One of the best uses for my Garmin GPSMAP76 and my MetroGuide software is in laying out directions to find remote and hard to find kayak launch sites. I can pinpoint start and end points on my map and the software will lay out the quickest or shortest driving route just like Mapquest...but if I plug the GPS into the car and turn on the route, it will beep just before every turn to guide me right to the put in. Was able to easily put together a Kayak Launch guide for the Corpus Christi area as indicated below with referenced lat/long readings that was useful for new members in our local kayak club. Would be great if other areas would do this for out-of-town paddlers: Corpus Christi Kayak Launch Sites: 1. Tip of North Beach on Corpus Christi Bay Take CROSSTOWN EXWY/TX-286 N going NE Take the exit toward US-181/SHORELINE BLVD. [IMAGE]0.16 miles Merge onto I-37 S. & take Harbor Bridge[IMAGE]0.45 miles Merge onto US-181 N toward TX-35/PORTLAND. [IMAGE]2.18 miles Take the exit toward BEACH ST. [IMAGE]0.09 miles Stay straight to go onto E CAUSEWAY BLVD. [IMAGE]0.12 miles Turn RIGHT onto GULFSPRAY AVE. [IMAGE]0.14 miles Turn LEFT onto N. Shoreline Blvd (last steet before Bay) Drive to the end just past the restroom parking lot Park right at the waters edge and launch to left of fishing rocks. N27d49.959m, W97d22.782m Protected from N winds; open to SE winds. Can paddle west along North Beach to the Lexington Aircraft Carrier, or east and under the bridge into Nueces Bay, or east over to Indian Point in Portland. 2. L-Head, downtown Corpus on the Bay Take Ocean Drive N past Holiday Inn and McGee Beach Turn RIGHT at Coopers Aly and drive down the L-Head Keep to Left, past restroom, park to Left by 2 floating docks Can launch kayaks from the launch in protected marina water. N27d47.490m, W97d23.377m Can paddle north within the breakwater along the city to the main Harbor entrance, and then across the ship channel around the Lexington Aircraft Carrier and along North Beach. Or can paddle north out the first break water entrance and south past the Holiday Inn and along the homes on Shoreline Drive. 3. McGee Beach downtown Corpus Christi Take Ocean Drive N past Holiday Inn, McGee beach on right Park on Ocean Drive, carry kayaks down steps to beach N27d47.073m, J97d23.631m Protected from S & SE winds; open to E & N winds. 4. Emerald Beach at Holiday Inn, downtown Corpus Take Ocean Drive N, turn right into Holiday Inn At bottom of hill, stay right and park to south of Hotel Carry Kayak down stairs to Emerald Beach N27d46.900m, W97d23.612m Protected from S and SE winds; open to E and NE winds 5. Cole Park on Corpus Christi Bay Take Ocean Drive N and just before Ayers, take last entrance to the right into Cole Park (just past Open Theater). Drive all the way down to the beach right by the Condominium marina. N27d46.567m, W97d23.480m Park close to the water and launch at the beach. Open to SE, E, and NE winds/waves. 6. Marker 37 by Snoopies on Padre Island Take S PADRE ISLAND DR/TX-358 E southeast past Flour Bluff Where S PADRE ISLAND DR/TX-22 E becomes S PADRE ISLAND DR/JOHN F KENNEDY MEMORIAL CSWY When bridge from Flour Bluff touches down on Padre Island, take first exit to right, stay to left and drive past Snoopies restaurant parking over to boat launch ramp at Marker 37. Launch kayak at boat launch in protected waters. Ramp at N27d37.951m, W97d14.504m 7. Packery Channel Park on Padre Island Park entrance road is the last road to the right on Highway P22 before taking the causeway north leaving Padre Island (by the Visitor Center). Follow the road east past Playa Del Ray to the water, staying to the left and going north to the small dirt boat launch ramp. Protected launch. N27d37.801m, W97d13.099m Can paddle SW along the channels to the homes, or NE under the causeway and then south along Packery Channel Park and homes further south. 8. Port Aransas Boat Launch Ramp Going south on the causeway onto Padre Island, turn RIGHT onto Highway 361 to Port Aransas. Follow 361 through Port Aransas, and just before the entrance to the Ferry Dock, turn right into the Marina where the large double boat launch ramp is. You can park close to the ramp and launch into protected waters. Ramp at N27d44.155m, W97d8.045m Paddle out of the Marina, and NE keeping San Jose Island to your right, to the Liddia Anne Channel lighthouse. 