Whales in Texas?

We've been traveling pretty loose this week - taking the road as it comes, stopping when we feel like it and continuing to move when we choose. After spending the day in San Antonio along the river walk and at the Alamo, we decided to journey on just a bit further outside the city before settling in for the night. We drove for a distance and when we started to feel like stopping, we pulled out the trusty travel guide and the iPad and began searching for a hotel nearby. We began to get concerned when we realized that there were not only no hotels for quite some distance, but there were actually no towns either. We expanded our search a bit further and were able to find hotels but something seemed to be wrong as it appeared none were available for tonight. So I pulled out the phone and called one that seemed to be a possibility...

Me: I am wondering if you have any rooms available tonight?
Hotel: No ma'am (they all call me ma'am here), we are completely sold out.
Me: Could you tell me if something is going on in the area that all the hotels are full?
Hotel: It is because of the whales.
Me: Whales?
Hotel: Yes ma'am
Me: Whales in Texas?
Hotel: Yes ma'am, it is the oil whales (translation: wells) and we are full with whale (well) workers

So we have now realized that literally every hotel within 60 miles is completely sold out due to oil workers in the area - including the "Kuntry Inn" which we would have only considered under such serious circumstances. We are now taking a little side trip to Corpus Cristi which seems to be the only town within reasonable driving range that can put us up for the night. Though out of our way, the good news is that we will wake up at our hotel along the beach, and be able to enjoy a walk in the sand before we get back in the truck and complete our journey to McAllen, and to mom and dad.

You never know what to expect when taking a road trip - sometimes it might even be whales in Texas.