LouTex Day 27

March 21, 2014

Much warmer this morning (we were expecting a high in the 80’sF and did get it, we think).

First, we rode the acres of the Turkey Roost (7.5 km). The only turkey we saw was a Turkey Vulture!:

In the blinds, we found my two new favourite birds (Black-throated Sparrow and Lark Sparrow):

We had an “interesting” chat with a couple who have been full-timing for 14 years. She’s a little jaded from all the places they’ve visited and all the camp hosting jobs they’ve had. Her horror stories were intriguing (beware Scout Troops and Church Groups!).

After lunch, we rode (6.5 km) out to find the Golden-cheeked Warbler, an uncommon bird common for a short time here. No luck today, but we did get to all the bird blinds and added to our Bathing Birdies:

We’ve already discussed the solar water feature we’re going to build at home once the snow melts!

This Cat’s Eye View is of Mandy awaiting our return!

Here’s the view from my chair of David and his Armadillo on our camp site:

LouTex Day 26

March 20, 2014

We woke up to an unexpected 37F (it was 35F at home at the same time!). We decided to check out the nearby Bird Blind, ran in to some people who were very helpful and ended up being out for 3 1/2 hours (about 5 km walking) checking everything out. AND it was 70F+ by time we got back home!

We did identify the very fragrant bush all around (the Agarita). And saw some familiar birds.

After lunch, we headed out again on our bikes (13 km), this time in shorts and on to the acres designated as a Turkey Roost and protected from 3:00 PM until 10:00 AM from October to April (I guess they can hunt freely after that).

The South Llano River seems to be a tubing river (the water was warm) and must crawl with people on the weekends or in the summer. Here are some pictures from the ride:

This one is a “special” Hairstreak Butterfly (the things you learn from birders):

And these were all great sightings:

We were exhausted! We chatted with the neighbours who had a nice size Itasca Navion on which they could mount their kayaks. Food for thought.

We also talked with another set of neighbours and their “Guard Dog” (it actually is voice activated to bark):

Here’s a view of our huge campsite:

LouTex Day 25

March 19, 2014

We’re heading north…starting the return trip. But some good stops before we do.

Highway 83 is an easy drive through ranch land. There are signs for “Exotic Hoof Stock” and the high fences that tell us fancy “hunting” is the name of the game here. I keep humming the Dixie Chicks’ “Wide Open Spaces” as we travel. Some interesting sights and signs:

• “Christian Patriot Conservative Headquarters”-wow at so many levels
• “Trophy Exotic Hunts” (another way of saying rich guys shooting fish in a barrel)
• Saw a big Buffalo in a pen just seconds after a sign for “Deer, Buffalo and Elk Jerky” (poor guy)
• a Roadrunner running (of course, no pic)
• a ranch with its own taxidermy business

We stopped in Junction to stock up at a great supermarket. This is a real old frontier town hanging in there and looking quite prosperous. We turned in to the park and saw an exotic animal in a field then five small deer walking through the park. This boded well.

We were able to get a site (25 for $20) for two nights, set up, ate lunch and went on a 3 km birdwalk (this is bird heaven: four Bird Blinds, miles of trails and birders everywhere). We visited two blinds then headed out later for a 5 km bike ride and visited another blind. There were SO many birds and so many pictures, so I’m just picking my faves for today:

Then there’s the “Fountain Collection”:

And the animals:

David actually got chased off by an Armadillo!

A glorious day. We hope to stay longer (did I say it was sunny and warm and is meant to be for at least two more days? Like 80F warm?).

Here’s the view from my chair:

LouTex Day 24

March 18, 2014

Another gorgeous sunny, blue-skied day. It went up over 80 F today. That nice, dry, heat.

We rode along the river:

…and got this little Hill Country waterfall:

We visited the Visitor’s Centre and were greeted by a Vermillion Flycatcher AND this new Life Bird, a Black-chinned Hummingbird:

Further down the Mountain Bike Trail, we caught some Wild Turkeys starting to get friendly:

After this 8.5 km, we had lunch and lazed around. Then we had just enough energy for a final ride (reverse of this morning’s) of 8.7 km. It was a nice visit to Garner!

Here’s a view of our very big and shady campsite:

LouTex Day 23

March 17, 2014

It was a bright and sunny, though cool start to our day. Time to START heading north (but to good weather!).

Again we noted that the ranches are gone but the Natural Gas and Fracking operations are plentiful.

Here are some sights:

• a town called CATarina
• Crosses and a memorial at a REST Area
• “Driving in Riverbeds is Prohibited by State Law” sign just after I saw the dry Nueces Riverbed filled with tire tracks!
• Liquor, Guns and Drive Thru Cigars (all the luxuries at one spot)
• a bunch of goats on a hill then a sign for “Goat Hill Ranch”
• a prison (and a sign not to pick up Hitch Hikers):

We had to go through a Border Patrol Stop and saw two more of their “tools” to complete our border security tour:

We actually had to show our passports this time.

Mandy got her first taste of Texas BBQ from Julio’s in Uvalde (yum!). She liked it (and so did we!).

This really is Hill Country, a real change from the Gulf and the desert of our last two weeks:

We got to Garner State Park ($22, Site 344) and will stay two nights. It has a very busy section on the river with paddleboards, tubing, miniature golf, etc. and a quieter section, which we picked. We went for a bike ride (6 km)along the Rio Frio and saw our first bright red House Finch:

Beyond the view from my chair:

…is a path:

…that leads down to our own little section of the Rio Frio (lovely):

LouTex Day 22

March 16, 2014

It was pouring when we left, then it stopped but was overcast for our ride to Laredo. Things are quite lush compared with last year.

We saw a few things on our drive:

• “Hitch Hikers May Be Escaping Prisoners” (but we didn’t see a prison)

• “Heaven’s Scent” (say it out loud) Florist

• “Cactus Lease Services” (you give them back?)

We got supplies and headed to Lake Casa Blanca International State Park ($18, Site 307). This is a real city park, and it was Sunday, so it was filled with local families enjoying the day (it had cleared and was sunny and warm but very windy):

We got in early and had lunch and rode our bikes through the park (10 km):

Because of the wind, there were very few birds, but we were harassed by what we think were Chihuahuan Ravens:

And we got a great Caracara:

The night was filled with interesting things including loud music, the very brightly lit cityscape across the lake, and the black cat that jumped on the hood of the MoHo and got Mandy growling. So cute.

Here’s the view from my chair: