TEXAS--Harlingen to Kingsville to Port Aransas

Arrived in Harlingen to wind, rain and cold.  Luckily I had electric and water hookups at the local Elks Lodge

On one of the nice days we went out to the Iwo Jima Memorial.  Here is the stone sculpture of the famous  Raising of the flag.  This was the original and the bronze sculpture in Washington was made from this one.

On the other nice day we went over to South Padre Island and I  got to splash in the Gulf waters.

We toured the Sea Turtle Rescue Center where injured sea turtles are brought in to receive treatment.

This gal is a permanent resident as she has lost more than 75% of her flippers.  Those with less than 75% loss can be returned to the wild.

On up the road is the famous King Ranch.  We took a bus tour around the ranch.

This is one of the old horse barns.  The present day ranch is 185,000 acres +/-.

The King Ranch developed the Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle seen here.

King Ranch Quarter Horses seen here are among the premier breeding stock for the breed.

We moved on to Malaquite Beach south of Corpus Christi.  Again cold, rain and wind.

The rough waters had washed up this 15" cabbage head jellyfish.

And these Japanese Man O War.

Among the dunes was this wind protected pond sheltering hundreds, if not thousands of ducks.  About half of them flew when they saw me.

Then better weather as we arrived at Port Aransas, north of Corpus Christi where we could park right on the beach.  Really nice firm sand.

We are close to the inlet to the major Corpus Christi harbor.  We saw ships coming in one after another.

One day we toured the Lexington, on permanent display in the Corpus Christi harbor.

the flight deck.

We toured the Wetlands Center.

While there this seagull dined on his fresh caught fish.

And we dined out ourselves several times, enjoying breakfast, dinner and dancing.  There are also bird tours, dolphin watching, city bus tours, and of course walking along the beach.

Now we move on to Pasadena, TX.