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We have developed a habit, a rather addictive one, around the holidays. We like to spend them wandering aimlessly along the beach. It started in 2004 when we left the day after Christmas for Kino Bay, Mexico. The temperatures were mild, the water cool and the beaches empty, in other words—perfect. In 2005 we were in California where we watched the sunrise light up Carpinteria beach on Christmas morning. This Christmas was spent along the Gulf Coast of Texas at Goose Island State Park.

The Park’s 321 acres are located at the southern tip of the Lamar Peninsula. The peninsula and small community of Lamar were named in 1839 after Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second president of the Republic of Texas.

It was a shameless attempt to earn the President’s favor, which almost worked. Several huge storms and the Civil War (known as “The War Between the States” down here) eradicated the town. Now the small community of Lamar consists of modest vacation homes. The Park has two sections, one is a small area around the Big Tree while the other stretches from the tip of the peninsula onto Goose Island.

The Big Tree, a coastal live oak (Quercus virginiana), was well worth a visit. It is estimated to be close to 2,000 years old, is 44’ tall and shades an immense area with it’s 90’ crown. Under the shelter of its branches the Karankawa Indians used to gather for councils, pirates rendezvoused and later, settlers also congregated. Clearly, this old tree has seen it all. As we wandered around the tree, Lance and I mused about all the storms it has weathered, we wondered how it got there (it was clearly the oldest tree on the peninsula) and we wished it could talk. Of course, it would have so much to say that it would probably never shut up, on second thought, scratch that wish.

Goose Island State Park has many things to offer: birds, fish, oysters, nature trails, nice private campsites in the woods, open campsites on the island, kid’s play area, large picnic area, boat ramp, and a 1,620’ long fishing pier; but it no longer has a beach.

We were a little disappointed because the Park used to have a beach (it says so in the brochures). But what do you expect of a glorified sand bar? Which is what Goose Island is. It began hundreds of years ago as an oyster reef. The mound of shells began to collect windblown sand, eventually there was enough sand for a plant to take root and voilà , it became an island.

Goose Island still exists for two reasons, one it is fairly well-protected and two, the Park Service continually adds crushed oyster shells to the high part of the island. It is a small island at the confluence of two shallow bays, the St. Charles and the Aransas, all of which is protected by San Jose Island, a barrier island that takes the brunt of the Gulf’s wrath.

Maybe you’ve heard of Aransas Bay, it’s the wintering home of the endangered Whooping Cranes. There are over 200 of them now, and counting. We looked for them every day, and didn’t see any.

When I say the bays are shallow, I’m not kidding, they have an average depth of 3’. Wearing waders, anglers could walk almost a mile from shore to fish. The area is a fishing, oystering, crabbing and duck hunting paradise (if you are into that kind of stuff). Small thatched duck hunting blinds dot the bays and hunters can wade or boat out to the blinds with their retriever dogs and blast sweet innocent balls of feathers from the sky.

I learned that in order to keep the sport (sport?) fair the hunter can’t shoot a duck in the water, it has to be in the air. Besides, if he did shoot at a duck in the water, and miss, the bullet could hit a rock and ricochet back and hit the hunter. So in the interest of fairness and safety…

We endured several very early mornings when the blasts from the guns woke us up. It was a bit disconcerting to even walk around at times, what if that guy (no, I’m not being sexist, they were all men, wonder why) had a bad aim? What if the duck veered my direction? Strange. Walking past the cleaning station was no picnic either. I am used to them being used for fish but apparently you can clean ducks there too. I can still see all the little gorgeous feathered murder victims lined up at the cleaning station. At least they were going to be eaten, their death providing life.

The anglers we observed on the fishing pier had great luck; we saw them pull in Sheepshead, Speckled Trout and Red Drum (the Sheepshead is also known as “Convict Fish” because of its black and white stripes). We had our first taste of Red Drum (a.k.a Red Fish or Red) thanks to the generosity of fellow RVers and it was delicious! So light and flaky. (Thanks Nancy and Denny!)

Needless to say the birds love the shallow, fertile bays. There were times when it looked like the birds were walking on water, it was so shallow. They would fly way out in the bay and then land on a sandbar where the water only came up to their little bird ankles.

I won’t bore you with all the birds we saw, just the highlights: Crested Caracara, Redhead Duck, Common Goldeneye, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Long-billed Curlew and a Clapper Rail. Our Clapper Rail may be the most controversial (welcome to the world of birding), some birders don’t believe that we saw what we saw but I have pictures.

I guess very few have been seen this year, just one of many anomalies in the birding world. Climate change seems to be the culprit, it has stayed warmer longer in some places disrupting migration patterns. Our Rail didn’t seem bothered by the changes, he just ate bright red Christmas Berries until the plant was bare.

Speaking of Christmas, ours was a lovely, quiet one. We enjoyed a long walk even though it was drizzling, we phoned family and then we curled up with our cats in our little home and relaxed. Perfect.

Photos: View our photo album: Goose Island State Park.

Dates: We stayed at Goose Island State Park from 12/23/06 to 12/30/06.