LouTex Day 14

March 8, 2014

Hated to leave the beach, but it was overcast and time to move on. We headed to Brownsville, a new stop for us.

We’re wondering if Spring Break is really next week. We saw the preparations (a Police Substation, blocked-off roads, temporary traffic lights, signs warning of traffic delays) but no people. Okay by us. We breezed through and headed further south.

Here are some sights:

• the Pi Square shopping mall
• corn (we think) for miles and miles
• Big Ranch, big pond, filled with Snow Geese
• Mesquite trees in bud
• Wind turbines in Raymondville

We got groceries and found the Honeydale RV Park (Passport America $16.50), had lunch and headed to Resaca de la Palma State Park and World Birding Center.

It was drizzling, but we decided to ride the bikes (10 kilometers) and saw a few things:

A Mexican Ground Squirrel (the Ranger said it had been 6-7 years since they’d seen one in the park, so this was a rare sighting:

A Muscovy Duck (strange bird):

Me and a Yucca Palm:

An Armadillo (they’re fast, so no photo)

A Flycatcher:

Some Green Jays (also too fast for a photo)

And some Cardinals (the female was so much brighter than at home):

The RV Park is mostly full-timers or Winter Texans, so we’re a bit of a novelty parked just inside the gate. Every car slows down for a speed bump and to look at us.

At about 5:00, flocks of Green Parrots (noisy but too high and fast for pictures) flew overhead. Apparently, we’ll hear/see them in the morning as well.

It was a good day. Here’s the view from my chair.

LouTex Day 13

March 7, 2014

GORGEOUS Day!

We started with a 12 km bike ride on the beach. I, of course, was in PinkintheRink for Power Pink Friday. In fact, I noticed a lot of women wearing pink today, and I chose to believe they were wearing it for the cause!:

We got pretty close to Corpus Christie and saw all the preparations for Spring Break on the beach. The beaches have been groomed into two lanes of traffic, clean places to party and lots of garbage cans. People were already in premium spots on the jetty. I can’t imagine how the week will be. We’ll head out for Brownsville tomorrow.

That was the highest dose of sun for us, so we lazed about after lunch. I went beachcombing for an hour or so. I saw this sweet Tri-coloured Heron:

…these anglers on the jetty:

…and received my first “Howdy” from a Texan!

I continued my search for a perfect Sand Dollar and only found Sand Nickels, Dimes and Quarters (this spot looked like a Piggy Bank exploded):

Then I found this perfect specimen (complete with some other long-dead critter):

The beach is being patrolled by military, probably local news and Coast Guard helicopters:

It was a great day, even for Mandy. This Cat’s Eye View is of her yawning in the sun:

Here’s the view from my chair over the dunes that lead to the beach I loved for the last three days:

LouTex Day 12

March 6, 2014

Hiking and biking IN THE SUN!

Guess what we woke up to? Yep, sunshine and blue sky over the MoHo:

First was a 90 minute walk on the beach. What a difference a day makes:

And we even saw a Long-billed Curlew:

We chatted with Albertan neighbours who are on a eight-month RV trip “around the circle” of Canada and the US. They are complete with MoHo, Tracker, kayaks, bicycles and Kawasaki dirt bikes. Love sharing stories.

Tried Mandy on the leash (for two minutes):

After lunch, I headed out for another 90 minute beach walk, Saw this lonely guy:

These mismatched partners:

And this formation:

I made a little Shell Art (I call this one “Beach Butterflies”):

…then ran in to this Shining Knight on his trusty steed:

I walked on and David continued his many-mile beach ride.

We got back, booked another night here (it’s meant to be nice tomorrow and Spring Break begins!), had dinner and will watch American Idol. A great day.

Here’s a Cat’s Eye View of dashboard contentment:

…and the view from my chair (with Crocs and Mickey Mouse cactus):

LouTex Day 11

March 5, 2014

90 Minute Beach Walk

It was a chilly, overcast but dry start to the day. We’re moving south along the coast. But before we do, we stop up the road for some Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes, a sight we’ve looked forward to.

And we weren’t disappointed. People in the houses along Fourth and Eight Streets here have feeders, and the birds flock here during the breeding season:

In addition to these beauties were some not-so beauties:

…and the beautiful “Big (Live Oak) Tree”:

We drove south to Mustang Island State Park and got a site (16) for two nights ($20 for Electric and Water). After lunch, we headed out for a sandy beach walk:

It was warmer than it looks, but windy, for us and the birds:

After searching along the breakwater,

…I found a “Sand Dollar and Fifty Cents”:

Today’s Cat’s Eye View is of another of her perches, on the bug tent stored under the dinette table:

And here’s the view from my chair:

LouTex Day 10

March 4, 2014

2 Hours Walking

Well, it rained all night and most of the day. Yuck. But, with a good book, old TV shows, the Gulf, some dolphins swimming by far in the distance, my cat and my honey, it was a good day.

The Cat’s Eye View is of the cat playing (I THINK she was playing):

Finally, at 3:30, things brightened enough to head out for a walk and some bird watching (yep, that’s full down jacket, headband and mitts!):

.

It seemed everyone finally got out around that time. Here are some of our sightings:

No new view from my soggy chair (I sure hope I’m sitting out in my chair one day soon!).

LouTex Day 9

March 3, 2014

Hiked 1 1/2 miles

We drove south east towards Goose Island State Park (this is our third visit here). We saw little oil wells everywhere and miles and miles of furrowed fields, which we learned are rice fields, since this is the “Rice Belt of Texas”.

We passed the Natural Horisun Nudist camp, but sadly, it was too early to stop for the day. We stocked up on supplies at an H.E.B. Texas grocery store, and got to the park around 1:00.

We decided on a bay side site (#4) and have the Gulf as our front yard. Beautiful, but a little cold (45 F).

After lunch, we bundled up and took a walk along the pier just outside our door. Finally a few shore birds and ducks, including some winter Loons. We took a birding walk here last year and learned a lot about these guys, but I’ve forgotten a lot, so need to reacquaint myself with their names. In the meantime, here are some pictures:

That’s us across the bay:

And here’s a view from my chair: