As most of you know we finished our stint at Amazon without any major damage to our bodies. We accomplished our goal of cash for Alaska and had the pleasant experience of making many new friends along the way. It’s funny how totally different people placed in the same (sometimes unpleasant) situation bond to a level you would not expect. For that reason Amazon was a good experience for us – I’m glad we were part of it.
Before we left the Dallas-Ft. Worth area we stopped and visited a park on the east side of Eagle Mountain Lake near Haslet, TX. I had to try out my new camera and this gave me a few pieces of subject matter to work on.
This is one of the small walking bridges we came across in the park.
Before we left the area we celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday at our sister and her husband’s place in Keller, TX. Soon after the Houston relatives arrived, we promptly stuffed ourselves into semi–comas before going home to sleep it off. Dreaming of the bodacious bowel movement to come the following morning. Yes, holidays do take on a new meaning when you pass 60.
I had to try out the macro feature of the new camera on the shot below – I was very happy how it turned out.
As we left our stint at Amazon we headed south to the Houston area for the Christmas holiday and visit with even more family. We spent time with Daughter and Husband (Angela & David)as well as their very loving daughter (our granddaughter!), Zoe. We visited and celebrated with Gary and Regina, Jane and a host of extended family members as well as a few others over the days we had there – good visit.
We headed further south on the 1st day of the year and decided to break up the drive down to the Rio Grande Valley into two short trips rather than one long one – we paid for that decision! The first day was the shortest of the two and very pleasant, no problems. The second day did suck a bit – constant hard rain with many accidents from hydroplaning cars and trucks. The traffic wasn’t bad, just had to take it slow. Then we turned onto the roads to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, our winter home. First, lots of water – too much water with no place to pull over. Even the mail trucks were in the ditch. Then after what seemed like never ending standing water, we turned up the last seven mile stretch of road to the Refuge and found the RVer’s road from Hell! I slowed down to under 10 mph as the puddles turned into thousands of bottomless pits trying to rip the hydraulic jacks off the trailer and I dreaded to see the damage once we stopped. There was no place to turn around or pull off without sinking the rig – I was wired! We finally made it though – it seems we always do and surprisingly with no damage. It only took me a couple of days to calm down after that, a couple of beers helped, too.
We got settled with no problem and are working at learning our new volunteer positions. Three days on and 4 days off, not bad.
I met this Great Kiskadee as he (or she) was checking me out. From what I understand they are a Flycatcher and from personal experience they are rather loud.
A few days after arriving, Linda and I were biking the Bayside Drive Trail on the Refuge and we ran into a pair of Crested Caracara (or Mexican Eagles). They let me approach within a couple of feet before one of them took off. This one was quite the ham and definitely wanted his picture taken. They are actually part of the Falcon family and have been grouped in with vultures on some occasions.
We made our way down to Port Isabel and South Padre Island to reacquaint ourselves with the area and do a bit of shopping. Along the way we found this and a few other sand sculptures near the visitor center. It is amazing what some people can do with sand!
As we have more time I’m sure we will be spending a lot of time on South Padre Island enjoying the beach and atmosphere of this playground.
I was driving through the Refuge a couple of days ago and ran into this guy with the intense stare. He did not take his eyes off me the entire time I was there.
I believe he is a Harris Hawk as there are quite a few of those around here.
The pics to the right are two different views that I have caught on my bike rides. The upper one is of a coyote and two Black Vultures on what's left of a feral hog.
The lower pic is of a couple of feral hogs I scared up on a bike ride. When I first saw them they were within 20 feet of me. I couldn’t decide whether to get the camera out or run - the sow I would guess to be close to 400 lbs and she had three piglets she was protecting. They ran (to my relief) the other way - and by the time I got the camera out this was the best I could get.
One of the more common birds on the Refuge is the Green Jay.
This little guy posed for me as I was checking out one of the local outbuildings.
So with Amazon, the holidays, and the traveling behind us, once again we are settled in for a couple months of learning, a bit of adventure, and hopefully a whole lot of winter fun.
Home is where we park it!
Lee & Linda
