Sunday, October 8, 2017
We’re excited to have “sister”
Rose joining us for a visit. With the end of summer, we decided to make a visit
to Clarksville, Jeffersonville, and Louisville, followed by a visit with Bill
and Amy at Madison. We enjoyed a few days at Kentuckiana and the tour of
Louisville. The guided Louisville tour covered the downtown, St. James
neighborhood, University of Louisville, and Churchill Downs.
This morning, we’re getting
some rain from the “hurricane weather” system, so we’re “hunkered down, with
coffee and television. We will travel up to Madison today for a visit with Bill
and Amy.
At Madison, we took a campsite
at the City of Madison RV Park, and enjoyed a nice visit with Bill and Amy, on
the Ohio River.
On Tuesday, after lunch on the
“hill,” we toured the Hanover College campus and the outstanding exhibits in
the Science Building. Wikipedia says: Hanover College is a private, co-ed,
liberal arts college, located in rural Hanover, Indiana, U.S., near the banks
of the Ohio River. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.
Founded in 1827 by the Rev. John Finley Crowe, it is the oldest private college
in Indiana. The Hanover athletic teams participate in the Heartland Collegiate
Athletic Conference. Graduates of Hanover are known as Hanoverians. The Science
Center exhibits, on the natural sciences, are an extensive presentation on the
various categories of study. We had a nice visit with Bill and Amy at Madison!
Returning to Seymour, Kim and
Glen hosted us and led us on some very enjoyable outings in the local area. We
especially enjoyed driving in the hills and doing some fantastic “leaf peeping”
of the stunning “fall colors”. Rose really was excited to see the
covered-bridges, round barn, old brick kilns, and a visit to Nashville and IU
at Bloomington.
Next, Rose, Terry and I
traveled over to Cincinnati for a week of touring and exploring. Our favorites
were, the Findlay Market, the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, downtown riverfront,
sports stadiums, longstanding architecture, gorgeous landscaping, attractive
parks, historic sites, and some spectacular overlooks of the Ohio River.
Back at Seymour, we enjoyed
spending time with Kim and Glen for a week before heading to Indianapolis for a
few days of exploring and tourism. We set-up our rig at the Indiana State
Fairground, a well-situated RV Park for visiting Indianapolis. Our favorites at
Indianapolis were: the “City Trolley Tour”, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, diverse
architecture and historic sites, Indiana War Memorial, Lucas Stadium, and
downtown attractions. After a nice traveling-visit with Rose, we dropped her at
the Indianapolis airport, for her return flight home. We sure enjoyed having
her with us!
11/1/17
Our summer in Indiana has been
loads of fun but a cold front has reminded us that it’s time to head south. RV
rigs are generally moderate-climate vehicles, so we watch the migrating geese
and follow their lead. We said goodbye to our Seymour kin and pulled the rig
down to Madison for a farewell visit with Bill and Amy. Clifty Falls State Park
was stunning with “fall colors” and the Ohio River Valley is ablaze, along the
waterway.
Our route and travel to the
Rio Grande Valley/south Texas:
IN62 from Madison to Lincoln
Boyhood Home National Memorial
US231 to Owensboro, KY
US60 to Mound City National
Cemetery/Wickliffe Mounds SHS
Spontaneous Side trips and
stops along the way
We followed the Ohio River
across the up-and-down hills and hollows of southwest Indiana and found Santa
Claus. (Santa Claus, Indiana) We visited the nearby, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
and admired the beauty of Lincoln’s boyhood wilderness home. Lincoln Boyhood
National Memorial is a United States Presidential Memorial, a National Historic
Landmark District just south of present-day Lincoln City, Indiana. It preserves
the farm site where Abraham Lincoln lived with his family from 1816 to 1830.
During that time, he grew from a 7-year-old boy to a 21-year-old man. His
mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, and at least 27 other settlers were buried here in
the Pioneer Cemetery. His sister Sarah Lincoln Grigsby was buried in the nearby,
Little Pigeon Baptist Church cemetery, across the road, at Lincoln State Park.
It has warmed-up to a very
comfortable camping weather situation, so we will enjoy it as we go. From
Lincoln State Park, we camped at Duck Creek in Paducah and next day, we took
US60 to Wickliffe and visited the Wickliffe Mounds State Historical Site. This
is a smaller Mississippian Culture Complex but had much more unique artifacts
that we saw in the Chillicothe or Cahokia Mounds Complex.
