#10 Corpus Christi and Environs……

Hoping to escape some of the dreary weather in the Rio Grande Valley, we drove about 140 miles north to Corpus Christi and for our efforts were rewarded with what the weatherman called “the worst weather day so far this winter”. That day included a predicted 4 inches of rain (we got about 2) and sustained 30mph winds (I would guess they were not quite that high). Not to worry, though, since we are expecting a few days of sunshine before returning to overcast skies and showers in the area most of next week!

We spent one interesting afternoon on the self-guided tour of the WWII Aircraft Carrier, USS Lexington – The Blue Ghost.

It’s interesting that the US has had warships with the Lexington name dating back to the Civil War. The Lexington CV-16 was commissioned in 1943, replacing the CV-2 Lexington that was lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1943. The Lexington was decommissioned in 1991 and donated to the National Park Service in 1993, and is now at anchor in Corpus Christi Bay.

The self-guided tour takes you from the bridge and flight deck, complete with WWII era fighter planes as well as more recent jet aircraft, to the sick bay, to the galley and Captain’s quarters and everything in between. Numerous displays depicted the various areas of the ship. After walking the well laid out tour path, you wondered how the sailors avoided getting lost in the maze of passages, ladders, and twists and turns. The ship is about the size of a modern day cruise ship and typically had a crew of over 1000 men.

We spent another day at the Texas State Aquarium. Located right on the Bay, the new modern building housing the Aquarium has a dolphin training area, and several large tanks with fish and aquatic mammals.

We liked the dolphins and river otter exhibits. Two of the three performing dolphins were on a rotation program and came from the Brookfield zoo. Most of the fish exhibits were less than spectacular, though perfectly adequate. Petting the rays and watching the female otter scold her companion was interesting, and the short presentation and up close and personal exhibition of birds of prey, including a Swainson’s Hawk, a Bald Eagle, and an owl was also quite interesting.