Beachside & Bicycle Rides

I love water. For people who know me this isn’t a surprising statement. For those of you who don’t know me however, this might be a total surprise. Water is my element, my happy place.

This is the primary reason that I so easily switched my plans when Mother Nature decided to bless Texas with a cold snap. Go to the gulf for some sand, sun, and surf? Sign me up!

Upon the suggestion of my sister, I headed first to Mustang Island. This small Island graces the central coast of Texas and contains a state park on the island’s best stretch of beachfront. Off-season and cloudy weather provided me with a mostly solitary stroll down the entire shoreline.

Barefoot, I enjoyed a long, leisurely walk, even stopping a few times to enjoy the antics of a Sandpiper, (a little bird which I grew to love because of the Pixar short “Piper.” Watch it, it’s one of their best!)

Not far from Mustang Island is Padre Island National Seashore, a barrier island with extensive dunes, prairies, and beaches. The 70 miles of coastline is most famous for being the nesting grounds of Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, the rarest and the world’s most endangered species sea turtle. They apparently nest everywhere, even the middle of roads. Unfortunately, my visit occurred during one of just a few months of the year where the turtles aren’t active. Because my National Parks Pass gave me free access, I made a brief stop which was made all the briefer as the rain began to fall.

I spend the next few days at an RV park located on a peninsula between two bays. My location couldn’t be more picturesque, providing a serene spot for my evening yoga practice.

While spending a few days at a beachside locale, I decided to pull out the other modes of transportation I purchased for my adventure: a townie bicycle.

I haven’t owned a bike in probably 20 years, give or take, but there's good reason for the phrase “it’s like riding a bike!” I quickly adapted, relishing the comfortable temperatures and sunny sky, peddling down that road at a reasonable 14 miles an hour (or so my GPS stated). I reached my goal, Rockport Beach, and as the temperatures were in the mid-60s, I mostly had the place to myself.

Other than slightly sore inner thighs (I forgot about the whole “changing gears” thing so I actually worked to move forward at first) I was feeling pretty good about the 7 miles I’d traversed. It was flat! I had full confidence in my ability to return with ease.

My confidence was misplaced.

Anyone who has enjoyed an ocean (or gulf) beach can agree that the breeze can be a refreshing or brisk experience, or sometimes both. Sea breezes can also be rather strong, especially when you’re peddling for 7 miles against them. My GPS cruelly lied to me the whole way back, promising times that I knew were ridiculous. After an hour of battling the wind I finally arrived at my RV; butt sore, legs aching, and in desperate need of water.

Yet even with the pains I know will stay with me for several days, I loved riding along the shore and can’t wait for my next bicycle exploration!