9. Port Aransas Beach Going south on the causeway onto Padre Island, turn RIGHT onto Highway 361 to Port Aransas. Where Highway 361 takes a sharp LEFT, continue straight ahead on W Alister Street. Turn RIGHT on Beach Street and follow it to the Gulf where it dead ends on Port Aransas Beach Road. Park and launch anywhere on the beach. 10 . Lighthouse Trails, Port Aransas Lighthouse Trail on Highway 361 just 1 mile west of the Ferry Landing at Port Aransas. Trail entrance on your left driving north. N27d51.439m, W97d4.803m 11. Shamrock Cove boat launch just before Port Aransas Going south on the causeway onto Padre Island (Highway P22), turn RIGHT onto Highway 361. Go about 10 miles (about half way to Port Aransas) and turn left to Wilson Cut where you can launch to paddle to Shamrock Island. It is a dirt road on the left just opposite and past the last multistory condominium on the right. You can probably see fishing boat cars and trailers parked by the boat launch area. Road entrance at N27d44.155m, W97d8.045m Paddle NW out the cut, and then N to Shamrock Island 12. Gulf of Mexico on Padre Island Going south on the causeway onto Padre Island, continue straight past Highway 361 intersection on Highway P22 toward the National Seashore. Just before the entrance to the National Seashore, turn left and follow the road to the beach. You can park and launch anywhere on the beach from here to Bob Hall Pier about 9 miles north driving on the beach. N27d30.402m, W97d115.589m 13. National Seashore Bird Island Basin Going south on the causeway onto Padre Island, continue straight past Highway 361 intersection on Highway P22 to the National Seashore. Just after the entrance to the National Seashore, turn RIGHT to Bird Island Basin. Can park and launch anywhere along the Laguna Madre or at the boat launch ramp. 14. Ingleside Texas Parks & Wildlife Boat Launch Ramp >From Harbor Bridge, go east on Highway 181/35 Turn RIGHT on Highway 361 towards Ingleside Turn RIGHT on Highway 1069 to the bay Boat Launch Ramp at County Highway 127 N27d50.373, W97d13.238 15. Aransas River by Bayside >From Harbor Bridge, go east on Highway 181/35 Turn LEFT on Highway 136 Go past Bayside, turn LEFT on Highway 1360 Turn Left on River Road just before the sign to Bonnie View (Farm Road 629 at N28d09.214m, W97d18.190m)drive all way (small dirt road) to river. Launch at boat launch on the river. Great paddling in either direction on the river; minimal current. Lots of birds and wildlife (alligators, deer, javelina, wild hogs). 16. Lake Corpus Christi State Park Take Highway 37 North to Exit 34 Go NW on Highway 459 Spur Go LEFT or SW on Highway 359 Business (not 359) Where Highway 359 Business takes a sharp LEFT, turn RIGHT onto Highway 1068, following Highway 1068 to the LEFT (Aransas Street) Turn RIGHT onto State Park Road 25 into the state park (N28d3.502m, W97d51.975m) Follow the signs to the boat launch ramp Lake is about 15 miles long, with the dam at the southern end 17. Hazel Bazemore State Park on the Nueces River Take Highway 37 North from Corpus Christi Take Highway 77 South Turn RIGHT on Farm Road 624 at 5 Points Turn RIGHT on Canal Road to enter State Park (N27d51.408m, W97d38.637m Follow the road on down to the river boat launch ramp Paddle east on the Nueces River past summer homes through heavily treed woodlands 18. Goose Island State Park Take Highway 35 from Corpus Christi through Rockport, across the Copano Bay Bridge. Turn RIGHT on State Park Road 13. (N28d8.371m, W97d00.380m) Enter the State Park and follow signs to the boat launch. Paddle E and N to Charles Bay, or SE to Aransas Bay, the NE along the Intercoastal Waterway to view Whooping Cranes on the left. For pictures of the above paddling areas around Corpus Christi go to http://community.webshots.com/user/johnsonkw1 For more information or kayak rentals contact Johnsonkw_at_earthlink.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Protect your PC - Click here for McAfee.com VirusScan Online *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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