Texas 2021:
Day 7 - Corpus Christi

	Thursday, January 28, 2021: We awoke to an absolutely perfect day. Surely, this would be the day that the test launch would happen.
	Breakfast was oatmeal, ready-to-eat bacon crisped up a bit in the microwave, Diet Coke, and tea for Tom.
	Tom read and/or watched every bit of SpaceX news he could, waiting to learn if the launch would happen or not. The road to Boca Chica had been closed, the residents of Boca Chica had been evacuated, so it was looking pretty good.
	Nope. At 11:30 AM, we learned that the launch was scrubbed again due to lack of FAA approval, so we decided to pack up and leave. High winds were forecast again for the next day, and we needed to get back home.
	So, we left our perfect campsite with its perfect weather, ...
	... and drove to Isla Blanca State Park, just a little further south.
	We got to the main viewing waterfront where Cristo de los Pescadores stands watch ...
	... over the SpaceX fans, many of whom had left, but there were still people in folding chairs and sitting in their cars.
	This is supposed to be the best place from which to view test launches, and it certainly was great.
	There's Starship SN9 right on the pad, ...
	... and there is the main SpaceX facility to the right.
	Meanwhile, back on the Internet, the SpaceX fans were working themselves into a tizzy over what could have caused the latest scrub.
	We drove around the park, past the spot we had reserved in March for a trip that would no longer have to come this far south, so we cancelled the reservation when we got home.
	This lovely beach was completely deserted.
	Looking to the north from one of the parking lots, we saw the tall condos that we'd been seeing all week long, plus some shorter buildings as well. We knew that at least one of the SpaceX podcasts was broadcasting from one of these buildings, and a few days later, we confirmed it using this picture. But that's for later in our story, gentle reader.
	As we got on Queen Isabella Causeway, we waved goodbye to South Padre Island.
	So, we're driving ...
	... and we're driving ...
	... and we arrived in Port Isabel, home of this giant fish sculpture.
	Pretty lighthouse.
	This giant seahorse was ...
	... just one of many oversized sea creatures at one of Port Isabel's many tourist stores.
	We finally got a good picture of the Purple Heart Trail sign, which we had first seen a week earlier in Missouri.
	Another tourist store, another seahorse. Regular readers can quote Tom by now: "Chicks dig seahorses."
	The same store featured an impressive giant coral reef.
	This sign told us that this road was part of the Texas Tropical Trail.
	When we got to Harlingen, we added another "Taco" chain to our collection: ...
	.. the Taco Palenque we had passed four days earlier.
	Tom went with the enchiladas with amazing mole sauce while Debbie enjoyed the enchilades in verde sauce.
	Along the drive, we spotted a huge fire in the distance. We never did find out what it was - a prescribed burn, perhaps?
	We passed a trio of wild turkeys by the road.
	Here's a backward version of the common truck crossing sign.
	A gas tank welcomed us to Corpus Christi.
	We had learned a few days earlier that Whataburger was founded in Corpus Christi, so it was no surprise to see a huge billboard for "Whataburger by the Bay" as we approached the Corpus Christi seawall.
	We didn't stop there but we did get to see it from a distance.
	We also saw this gorgeous swordfish sculpture right across the street ...
	... from where we parked The Ocho.
	We walked along the Corpus Christi seawall.
	It has lovely benches along the street, ...
	... and seats on the other side facing the marina and out to sea.
	We visited the Selena Memorial.
	Here's a closer look, ...
	... and here's a statue of beautiful Selena.
	Among the plaza bricks are tiles from Selena's sister and brother-in-law, ...
	... parents,
	... and widower, Chris Perez.
	Back along the seawall, we passed this metal disc ...
	... and beautiful porcelain tile.
	Remember those fire ant bites Debbie got? Here's how they look after three days. Weird.
	On our way out of town, we passed the USS Lexington, now a museum.
	We chose the route that would keep us close to the water as long as possible.
	Wow, that's a very long windmill arm on that truck!
	Here's another ranch entrance sign.
	At Copano Bay, Debbie spotted Goose Island State Park across the water and decided to see if there were any empty campsites available.
	Goose Island State Park is just a few miles off the main route.
	These were the first two of many deer we saw in the park.
	We stopped at the ranger station and found a list of available sites, all along the water, ...
	... so Debbie stayed and held onto this one while Tom went back to pay for it.
	There was still time before sunset to get connected to electricity and water.
	There are additional campsites further south along the bay in the distance.
	Oysters line the water's edge in front of the campsites.
	We rarely do selfies, but an unexpected perfect campsite and sunset is a good reason to take one.
	As the sun was going down, ...
	... Debbie ran to get a picture of the campsites from behind to show the layout. When we first drove by, we spotted a raccoon here.
	A roseate spoonbill was out fishing in the darkening sky.
	Of course, we had to get a picture of our beautiful The Ocho in front of the gorgeous sky.
	Not a bad view from our bedroom window, huh?
	Not long after, the full moon appeared on the horizon.
	Such a pretty moon.
	Dinner was pad thai with fresh lime wedges leftover from our lunch the day before and diced chicken we brought from home.
	How's this for a feast?
	We took a short, pleasant walk further up the waterfront to the restrooms before we turned in for bed. Day 8 >