Summer changes...

The weather?  Well, it's hot and humid, but that is relative.  It is forecast to get to 86º here today, but that is 8 to 10º cooler than in the Valley (for reference: everything west of us is "the Valley").  That is the reason so many Valley people come to the coast: well, mostly for the beach.

I get that we are all individuals, but there is a pattern with many of the renters who come to this island.  In the winter time, it is mostly couples from up north who are looking to get away from the cold.  They stay for several months and generally bring a sense of community with their stay here.  They participate in local activities, help with beach clean-up, and are back home by the time the sun goes down.

In the summer months, it is generally people from the Valley who look for short-term rentals and bring a sense of "summer vacation" with them.  The pools are packed, looking much like the "caddies in the pool scene from Caddyshack."  Loud music blasting.  People fishing from docks all over... probably for the novelty of being able to toss a line in from right out the back door.  They come in large groups - there are at least 10 people in one side of the duplex across the canal from us.  A two bedroom duplex.  Three crew-cab pickups, an SUV, and a 4 door sedan.  At a unit that has parking for two vehicles.  Odds are pretty good there are more than 10, but I haven't been looking that close.

The pattern is often the same, with the blasting music and 20 fishing rods with a line in the water.  That generally quiets down after a few days and all the people they snuck in have gone home.  Litter in the water and along the streets.  Ten year olds driving golf carts.  Speed limits and stop signs generally ignored.

I know what you're thinking: "Jim, you sound like one of those old 'get off my lawn ya damn kids' kinda guys."  Maybe.  I just lament for the lack of regard for others.  As I ride my bike around the island, I see vehicles and boat trailers parked off the driveways and into the grass (a no-no because of the sprinklers and yard maintenance); vehicles sticking out into the street because they don't fit into the limited parking on each site.

The resort management puts out info about the things you aren't supposed to do, but doesn't do much to back it up.  Each site is privately owned and many people who do rent out properties do so privately, not through the rental office here.

I thought about this because a guy on one of the scooter forums asked what kind of riding people will be doing this holiday weekend... for us, it is more about cocooning.  The media is predicting over 50,000 people will be coming to South Padre Island in the next 4 days.  Bars are allowed to open today, with a 25% capacity.  That is going to be hard to enforce, and there are already posts on Facebook about "Don't report over-capacity at local bars and restaurants - those people are just trying to make a living."

We don't want to get caught up in the crowds and traffic.  I would consider taking the boat out, but it is supposed to be windy and a chance of thunderstorms the next 4 days (currently wind out of the south at 20 gusting to 32).  Getting out of town on the scoots would be relatively easy until Monday, but I'm expecting long traffic delays trying to get back into town.  A good portion of Port Isabel is essentially an island, meaning no "back roads" to get around the traffic until you are more than half way through town.

The traffic gets snarled up because there are two 4-lane highways that come together just outside of town... and only our 30mph main road through town to feed that traffic to the causeway to South Padre Island.  Stoplights that aren't timed for traffic.  Drivers who don't plan ahead and wind up blocking intersections because they couldn't clear the intersection on the green light.

The crowds will be...
The Day-Trippers: those that come to the beach for the day and go back to the Valley after supper.
The Weekenders: those that rent a motel or condo for the weekend, and pack as many people in there as possible, regardless of the registered sleeping capacity.
The Party People: those that come here to drink, dance, and scream a lot.  Some of them fit into the two categories above, especially if they aren't the ones who are paying for the motel or condo (including the damage deposit).  If they can't find a place to couple-up, they will get back in their vehicles and head west... you don't want to be on the roads for this.

Why do you put up with it?  Thanks for asking.  Most of the year, it is quiet and peaceful, especially on our little island.  We don't get anywhere near the crowds that pour onto South Padre Island.  It is small town living, with resort amenities.  While it is hot and humid during the summer, it is quite pleasant the rest of the year.  It is cooler on the water.  We have a dock on a protected canal right out our back door.  The character of the resort does change seasonally... spring and fall are our favorite times: the weather is generally lovely and there are way fewer people around.

We're OK with socially distancing.  ;-)