Fredericksburg, Texas Auslander Restaurant and Biergarten

Friday August 30, Stacy needs to drop off his grand daughter in Fredericksburg, Texas, so we decided to meet up there for a dinner date!  Fredericksburg is a German settlement and the main street tends to roll up pretty early, most shops closed by 5 pm and many restaurants as well.  Luckily, it was recommended we go to the Auslander Restaurant and Biergarten, which was open.  AND YUMMMM!   I wasn't anticipating much and let me tell you.....I was wonderfully pleased!

I'm not into sausage and was worried initially because the menu was full of sausage.  But then my eye hit upon.....sauerbraten!!!   Sauerbraten with gingersnap gravy no less.....and in choosing sides I went with the red cabbage and the spatzle of course, being a noodle fiend.

The food came out but no picture cause we had retired our phones for the meal time.  No disappointment, that's for sure!  The Sauerbraten was rolled with pickles and onion and tasted PERFECT!   Just the way I remember mom making it.  Red cabbage with a hint of cinnamon and sweetness was excellent and the spatzle was the perfect compliment to the very tangy, flavorful plateful.  I was in heaven and had way too much food.  Stacy helped a bit but I still had plenty to take home for another meal.

Stacy had sausage and sauerkraut and green beans.  He loved it, said was the best restaurant he'd been to...and he decided red cabbage (which he hesitantly took a bite of) was better than sauerkraut.

So, two thumbs WAY up if you are looking for authentic German food in Fredericksburg, Texas....this was the best I've had here by far and this was the third German restaurant I've eaten at here.

DAY TEN: Cruising around

Our final full day on the island.....I had peaked with exposure to people and at Stacy's insistence I drove in to Port Aransas and did some shopping on my own, searching for souvenirs or some goodies to take home.  I went to about every store in Port Aransas, tourist store that is.  Then I drove to the south end of the island to North Padre and looked at the stores there.  After about 3.5 hours I headed back to the condo.

Loved all the little housing communities that were painted pretty colors.  Took this while driving into Port A.

Our final meal was at SHRIMPS where I had a crab cake burger.....good...and with the most yummy coleslaw.  Cabbage, dried cranberries, pineapple and some nuts.  REALLY good and unusual.

DAY NINE: Walking in the rain....

Hit the beach just after 8 for our hour walk....only to have little soft raindrops hit us occasionally.  Looking back over our shoulders, we saw a black cloud on the horizon extending over us.  At about the halfway point, the sky decided to open and we were showered with fresh water, which was actually kind of refreshing....when it wasn't hurting, those little pelting drops!  The sun hovered at the edge of the cloud and though we got soaked, by the end of our walk, the rain had stopped and the sun was bathing us again!  Was nice, actually!  We had left our towels and my little bag with books against our "camp" so when we got back, I set to task assessing the damage and drying books in the sun.  They'll survive but they are definitely sporting  signs of water damage.  Naughty librarian!

After grabbing a quick bowl of yogurt, fruit and cereal, we camped ourselves on the beach for quite a while.....SUNSHINE!  Beautiful weather, not too hot, a gorgeous breeze and sun!  The ocean was good for a workout and relaxation as usual.  We probably headed back to the room around 1:30, grabbed a snack, napped/read/relaxed then hit the pool following.

I tend to prefer the beach/ocean to a pool, especially a public pool, however it was nice to get wet and not have sand/salt in crevices.  The hot tub was pretty luxurious too, great, hard jets and this waterfall coming out of the wall.  Didn't look like anything special but if you got under it, it hit your shoulders and neck.  Leaning my head over....pure luxury.

Back to the room, clean up a bit, guys head down to the beach to take the canopy down and as I peek off the balcony I see them sitting there doing the guy bonding thing, so here I am blogging, trying to get caught up a bit.  We are going to head out to dinner with Joe and Susie tonight, but not sure where yet.  Will update that and review the restaurant soon.

