8th Post - Goliad, TX

Another great day for traveling - sunny, clear skies, 80’s.  As I mentioned before, we could not get reservations for the full weekend at Lake Corpus Christi, so we had to leave on Saturday.  We pulled out a little after 9:00 AM, and after a McDonald’s stop, we hit I-37 north for 20 miles to George West, TX (I actually knew a guy a long time ago named George West).  We made a fuel stop at a Flying J at the exit, and then took Hwy 59 east to Beeville.  In Beeville, we made a much-needed Walmart stop – the commodities were getting a little low.  Then it was a short 30-mile drive to Goliad, TX and Goliad State Park – total 80 miles for the day.  We checked in around Noon and found out that our campsite is one of several in a big asphalt parking lot – pretty bad!  That’s what happens sometimes when you’re reserving sites online unseen.  We checked back in at the office and the nice lady said that on Sunday the good sites in a better section should clear out and we should be able to move.

We missed church on Sunday – LaVerne was feeling under the weather and we also had to be “Johnny-on-the-spot” at the office at 12:00 Noon in order to get our campsite changed.  We got moved and re-setup – much nicer.  Got the bird feeders out and are looking for customers.  Thought the people who provide the dumpsters in the campground have an interesting name.

There’s a lot of history in and around Goliad.  It was the site of the second skirmish in the Texas Revolution against Mexico (ref Battle of Goliad).  In October 1835, the Texans attacked and defeated the local Mexican garrison called Presidio La Bahia. Colonel James W. Fannin was over the Texas soldiers here during the Battle of the Alamo (Feb 23/Mar 6, 1836), but couldn’t heed a call to help them.  Then a couple of weeks later, his soldiers were defeated at the Battle of Coleto Creek (March 19/20, 1836) and he surrendered.  They were marched to the Presidio La Bahia in Goliad where on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836 they were massacred – 400+ prisoners, plus Fannin (ref Goliad Massacre).  Colonel Fannin was from Georgia, and Fannin County, Georgia (where we live) was named after him, plus there is a Fannin County, TX.  His middle name was Walker, his mother’s last name, but I doubt we are kin.  Here’s pictures - you may have to zoom in on the Historical Marker to read it. LaVerne loved the huge Agave plant (me too)!

In addition to all the historical stuff about Fannin and Goliad, there is also an old mission here on the grounds of the state park.  The technical name is about 7 words long, but the short version is Mission Espiritu Santo.  It was established in 1722.

Monday was cloudy and cool all day.  We took a day trip of about 55 miles to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.  Still passing lots of huge corn fields as we ride the back roads.

This is another place we visited several years ago with our friends Ed & Judy – more good memories.  It is on San Antonio Bay and has a 16-mile auto-tour loop which we took.  We didn’t see much – no ducks at all and very few birds.  We know it is the wrong time of the year for the ducks.  They have already migrated north and all the ponds were empty.  Did see a few little deer.  Still, an enjoyable drive, both over and back to the NWR and the auto-tour loop.

Today (Tuesday) was again a mostly cloudy overcast day.  Did some domestic chores, and then rode around town and to the historical sites.  When we got back, we’d been busted!  Had a note on the door that bird feeders weren’t allowed and for us to take them down.  Oh well, we’ve had them up for 3 days and I guess they just now noticed them.  We’ve been here 4 days, so now it’s time to move on.  Headed to Galveston, TX tomorrow – gonna look for Glenn Campbell.

7th Post - Lake Corpus Christi

After the heavy rain and T-storms on Wednesday, Thursday broke out clear and cool – a great day for travel. We got it all ready and headed out a little after 9:00 AM.  It was I-10 east to San Antonio, then the I-410 loop around the south side to I-37, then south to Mathis, TX and Lake Corpus Christi State Park.  One thing we noticed the farther south we went – lots of flat farm with lots of huge corn fields.

After a 197-mile ride, we arrived at Lake Corpus Christi State Park around 1:00 PM and got everything set up.  Our campsite is not the greatest – it’s a little precarious getting out the motorhome door.  However, we do have a nice shade tree and a good view of the lake.  Also, there was a small flock of immature White Ibis that hung around and a Great Egret that did some fishing in the small pond.

