Padre Island National Seashore - June 22, 1994 - Member Trip Report

Hike Name:	Padre Island National Seashore
Country:	United States
State:	Texas
Trip Rating:
Trip Date:	June 22, 1994
Duration:	6 days
Trail Conditions:	Fair
Trail Traffic:	Light
Trip Weather:	Sunny
Trip Winds:	Light
Trip Precipitation:	Showers
Trip Temperature:	High: 91-100, Low: 51-60 degrees Fahrenheit
Trip Report:	Day 1: The Captain dropped us off in two feet of water at the Mansfield Cut. We spent about 20 minutes organizing on shore before we loaded up, shouldered our pack, and headed off down the beach. We need to average at least ten miles a day to fit our food supply. Today we jsut tried to make ground, knowing that the best scenery is in the middle of the trip. Made camp about 6:00 and ate the steaks we carried in with a few beers. Day 2: Got up early and scarfed Breakfast. Headed northeast up the beach toward the first thing we wanted to see. The boat Captain told us there was a shallow lake, what they call an "ephemeral" lake, between the dunes on the inland side of the island, so we planned on filling up our water. The lake was there, and the water was fresh from rain. Got our fill and headed out for a camp site. Parked it around 6:45 and went fishing for dinner. Had several delicious speckled trout. Day 3: Had more trout for trout omlets for breakfast, and what a way to start a day! Saw our first shipwreck around noon, not much left but two boilers, sitting on dry sand at low tide. Hit another lake for water and lunch. There was a ton off Sargasso seaweed on this section of the beach. Not quite sure why. Camped around 6:15 and fished for dinner. Tonight it was mackerel of some sort, we are guessing Spanish. Day 4: 33 miles down, 28 to go. Ate the last of our eggs and hit the trail. Saw another shipwreck, this time some kind of fairly modern vessel. I'm thinking a small freighter, in about 10 feet of water. Waded out to look, and got a cool picture of some fish swimming. A 4x4 passed us about 1:00 and gave us each a cold beer. May be the best one I have ever had. Camped at 7:00 and ate rations. Too tired to fish. Day 5: Down to fish, rice and beef jerky, plus coffee and Bailey's. Going to be a long day. Fooled around on a long sand bar that must have stuck 200 yards into the ocean. Managed to catch a Red Snaper from the end of the sand bar, where the water was deeper. This was cause for much rejoicing among the troops. Stan got into a jellyfish, but we got the meat tenderizer on him pretty quick, and he should be OK. Only 8 miles to go, so we took the afternoon off to let him rest. Caught some more mackerel and mixed them with the Snapper for dinner. Ready for a hamburger!!! Last Day: Slept late because we are so close. Ate the rest of the food so we wouldn't have to carry it. Started to see more 4x4's, which wasn't so bad, because several of us had run out of cigarettes, and we were able to bum a few. Pulled into Malaquite HQ around 2:30. I spent a few hours fishing, a few folks went horseback riding, and Mike and Beth napped in the sun. Everybody got back together for a burger in Corpus Christi at 6:00, and we all made our ways back to Dallas and Houston. An excellent trip. Next time we take more food!!!!!!!