W18: Sea, sun, birds and a little religion

Waterfront View

Yep, that’s me with my catch at Sargent, TX!

Day 7: February 16

It was 73F at 9:00 AM! What a change. We headed south to the coast. There were high water lines and dumpsters everywhere on the route, the results of Harvey and the tornadoes that were part of the storm.

We saw a giant Stephen Austin (not the Bionic one) statue on our route (not sure why) and a few other things:

• first Caracaras
• first Longhorns
• “Hand-fed Parrots For Sale” (a first)
• a stop at The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (a misnomer)

We ended up at the West Moring Dock Park in Sargent, an awesome free camping area (here’s the view of our MoHo):

On one side was a gorgeous beach:

and on the other, a canal filled with barges going all afternoon:

And some nice birds:

I walked the beach, sat out and met Pen and Scotty from Fort Worth who helped me catch my Croaker! We ended the day sunburnt but happy.

Day 8: February 17

We’ll remember this spot for a perfect short stay next visit! Though we knew Goose Island State Park is closed to camping after Harvey, we still wanted to look for Whooping and Sandhill Cranes, so we headed towards Rockport.

We took some FM (Farm-to-Market) roads past cattle farms, nice houses, shacks, junkyards and little towns plus a huge Nuclear Power Generating Plant and the fields of “Cornelius Crawfish-Texas Fresh”!

Each time we visit, we bypass the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, but stopped this time. More Harvey destruction and not much to see, so off to the Cranes.

Thankfully, the “Big Tree” was intact:

and there were Sandhills and Whoopers in the distance:

We think some of the feeders may have been wiped out, since the devastation here is quite vast:

Fortunately after some begging on the phone, the Seaport Village RV Park let us stay one night ($25 FHU) and the attached “Stevie Lew’s BBQ”, though closed, let me buy two brisket sandwiches, our first (not last) BBQ of the trip:

After dinner, I walked to the coast just around the corner. Evidence of the disaster was everywhere:

was balanced by some lovely birds:

Here’s the view from my chair (why would people want this long term?):

Day 9: February 18

Time for new territory, but first, another tour of the Cranes (we saw eight Whoopers and many Sandhills):

and some other cool birds:

Can you guess why this is called a Cattle Egret?

Just outside our destination of Goliad, we saw our first oil well! We got to the beautiful State Park, attached to the Mission Nuestra Senora Del Espiritu Santo De Zuniga! We got Site 17 ($37.50-with coupon-for two nights, FHU) just in time to take the tour of the Mission:

along with the “Death Door” and the “Life Door”:

It’s nice to travel only a short distance and end up in a pretty place with this great view from my chair:

Day 10: February 19

We were up early and biked to the Bird Blind. Since they weren’t filling the feeders, there were only the “usual suspects”, but we saw our first Black-crested Titmouse and Great Kiskadee of the trip:

We drove into the centre of town for a mid morning snack:

and a walk around this historic town. VERY Western, complete with Hanging Tree and, in case you were wondering the politics of the area, a GOP office (you might see the “For Sale” sign in the window…just sayin’):

Next, we drove to the Presidio. Interestingly, the State owns the Mission and the Catholic Church owns the Presidio (fort):

along with the monument to Fannin, a Texan General and his troops killed by Santa Ana:

and The Angel of Goliad, a Mexican woman who saved many Texan lives:

The series of flags over the Presidio, including “The Bloody Arm”, and the history in this area suggests how Native Americans are bad, the French are bad, the Spanish are bad, the Mexicans are bad, but the Texans are good!

After lunch, we rode back into town on the Hiking/Biking Trail (lots of switchbacks that I walked!). It was a great day.

Day 11: February 20

I had a restless, hot night, perhaps compounded by my book, Elly Griffiths “The Chalk Pit” which I could not put down!

We got up early, headed out, got supplies and pulled into Lake Corpus Christi State Park for a two-night stay. This is the nicest Texas State Park we have been in. It is HUGE, built around a man-made lake, and has nice serviced sites. The unserviced were even nicer, most with waterfront views. But Site 18 ($30 E/W for two nights with coupon) was fine with our own little pond filled with American Coots, Blue-winged Teals and even a Long-billed Curlew:

We rode our bikes to the new Bird Blind (but they weren’t feeding, so no birds), saw some Gadwalls, a new Life Bird, on our way:

Next, we rode the fun trail with switchbacks that I DIDN’T walk this time!