Our next “pull” took us via
US62, over the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, into SE Missouri,
crossing a pair of old, high, narrow, terrifying bridges, one for each
river. These bridges (about one mile
apart) are surrounded by a huge delta of agricultural fields and the bridge approaches
are high, narrow fills, across the river swamp. We took an overnight campsite
at the Camelot RV Park in Poplar Bluff. On Sunday, November 5, 2017, we
continued US62 to US67 and traveled NE Arkansas to Searcy and then up to Heber
Springs and Greers Ferry Lake, for a US Army Corps of Engineers Campsite. We
are totally amazed at the expansive agricultural plantations in western
Kentucky, southeast Missouri, and northeast Arkansas, but wondered how anyone
could live there, in the fields and little farm-towns. It’s just so rural, but
it’s home to those folks!
Noteworthy Features Along our
route:
Indiana;
Charlestown SP- Once a largely
undeveloped portion of the huge (15,000-acre) Indiana Army Ammunition plant,
Charlestown State Park is located in southern Indiana, near Louisville, KY.
With scenic vistas of the Fourteenmile Creek valley and the Ohio River, and with
elevation changes of over 200 feet, Charlestown has much to offer the visitor
with its rugged hills and deep ravines. While hiking the rugged terrain you
will see Devonian fossil outcrops and areas of karst sinkhole topography. We
recommend this park for a camp/walk/ and overlook of the old Ohio River
country.
Corydon- During the American
Revolution George Rogers Clark captured the surrounding area of what became the
town of Corydon from the British, bringing it under the control of the
fledgling United States government. Founded 1808 in the Indiana Territory and
first Territorial Capital (1813-1816),
later first Indiana State Capital (1816-1825). A grand collection of old
buildings and historical sites.
Blue River- rises near Salem
Indiana and flows into the Ohio River near Leavenworth. It is blue water during
normal flow and hosts loads of caves, boulders, rock outcroppings and high
precipices overlooking the Blue, a wild and scenic river.
Colonel William Jones SHS-
Federal style Jones home, near his store where Abe Lincoln worked as a young
clerk. Jones entered the Union Army in his sixties and was killed at Atlanta in
1864. He was a true friend and supporter of Lincoln.
Rockport- 1818 town under the
rock outcroppings along the Ohio River, where young Abe Lincoln, as a
boat-hand, began his flatboat trip down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, to New
Orleans. In this formative year, Abe saw families separated by a slavery
auction and he never forgot the miserable sight.
Kentucky;
Smith Mills- Western Kentucky
high-ground near Ohio River, an old coal mining area with the longest coal
tipple we have ever seen. It runs for miles, from the mines, to the Ohio River.
Paducah- Confluence of the
Tennessee and Ohio Rivers with striking murals of local history, on the
flood-wall
Missouri;
Wilson City- Wilson City was
one of several villages constructed in the early 1940s as part of the
"Delmo Project," an initiative by the Farm Security Administration to
aid displaced tenant farmers. It’s in the flat, flood-prone river bottom and
must have been terrible, little better than homeless.
Fairdealing- Strange name with
no explanation that I could find!
Arkansas;
White River- Over 700 miles,
one of the top trout rivers in the country, has bunches of tributaries. Takes
its rise near Fayetteville, flows across Arkansas, to Branson, Missouri, then back
into Arkansas and the Mississippi River. An admirable, Hard to miss river!
Bald Knob- A prominent
landmark and imposing ridge that separates the “Ozarks from the Delta”. Now,
when you see it along the west of US67, you’ll immediately know that it’s Arkansas’s
Bald Knob! When we saw it, we knew it had to be notable!
Harding University (Searcy)-
What a surprise; supported by the “Church of Christ”, this University has
satellite campuses in Arkansas AND around the globe. Wonder how that works?
Little Red River- We camped on
it in a deep, narrow gorge, below the Greers Ferry Lake Dam. The confluence of
the three tributaries is now inundated by Greers Ferry Lake. When the horn
sounds, it means lots of cold water is on its way down. This is a beautiful, premier
trout stream, holding several fish records. Fishing below the dam, down to the
fish hatchery is popular but most of the remaining stretch down to Searcy is
inaccessible. It flows 102 miles into the White River near Georgetown. Stunning
scenery!
Monday, November 6, 2017
Camping on Arkansas’s, Greers
Ferry Lake, right on the Mississippi flyway, we witnessed the best migration,
bird-watching encounter (an aerial river of birds) that I have ever
experienced. Many migration birds are tougher to spot but the Snow Geese are
very obvious with their ‘vee” flight formations and their “owk-owk” calls. Huge
flights of literally thousands, passed all morning on this grey, rainy day. The
Snow Geese nest in the Arctic Tundra and winter in the warm south, so the Mississippi
flyway is their traditional migration route. I can’t confirm but I believe that
I saw several Blue Goose individuals among the flocks. Our Kaufman bird-book,
field-guide confirms that the gray-bodied, white-headed, Blue Goose is a
variation of the typical white, with black wingtips, adult Snow Goose.