Today (Friday) was a day of riding, exploring, and revisiting some places we came to several years ago with our friends Ed & Judy Funderburk.  We went south on I-37 to Corpus Christi, then north on Hwy 181 & Texas Hwy 35 to Portland, Aransas Pass, and Rockport. Aransas Pass and Rockport overlook Aransas Bay and this is a huge fishing area.  We saw lots of birds – always the ever-present Laughing Gulls.  We also got lucky and saw a Dolphin up close in a little estuary beside a park

In Rockport, we visited the wharf where all the fishing boats go out.  This is the place where we booked and took a Whooping Crane Boat Tour with Ed & Judy many years ago.  Great memories!!  The Whooping Crane tour place is still there, but it was closed today.

As we came through Corpus Christi earlier, we saw the USS Lexington Museum off to the right of the huge high bridge that leaves Corpus Christi on Hwy 181.  I wanted pictures, so on the way back through we got off the main highway, fought our way through road construction under the big bridge, and finally got to a place where we could park and I walked over to where I could get the pictures.  There was also a retired Blue Angels Douglas A-4 Skyhawk on display.  The USS Lexington hits kind of close to home.  It is designated CV-16 in the fleet of US aircraft carriers in WWII.  My Dad was on the USS Randolph which CV-15 – the one just ahead of the Lexington.  There were like twins.

Since Corpus Christi is on the coast, there are tons of refineries and a lot of gas and oil are shipped in and out of here.  We also wondered if the reason there are so many huge corn fields in this area is because the corn is used to produce the Ethanol that goes into the gasoline.  Here’s a picture of just one of the many refineries – sorry, hard to get a good picture riding along at 65 mph.

One of the reasons we wanted to go to Aransas Pass and Rockport was to see how they are recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in August of 2017.  Glad to say – the cleanup has gone well and there is very little evidence of storm damage.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is moving day again.  The campground is full for tomorrow and we could only get reservations for 2 nights.  So, we’ll be moving a short distance to Goliad State Park in Goliad, TX for the rest of the weekend.  

6th Post - Kerrville, TX

After a relaxing Easter weekend at San Angelo State Park, Monday was moving day again. We left around 9:30, took Hwy 87 east to Eden, then Hwy 83 south back to I-10 at Junction, TX – right at 100 miles. It’s always amazing the sights you can see riding down the road. Just before we got into Junction, there was an Indian walking towards us in the emergency lane - in full Indian garb including a breech-clout and a full-feathered war bonnet!  Sorry I didn’t have my camera ready in time. He gave us a big wave!  I did have the camera ready to get pictures of more roadside flowers!

After a fuel and McDonald’s stop in Junction, we hit I-10 east for about 60 miles to Kerrville, TX.  We definitely left the wide-open flat range country and got back into the Texas hill country.

We checked into Kerrville-Schreiner Park about 1:15 PM and got a great campsite.  This is one of our favorite parks – we’ve been here several times over the years. The weather was great and we were able to sit outside a long while.  We put up our bird feeder pole and over the couple of days here we had a few birds – cardinals, chickadees, doves, and hummingbirds.

Well, so much for being able to sit outside – both yesterday (Tuesday) and today the weather didn’t cooperate.  Yesterday started off cloudy & cool with a few sprinkles.  It did warm up some in the afternoon, but was still cloudy.  We needed to get some new wiper blades for the motorhome, so early in the afternoon we made a run to Advance Auto Parts for the wiper blades and then to Cracker Barrel for a late lunch/early supper.  Back at camp, I got the new wiper blades installed and then it was TV (Braves game).

