After leaving Magnolia Beach on the 3rd we drove down to Padre Island, just off of Corpus Christi. There is a national park with 60 miles of sandy beach - really beautiful with blue water and powdery sand. We paid $20 for 1 week and we were able to go into the park and camp on the beach. We chose a spot near the entrance and also near other people. Not too close though.

Sadly another retired couple like us had camped a few miles away, also on the beach in a RV, and their bodies were found in a shallow grave. Google it. So we were a little concerned but determined not to be paranoid and not open our door at night no matter what. A strange lady was hanging around the first night and gave us the creeps. We drove off to find a ranger and she was gone by the time we returned.

Then a couple of nights later a storm front blew in and we had to make a run for higher ground in the middle of the night. I stood guard with a high powered flash light and my S&W while Paul hooked us up. We drove a few miles still in the park but on higher ground. We hunkered down and weathered the storm (2 days) and then hightailed it back to Port Lavaca.

Currently in Galveston, hunkered down again due to another storm. Will head to South Padre Island tomorrow and try free beach camping again. XOXO