W15 Days 9-12

Day 9 February 22

It was a muggy start to the day. We headed further south after a stop at an H.E.B. and a trip on the Port Aransas ferry (from which we saw dolphins!). And, it was 75F!

We got a great site (15, $8.00) in the Malaquite Campground of the Padre Island National Seashore. We came here in 2011 and met our great friends Linda and Denny; Nancy and Al; and Marilyn and Brad. I missed them this trip.

I walked the beach and got some interesting shots:

Upon my return, we were witness to an interesting “take down” across from our site:

There were two young Hispanic couples. A guy and two girls went to the beach. The second guy parked illegally and loudly (boom boom music) and the Park Rangers appeared. One was a tough woman and the other was a very large Black man, There were a thorough search of the car (a new Camaro), drug tests on things found in the car, forced seating on the ground for the three swimmers, a sobriety test for the driver and tension then laughing. Very strange. We figure they got the guy for DUI and underage drinking (age of majority is 21 here). We felt the response by the Park Rangers was a little over the top. But these kids were a bit foolish if you ask me.

Here’s the view from my chair of our campsite birds, an Eastern Meadowlark and a very noisy Great-tailed Grackle:

And a view of the View from the beach:

Day 10 February 23

I think I was being punished for bragging about the weather, because we woke to 35F and wind and rain. We started a beach walk, then decided to make for the 9:30 Guided Bird Tour.

It was a crowded van and there was no real time to get out and observe and take pictures (not that we wanted to get out in that cold), but we did see 30 different birds, and 5 Life Birds: Mottled Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, a Wilson’s Snipe, a Reddish Egret, and an American Avocet. Wow.

We spent the afternoon bundled up inside (no services here, so the sleeping bags came back out of the cupboard) and took no pictures! A cold day but great birding from a heated van!

Day 11 February 24

We thought we’d head further south to South Padre Island (SPI) a new place for us. Before we left the National Seashore, we did a quick birding tour of our own and got pictures of the Reddish Egret, American Avocet, a Black-necked Stilt and some Sandhill Cranes:

It was a good day for the 3 1/2 hour drive since it was cold and drizzly. Here are some observations:

• 20 Homeland Security cameras at the National Seashore Park Entrance/Exit
• a Barbed Wire fence beside a Tattoo and Piercing Salon
• Floyd’s Christian Restaurant (who our what do they serve?)
• a company called Mattress Firm
• School of Education’s team slogan “Javelina Pride” (which is like Wild Pig Pride???)
• a Texas HIGHWAY Patrol truck pulling a 600 hp boat
• “Get a lawyer that’s got a pair…” (of offices in Brownsville)

We got to South Padre Island and were a bit taken aback by the commercialism (though it is Texas’ College Spring Break destination). We drove the strip, found the Andy Bowie County Park and paid $30 a night for full services in site 8. Not much to write home about, but it IS on the beach, across from the Birding Centre and has electricity for our heater because it was only 42F!!!

We bundled up and took a brief beach walk and froze:

Here’s a view of the View:

Day 12 February 25

The weather looked more promising, but it was a four-layer start to the day as we walked to the SPI Birding and Nature Centre:

This has a lovely Visitor Centre and observation tower and a boardwalk for viewing birds.

We saw a new Life Bird, an American Wigeon:

There were Tilapia (layers of them, gathered to keep warm) watched by this little Tri-coloured Heron (too big for him):

There was even an Alligator and some Turtles:

After lunch, we stripped to three layers and took a bike ride for miles down the beach and back up the street (with a little t-shirt shopping). By 4:30 it was time for a two-layer final walk of the beach. I think this was the best time of the day: the sun was out and it was about 65F.

Here’s the view of the dunes from my chair:

W15 Days 6-8

Day 6 February 19

A quiet night and up early to move on. Hooray, the Drain Pump worked like a charm and we emptied our tanks!

It was a rather boring drive to Goose Island State Park, but here are the roadside highlights:

• a sign “I buy live, wild hogs” (why, I ask?)
• small towns called Blessing and Olivia (that was my Mom’s name)
• 73F!!!!
• and, as we pulled in to Lamar, the town beside the park, a welcome sign: Respect Texas, Respect Property, Respect The Cranes

We were able to secure a site for two nights (#41, W/E for $33 with a second night discount), and we hoped for a third.

It was sunny and breezy and we had the Gulf for our front yard:

David snoozed and I walked to the nearby fishing pier and saw this group of Roseate Spoonbills, Ruddy Turnstones and lots of Redheads:

Here’s the view of the View in our little seaside neighbourhood:

Day 7 February 23

We woke up to some wind and choppy water, but were happy to be here.

We rode to see the Whooping Cranes and saw 12! There were two pairs with juveniles and six others. There was also a large number of Sandhill Cranes. These rare and endangered Whooping Cranes are quite a site. It’s good to see them feeding naturally in the field and not just at the feeders set out:

We stopped at the Big Oak, the 1,000+ year old Live Oak that is being nurtured here by the State:

This was a great 11 km ride!

