Matagorda Island

'Thick Brush' is the literal translation from spanish. I am not entirely sure why they called it so! Matagorda island is a good 180 miles south west of Houston, by the Gulf of Mexico. It was my pick for a 'less picnic-sy' and more 'solitud-ish'camp site for the June weekend. That is precisely was the websites told me.


















So after days of scheduling and re-scheduling and re-scheduling, Vikrant Gandhi, Kiran Unni and yours truly finally picked up our brand new camp equipment and hit the road on a super warm saturday morning. The idea was to hit the port by early afternoon, take the ferry to the island and spend the night there, in the company of mother nature and fellow campers. At least, that was the idea on paper!

2:00 PM - We arrive at port-o-connor after a thankfully uneventful drive, except for the weird, dark restrooms of that lonely gas station!

2:30 PM - we hit the water on Ron's fishing boat cum ferry. Easily the best part of the trip.











2:59 PM - I realize we forgot the beer. Thankfully Ron has backup in his ice box!



3:30 PM - kiran's home made pav bhaji ka jawab nahin!

(photo removed)

4:00 PM - After a furious battle with the user's manual, we finish setting up the tent - at least in our opinion!











5:30 PM - We begin the walk to the other side to say hello to the Gulf of Mexico. Little did we know at that time that it will be our longest and most terrifying hello ever!

7:15 PM - After losing our way 5 times and not spotting a single rattle snake (it was supposed to be the rattler's country), we are still a mile from the gulf....but at an interesting cross road and sign!

(photo removed)
















8:00 PM - After surprisingly not waking up any alligators on our way, here we are at the gulf. Hello!













8:45 PM - The sun is still out and surprise surprise, we are still alive...what better time for relief!












9:30 PM

after an entire day's vigil for rattle snakes and alligators, mother nature uses her alternate weapon of mass destruction on us....fire ants!!! shock & awe! as we tried to sneek in....
camping lesson 1A : Never pitch a tent on grass, if you have an option.

9:45 PM

Thats not all....surprise surprise, the other campers have called it a day. That means that we were the only homosapiens on that island for the night. Not exactly the saturday night plan we had....and with the ant revolution, it was time for a frantic call to ron the ferry guy!

10:15 PM

No sign of Ron's boat....but we had company....distant sound of Coyotes......(very) ugly! With Vikrant and a kitchen knife standing between us and a potential argument with a pack of wild coyotes.....we wait for the boat...which eventually docks in pitch darkness....with the help of a fancy gps system.

1:00 AM

Back home at the apartment. Red wine and fast food. Not the ideal camping night we had in mind, but hey....I am not complaining!