Wikipedia says: The
Mississippi Flyway is a bird migration route that generally follows the
Mississippi River in the United States and the Mackenzie River in Canada. The
main endpoints of the flyway include central Canada and the region surrounding
the Gulf of Mexico. The migration route tends to narrow considerably in the
lower Mississippi River valley in the states of Missouri, Arkansas,
Mississippi, and Louisiana, which accounts for the high number of bird species
found in those areas. Some birds use this flyway to migrate from the Arctic
Ocean to Patagonia.
Typically, birds use this
route because no mountains or ridges of hills block the path over its entire
extent. Good sources of water, food, and cover exist over its entire length.
About 40% of all North American migrating waterfowl and shorebirds use this
route.
Today, I took a hike down the
Little Red River to the mouth of Collins Creek and then up Collins Creek to the
waterfall where the creek rises, from a large pipe. This sounds strange but the
US Army Corps of Engineers designed it that way, when they build the Greers
Ferry Dam. The Fact is, Collins Creek and the Little Red River were forever
cut-off by the dam, and inundated by the immense lake. The cold-water outflow
of the power-generating dam now feeds the Little Red River, a premier trout
fishing stream.
In their plans, the Corps
built a fish hatchery and piped deep-lake, cold water to the hatchery below the
dam, for trout rearing. Cleverly, they decided to tap into this plumbing and
provide/restore cold-water flow to the Collins Creek bed and use the one-mile
stretch from the dam, down to the Little Red River, exclusively for youth trout
fishing. That’s what we admire about the Corps projects. They accomplish the
mission, simultaneously creating some terrific recreational facilities!
At Little Rock, we camped at
Maumelle on the Arkansas River, and had a fine visit with cousins Rusty and
Marion. Nothing like seeing old friends; being comfortable enough to laugh at
the awful decisions that you've both made in life, you can easily speak from
the heart and feel safe doing so, because both of you have been traveling a
parallel road your entire life. Nothing like old friends! We cruised the riven
in Rustys boat, visited some nice parks and overlooks around the river, and
enjoyed some fine dining with our cousins. Rustys “lobster dinner” was a
special treat. A fabulous stop!
Entering the Texas “piney
woods” country, we camped at the Wright Patman Lake, Rocky Point Campground, a
beautiful Corps of Engineers project, near Domino, Texas. A quite night in a
woodlands setting!
Continuing west, we stopped at
Tyler, Texas to visit the Tyler Rose Center and Garden. Late in the season, we
were surprised to find the roses in great shape, with sweet fragrances and
vivid colors. A spectacular image with fragranced rose sniffing!
Next, we entered the Texas
‘prairie” country, headed over to Waco Texas and spent a couple of days, where
we enjoyed the attractions, especially the “Magnolia Market”. The Magnolia
Market has the obvious touch of Joanna and Chip. I just drank-in the
landscaping, decorations, and design that Joanna has done. You can easily see her
"touch" in the entire venue. Even the gift-shop products reveal her
talent. Also, much credit to Chip for the use of the antique building
materials, and furnishings. It's a must-see, but do plan on long lines for
service. The place is "booming"!
We did an exploration tour of
old Waco this morning, and took a good walk along the Brazos River, up to the
Baylor University campus. It was cool and windy but the river-walk was
pleasurable.
The commemorative artwork for
the Chisholm Trail is the most accurate portrayal of the early Chisholm Trail
of any place we’ve seen. (They do not have a Gil Favor or Rowdy Yates statue.
Heh heh) The (1870) suspension bridge was used to cross the Brazos at Waco,
where they previously had to ford the river. Before 1870, crossing the Brazos
River was a time-consuming and sometimes dangerous ordeal. The trail brought
longhorn cattle from the Rio Grande to San Antonio, Waco, and then on to Kansas
City and the railhead to back-east markets. Can you imagine riding in a boxcar
full of Longhorn cattle? Ouch! Sudden stops could produce MAJOR beef kabobs!
The afternoon was spent at the
Visit to the Texas Rangers, the oldest state law enforcement agency in North
America. Later, we visited Waco Mammoth National Monument which sits within 100
acres of wooded parkland along the Bosque River. Surrounded by oak, mesquite
and cedar trees, the site offers an escape from the modern world and provides a
glimpse into the lives and habitat of Columbian mammoths and other Ice Age
animals. The dig is a very special National Monument!
In the Texas “hill” country, at
Austin: I made a tour-plan on Sunday night and we abandoned my plan on Monday
morning. We appreciate the many recommendations and suggestions, which are very
helpful. We just drove Austin and toured around. It was loads of fun!
Our first adventure was to
walk Daisy along the (Texas) Colorado River’s, “Lady Bird” Park for a vigorous
walk, some attractive landscaping, and nice views of downtown Austin. Yes,
Texas has a Colorado River that has never been to Colorado but it is ,a lovely
river. More tomorrow!
