Texas 2011-Day 19

Day 19

A bit overcast this morning, but a good one for a bike ride.

TWENTY-TWO kilometers later, we'd taken a couple of the laid-out trails no rattlers!), got lost a few times, paid for another night, seen a penned-in buffalo (here's a video) saw ONE (and only one) Prairie Dog in its own town and viewed the almost O.C. Fisher Lake we were were on.

Oh yeah, and a flat tire for me. Not too far from home, but had to pump up twice. It was likely the Mesquite or cactus thorns, I'm sure.

Back to change the tire and a late lunch. Pam and Steve from San Angelo pulled in next door. They had just bought and were trying out a MH similar to ours. David helped them set up. We then relaxed in the sun and joined them later for a drink, more talk, and more info about Texas. They are true Texans with THE cutest accents.

Another awesome day though cloudy and a bit cooler (okay, it WAS in the 70's), but it cleared and there was another beautiful sunset.

Here are our photo albums so far:

Graceland https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/Texas2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCM3P6PSMu-fccQ#

Texas Coast https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasCoast?authkey=Gv1sRgCOnL4seqxajzOg#

Texas Birds https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasShoreBirds?authkey=Gv1sRgCO3YoPbnhZrOwQE#

San Antonio https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/SanAntonio?authkey=Gv1sRgCLn-z6HlovS2tgE#

Texas Hill Country https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasHillCountry?authkey=Gv1sRgCMP1n8v7_JaGGg#

Texas 2011-Day 18

Day 18

Up and away at 9:30 for a drive (recommended by Andy) on the Miller Creek Loop to Johnson City. It was through a real working ranch and we saw a Tom turkey strutting his stuff, cattle on the road, Pecan groves, and goats with a watch-Llama.

Off to a too long drive through some pretty bleak countryside (like the prairies on a way). People kept saying there should be wildflowers, but there has been almost no rain in two years. There were more lupins but no Bluebonnets, which should be out now.

We saw some of the first cultivated fields we've seen in days. Some prong-forned Antelopes (escapees from a ranch?) and cotton fields in Wall.

We found San Angelo SP and there was a Roadrunner at the gate to greet us. Really.

It's very hot and dry but beautiful. We're overlooking meadows and an almost-dry reservoir, but there are pelicans in the water! We've seen Meadowlarks, a Golden-breasted Woodpecker, and a Curve-billed Thrasher (last two new to us).

Met Marj and Ross next door (from Owen Sound) and talked birds and ideas. Lovely people.

The sunset was amazing and there is heat lightening in the sky. It's so beautiful.

We'll likely stay another day and ride our bikes and look for the promised armadillos, prairies dogs, rattlers (eeks), buffalo and long-horns.

Another wonderful day. AND we're now in the Texas Panhandle Plains Region.

Here are our photo albums so far:

Here are our photo albums so far:

Graceland https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/Texas2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCM3P6PSMu-fccQ#

Texas Coast https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasCoast?authkey=Gv1sRgCOnL4seqxajzOg#

Texas Birds https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasShoreBirds?authkey=Gv1sRgCO3YoPbnhZrOwQE#

San Antonio https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/SanAntonio?authkey=Gv1sRgCLn-z6HlovS2tgE#

Texas Hill Country https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasHillCountry?authkey=Gv1sRgCMP1n8v7_JaGGg#

Texas 2011-Day 17

Day 17

Got up to our beautiful view and went to the Bird Blind beside us. Saw Lincoln's Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Clay-coloured Sparrow, Goldfinch, Hummingbirds and cardinals. Lovely start to the day.

More of a nice drive. Saw many deer (three live!) and some black vultures munching.

Came upon high fences and the Faulkner Ranch, one of many who are stocking exotic animals for all those rich boys who want to come and shoot themselves some “game”. We learned later that the rule is you must be 150 yards away. Wow!

Interest things were signs for “Dip”, scores of cowboy boots on fenceposts, Pecan Orchards and very grand retirement and summer homes on the Guadalupe River.

In Ingram, in the Texas Hunt Club truck next to us at a gas station, we saw a gian t dead Wild Boar (headless of course).

In Fredericksburg, we saw peach trees in bloom and lots of vineyards. We stopped at the LBJ Ranch (strange memories of Viet Nam War days). Up to Pedernales SP and they were full and no coaxing would let us in.

We ended up at Miller Creek RV Park, a little crowded but water, electricity, and sewer for $28. We had air con (it is hot) and cold beer and American Idol and Bones. Wow. We also met Andy, Linda and Eden from Minnesota for wine and a chat. Ah....

Only problem, someone was playing the bagpipes. Who have thought this could happen to us in a campground TWICE in our lives????

Here are our photo albums so far:

Graceland https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/Texas2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCM3P6PSMu-fccQ#

Texas Coast https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasCoast?authkey=Gv1sRgCOnL4seqxajzOg#

Texas Birds https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasShoreBirds?authkey=Gv1sRgCO3YoPbnhZrOwQE#

San Antonio https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/SanAntonio?authkey=Gv1sRgCLn-z6HlovS2tgE#

Texas Hill Country https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasHillCountry?authkey=Gv1sRgCMP1n8v7_JaGGg#

Texas 2011-Day 16

On to the Hill Country and a scenic drive day (our first, really). Got some supplies and headed to a completely different Texas landscape.

