Day 18-19 -To Sam Houston Jones State Park, Louisiana My AirBNB in Beaumont was ideal. It was a separate apartment (above a garage that was used only for storage). The walls were beadboard and had been painted mellow colors. It had a nice deck that overlooked the host’s backyard pool. It even had beer in the frig, Texas micro brew pale ale. I snagged a couple for Brian. Perfect. There was a washer and dryer Read more…
Day 18—Second Crack at Anahuak and High Island Weather was perfect today and I went back to the refuge for several hours. Spent much of that time waiting on the Spoonbills to fly closer. I was rewarded for my patience. I finally made it to High Island. The houses are all elevated. I can’t imagine living in a place where I built my home allowing for the ocean to Read more…
Day 17–Making my way towards Louisiana Below is the answer to yesterday’s quiz: I forgot to mention yesterday, driving from town to town along the Texas Gulf Coast is not as simple as one would think, (FYI—one of those little towns out there is Refugio—home of Nolan Ryan. Billboard says so) . They have many, many intersecting two lane highways running through large ranches and farms. I call them highways because the speed limit is Read more…
Day 16 -Choke Canyon State Park to Goose Island State Park(Still in Texas) I went to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge today. It is the wintering home of the endangered Whooping Crane. They winter here and then migrate to Canada to breed. They are the largest bird in North America, standing over 5 feet. I saw five of them today, and am told of another spot where I might see them tomorrow—maybe a bit closer. The Read more…
Day 15-The Greener Side of Texas It turns out that the Ibex is still being ranched here in Texas, for hunting I am guessing. I passed such a ranch along the way, and there they were. I was sorely tempted to insert this photo into my prior post from Rockhound State Park in New Mexico, claiming I shot them in the wild. That would be another jab for Brian, my husband, but this trip I’m Read more…
Day 13-Big Bend National Park to San Antonio Was sad to leave Big Bend. They have a crossing into Boquillas, Mexico, that is open Wed-Sun. (Mexico is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). You can park your car and then pay some hardworking soul $5 to row you across in a pram. Or you can roll your pants up above your knees and walk across the Rio Grande. It has been dammed and diverted so much Read more…
Day 12- Marfa to Big Bend National Park Left Marfa for Big Bend National Park(Texas), after a good breakfast of leftover burrito. Past the next town, Alpine, and a few miles out of town, came upon this in the middle of nowhere. I recall now that I saw a similar building the other side of Marfa and the sign on it read Marfa Prada. These West Texans have a wicked sense of humor. Enroute from Read more…
Day 11, Guadelupe Mountain to Marfa, Texas Up early and drove to Carlsbad Caverns. Stopped for lunch in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Finally got a photo of the roadrunner. He greets you at the edge of town. Ate at a place called Chala’s Wood Fire Grill. It was wonderful. Had Chorizo (made in house) and eggs. It came with beans and in stead of rice, fried seasoned potato wedges—the best I’ve ever tasted. Homemade tortillas-yumm. Read more…
Day 10, Across New Mexico I drove from Lordsburg to El Paso this morning, stopping at a Rockhound State Park, outside Deming(New Mexico) I spotted a roadrunner on the way to the park, but he eluded the camera. There’ll be others. There are Ibex in this park—they are not native. They were brought to the US from Iran and raised for hunting. Apparently, some escaped the ranch and have adapted well to this area. I Read more…
Day 9 I spent a few hours today in the Saguaro National Park. The cacti are phenomenal. It was like driving through a giant size Ethel M’s garden at the candy factory in Henderson, Nevada. (That garden is free to prowl around in and it is wonderful, by the way. And Ethel M–thats the M in M&M). I stopped on the road when a coyote crossed in front of my car, and a car behind Read more…