Update and review....dinner was at Port A Pizzeria, one the "usuals" the guys go to each visit.  They do a buffet and honestly is pretty darn good and you absolutely get your money's worth.  It's something like $8.99 per person, add a drink and then everything is unlimited.  There is a salad bar as well as a pasta/pizza bar which included dessert pizzas.  Oh!  And a soft serve ice cream dispenser, which I totally missed because I was just way too full.  The pizzas I tried were all good and fresh (due to the huge family that came through right before us and wiped all the pizza out!).  I had to try the desserts and just the cinnamon and the cherry were available at the time and were excellent, think the cinnamon won out.  The apple wasn't filled when I was trying but looked like apple pie somewhat and probably was great.  The chocolate didn't hold any interest for me....looked like pudding on a sweet crust but I didn't try it so can't honestly say.

DAY EIGHT: Corpus Christi, Texas

Woke this morning to peek at the beach and our cabana (becomes a habit) and only the cabana was left.  We had taken to locking up all our nice chairs, chaining them together with a bike chain and lock, THREE decent sized chairs and a couple others.  Nothing under the cabana but there were tire tracks.  Someone went to a lot of trouble to get those things.....had to be awkward but apparently they needed them more than we did.

Lazy day, we had slept in a bit and used the morning to do a load of laundry and veg out basically.

So.....that played a bit into our plans for the day.....a trip into Corpus Christi was in order.  I've never been on the ferry that takes the cars across and was absolutely stunned that there is no cost for this.  No wait, we simply drove to the ferry crossing and onto the ferry and moments later were deposited into Corpus.

Was afternoon by this point and we were hungry so we had an early dinner/late lunch at Joe's Crab Shack.....yummy mahi and salmon!  Then on to Academy to grab a couple sling chairs to get us through the rest of the trip.

DAY SEVEN: DOLPHINS!!!!

The morning started with a trip to Cancun Mexican Restaurant for their breakfast tacos....good and very inexpensive.  Then, on to the feature....

The big event of the day was the dolphin watching.  We went to Deep Sea Headquarters for their dolphin watch tour.  While we were waiting to load, we had some incredible photo ops.

This is my favorite picture.  This guy flew a seagull off to pose for me.  I think it looks like a painting.

Great photo ops....even got the reflection.

Stacy is enthralled with the flip video and is trying it out today.  Here he is taking a video of me taking a picture of him.  Joe and Susie in the background.

As we board Captain Kelly sees us on.  He and his wife were our crew and very nice.

Polly Anna. A 96-foot steel catamaran-style shrimp boat, it’s among the most imposing vessels in the harbor. And it’s actually the third in a line of Polly Annas, all owned by John Nixon of Port Aransas.

 One of our first dolphin sightings....most were like this, so the Captain told us that dolphins like to surf and we were going to ride along side a large boat they were surfing in front of.  Sure enough.....looked like a school of five dolphins.

 This is the boat that was "pushing" the waves for the dolphins.

 Lydia Ann Lighthouse

Susie and Joe

 Stacy enjoying the ride and knowing his pics being taken....

 Coming back in to the wharf.

Amazing day and traipsing through the shops in Port A as well a bit.  Then back to the condo.  We sat out on the beach from 5 pm - 11 pm enjoying the beauty.  During the evening, more of Stacy and Joe's old friends came.  Robbie from Petersburg, who was a bit ahead of Stacy in school, and his wife Linda.  Also showing up at the same time was Dee, a friend that lives blocks from the house in San Antonio.

DAY SIX: Susie's Birthday!

August 20 brought Susie's 60th birthday....and rain and thunderstorms.  Our little cabana was the lone cabana left on the beach.  We spent the day lounging around, playing on the internet, watching TV.  The guys ran into town and got Susie a cake and Stacy brought me back a COMB!  Somehow I had left my wide tooth comb at home and have been finger combing up until this point, which with curlies probably is best, honestly.

Tonight was the official full moon, blue moon, fullest at 946 pm.  We sat on beach with Joe and Susie and watched, chatted.  Not much in the way of pics....just one of Joe and Susie watching questionable TV while Stacy lays on the floor to get his shoulder to the ground....that in itself is therapy but clavicle is healing, well but slowly and painfully.

DAY FIVE: BEACH!!!

