Linden's 4th report

November 4, 2012  -  I mentioned the light show in my last report.  Today campers came in to our park who were in the storm area.   They reported hail and highwinds.  The Navy station reported sustained winds of 50 MPH with gusts up to 70 MPH.  We didn’t feel any effects from the storm as we watched the light show from our park.  When we went shopping we saw utility pole broken in half all along the causeway to the beach

November 7^th  -  A Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle is believed to have been caught in the Gulf Stream currant and ended up in the Netherlands weak and exhausted.  The Dutch fixed up the turtle and shipped it back to Texas by plane.  After months of treatment and rehabilitation at an aquarium here at Padre Island is was set free today with a transmitter taped to it’s back.  Kemp’s Ridley turtles are an endanger species.  TV cameras and a large group of people were on hand to bid the turtle fair well.  He hit the water and was gone like a shot.

November 11^th  -  The wind has been howling here for two days.  Today we went down to the beach and watched the sea gulls take off and land in the strong wind.  They always land facing into the wind.  The glide in, hover a little and the drop to the ground.  When taking off they face the wind, stretch out their wings, lift off and turn so the wind can take them up off the ground.  Sometimes, because of the strong wind, they over shoot their landing spot.

When on the ground they walk sideways always facing into the wind.  Nature is really

something to watch.

With these high winds the campground has really emptied out.  The tenters were the first ones up and out of here.  In their place had a big Montana 5^th wheel come here from the beach.  The high tide in conjunction with the high winds pushing the water make for a very high tide.  Most of the beach is under water.

November 12^th  -  Went to the Texas Roadhouse with two other veterans and their wives for our free Veterans Day lunch.  They have a special Veterans lunch menu on Veterans Day.  Two of us had steak that was very good as was all the other food.

November 15^th  -  All the workers and volunteers made a dish to pass.  The park furnished a turkey and a ham which the lady park employees cooked.  It made a great thanksgiving dinner.  After dinner Joe, the park superintendent, spoke and gave an award to one of the park employees.  The last few days the weather has been nasty and the tides have been higher than usual.  Water covers the entire beach right up to the dunes.  The beach will be closed until the weather front changes and tides return to normal.

November 17^th  -  The high winds and high tides have returned to normal.  A lot of fisherman took advantage of the good conditions.   Catching 15 to 20 fish each. Pompano, drum and whiting ranging from 12 to 28 inches.

November 18^th  -  I elected to fish today in the morning.  All I caught was one decent size sheepshead, a bunch of small whiting and a smaller catfish.  Other fisherman decided to fish in the afternoon and did great.  Story of my life.

November 19^th  -  Beryl and I went shopping today.  On the way home we stopped for gasoline.  Price per gallon broke the $3.00 mark at $2.97.  I hope this is a trend.  The sunrises have been outstanding.

November 21^st  -  The weather and the fishing have been great the last few days.  The campground is near full for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We have a new system for people checking in.  It will take some time for campers to get the hang of it.  The biggest problem is that people can’t figure out what date to put down for when they plan to leave.  It’s as simple as adding two numbers together.  Example:  If you arrive on the 1^st and plan to stay 2 days you will be leaving on the 3^rd not the 2^nd.  They put down the 2^nd because they plan to leave on the 3^rd.  Beats me.

November 22th, Thanksgiving  -  Four volunteer couples went to the Golden Coral for Thanksgiving dinner.  We went early and only stood in line about 20 minutes.  When we left after dinner the line was out the door and around the building.  This is a new type of restaurant known as a “Golden Coral Pavilion” which replaced the old Golden Coral.  It’s bigger and has a larger selection of food.   The food was very good.

Walt and Beryl Linden