For weeks I have looked across the 8 miles of Corpus Christi bay at the huge oil rig being built at the ship yard in Ingleside, Tx.  Today I was finally going to get the chance to see it up close.  I drove the 20 miles around to the north side of the bay and launched at the public ramp at Ingleside Cove.  The recent cold front had left us with a 10-15 mph north wind, bright sunshine, and afternoon temps in the high 50's to mid 60's.  Almost immediately after launching, the rig dominated my view to the north.  I paddled, stopped for a picture, paddled closer, stopped for another picture, and finally got within 20 yards for some really closeup pictures and a chance to read its name "BP Thunder Horse".  I then headed south down the La Quinta Channel towards the Corpus Christi Ship Channel.  I took a short detour through the cut between the two La Quinta spoil islands for a look across Corpus Christ Bay.  I then paddled the La Quinta Channel to its intersection with the CC Ship Channel and turned east toward the Gulf.  I paddled over to the Naval Station (home to Mine Warefare group) and after a brief discussion with one of their patrol boats I was allowed to paddle past the docks as long as I stayed out in the main ship channel (not where I usually like to be in my kayak).  I only got a little way past the docks when the increasing wind and the rougher water in the channel convinced me it was time to turn around.  As I turned into the La Quinta Channel on the way back I was again struck by how the huge rig dominated the view.  I hope I get a chance to see it being towed out to sea when construction is finished.