I thought spring break was over...

Well, it is pretty much over, but there is something going on almost every weekend on South Padre Island.

Last night, Joan said she'd like to do lunch at Burger Fi today... yeah, I'm in.  Other than taking the mnotorhome to storage and going to Randy's memorial yesterday, we haven't left the house since we got back.  Today, we're doing lunch out.

It was a pleasant, but humid, start to the day: 78º when I got up this morning.  Hardly any breeze.  A hazy overcast.  The weather weasels were calling for a front bringing wind and rain to come in "around noon" today.  At noon, it was 80º.  At 2:00, it was 82º; no wind no precip.

Around 2:30, ready to head out for lunch, and the front blew in: winds gusting over 30 mph and sideways blowing drizzle.  We put on rain jackets and headed out.  It looked like it should be freezing out there... it wasn't.  Still 80º when we pulled out of the driveway.  Crossing the causeway, the winds were kicking up some snotty chop in the Laguna Madre below us.  We saw people in a pontoon boat fighting the wind, rain, and waves... that would not be a pleasant ride.  By the time we got to the far end of the causeway (2 1/2 miles), the temperature had dropped 10º.  Joan said she saw two other small boats out there - I didn't see them, I was busy driving.

And, traffic.  The island was lousy with traffic.  Seemed to be an inordinate amount of Jeeps... raised Jeeps, Grand Cherokees, topless Wranglers (which would be no fun in this wind and rain)... and plenty of other traffic.  It has been years since we've been here during Spring Break (yeah, it's a good time to be away) - that's what this reminded me of, traffic all the way up the island to Burger Fi.

Welcome to Jeep Beach South Padre - that is what is going on this weekend, and it has obviously brought in a lot of people.  Outside of city limits, you can drive on the beach.  The sudden change in weather means that there are hoards of people getting off the beach, looking for someplace else to be.  Most of the restaurants were busy as we drove by.  Good for the local economy.

There were only two couples ahead of us to order at Burger Fi.  Tables available.  By the time we ordered and sat down the line to order was about 20 people deep.  Good timing.  Good burgers.

Joan wanted to stop at the grocery store on the island on the way home; surprisingly, it wasn't packed.  Traffic had thinned out by the time we left the store, so it was easy to get back on the main road through town.  We decided on a trip through Isla Blanca Park (great beach park) before heading home.  Ugly waves, with the wind and rain... but, there were still a few people on the beach and in the water.  I'm guessing their Momma never taught them to come in out of the rain.  The temperature was now down to 65º.

We left the park, heading for the causeway to get back to our island... I mentioned it was 2 1/2 miles long - the traffic was backed up and stopped, at least two miles...

Traffic started moving at a crawl - it took us about 15 minutes to cover that 2 miles.  There were a lot of people looking to get off the island!  When we got to the other side, the temp was 62º - a 20 degree drop in an hour and a half.  100% humidity.

This weather front has the characteristics of a norther - I know they are getting snow in Oklahoma this weekend.  Nothing like that will be happening here, but it is supposed to get down to 57º here tonight.  Not exactly "winter weather"... but, we won't need the a/c tonight.  ;-)