Greeting everyone!  Still hangin' in the south land . . .


Ferry boats in Texas?????  Who knew!  There are several in the gulf area, all FREE (my favorite word💰) to ride.  And they travel 24/7!  Noticed that this one had quite a following . . .

Bet you can guess where we were this day . . . enjoyed the Houston Space Center, and was amazed that the Mission Control Center looked exactly like it did in all the movies!

The trees all along the Gulf Coast have been really interesting to this NW gal used to seeing straight, tall evergreens!  They really tell a tale about the forces that formed their shapes.

This is our first visit to Louisiana, and the 'Cajun Country' in the southwest part of this state did not disappoint.  Kind of felt like I've was transformed to another world, though.

 
Had some camera fun on a cool, foggy morning . . .

Even the old, historic above-the-ground cemeteries have been a fascination . . .

The culture, history, food, music, language, plantations, swamps . . . and, oh, did I mention the food???? were all delightfully foreign to us, but all here to enjoy!  We have tried to get used to the unusual language down here, (a merging of French Canadian, Spanish, and Louisiana 'south talk'),but I must admit to a few embarrassing moments!  Like the time we were in a restaurant and the server asked if I wanted my entree 'bawled'?  Thought I should ask how that was prepared . . .  I caught a very slight eye roll on her part, then a little sigh, before explaining to me that you just put the meat in a pot, add water, and 'bawl' it!  Oooohhhh, now I got it!  We had quite a giggle over that one . . .

We've also tried to eat like the Cajun folks do . . . tried Craw fish Ettaufee, Boudin, a variety of Gumbos, 'bawled' craw fish and all sorts of shrimp, crab and catfish fixins'.  I didn't go for the turtle or frog, and really backed off when Alligator balls were on the menu!  Now, let me say that they probably just took the ground gator meat and made meatballs out of it, but just it case they meant something else, I decided to let that culinary pleasure pass me by😱  Not quite that courageous!!!  I am sure that if my big bro had been here, though, he would have enjoyed trying that dish.

We had the pleasure of having several conversations with a born-n'-raised Cajun fellow who runs a local coffee shop nearby, and he told me tales of how he and his buds free-dive into the bayous and place catfish traps on the bottom.  Then they dive back and retrieve them another day.  Now, after finding out about the poisonous water snakes, not to mention the gators, that hang out in those same bayous, I was a little amazed that he would do this!  Said his 'granny' taught him how!  He also showed me a photograph of a frog he caught - - probably over three feet long, all stretched out!  I'm sure each of those frog legs could have fed a family!

Speaking of bayous and swamps, we had a wonderful day touring with a young man who has lived here all his life, and had many interesting facts about the Cypress and Tupalo trees - - the only ones that can grow in standing water.  Really beautiful with the Spanish Moss hanging from their branches.

Also saw MANY Alligators - - this one really seemed to enjoy laughing at us when we were making his portrait, about six feet away from our boat!  Only saw one Cottonmouth (aka Water Moccasin) hanging on a branch  - - that was enough, thank you very much!

Under the heading of 'things I have learned' while on our RV adventure, this is a reminder to all our travelin' friends out there - - be sure when you are getting ready to turn on your shower that you face the shower head away from your entry area.  Showers in most rigs are very small, and if you don't make this a practice, you should at least make sure you store lots of 'mop up' towels in your rig!☔️  'Nuff said!!

Just about done with our 'Cajun' holiday - - tomorrow we'll be heading north to Mississippi and the Natchez Trace Parkway (scenic byway) that leads from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN.  Hope all is well with you and yours.  We can be pretty sure that spring has finally sprung, but, then, so have the tornados!!! Ugh!  We'll be dodging those at all cost when we're traveling . . .  more later from Jerry, Lynne, Kodi and Kermit!

Still on the road in Texas . . .

Many of you have asked 'where are you now'?  Still deep in the heart of Texas, and still having FUN!👍

After spending time exploring the east Texas area near Tyler, we headed to McKinney, north of Dallas, where we spent a wonderful holiday season with family.

Very interesting area - - lots of growth going on.  Got to see a Texas Longhorn cattle drive down a street in Fort Worth, had some great eats (yeah, my Texas kids are foodies!!!) and did lots of exploring.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised.  Really enjoyed the sites around Dallas and my kids did a great job of showing us around . . .

 


Next stop was along the Guadalupe River outside of San Antonio.  I actually lived there when I was a young whipper snapper, but can't say I remember much!  (Heck, sometimes I can't remember much about yesterday!)  The River Walk is great, as was the Alamo and the historic Mexican Marketplace.  Weather was FAB!

After keeping a keen eye out, as we were exploring the River Walk, I finally spied the famous 'new breed of  cowboy'!  Yep, things have changed . . . never did see his horse though.

Since leaving San Antonio, we've been hanging out along the Texas Gulf coast, near Corpus Christi.  I was stunned to find myself enjoying an OUTDOOR pool on the afternoon of January 28th!

 

Right after we arrived we drove to North Padre Island beach to watch volunteers place about 300 rescued adult Green Sea Turtles back into the Gulf waters.  Quite a sight!  When the water drops to 50 degrees, these turtles are stunned and float to the surface.  They rescue them and take them to a rehab center on the Island, then put them back into the surf when the water temperatures gets back to 60 degrees.  I was hoping for some better photo opportunities, but the area was roped off so the 500+ onlookers were not in the way.  Rather than putting the turtles on the sand to go into the water, the 100+ volunteers hand-carried each one into about two feet of water and let them go.  Really enjoyed the whole experience and we did get a few good images.

 Waiting for the turtles to arrive . . .

