Thanksgiving at Matagorda Nature Center

Wednesday - Saturday, November 23 -26, 2016

We are off today to Matagorda Nature Center and Campground located on the Matagorda Pensinsula between a waterway and the Gulf of Mexico about 275 miles east and south of our location here in Kerrville.  Though we chose to leave the day before Thanksgiving, our travel down I-10 was fairly quick and the side roads south from I-10 mostly empty of traffic. My daughter Laurie and family, her in laws (Robert and Wanda), and friends of Laurie and Kyle (Tanner and Brandi and their children Lane, Chase and Tandi) along with us will all be together from today until Saturday morning to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday together. 

The Campground is located at the end of the Peninsula after driving over the tall bridge

The High Rent District 

and proceeding about 6 miles passed many summer homes built on stilts due to the rising of the tides from high tides and hurricanes.

The waterway side of the Peninsula

The campground also has a nature center and many covered tables and benches for picnics.  Since some of the beach area is quite compact, people take their trucks and cars to the beach for picnics and fishing.  No real swimming this time of year though day time temperatures are in the mid 70’s  to low 80’s day time and 60 to 70 at night.  Very comfortable for being outdoors especially at this time of year.

Lots of fishing here day and night.  I am surprised at the night time fishing but what would I know about fishing.  Even though I was raised on both the east and west coasts and spent much of my childhood at the beach and on boats, my family was not much into fishing.  We were clam diggers.

The campsites here are concrete pads with concrete patio and concrete table and bench next to each site and lots of space between sites.  A feature we really enjoy.  Our four campsites were two side by side on one road backed up to two side by side on the other road.  Our dinner meals were together with all of us at one site and the meat prepared by Kyle (my son in law) and friend, Tanner.  The rest of us brought the side dishes and did the clean up. 

The men and kids are off fishing for most of the days and evenings.  They catch a bunch of fish some of which is prepared for dinner on Friday night along with the turkey, etc. leftovers from Thanksgiving.  We also have a lunch meal of barbequed burgers with NM green chili which we provided.  Nothing like an afternoon on the beach with sand in your burger. 

Kyle and Tanner checking the burgers

Laurie with buns, Tanner, Kyle and Kaylee

Kyle watching the fishing lines from the truck

The water is warm enough for me to roll up my jeans and put my feet in but apparently warm enough for the kids to all get in the water to fish and play despite the small waves coming in and the wind.

Me getting my tootsies wet

The group sitting on the beach

Lane and Tandi in the waer

We return Saturday morning to Kerrville with traffic moving smoothly all the way.  It was wonderful to see the kids and grandkids whom we won’t see again until next October.

Garrett and Kaylee having fun