Another nice day ending with this view from my chair:

Day 12: February 21

It was a quiet but hot night. We got out early since a storm was called for. We met neighbour Leo and shared stories about B Class MoHos (he has a Winnebago), the Middle East and Oil (he’s retired military and West Point teacher), and politics in general. Nice balanced perspective.

We walked up to the Bird Blind, and they better start feeding!

I rode across the lake through another group of tent sites (they call them Water Only sites, so we would happily stay in them another time). Oh, and I saw our first Yucca!

After lunch, I rode some more then, as I was heading back, the wind started to blow and the temperature dropped about 25 degrees! David even put his jeans on. So we’re tucked inside, wondering if it’ll storm (there was some thunder), and planning to head to the Rio Grande Valley tomorrow where the weather promises to be good for a while.

Winter 2018: Let the healing begin!

Bird’s Eye View

This Red-shouldered Hawk became our Campsite Bird near Brazos Bend State Park near Houston, Texas:

Day 1: February 10

It’s been a long, difficult year, two, in fact, since we didn’t have a winter trip last year. The last weeks were very hard, sad and touching as we helped my Dad die on his own terms in his own home on January 16. We both have colds, miss my Dad and are ready to start to heal.

So, through the snow we go, heading to Texas. We missed the winter storm from Tilbury to Detroit but saw lots of snow and cars in the ditch. We sailed through the border, though the cute guy boarded, we think, just to check out the Roadtrek. David drove and drove, and we spent the night at a Loves truck stop with no view from my chair!

Day 2: February 11

We left in the dark and drove south as the temperature began to climb. Here’s what we saw:

• our first Barn Quilt near Sparta, Kentucky
• “God Cures Depression, Drugs, Pornography” (that’s a lot!)
• “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder” (bumper sticker)
• Kenny Perry Golf Course with pins in, lots of water and no golfers

Got to the Tennessee River Mountain Getaway RV Park, meant to be Passport America. When we called, he said no PA (therefore $32), but we stayed, dewinterized, then paid only $20 (the Canadian Rate!). He lived near Hamilton, Ontario for years and used to play with the band The Diamonds (“Little Darlin’”).

Here’s the view from my chair:

Day 3: February 12

We had a great sleep (I haven’t slept well in two months!). Here’s what we saw on the road:

• our first Trump MAGA sign near Jackson, TN
• Cotton in the fields near Memphis
• first sun and blue skies in days (weeks?) outside Memphis
• Mississippi Welcome Centres, the best with coffee, free WIFI, displays, free RV Dump and water, and great accents (though they fly a Confederate-based flag)
• first Great Egret
• a stone chip in our windshield
• green grass on the Bo Didley Memorial Highway

We overnighted at a Sam’s Club near Baton Rouge (great place, so quiet) with this view:

Day 4: February 13

Another great sleep. And since it was Shrove Tuesday, a pancake breakfast:

We drove to Lafayette and hung out for the King Gabriel’s Mardi Gras Parade. it was so much fun:

On our way out, we had ANOTHER stonechip in the windshield, this one a big one. Dang.

We drove through torrential rains into Texas, got groceries then found our way to Brazos Bend State Park for a three night stay. Our first night was in site 131 ($20 E/W with Texas State Park Pass). No night time view, though we did hear owls all night!

Day 5: February 14

Oops, forgot it was Valentine’s Day until someone reminded us around 4:00!

We booked Site 234 (you get four half-priced coupons when you buy a pass), and headed for the 40 Acre Lake hike to view some nice birds and alligators. It was WARM, sunny and muggy:

After lunch, I hiked some more (total 5.3 miles and 11,500 steps!) and noted the high water lines everywhere. This place was devastated with Hurricane Harvey

:

We relaxed OUTSIDE and watched this great view of our Red-shouldered Hawk, just a few feet from my chair:

Day 6: February 15

We took the bikes down today and rode the Elm Lake Trail and saw more birds and gators:

After lunch, more riding (today 8.6 miles). We just wanted to soak up the sun and the heat and try to shake off these colds.

We met two young “Scouts”, in fact French Scouts. Their parents travel the world for the Oil Industry (one family lived in Calgary) and Houston has 3,000 to 5,000 French Nationals living there. Thus enough for a French Scout Troop! Such cuties.

The park is so nice and quiet, filled with birders and retirees. One couple we met thanked us for bringing the good weather! And it is meant to continue.

Here’s the view from my chair: