Sandfest

Ahhh, The Redneck Riviera.

On occasion, the gray waters of the Texas Gulf Coast call to us (see Galveston ) and despite oil platforms clearly visible from our beach chairs, we can't seem to resist its lure of sandy beaches, the sound of waves crashing ashore and seagulls cawing. So when we heard about an annual sand sculpture competition - Texas Sandfest - being hosted in one of our favorite seaside communities, Port Aransas, we were all over it.

Sandfest draws nationally known artists, amateur sculptors and over 100,000 visitors to this sleepy beach town just outside of Corpus Christi. They come in RV's, tents and teepees for the three day festival. Who knew?

The sand-sculptors are given a specific time frame in order to complete their work. Forms, molds or stamps are not allowed and the only 'adhesive' they can use is a spray sealant provided by the Sandfest organizers. 

This sculptor won first place in the amateur division last year - which gave him an invitation to compete with the pro's this year.

Our favorite

"Monsters Under My Bed"

"Blockhead"

"Horny Toads" - sunbathing

1st Place Winner - People's Choice Winner

We stayed at The Sandcastle Condominiums while in Port A. A great, reasonably-priced spot on the beach and just steps from the festival.

 Sandcastle lessons were offered and an amateur-class competition was included.

Castle building lessons

Oh, and if you're into great seafood, you've got to check out Beach Street & Station Grill. Very Casual but everything is casual in Port A.

A close 'second' (across the street) is La Playa - Mexican - don't miss the bacon wrapped, jalapeno-stuffed grilled shrimp.

Back to Texas Sandfest...

This guy's home-made wind generator peaked Mr. Something's interest...something to do with a car alternator...

 I got a kick out of Johnsonville's World's Largest Grill...Where the Truck Driver (Mark) is also the Grill-Master...

My new BFF, Grill Master Mark

We stayed for a few days of beach-time after the competition was over and reflected on the artistry, eye and creativity that was involved in sculpting these pieces...only to wistfully witness bulldozers scooping them up and pushing them back into the sea.

Sigh.

12th Anniversary Trip

It was immediately following The Annual Girls Trip that I said straight-faced to my sweet husband, Doug, while on vacation in Florida last week, "I'm more of an ‘adventurer’ than a ‘risk taker’.” Without hesitation, he responded… “bull.”

It was then that I felt the need to define my idea of ‘adventure’ for him.

‘Adventure’ is akin to “experience”. Experience the pace of life, the people, savor the regional specialties, soak in the colors of the landscape and embrace the music of wherever we happen to be at the moment. Bungee-jumping, dirt-biking and/or hang-gliding would be scratched off of my ‘To-Do’ list, while on vacation. I’m more of a get-to-know-the-place-and-sit-on-the-beach-or-in-the-local-cafe sort of girl.

Doug, on the other hand has energy to burn, prepared with a list of places to see, activities to do and a plan of action.

In the first year of our marriage, I recognized our differences during a rafting trip down the Guadalupe River in Texas (actually, it was about a 10 mile “float trip” and we were in “inner tubes”). Anyway, when we hit a set of rapids, I flipped out of my inner tube (yes, the water was only about three feet deep but none-the-less), and I was stunned to see my new husband immediately take off to save the tube. A kind stranger floating by asked if I wanted to hang on to his tube until I could reach my husband. When I met up with Doug, he was obviously very pleased with himself, passing me my inner tube and saying, “Hey, it would have been a long walk without it”. We think differently.

Last week, our 12th anniversary vacation was spent in Florida.

If it were up to me, I would have parked my butt in a beach-chair, set up an umbrella and read two novels in one week - that would have been typical of a ..."Joan Trip".

We started started our vacation at “The Bay Forest Condos” as guests of Mary & Ed. They winter in Naples and were so kind to offer their condo to us. It was fantastic. After leaving Naples via ‘Alligator Alley’ we were off to Boca Raton for a couple of nights and then back to the gulf-side of Florida - Fort Myers. This is typical of a ..."Doug Trip"

Acutely aware of my adventuresome spirit and my subsequent happiness, Doug bought me an umbrella and beach chair soon after arriving.

This is a sampling of where we went and what we did in seven days…

Naples/Bonita Springs:
Barefoot Beach, Bonita Bay Beach, Clam Pass Beach (our favorite), Delnor Wiggins State Park, Lowdermilk Beach, Marco Island, Olde Naples, Pelican Bay, South Beach, Tigertail Beach, Vanderbilt Beach. "Rodes" Market - great fresh seafood.
Boca Raton:
DelRay Beach, Spanish River Beach, Spanish River State Pass (nice beach – surfers to watch)

Fort Myers:
Fort Myers Beach ( good restaurants, party beach), Sanibel Island, Captiva Island. Stayed at The Marriott Residence Inn near Sanibel – It was almost as nice as Mary & Ed’s.