We went NW to Bandera, “The Cowboy Capital of the World”. It has had Comanches, Mormons and Poles (should it have been called Bandura???? Helen???) in its day. It has been updated a bit but maintains a Wild West kind of look.

Onward through the real Ranch country, in fact via “Ranch Roads”. Some very interesting gate names: Freedom Springs, Caribbean Cowboy Resort, 5 Mile Creek Saloon (our first), Thy Word is Truth Ranch and Big Scuffle Ranch.

On to Utopia (yep) for lunch. We passed a lot of bicyclists on this road including 8-10 with Canadian flag jerseys.

Interesting “Watch for Water on Road” signs everywhere (there are rivers and creeks but so little rain that everything is now dry) and “Flood Gauge” signs, so it's Hill AND Flood country.

Apparently there have been many motorcycle deaths on this stretch as well (passed many and few wearing helmets despite “Steep Hills, Sharp Turns, Falling Rocks” signs everywhere. But so beautiful. High elevations and deep valleys. You can imagine and actually see remnants of homesteads from more than 100 years ago.

We headed to Lost Maples SP and no room but I begged my way in to overflow and we were in a huge parking lot overlooking limestone cliffs. Most of the cars were there for the campers who hiked in to THEIR campsites (no thanks).

Saw a small woodpecker (maybe Ladder-backed) but no pics.

Gorgeous day. Lucky us.

Here are our photo albums so far:

Graceland https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/Texas2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCM3P6PSMu-fccQ#

Texas Coast https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasCoast?authkey=Gv1sRgCOnL4seqxajzOg#

Texas Birds https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasShoreBirds?authkey=Gv1sRgCO3YoPbnhZrOwQE#

San Antonio https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/SanAntonio?authkey=Gv1sRgCLn-z6HlovS2tgE#

Texas Hill Country https://picasaweb.google.com/daharries/TexasHillCountry?authkey=Gv1sRgCMP1n8v7_JaGGg#

Texas 2011-Day 15

A particularly good sleep (though we overlook a very busy street!).

On to our first city bus ride in ages. It's a great way to get around San Antonio.

We headed first for The Alamo. Lovely in its way, but VERY busy with kids and families and lineups, so we didn't stay too long. Better was The Riverwalk, sort of before the masses arrived. It's beautiful and quite ingenious of the city to have commerce and “culture” and beauty in a contained place. Better yet were the people everywhere asking if they could help us tourists.

We made our way to the Market Plaza, an open centre near San Fernando Cathedral. We noticed all the office workers lining up for lunch under some tents, and we were lucky enough to be there Tuesday for the SA Food Bank's $5.00 lunch that supports their services. It was delicious and we enjoyed it at a table with the most elegant San Antonio 94-year-old gentleman who told stories of his life. A special moment.

We walked to El Mercado, a series of restaurants and open-air and other stores that are very like a market anywhere in Mexico. We were in time for a dance performance and some souvenir shopping.

Back to the cathedral and some more photos then another city bus back to Travelers World.

After a beer, a nap, some blogging and photo uploading, we did take-out from the Mexican restaurant across the road. A full and touristy but lovely day again! Off the The Hill Country tomorrow.

Here are our Texas Coast, Texas Birds and now San Antonio photos.

Texas 2011-Day 14

Easy pack up to leave the beach, though the papertowels were black when David cleaned the windows.

Good byes to good people.

Happily had called about reservations in San Antonio because got one of the few remaining sites!

On the way out of the park, we saw flashing lights and two Park Ranger trucks having pulled over a beat-up van. Three Hispanic kids were roadside with their hands behind their backs as a search was going on. Reminder that we're in the States...we're in Texas.

Stopped at Harbor Freight (a Canadian Tire/Princess Auto store) and a Dollar Store then headed onto the highway to start our journey north.

The highway ditches are lined with pink Morning Glories, purple mini Lupins and a bright orange bloom called Devil's something or other. Lovely.

Farmland starting now (corn and hay) and oil refining. Then fancy gates for BIG ranches. Longhorn and Brahma cattle. This is a different Texas now.

Stopped at Van's BBQ for lunch...so yummy we got some takeout for dinner later.

Noticed and took a picture of Hurricane escape route signs. Hm....

Pulled in to Traveler's World in San Antonio and I RAN to the laundry and David to the computer. We back on to a couple from Peterborough. Finally!

Next phase begins. Riverwalk and Alamo tomorrow.

Here are our People and Places photos and Texas Birds.

Texas 2011-Day 13

Time change to Daylight Savings, so a bit of a strange day.

Spent the morning trying to tag all the bird pictures (we have a ? category for two pesky shorebirds).

After lunch we went on a beach walk and FINALLY found a “bean” (no shells here). A Candlenut from far away.

Came back and Linda, Nancy and I took another beachwalk with Nancy's two Standard Poodles.. Good talk and walk with these lovely ladies.

Tent sites next door filled with young people from nearby Binn College Marine Biology students. Met one on the beach who was collecting jellyfish. Yikes! She swore they barely stung and she was used to it anyway.

Shorter Happy Hour...getting sad to leave these times.

Here are our People and Places photos and Texas Birds.