Thursday March 21

Last night we checked online for availability at Sea Rim State Park not far south from our current location. Nothing was available so we decided to look into it more in the morning. The attendant at the State Park where we stayed offered to call and see what availability there was for camping. Primitive camping on the beach is the only thing available. We are full on water and an empty waste tank so we decide to drive to Sea Rim and stay maybe one night.

On our way through Beaumont we stop for food supplies at a grocery store chain, Market Basket. The service and friendliness of all the employees was impressive. It was a good stop. Now on to Sea Rim State Park. At one point one was able to drive down the Texas Coast just south of Beaumont all the way down. Various hurricanes over the years brought that to a halt and now the road dead ends just beyond Sea Rim. The road to Sea Rim passes through petrol chemical industrial areas for miles, but about 20 miles before Sea Rim the area becomes more natural.

Sea Rim is a small State Park right on the Gulf. The formal sites with hookups are small and close together. The beach is a much better option.  To our delight we are camped along a three mile stretch of beach that is hard enough to drive on and pull the camper. Our closest camping neighbor is more than a mile down the beach. Beautiful spot.

Once done setting up the campsite we enjoy the beach and shore birds then we drive about 5 miles to a birding spot owned and maintained by a local ornithological club. It’s not a large site yet has the only woods for miles. It is a hot spot for migrating birds. We are a bit early for the migrating birds yet we saw a Louisiana water thrush which is a first for both of us. There were a variety of frogs, alligators, and red eared sliders (turtles). Back at the beach from our campsite we observed willets, royal terns, sandwich terns, laughing gulls, brown pelicans, plus lots more.

We will spend another night here and enjoy our private beach.