Today was a beach day all day....started with our morning walk and again we collected goodies.  Below is a pic of what we have collected so far....no need to buy beach toys, is there?  The purple bags are produce bags I think.  We found two and they are perfect for beach things cause you can dunk them in the water to rinse the toys off.  Of course, I collect things like shells and driftwood......

Below is our set up on the beach.  We leave it at night, locking up the chairs.  People seem pretty good here, we haven't been bothered.  Notice Joe's rental on the beach.  What blew me away is the cars drive on the beach!  I've never been around that, Stacy said maybe it's just a Texas thing.  But they do....drive right up and empty their stuff out....lots of fishermen do that, trucks parked rear to the water and they work their day out of the bed of the truck.

Tonight is ALMOST the full moon.  Joe plans this trip so that a full moon always hits during the dates.  This moon was a Blue Moon....apparently there are two full moons per cycle and this cycle happened to have three which isn't extremely common.  We definitely saw a change in the tide and waves, it was fun to observe.  We came down to the beach and sat for hours, talking and just enjoying the beauty to witness this.

DAY FOUR: Playing tourist sunday

Woke to this sunrise, a bright yellow halo around the rising sun. Not a bad view off the balcony.

Started the day with our usual one hour walk on beach, picking up treasures and snapping pictures along the way. Stacy is so patient with me as I constantly am stopping to look at things or take pictures. This morning we found this lovely sand castle that made it through the night. Sake bomb it proclaims. Check out the arches on this thing. Someone knew sand architecture.

Stacy wanted to show me Port Aransas, I had never been in the town nor even knew it was here!  So in we went......TOURIST TIME!  We hit some wonderful touristy stores, my favorite being the one with all the seahorses outside.....

Stacy standing guard over my seahorses.  Doesn't it make you want a seahorse lollipop?

Check out this sunset we caught off the front balcony.

Tonight a friend of Joe and Stacy's joined us. They've known him for 30 years. Jess and his wife Terry from New Jersey. Dinner was at Kody's....yum!  Jody was walking around and brought us a sample of a rib eye he'd just pulled off the grill. Freaking amazing. We'd already ordered so the shrimp basket was it and yes, yummy. 

Then....stop at the IGA for some groceries before heading back to the condo. A grocery with a fun house mirror????  Yup. I'm surprised we didn't get kicked out we were laughing so hard and getting goofy.

DAY THREE: Beach and friends!

August 17, Joe's 56th birthday dawned beautiful!  Stacy and I came prepared with cookies, candy, sweets....some of Joe's favorites apparently....along with cards to put out throughout the day.  After all, birthdays are for celebrating, all day long!

Stacy, my beach boy

Stacy, Susie, Joe.  Beautiful day at the beach.

Texting me while we sit feet away from each other.  

 Joe and Susie, the Happy Couple....It's Joe's birthday

This afternoon, Jess and Terry joined us.  The guys have known Jess for 30 years, they all worked at ADP together.  They jetted in from New Jersey to hang at the beach for a couple days then to San Antonio to see Jess' family.

Dinner was at PORT ARANSAS BREWING COMPANY.....burgers on homemade bunx.  Apparently the owners have BEACH which is a BBQ and bakery in town as well.  Hamburgers were good.....the brewing company part was lost on all of us non-drinkers but they did have some incredible sounding beers!

DAY TWO: Mustang Island, Texas

Day Two, the first full day on Mustang Island.  Woke about 8 am this morning and hit the coffee button while Stacy cut, buttered and heated banana bread for us.  8 was sleeping in, due to the fact we are on vacation.  We hit the beach and WALKED.....which is very different from walking on the hard ground wearing sneakers.  Barefoot, sand pushing against your feet, muscles you didn't have the day before groaning at you.

My first question of the day was....what the heck is this white stuff all over the beach.  Literally ALL OVER.  I think it looks like fish bones but it's not.  Stacy calls it "sea rice" but that doesn't yield anything on a Google search.  So I put the question out to my ever so knowledgeable Facebook friends but nothing.  If anyone reading this has a clue, let me know what it is!

I was so sure I was going to find a treasure on the beach and actually, what we found are purple mesh bags.  Produce probably came in them but they are perfect for the beach, making it simple to wash sand off in the surf.  That was the big physical find of the day.  BUT.....the jellyfish and the sand hill crane were the finds that we are going to remember via picture.

