her to the drivers seat even more so. As we turned the corner to get to our RV site she was coming out (turns out she wasn’t a resident there and shouldn’t have been there anyway) she let her car move to our side of the roadway to turn wide side swiping us. Minor damage to us (1 compartment door handle was caved in) and her rear drivers panel was buckled. Not sure who paid for her repairs as our respective insurance companies were fighting it out but as I told our guy she should not have been driving in the first place so I hope they take her license away.
Next day we took a drive into the Corpus Christi to see about getting an American Bank Account (which we did get). It was a nice drive with plenty to see but the best part was our diversions down to the beach on the way back. Miles and miles of white sandy beach and you can drive on it.
The final pictures were taken back at Port Aransa where they held their annual spring Mardi Gras Parade. As they drive by they lob trinkets and candy to one and all and Shane and I managed a decent haul to bring back to the grandkids.
That was about it for this blog. A nice short one for you. Next post we’re in the Tex/Mex border city of Brownsville. Had a great time there and will push to get that blog out quick to catch up.
Cheers for now
Garry & Shane.