The trees in this part of Texas are pretty amazing.  Much greener than I expected.  One day we were out exploring and we saw this stand of leafless trees in an area that could only be described as a plain.  For a moment there, I thought I had been spirited off to an African safari, but then I saw it . . . a sign that said "Belt Sander Races this Saturday", and then I knew . . . yep, we're still in Texas!  (Hey folks, I'm not smart enough to make this stuff up!)

Wildlife in this neck of the woods is plentiful . . . had to stop and photograph this pelican picnic, Texas style.🐜

Then there was the 'gator' that was napping on the bank of a pond - - yes, he is real and in the wild!

 This area is known for its blue crab, so had to show this one off . . .

And, I FINALLY got to see my first Armadillo walking along the side of the road, but he refused to stop to have his portrait done.  Also saw some wild boar and lots of birds, among them a pink spoonbill.

Had some recent sadness - - my brother just lost his wife to lung cancer after being diagnosed only two weeks before, and my wonderful daughter-in-law just lost a brother as a result of several medical issues.  Thinking of them, and thinking enough, already!!!

Next stop - - further east, but still on the Gulf, near Galveston, TX.  Then it's off to Louisiana for some bayou treks (as long as it is still winter, maybe the snakes won't be out yet - - hoping that is  so!) and good eats and sights.  Planning to visit Washington in May and look forward to seeing some of you when we're in town.  After that - - turning north!

More later . . . Lynne and Jerry, direct from 'Kodi and Kermit', the "rig".

WOW!!!  Can't believe we've been on the road for six months now.  And, OOOHHH, the things we've seen during that time.  After leaving Arizona we headed for New Mexico and explored some of our favorite areas.  Love, love, love the scenery, the culture, the food, the architecture, the people, the history.  All like nothing else we've experienced. 

One of the spots we visited was the Bosc Del Apache Wildlife Refuge and we were fortunate enough to be there when the Sand Hill Cranes were showing up for the winter!  In addition, lady luck also smiled by enabling us to be there the week before all the flocks of birders and photographers flew in for the big annual festival.    This meant I didn't have to elbow my way between tripods to get a look and make an image.  As I have mentioned before, the only time I photograph wildlife is when the critter comes up to me and strikes a pose.  This morning, there were several birds that elected to do just that, which made my 4:00 a.m. wake up all worth while!  Of course, in order to get Jerry out that early, I had to promise to buy him a yummy breakfast when we were done . . .

 

While traveling from New Mexico into the west side of Texas, I somehow missed the "Come Back Soon" sign when leaving New Mexico and the "Welcome To Texas" sign when entering the Lone Star State.  But, we immediately noticed a change in the landscape.  Right away, we were driving through acres and acres of very flat cotton fields ready for harvest - - a landscape new to these northwest kids! What made this view even more 'unique' were all the praying mantis-looking oil derricks operating in the middle of all those cotton fields.  Actually, they remind me of those toy birds I had growing up - - the ones that you stood next to a glass of water and once the bird's beak was wet, it continued to 'drink' until the water disappeared - - up and down; up and down.  I realize that some of you reading this may be too young to remember those birds but they were one of my favorites, and the oil wells brought them to the top of my memory bank (a hard job at my advanced age!!!👵).

Then I started noticing the ranch entry gates that all have names.  When I saw one that read "Duck Stud Ranch" I knew right away that I had arrived in Texas!  I also observed that when driving through all the small towns on a state highway, the speed limit, as usual, was reduced ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 60mph!!!  Yep, we were now in Texas!

So far, I am disappointed to say that we haven't spotted any armadillos or javalinas.  We have seen a herd of feral hogs, a few buzzards, some wild turkeys and a dead cockroach, none of which met my criteria for wildlife photographs, especially the dead cockroach🐞.  About the only 'critter' I've photographed here was this big fellow who I caught napping in a field next to the road - - I must say, he seemed very unimpressed with the fact that I was taking his portrait!  Not much of 'poser' . . .

The landscape in this very large state has surprised me.  I was not expecting all the trees, green rolling hills, beautiful ranch/estates, lakes and rivers.  Not just the Hill County - - also the east Texas region as well. 

🎼 We went to Luckenbach, 🎵Texas but no Waylon, Willie and the boys🎶; we looked all around but didn't 🎼see the Hatfields and McCoys🎵

Seriously, what you see in this photo IS all there is to Luckenbach, Texas.  This building is a gift store, a dance hall, a tavern, a post office and live music venue, all under one roof (well, there is another building next door for use when they have REALLY BIG shindigs!)  Oh, yeah, there are a couple of farms in the area as well.  Who knew!

Many of you probably don't remember President Lyndon Johnson (Vice President who took over when President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963).  His 'Texas White House' was located in the Hill Country of Texas and is now a national park.  Gorgeous!  This image was taken at that historic site and shows some of the amazing Live Oak trees we see so much of here.

Under 'things that we've learned' for this blog, we discovered another road issue (by doing!).  In the rolling hills of central Texas there are many rivers/streams, and on the downhill run, the roads go right through those waterways!  Each one has a high water marker that goes up to five feet shown on a stick placed along side the road to let you know when the water is too deep to cross!  Whoa . . . the first one we encountered caused this driver a bit of a freight!  But, the water level was low so I continued through the stream without incident.

We are now exploring in east Texas where my father and his family hailed from.  I have located a little of our history in the form of graves and historical data.  We'll soon be meeting up with our daughter and her family where we'll spend the holidays with them in their new Texas home.  From there, we'll head to the Gulf areas for the winter months.

The holiday decorations we have seen are really 'over the top' in this neck of the woods . . .

Until next year, and until I get busy and create a new blog, may you and yours be blessed with love and peace this holiday season that will last into the new year.  Happiness to all!