The University of Texas Campus
is an Austin tour-destination within itself. Darrell Royal (Longhorn) Stadium
is a huge landmark but the iconic UT Tower is another outstanding building of
"Indiana Limestone". Altogether, a very "academic setting"!
Glad to be here!
The University of Texas is a
gorgeous campus and it could very well be a sole tourist visit in Austin. We
walked around campus and some of the areas reminded us of the old Quadrangle at
our alma mater. It has those beautifully landscaped gardens, tiled-roof
buildings, and stunning architecture, all under the spreading Live Oaks, just
like LSU. A fine day and thankful to be here!
We learned that Guttenberg
used color in printing his bible (saw it at UT library) copies. He also left
space in the margins where professional scribes later added unique title and
chapter headings by hand, and many owners also hired artists to add lavish
illustrations. An early "build-a-bible" option for owners. Nothing
like marketing and the "competitive spirit"!
The Texas Capital Building is
dwarfed by the surrounding buildings but it remains the most attractive in the
neighborhood. Visiting the Capital Building before anything else in Austin
makes good sense, because it's a "history book" or "primer"
on the story of Texas. The art, pictures, artifacts and archives, tell the whole,
fascinating story. A terrific visit!
We chose to take the metro bus
around today and it worked fairly well. Unfortunately, while we waiting at the
Capital-stop, a truck crashed into the bus-stop and hurt one of our
fellow-riders, in a hit and run situation. Fortunately, the Capital Security
folks were close by and within minutes, the police had the culprit under
arrest, just a few blocks away. The officers informed us that he had no license
and probably no insurance, so the poor injured man that was taken away in the ambulance
will probably suffer the entire consequences of the injury. Not a good day for
him but very lucky we were unhurt!
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Thanksgiving Day
Camped at Canyon Lake, on the
Guadalupe River, a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Project at Comal County, in the
Texas Hill Country, we have a very accommodating and remote setting for some
rest and relaxation. We shopped Brookshire Brothers Grocery for our TG turkey
with all the trimmings. We wish all our family and friends a very Happy Thanksgiving
Holiday.
Like most of the Texas Hill
Country, the Guadalupe Canyon is composed of limestone outcroppings, Cedar
trees, and Live Oaks. We especially noticed the abundance of epiphyte “moss
balls” on the Live Oaks trees. The low, thick Live Oak groves are great cover
for wildlife and from the sun. The “allergenic pollen” Cedar trees are much
disliked by the Texans but they do help conserve the water. We enjoyed walking
among the groves and watching for wildlife and plant life.
We spent the day (day-trip) in
New Braunfels and made an in-depth visit of the area. The historic old town
(1845) retains its old buildings and a German essence, about it. We had an authentic
German lunch at Krause’s and then visited New Braunfels, Landa Park. We walked
Daisy under the shade of giant, ancient oak trees, around the springs, in one
of the finest parks we’ve seen. It sits right on the old El Camino Real and on
top of the Comal Springs, the largest concentration of naturally occurring
freshwater springs in Texas. The springs (318 CF/sec) feed the Comal River, the
shortest river in Texas. The Comal River begins at Comal Springs in Landa Park
and flows 2.5 miles until its confluence with the Guadalupe River. A fine day
in New Braunfels!
Yesterday, we decided to visit
Gruene, (Green) the site of one of Texas’s oldest “dance halls”. The dance hall
was packed with folks, so we just looked around. We were astonished by the
historic town and the discovery of numerous 1800’s and early 1900’s buildings.
It’s now a tourist attraction and the crowds soon influenced us to pursue the
vivacious, peaceful waters of the Guadalupe River, down the hill from town. We
relished the river walk, with it’s clear, white-water flow, and enormous Cyprus
trees, along the banks. It was a pleasant outing and a gratifying experience!
11-27-17 Monday
Today we took a
circuitous-ride (day-trip) up to Johnson City, Stonewall, Fredericksburg, and
Luckenbach. President Lyndon Johnson’s boyhood home is at Johnson City, county
seat of Blanco County, a town founded by his uncle ancestor, James Polk
Johnson. The Johnson settlement and General Store reflect the life of times of
young Lyndon Johnson and his ancestors. An interesting stop!
At Stonewall, (named after
Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson, we visited the LBJ birthplace and well-ordered
LBJ Ranch, on the Pedernales River. LBJ was born and died on this site, always
saying it was here, that he was most comfortable and at peace. We drove the
ranch-road past the numerous out-buildings, visited the Texas White House, and
the family cemetery. At the cemetery, I wondered what LBJ would say about
today’s America. The ranch exhibits Lyndon Johnson’s lifelong connection to his
homeplace. We really enjoyed and recommend the experience! Thanks for the tip,
Sam!