In the afternoon, I rode around the campground and then we relaxed and enjoyed dinner, prepared by my chef:

Here’s a view of Site #41 (which we were able to get for another night!):

…and our beautiful sunset:

Day 8 February 22

A bit of a windy night, but  a better morning than predicted. We rode to the feeding station in the wooded campsite area and saw a Bunny, a Lincoln’s Sparrow and a Eurasian Collared Dove:

(PS, as I write this, we turned on the news and saw the horrible weather happening north of us. And I have a sunburn! Sorry people.)

These Black Vultures were a bit foreboding:

…but we hit pay dirt in this little pond where seven different birds were posing:

We heard there was a Reddish Egret White Morph, a rare bird we had seen on our first visit here. And sure enough, there he was, just behind our site:

After lunch, we biked back to see the Whooping Cranes. But first, we got some nice shots of White and Brown Pelicans:

And the Whooping Cranes didn’t disappoint:

It’s amazing that they keep returning to this 100 acres here in Lamar amongst the grazing cattle:

After these 15 kms on the bikes, we spent the afternoon relaxing in the sun. And here’s a view OF my chair with me in heaven: ocean, sun, a beer and a good book on my iPad:

Winter 2015 (W15) Days 1-5

Day 1 February 14

Despite the cold and the chance of “trace amounts” of snow, we decided to leave at 6:45! It snowed through Scarborough then blew snow (it was so powdery) for hours. Hard driving.

After a quick check at US Customs in Detroit, we decided to stay at the Flying J in Beaver Dam, Ohio after we were stopped on the highway for 50 minutes due to a 4-5 car pile up.

It was a very cold night (was 0F IN THE MOHO!) but we had lots of covers and Mandy shared her warmth equally. Tough drive for David, but we’re on the road!

Day 2 February 15

The water in the cat’s bowl was frozen solid this morning. Yikes. So we were on the road at 4:30 to make up for driving time we lost yesterday with hopes of getting to somewhere warmer. By Cincinnati, there was no snow on the ground though it remained cold. There WAS snow on the ground in Kentucky and no golfers on Kenny Perry’s Golf Course (it’s kind of our talisman when we pass by). Grass got greenish in Nashville. We checked the weather and there was a Winter Storm Warning for Memphis (our original route), so we continued to Birmingham and sub $2.00 gas and relatively cheap Diesel. We saw our first motorcycle (brrrr, it was 30F) then first robins near the road sign for “Warrior Robbins”, home of Warrior Antiques!

We stayed at the Sunset RV Park in Cottondale, Alabama (Site 1, $29 full services) and were able to de-winterize, plug in the heater and stay warm!

Here’s a view of the View:

Day 3 February 16

We had a great and very long sleep and left around 9:00. It rained a lot, so the salt on the MoHo was completely washed away through Alabama. Temperatures rose from 39F to 51F in Meridian (and we once again enjoyed a Mississippi Welcome Centre, the best in the US!). The grass was getting green and the Redbuds were budding.

I saw our first Daffodils in Hazel, MS. We bought diesel and awesome BBQ, both from the same gas station in Hazelton. It poured but it WAS 73F!

We got to Louisiana and stayed at the Lake Side RV Park (Site 133, PA $17.50 full services).

Here’s the view from my chair of Canada Geese and a Swan!

Day 4 February 16

We continued along Highway 10 across Louisiana. We saw our first Great Egret, then many more since this route goes through Rice Country, great habitat for these birds. Great billboards, too:

• “Best Hookers in Town” (for a towing company)
• “Lust drags you down to Hell!” (shortly after the Hookers sign)

It was interesting how gas prices in West Lake, with its huge oil refineries, were the most expensive here.

We got in to Texas and continued to Brazos Bend State Park. We got our annual pass ($70) and two nights stay (Site 121, $30 total with 2nd night discount) and enjoyed the relative warmth and sun (50F).

David rested, and I went for a walk and saw my first alligators of the year, a Red-shouldered Hawk and lots of Egrets, Coots, and Ducks.

It was a good end to the day.

Here’s a view of the View:

Day 5 February 17

A sunny day, chilly to start, but warm enough by 9:00 for a bike ride. We rode 11 kms and saw some amazing birds and lots more alligators:

The highlight was a Great Horned Owl nesting high in a tree:

We came back for lunch and a rest. Since it was about 60F we headed out for another ride (and another 11 kms; believe me, regular visits to the gym and miles on a stationary bike do NOT prepare you for those first 22 kms in the saddle).

This time, we saw alligators in a whole range of sizes from huge, to medium, to small, to a Mama and her (at least) four babies.

Great day. Here’s the first Cat’s Eye View: