South Texas – Let’s talk heat

LAKE SOMERVILLE STATE PARK BIRCH CREEK UNIT

The Birch creek unit felt like a small state park. The visitor center is secluded down the curved road from the entrance. The trees surrounding the camping sites gives overall feel of camping in the wooded areas near water. I loved the fact that the area was so wooded and secluded, you can’t see your neighbors, unless you want to.

The only problem was the heat. I got up for my morning walk and it was already 90 degs making the walk down to the lake really uncomfortable. One back in Betty I hunkered down in the AC for the day.

SOUTH PADRA ISLAND – MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Interesting fact, bordered by the Laguna Madre on the one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other side, Padre Island stretches for 113 miles down the southern coastline of Texas. It’s the world’s longest barrier island, and home to South Prade, a shore community. It’s also habitat for 16 wildlife species with federal or state conservation status.

South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center

The nature center in 2009 and in 2019 became an alligator rescue center that has over 43 acres of coastal wetland habitat comprised of both saltwater and freshwater marsh. Due to this duel ecosystem it attracts a multitude of different birds as well as other animals such as fish, turtles, crabs, dragonflies, mammals, and alligators. In the center there is a 3,300 foot boardwalk trail that’s loops through the wetlands with viewing blinds and a rescued nuisance alligator sanctuary, where Big Padra a 56 year old, 12’-8”, 800 pound alligator lives.

It offers 43 acres of protected coastal wetland habitat comprised of both saltwater and freshwater marsh. The dual wetland ecosystem attracts an incredible diversity of birds as well as other animals such as fish, turtles, crabs, pollinators, dragonflies, mammals, and alligators. A three-quarter mile raised boardwalk trail loops through the wetlands with five shaded viewing blinds and a rescued nuisance alligator sanctuary along the way.

I arrived in time to hear Gator Jacob Reinbolt talk about alligators and what actually is a nuisance alligator. According to Jake once a human feed an alligator, it immediately loses all fear of us and associates all humans with providing food. So major lesson is don’t feed gators, except if your Jake putting on the show.

During my walk on the board walk I spotted all types of birds, gators, and butterflies with no noise except from the animals. Really a peaceful stroll.
I opted out of the snake talk and headed over to the Sea Turtle rescue center.

Sea Turtle Inc.

There are also opportunities for watching the sea turtles during feeding time, as well as talks given on the turtle residents. One turtle named Gerry, a 200-pound sea turtle, has a daily snack to simulate how sea turtles would dine on sea grass beds in the Laguna Madre in the wild. This is done to maintain the physical and mental health of the turtles.

Gerry stranded on South Padre Island during Hurricane Allen in 1980. Funny story Gerry originally was named Geraldine. Apparently green sea turtles mature in their mid-20s; and when Geraldine reached about 25, she grew a long tail. That’s when they found out that she was not a she, but a he! Geraldine then became Gerry.

SpaceX

So, I got to see Elon’s Starbase. This place is totally amazing, you can get within 500 yards of the lunch site and they had the ship fully stacked for the wet dress rehearsal which was scheduled for Tuesday. The lunch is scheduled for June 5 so I will miss it by a week.

Unfortunately, I visited on Memorial Day and not much activity was going on. All I have to say is if I was 30 years younger, I would try to get a job here and be part of the future.