At Fredericksburg, we shopped
and admired the old town and the German influence of it’s founders. This place is
the origin of Texas German (Texasdeutsch), an almost extinct German language
dialect spoken by descendants of German immigrants who settled in Texas in the
mid-19th century. This is a very popular tourist destination and they offer all
the things that attract tourists, year-round. We plan to visit here more
extensively, on another trip!
What a surprise we experienced
at Luckenbach! The little town is situated on Grape Creek, under a large grove
of Live Oaks trees, with the Dance Hall being the main attraction. The crude
parking area is several times the size of the entire town, so that leads you to
wonder how all those people could possibly fit into the little town. They come
for the purest form of Texas Honky Tonk, down home music. "Everybody's
Somebody in Luckenbach". If anyone has ever been to Luckenbach for a “big
blowout”, I’d like to hear your story? It must go from a sleepy little berg to
a wild and crazy shindig, in short-order!
We thoroughly enjoyed our day
and the drive through this part of the Texas Hill Country. It was like going
back to the settlement days. It’s a place where one could spend a lot more
time. There’s lots more to see and do. Not much has changed!
Wed. 11-29-17
The morning was cool and clear
as we headed to the south Texas “plains” and San Antonio, for a week of touring
and exploring. We took an RV site at Happy Trails Park, just north of downtown.
It’s a good location with the AT&T Center nearby and close to all the
attractions. We spent our first two days visiting the San Antonio Missions. We
learned much about the Missions role in extending Spain’s dominion over the New
World. We never realized how many Missions that were established in what is
now, present-day Texas. The five Missions along the San Antonio River, that we
visited were similar but also unique in many ways. Mission San Antonio de
Valero (the Alamo) was the first Mission on the San Antonio River and obviously
the most famous. Mission Concepcion retains its original paintings and
religious symbols. Mission San Jose is famous for its “Rose window”. The gate
at Mission San Juan typifies the Romanesque arches found throughout the
missions. Mission Espada is the best example of the distinctive Spanish artisan’s
work. These Missions superseded the California Missions but the objectives were
the same, to claim the land and make Spaniards of the natives. The Missions
were not just churches but self-sufficient communities and ranches, also
producing excess trade goods. The San Antonio Missions (excluding the Alamo) are
a National Historical Park under the administration of the National Park
Service. We’re glad that we took the time to explore them all!
After a couple of days of old,
we decided to explore some new, so we went shopping. North Star Mall gave us
lots to see and do, with plenty of exercise. At The Quarry, in Lincoln Heights,
we explored a huge selection of stores and markets. There were loads of
“Christmas shoppers” and the Christmas decorations were exceptional. We enjoyed
our “shopping day” and the drive around the north part of San Antonio, with the
exquisite homes, parks, and public buildings, all very captivating and
attractive. We had great fun and the weather was perfect!
On Sunday, we attended the Bilingual
Mariachi Mass at (1731) Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo. Here, we had
something old and new. The old Mission had a very antique feel about it and many
of the parishioners could easily be descendants of the early neophytes of the
Mission. Viewed as a model of Mission organization, Mission San José was a
major social center. The unique architecture of its church and the richness of
its fields and pastures led early visitors to comment on its beauty. The size
of the historic complex bears witness to San José’s reputation as the “Queen of
the Missions.”
After Mass, we lunched at La
Perla De Jalisco, and they had Mariachi music in the restaurant. Lots of locals
and the food was authentic and enchanting. Of course, the home-made flan was
delightful! We talked to one of the band members and he was curious to know how
we found this place. Surprised to see us gringos there!
On Monday, we elected to take
the bus and hop-on/hop-off, as we pleased. It worked well because we could
visit attractions and not have to be concerned with driving or parking. We saw the
Alamo, Old Market, Riverwalk, Pearl, Hemisfair, and the Alamodome. We had another
terrific TexMex lunch, an entertaining day, and got fairly exhausted, today in
the “Alamo City”!
The last two days have been
windy and cold as a result of a cold-front moving in and today brings rain to
the mix, so we’re heading south ASAP. The Rio Grande Valley promises to be warm
and sunny the entire winter, so we’re on our way! San Antonio has been a blast
and we have done and seen so much of the area. 2018 is San Antonio’s
tri-centennial, and their 300th Birthday comprehensive celebration (year-long)
program would be great to attend. Congratulations and thanks, San Antonio!
Traveling to the Rio Grande
Valley, we encountered several interesting things.
George West, Texas is the
“storytelling capital” of Texas. We enjoy “Cowboy Poetry” and this is a good
destination to find it!
At Falfurrias, Mariposa Ranch,
is the largest undivided piece in Texas at 775,000 acres. We saw lots of oil
wells, so the ranch cattle must be “eating good”!
McAllen, Texas is nicknamed,
the “City of Palms”, and the Rio Grande Valley is nicknamed the “Texas Tropics”.
