How is March for SouthPadre Island ?

Gorgegezzer · Since 14 Jan 2007 67 Posts

I can't wait for April. I am travelling around Arizona and then New Mexico, seeing the sites. From SW New Mexico, I will drive straight to SPI. I have researched SPI, including the past threads and SPI looks real good. Looks like some spring break times happening during March. I hope to get an RV spot in the large county park on the south end. I don't know if I can get into the small park at the north end. I don't know if they fill up or what I would do if they were full. I don't want to pay the higher pries of the KOA type parks. Hopefully, the weather and wind will be good. I don't how long I would want to stay. Thinking about heading for home sometime in April. Any weather, wind or RV camping info would be appreciated.

forrest · Tue Dec 28, 10 1:20 pm

We'll likely be down there somewhere as well so I say go for it! Don't forget to check out the spots around Corpus Christi as well on your way down.

tonyb · Tue Dec 28, 10 3:55 pm

Call Isla Blanca County Park (south end park) and see if you need reservations in March. Seems to me that there should be some space there during that time. Most of the spring break kids do the condo/hotel thing. If you arrive early in March you should be fine.

Worst case you can get in to one of the private RV parks just off the island in Port Isabel. Also possible to camp on the beach or on the side of Park Road 100 outside city limits but probably not worth doing it during spring break weeks.

March is usually pretty good for wind but can still have some chilly days. Bring a 3/2 full suit and a shorty. Generally 8/10m early in the month, 12/14m wind late in the month going in to April. Bring a twin tip and a surf board.

Tony

surfboy1968 · Since 17 Jun 2008 222 Posts south padre island Stoked

2nd week in March is Texas week for spring break, gets super crowded. Lots of spring breakers do camp at Isla Blanca Park, so it can get pretty crazy there. I would recommend the North part of the Island. As Tony said, we can get anything in March, usually a decent month for wind.

Gorgegezzer · Since 14 Jan 2007 67 Posts

I see the park rates for an RV park on the mainland is a lot less than County park on the Island. I guess I would be driving out to the beach to the north anyway. I want to practice a little on the bayside before trying the surf. I do have a board for the surf, although it is big and old (a 6'6" Naish). Not good enough yet to justify buying a new style directional. My twin tip Slingshot works great for me right now.

Are there certain places on the bayside and ocean side where people go to kite? Or do they just kite from wherever they are staying?

Again, thanks for the info. I am looking forward to being at a place where there is something to do, like kiteboard. There is not much out here in the Arizona desert for me. I hope as I travel to the east and New Mexico, it will get more interesting.

tonyb · Wed Dec 29, 10 12:34 pm

Forget spring, wind and waves are on now! and it's warm! Heading up to the jetty to ride my 6!

Gulf side (waves) you can kite just about anywhere. Only place we really don't go is right next to the jetty especially when the surfers are out. Respect their spot and everything else is pretty fair game. When there are lots of kids on the beach try to ride out at the third break so you don't get anyone stirred up and anxious. So far no written rules or regs, just good courtesy and safety are working.

Bay side there are two main spots. Primary is the North Flats just across from Beach Access 5. Next is the South Flats which is just north of the convention center. Or you can go farther north up Park Rd 100 and hike up just about anywhere. But not really any good kiting on the bay side anywhere near town.

Tony

Gorgegezzer · Since 14 Jan 2007 67 Posts

Looking at Google earth I was kind of guessing the bay access would be to the north. Thanks for the additional info, especially about riding out from the beach. Sounds right. I may make it by mid Feb. Hopefullly, it will still be good. I do have time though, so I can wait if needed.

fredf · Since 10 Jan 2009 80 Posts Eugene. Or

I imagine some of you Gorge people down at SPI got there by driving. I know it is one heck of a long way from PDX but it would be nice to haul a bunch of gear, so:
How far from Portland?
What is the best route (assuming no weather factors) and best places to overnite on the way?
Any roads or towns to definitely avoid?
Thanks.

tonyb · Thu Dec 30, 10 6:42 pm

We drive down from Stevenson each year. Have done it straight through a couple of times and taken our time a couple of times. I think it is about 36 to 40 hours of straight through driving. We made it once in 3 1/2 days stopping only to sleep. Seems like one time we left Portland on a Wednesday evening around 9 p.m. and were kiting Sunday afternoon at the flats in SPI.

Google maps shows shortest route is down through Utah and New Mexico but we've always gone south on I-5 through CA and cut across I-10. Depending on snow conditions through Utah and northern NM it might be worth going through CA as you only have to get over the Siskiyou's and the Grapevine.

Only thing we've ever really avoided is going through LA traffic during weekday traffic. Try to time it so you go through outside of rush hour or on the weekend. Also watch out for Phoenix and San Antonio rush hour traffic.

Lots of rest areas and Walmart parking lots along the way to stay at. Go here to see which Walmarts allow overnight parking and which don't: http://www.allstays.com/c/wal-mart-locations-map.htm

Most boring stretch to get through is New Mexico and west Texas. But I-10 through Texas has a lot of 70 mph and even 80 mph sections during daylight hours if you're driving something that doesn't suck gas too quickly.

Tony

fredf · Since 10 Jan 2009 80 Posts Eugene. Or

Thanks for the great advice Tony. Man, that is a long drive. I can see it will be worth it only if I stay a while (not a bad idea).
Too bad there isn't an inexpensive way to ship stuff down and back so one would have an assortment of gear but it appears to me that the overweight baggage charges on the airlines are about as cheap as it gets.

tonyb · Fri Dec 31, 10 12:41 pm

Yeah, you almost need to be here for three weeks to make the drive worth it.

Another option is to ship your stuff down by FedEx and it will be here when you arrive. I think Steve Fisher said it was about the same cost to do that as take on the airline and a whole lot less hassle of getting it to the airport and worrying about what they're going to charge. Do a search on here and you should be able to find the details on shipping stuff.

Tony