This jellyfish is gorgeous, pink along the rippled ridge and a lovely blue.  And dead!!!  Just don't want to run into his friends in the ocean.

The sand hill crane was hanging out with the fishermen, bothering them.  When we approached, the crane started walking down the beach, leading our walk.  Incredible how close we got.  

Back to condo, snack (all that beach walking took a lot out of us so we had to have a bit of yogurt with strawberries and a high protein cereal).  Now, to the beach in earnest.  Stacy and I spent quite a bit of time in the gulf, bobbing around like buoys mainly.  I attempted to "body surf" if you could call it that, the waves were kind of pitiful.  Regardless, the ocean is such a relaxer for me, refreshing, washing away cares and worries.  I think in the last 24 hours I've laughed and been goofier, freer than I have ever been with Stacy and he's still ok with me.  This one is the keeper.  Vacation was definitely on the doc's prescription pad and it's only the start.  

Sitting in the sun. sandwiches on the beach, ocean spray.  What a perfect day.  About 3 pm Stacy deemed it time to show me Port Aransas so we drove the approximately 10 miles into town.  Port Aransas is located on the north end of Mustang Island.   

We headed first to the Dennis Dryer Municipal Harbor.  As you head into the harbor, you can drive your car onto the ferry to cross onto Hwy 361.  Free, apparently, that blew my mind.  Anyway....into the harbor.  

A few pictures and I have to say my favorite is of the bikes.....totally unusable, one no chains, all so rusted they hurt, seats broken off, etc.  Just saw an artistic opportunity and loved it.

Next we drove through the Nature Preserve at Charlie's Pasture then had to go past the Port Aransas Library, of course.  No need to explain that one!

Back to the condo, time for a nap and to regroup, then I cleaned a pound of raw shrimp and made whole wheat pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, zucchini and shrimp.  Friends of Stacy and Joe's joined us for dinner.  The guys have known Jess for about 30 years and his wife joined us as well....straight from New Jersey.

Immediately after dinner we headed to the beach to watch the sunset and just enjoy the evening.  

Stacy completely spoiled me by rubbing my feet.....had to be well over an hour.  I lay at his feet on the beach, foot lifted to his lap as he used my Bath and Body Works body cream in some decadent scent, to massage my feet.  I've never been pampered like this, touched with love the way he does.  And not just for a bit.  I feel guilty in a way but I completely appreciate it and tell him so.  Did I say mention he is the keeper?  What a lovely way to end the day.  Being pampered.  Watching families armed with flashlights walk the beach and chase big crabs.  Listening to the waves crash on the shore with the love of my life.  Perfect day all the way around.  We must have sat out there engulfed in nature for three hours, appreciating the beauty.  Then up for a shower to get the salt and sand off.....and now I'm using the lobby WiFi for blogging, Susie is snoozing, and Stacy and Joe are having guy time.  

Looking forward to Day Three. 

DAY ONE: Travel time!!

Travel is key for the day.

We got out on the road about 1 pm. On our way into town we stopped to pick up groceries and a snack. Stopping at Sonic, we got a kick out of the fact that one entire side of this Sonic has no intercoms to order!!  

Eventually we arrive at our home for the next 10 days, The Seagull. Surprise of the day?  One elevator broken leaving one working elevator for all staff and guests. Should be interesting!!

The condos front doors are on the street side of the complex, with the condo extending the entire building with the balcony having an incredible view of the beach....we are on 11th floor. 

Hanging out on the balcony I was stunned when a pelican flew by, practically through the balcony. Couldn't move to grab my camera and take a picture. BUT....did manage to do so when the seagulls descended. Turns out the people the floor below were tossing out bread. This was out of the movie BIRDS it seemed. 

The following picture we just happened to catch.....out the front door we look across to Corpus Christi.  The sun was setting and seeing the buildings of the city inside the setting sun was amazing.  Captured what I could.

Before too long, off to the beach to set up the canopy for the stay.  Here's Stacy and Joe at work.....you will see the final product later in the week.

Looking forward to another day of vaca!