With its moderate winter climate, McAllen is a winter resort and port of entry
to Mexico. Along the border, huge produce clearing houses are busy with trucks,
moving the product, to stores near you. Just looking around McAllen and the Rio
Grande Valley we see a common trend. The area is a desert but when irrigation
came along, the valley became a “garden spot”, growing cotton, citrus, produce,
and an assortment of various other ag crops. The tropical climate of this area
provides ideal conditions for growing citrus fruits, watermelons, and many
other fruits and vegetables. The irrigation network is an extensive web of
canals and ditches which provide Rio Grande water to the entire valley. At some
point, the growing economy and nice winter climate brought the real estate
development and “snowbirds”. Now, it’s easy to see the former citrus groves and
ag fields that have been developed into sub-divisions, shopping centers,
medical facilities, and comprehensive commercial businesses. Like it or not
this is what happens to desirable and attractive places. We love it because the
winter weather is perfect, the attractions, restaurants, and entertainment are
plentiful and it’s a terrific place to spend a comfortable winter, without
getting bored. All that being said, we have to move on soon, because of other
plans, but we will plan to be back another winter!
Saturday was a return to the
normal RGV winter weather, so we went to the National Butterfly Center and the
World Birding Visitor Center. Both of these parks are located in close
proximity, along the Rio Grande, just south of Mission, Texas. The Butterfly
Center is a landscaped planting of all the “host/feeding” plants and trees that
attract the butterflies, which migrate to this region. Here, we enjoyed the
visit and also attended our first-ever, “turtle” birthday party. “Spike” the
turtle, a hundred-pound, African Spurred Tortoise, is very old, and is a
founding member of the center. The visiting kids had a blast feeding Spike his
birthday watermelon. We learned that it’s an annual tradition for the park and
“Spike”!
The World Birding Center is a
multi-environment site with a hub-circular trail, connecting with spoke-trails,
where a visitor can encounter water and woods birds. At the Birding Center, we
walked the grounds and finally settled on a bench by the bird-feeders, at the
Nature Center. We got some excellent bird-watching, observing abundant
migratory birds. We learned that the World Birding Center has several sites
along the Rio Grande Valley, so we intend to visit more! Our RGV (new bird) sightings
were the:
Green Jay
Cara Cara
Great Kiskadee
Inca Dove
Black-Crested Titmouse
Chachalaca
Altamira Oriole
White-winged Dove
Parakeet
Loggerhead Shrike
Northern Shovler
Blue-winged Teal
Couch’s Kingbird
Pyrrhuloxia
Some south Texas trees in the
park were:
Coral Bean
Honey Mesquite
Texas Sabal Palm
We also saw the Texas Indigo
snake
We had a wonderful day along
the Rio Grande!
On Monday, we visited the old
Hidalgo Pumphouse, the first irrigation structure in the Rio Grande Valley. It
was surprising and educational to explore the massive old steam-powered
facility, now a museum and garden. In the afternoon, we visited the Lower Rio
Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
The Hidalgo Pumphouse, built
for commercial-scale irrigation in 1909, drew water from the Rio Grande and channeled
it to thousands of crop-laden acres nearby. In driving the valley, we saw
endless fields of produce and agricultural crops, all watered by the new
pumping-station downstream. This Hidalgo site is fantastic for both birds and
butterflies and is part of the World Birding Center. We walked the grounds and
took some good pictures.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley
National Wildlife Refuge (La Sal del Rey) is a unique historical, and wildlife
area. Sitting atop a huge salt dome, the area was a valuable source of salt for
Native Americans, Spanish explorers, and western pioneers. While hiking the
trails through the woods and along the lakes, we observed lots of migrating
shorebirds and a diversity of other wildlife. This is a very impressive nature
area!
On Wednesday, we toured the
San Juan de Valle National Shrine. The Basilica was immaculate and the grounds
were pristine. Daisy enjoyed walking, sniffing, and rolling on the manicured
lawns. We spent a morning of discovery and after lunch shopped Costco, Hobby
Lobby, and Sam’s Club. Back at the campsite, we feasted on a delicious dinner.
Like other winter playgrounds,
the Rio Grande Valley RV parks are actually resorts. For example, our Citrus
Valley RV Park, is restricted to 55-plus seniors, and had lots of amenities.
The clubhouse has a large dining room, a billiards room, reading room, card
room, television room, post office, shuffleboard, pickle ball, outdoor patio,
and pool. We talked to numerous seniors, from the northern states and Canada,
who have been coming here for many winters. You can spend a night, week, month,
or winter, if you please. They call themselves “winter Texans”!
12-14-2017
On Thursday, we left McAllen
“but wait, there’s more”. We followed the Rio Grande River upstream to Falcon
Heights and the Falcon Reservoir, and camped at the Falcon State Park. We
haven’t seen any Falcon but it’s a great place for winter bird-watching. From
our campsite, we overlook the lake and the mountains in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Our
“new-bird” list is growing as we encounter the many unique birds of the area!
