Day 44: A Trip to South Padre Island (Part 2 of 2)

As Michigan residents we have been spoiled by our beautiful Great Lakes and the pristine beaches and sparkling waters they offer us.   Therefore, the beaches and waters of  South Padre Island here in Texas did not impress us much.  However, deep sea fishing is available here.  Also, in Michigan we do not have sea turtle rescue centers like you will see below.

We climbed a sand dune and here is Karen with the western horizion behind her.

This is at the end of the paved road north of town looking east into the Gulf.

The beaches near the water were covered with thousands of small sea shells.

Back in town we stopped at Sea Turtle, Inc.  It is a nonprofit sea turtle rescue center.

This huge old girl Green Turtle had a front flipper bit off by a shark and will never be returned to the wild.  They have built her a removable prothesis so she does not always have to swim in circles.  She will be featured in an upcoming PBS Special about injured animals.

This little guy was waiting to be released.

This male had a rear fin bitten off by a predator.

And here is poor Walter who is in intensive care - really.  On a night when the water was too cold he came ashore and they think a coyote worked him over before giving up

 

All five species of Sea Turtles in the Gulf are endangered or threatened.  The center operates by donations.  We found the center to be the most interesting attraction on the Island.