No work being done - let's scoot!

Seems like it has been a while since we had a day with no work being done.  I suggested we get some time on the scooters.  Joan seconded.  Motion carried.

On our way out the door, the guy that trims our tall palm tree out front had started on that... not the same as work being done on the house.  Joan had his money waiting in the drawer - we paid him on the way out.

On a scooter forum I frequent, there is a thread for "scooter tag" - you post a photo of your scoot in front of something; then next person has to post a photo of their scoot in front of something like that, then you post something new for the next "tag."  That last tag posted was of a lighthouse - yeah, I can do that...

That is the Point Isabel Lighthouse, one of the oldest on the Texas coast.  "Tag," your turn.

The roads in south Texas don't have the hills and twisties we can find most places... straight and flat is typical here...

Doesn't mean it isn't pretty - on the other side of the scrub-brush on the right side is the Laguna Madre (the bay, or "Mother Bay")... you just can't see it from the road in this area.  I suggested we drive to Laguna Vista, another small town just north of us.  We have driven through Laguna Vista many times, just never gotten off the main road.  Today, we took a little scenic tour.  Yes, there is a view of the Laguna Madre from some parts of town... probably why they call it Laguna Vista, huh?  ;-)  And a boat ramp...

I had no idea this was here.  Yes, we have nautical charts of this area... the water is very shallow just off the shore here, so we haven't been this way with any of our boats.  This ramp is privately owned by a club - you have to be a member to use the ramp.

While watching one guy spin his tires while trying to pull his boat out, a guy on a bicycle came up to us.  I was expecting the usual questions.  When he asked "How much?" and I responded, I thought he was going to crap his pants.  "Are you kidding?"

"You have been looking at those cheap Chinese scooters, haven't you?"  Then, we had "that discussion."  No, it is not my mission to educate the public about scooters.  I really wouldn't ask a stranger how much they paid for anything, but we get it all the time with these scoots.  People assume you can buy them for $500 or $600 dollars, so I understand the sticker shock.

We decided to head to the island (South Padre Island) for lunch.  Coming back through Port Isabel...

While part of Port Isabel is technically an island, most consider it the mainland.  It is 2 1/2 miles across the Laguna Madre via the Queen Isabela Causeway (give you an idea where our little furry Izzy got her name?).

From the Port Isabel side of the Causeway...

Riding across...

That first shot of these three is at the high point of "the big bridge" (what tug operators call the Causeway) - it is 65' at the peak, from the water.  One of the highest points on a road in the area.  Did I mention it is flat around here?  ;-)

The obligatory shot of the South Padre Island sign...

We had planned to do lunch at Pier 19, a restaurant on a pier above the water.  Here's the view looking back towards the Causeway from the parking lot there...

Yeah, that is the high point.  It was built that way so taller commercial boat/barge traffic can pass under there, the lower section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Speaking of parking lots, Pier 19's lot was packed... besides the spaces full of cars, there were scads of trucks with boats on trailers parked off to the side.  We guessed there was probably a fishing tournament that must have ended... and, they're gathering in the restaurant at Pier 19.

We were right.  No chance for a table for over an hour, so we moved on.  On the way back to the scoots, we stopped for a moment to watch  a couple pelicans near the pier.  This one was like a little kid: every time I pointed the camera at him, he made a face or turned his head...

We decided to head up the island to Padre Island Brewing Company.  Here's a look at the main road on South Padre Island...

That red car on the left is an MGB - a bunch of English cars went by us.  A perfect day for some top-down driving.  Or scooting.

When we got to Padre Island Brewing, we saw something interesting in the parking lot...

Two PCX scooters!  A red one and a white one; older models, 125cc.  First that we have seen any other PCXes around here.  On our way in, two ladies were on their way out - they headed for those scoots; we visited for a bit.  They live here on the island.  When they heard we live on Long Island, one of them asked, "You ride yours across the Causeway??"

"Sure, all the time."  Apparently, they don't.

She said, "I'm sure the scooter can handle it - I don't trust the other traffic!"  I get that.

Lunch was good.  We rode around on the island a bit.  I decided to pick up a couple more "potential tags"... yes, I know I'm tipping my hand if any of the scooter folks read this.  Here's a sand-castle (Sand Castle Days was a few weeks ago)...

A sand sculpture of sea turtles (in front of Sea Turtle, Inc.)...

Gotta get something with a shark in it...

Heading back across the Causeway...

Look to the left side of the image - you can see the high point of the Causeway, over a mile in the distance.

Heading back to our island, the swing bridge was out...

This bridge swings open to let boat traffic pass on the ICW.  It is the only way onto our island, other than by boat.  The bridge is privately owned and maintained by those of us who own property on the island.  Anyone wanna buy a bridge?  ;-)

Nice to get out on the scoots.  Nice to be doing anything besides over-seeing the work on the house.

------------------------

Our own little Queen Isabella...