Unfortunately, rain came in
and after two days at Falcon State Park, we headed north in a light rain. At
Laredo, we drove through town, had lunch at the Mall, shopped, all in the rain.
We took a camp-site at the Laredo Vaquero RV Park and it rained all night. No
matter how you’re camping, rain is always a challenge to campers.
Next day, we headed north to
Eagle Pass and left the rain behind but it continued very cloudy, cold and windy.
After lunch, we resumed our travel north to Del Rio and more cold, cloudy
weather. We are currently at the Del Rio Hidden Valley RV Park, a cozy, little
campground, on a family farm, just on the edge of town. During the rainy days
along the roads, we did see some birds to note. We saw:
Cara Cara
Harris Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk (Loads of
hawks between Laredo and Eagle Pass)
Roadrunner
Cardinal
Lots of birds for a rainy day!
Sunday 12-17-17
We find the Del Rio Hidden
Valley RV Park so pleasant, we have decided to remain here through
Christmas. Del Rio has enough
attractions and accommodations to keep one entertained for a week or so. Being
a cold, cloudy day, I washed and dried clothes in the nice laundry room at the
RV Park. The laundry is a home-like setting with books, movies, tourist information,
and cable television.
Merry Christmas to all family
and friends! …….
On Monday, it remained cloudy
and cold, so went to the Mall, shopped around, and took-in the new “Star Wars”
movie at the Mall. The Mall had the usual chain-stores, along with some unique
shops as well. I especially enjoyed the “western store”!
Tuesday was a day to do some
maintenance, like washing our very dirty truck and doing some service work on
it. Just about every town has several competing truck-parts stores but I seem
to prefer AutoZone.
Wednesday 12-20-2017
We took a delightful stroll
along the San Felipe Creek trail system, on the banks of this clear, cold
stream. San Felipe Creek is fed by the fourth largest group of springs in
Texas, and very shortly becomes a whitewater stream, as it flows south to the
Rio Grande River. It’s like the Supreme Grand Master and Great Architect of the
Universe decided that the arid land needed a water fountain, so he made
voluminous springs to rise up from the limestone, beneath the desert, providing
for the people to make a community around the springs. Daisy was so excited to be on the trail with
us! Returning to Hidden Valley RV Park, we shopped the HEB market and enjoyed a
congenial dinner at home.
In the days leading up to
Christmas, we did more walks, shopping and movies. At the Mall theater, we saw
“Star Wars Last Jedi”, “Jumanji”, and “Father Figure”.
After Christmas in Del Rio, we
headed west on US90, to lunch at Langtry, and a campsite at Sanderson. The
route was an interesting drive, through the west Texas hills, and the Stockton
Plateau.
Langtry is situated in Val
Verde County, on the Edwards Plateau, near the confluence of the Pecos and Rio
Grande rivers. The community is notable as the place where Judge Roy Bean, the
"Law West of the Pecos", had his saloon and practiced law and later,
was a stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad. It’s a historic stop and the Texas
State Historical Park garden, adjacent to the old buildings has an impressive
collection of native plants, along a winding, landscaped walkway. We had a nice
picnic lunch, met a very interesting, informative Ranger, and thoroughly
enjoyed our stop.
The Stockton Plateau occupies western
Texas, from the Davis Mountains, eastward, generally to the Pecos River. Sedimentary
outcroppings, steep-walled canyons and dry washes, including expanses of
Creosote Bush, comprise the Stockton Plateau.
Texas Geology says: “The
Cretaceous rocks are dominantly marine limestones that were successively
deposited in a shallow shelf environment. Limestone deposition was interrupted
for a time during the early Late Cretaceous by an influx of clay and silt,
followed by growth of a short-lived arch in the central part of the area.
Post-Cretaceous rocks are stream deposits, mostly gravels, now exposed as ridge
caps, terrace remnants, and alluvium. Structurally, the area was affected by
the folding and accompanying faulting of the Mexican Highland. to the west. and
by the uplift and warping of the Edwards Plateau”.
The US90 roadside geology was
amazing and we enjoyed seeing and researching it!
We saw flocks of sheep along
the Plateau, and wondered how they could survive, but discovered that it’s
well-suited for sheep. A variety of grasses and scrub-shrub grow on the
plateau, providing grazing for livestock and wildlife.
At Terrell County’s Sanderson,
we were not far removed from the days of Texas legend and lore. The strong
influence of the pioneer days, cowboy culture, and railroading still prevail in
the community. The local ranches offer “guest hunting”, so the area is
currently crawling with deer hunters. Sanderson is designated as the “Cactus
Capital” and the “bloom” must be an awesome, October sight to behold. Wiki
says: “Sanderson was founded in 1882. It was a switching point for the Southern
Pacific Railroad, where refueling and crew changes on its main transcontinental
route took place. Mohair and wool production on surrounding ranches formed a
significant part of the economy”.
Sanderson was a quiet, relaxing
campsite, except for the night-trains passing through the canyon. Ironically,
we were not much disturbed by the several trains that passed during the night.
From our campsite in Sanderson
Canyon, we drove west to Brewster County’s, Marathon, situated in the Marathon
Basin. With the Glass Mountains, Del Norte Mountains, Santiago Mountains, and
the Woods Hollow Mountains imminent to the west, in a counter-clockwise order,
the view and sunset is stunning. Also, Marathon has very dark skies and is a
mecca for star-gazers and astronomers. Birding is popular and because the area
is well-suited for it. Today, at the Gage Garden, we saw our first-ever Scaled
Quail, Curved-bill Thrush and Golden-fronted Woodpecker.
On a day-trip, we started with
coffee at the V6 coffee bar, in the old Gage Hotel. Then, we went south, to the
old Camp Pena Colorado, on Pena Colorado creek, at the foot of the Caballos
Novaculite Mountains. Not much remains of the old fort but the cottonwood trees
are still there. On this day-trip we saw Road Runners, waterfowl on the creek,
and a herd of Pronghorn. We also talked to some local horseback riders about
the area. A great day in the outdoors of the trans-Pecos Texas region.
12-29
We left Marathon and headed
west to Alpine, the center of the Big Bend area. Situated in a high valley,
between the Chihuahuan Desert and the Davis Mountains, Alpine has everything
needed for a West Texas adventure. Our campsite at the Lost Alaskan RV Park,
will be our home-base for visiting Fort Davis, the McDonald Observatory, and
Marfa. Today we celebrated our Anniversary, with lunch at the “Cow Dog”
food-truck, a popular hot dog stand for the locals.
Looking around Alpine, it’s
easy to meet people from all over the country and the world. We shared our
lunch table with a couple from Quebec Canada. Since Alpines beginning in the
early 1800’s as a frontier and railroad town, many factors have contributed to its
varied and invigorating culture, including a vibrant arts community, an active
ranching industry, and the presence of Sul Ross State University. Alpine has a
colorful collection of murals celebrating regional themes, decorating the walls
of downtown businesses.
On a day-trip, we visited Fort
Davis, the McDonald Observatory, and Marfa. Fort Davis, the “highest town in
Texas” sits in the Davis Mountains at 5,050 feet. Named after Mississippi’s Jefferson
Davis, who was then the Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce, it
was home to the 1854 U.S. Infantry post, protecting the pioneers from Indian
raids. Many of its original buildings have been restored, making it the best
example of a frontier military post in the Southwest. Fort Davis provided us
with a nice lunch at the cozy hotel restaurant. We’re glad we stopped to see
it!
The University of Texas’s, McDonald
Observatory, a leader in astronomical research, sits atop Mt. Locke, taking
advantage of some of the darkest skies in the nation. The visitor center is informative
and the tours are inspiring! Our tour was
simply spectacular. On their bus, we visited two of the enormous domes and got
to see the range of management functions used in operating the massive telescopes.
We observed the digital interfaces and data management features connected to
the telescopes and saw live pictures of the layers of the sun, using filters.
We
were informed that the live images took eight minutes to arrive from the sun.
(So were they really live?). From the mountaintop, we also got an overview of
the entire installation, revealing other UT telescopes and also tenant
telescopes owned and operated by other agencies and countries. We were informed
that astronomers seldom get to look through the telescope eyepieces because all
sorts of computer equipment are used for imaging and spectroscopy in the
optical and infrared spectra research. We were also introduced to the other
astounding projects, like laser ranging and dark energy research. This was a
fantastic visit and made me want to learn more about the Universe.
Well, it’s New Year’s eve 2017
and we’re feeling 19 degrees at Alpine, Texas. (4475 ft.) We could be in warm,
sunny Southern California but we’re thankful that we have enjoyed this amazing
tour, along the Rio Grande, through the “BIG” State of Texas!
It’s hard to believe that
we’re closing out another year and thus ending our 2017 Blog. Happy New Year to
all our family and friends and we look forward to seeing you in 2018!
Starting 2018
On the second day of January,
we departed Alpine and continued west of US 90, headed to El Paso, for a visit
with cousins Helen and Richard. We toured around Marfa, and culminated our tour
with lunch. Marfa, founded as a railroad water-stop, is now an arts community.
It’s situated in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos region, between the Davis
Mountains and Big Bend. The attractive
Presidio County Courthouse is the centerpiece of Marfa. Due to the current cold
weather, we elected not to pursue the “Marfa Lights”.