Today (Wednesday), started off with rain before daylight, and then rained off and on all day – sometimes heavy.  About 11:15 AM, a giant T-storm came through with wind, rain, and hail - nickel to quarter in size.  Thanking God for no damage. A little after 12:00, the rain had slacked up and we decided to go for lunch and Walmart.  We went to Billy Gene’s Restaurant and had the Chicken Fried Steak lunch special with mashed potatoes, green beans, and mixed veggies – pretty good stuff!  Just as we were ready to leave, the proverbial bottom dropped out – heavy, heavy, rain and wind.  We waited inside the restaurant for a little, then during a little slack off, I made a run for the car (with umbrella) and still got wet.  I pulled up close to the door, and then (with umbrella) got LaVerne to the car and we both got wet (me wetter).  Next, thinking the rain would quit in a little bit, we went down the street to Walmart.  Finally found a fairly close parking space, then sat in the car for about 30 minutes in a downpour.  When it finally did slack up a little, we left – decided we didn’t need to go to Walmart so much after all.  Through flooded streets we made it back to camp and we got wet again getting from the Jeep to the motorhome.  So much for today!  Later, it did finally quit raining and cleared up.  I got some stuff up and ready to go – tomorrow is moving day again. Headed back south of San Antonio.  Sorry there weren’t many pictures this time.

5th Post - San Angelo, TX

Thursday morning, we hit the road again.  We had tried to make reservations at Kerrville, TX, but the park there was booked up for the Easter weekend.  So, I had checked a state park at San Angelo, TX and they had vacancies for the weekend.  Someone famous once said that if you want to see the country, get off the interstates and travel the red roads, and that’s what we did (didn’t have a choice since there is no interstate going to San Angelo).  We left Lost Maples and for the first 15 miles we were on Hwy 337 – a little narrow, very winding, very steep up and down road through the hills to Leakey, TX.  There we took Hwy 83 north to Junction, TX at I-10.  From there, we continued on Hwy 83 through Menard to Eden.  In Eden, we headed west on Hwy 87 (a good 4-lane) to San Angelo.  It was really interesting to see the changing landscape.  We started out in the hill country, went through some desert-like country, and then through lots of wide open farm land with huge flat fields.  One of the treats is all of the roadside wildflowers in bloom – Texas Bluebonnets, Indian Paint Brush, Chocolate Daisies, plus others.

After a 185-mile drive, we checked into San Angelo State Park located on Army Corps of Engineers O.C. Fisher Lake.  It is a very wide-open park – lots of space between campsites, no trees, but lots of wildflowers and cacti.  When we checked in, the wind was very strong, maybe up to 25 mph.

Friday was a day of taking care of domestic chores.  We went out for breakfast and then to Walmart for a few needed commodities – I also got a much-needed haircut.  Friday is full moon, and for the last couple of nights it has been spectacular – especially in a clear cloudless sky.  We kept a lookout and watched it as it broke over the horizon and rose into the clear sky.  Beautiful!!

Saturday and today (Sunday) were a couple of great camping days – temperature in the mid 80’s and beautiful blue skies.  Saturday, we took a ride for a couple of hours just exploring the countryside around the lake – saw a few birds, some Texas Longhorns, and lots more wildflowers.

Today we went to Westside Baptist Church a couple of miles away for a great Easter worship service.  The people were very warm and friendly and welcoming.  Their choir (even though small – only 12) performed an Easter cantata and it was very good.  Great sound for such a small group.  All in all, we really enjoyed the worship experience.  After church we went to Wendy’s for lunch, then back to camp for the rest of the afternoon.  Tomorrow is moving day again – going to backtrack a little to Kerrville, TX. 

4th Post- Lost Malpes

After a very nice 4 days at Choke Canyon, on Monday 4/15 we proceeded on. I know that some of you are following on the Atlas, so -- we took I-37 north from Three Rivers to Pleasanton, then took to the backroads. In Pleasanton we took Hwy 16 west to Hwy 173, then north through Devine to Hondo. At Hondo we took Hwy 90 west to Sabinal, then Hwy 187 north through Utopia and Vanderpool to arrive at Lost Maples State Natural Area. We have stayed here before and it is one of our favorite places – the only drawback is that there is NO cell or internet service at the campsite (they do have pitiful wi-fi at the office). Guess we’ll be toughing it out for a couple of days.

After getting set up, we were going to put out a couple of hummingbird feeders in addition to the regular seed feeder. Oops – for some reason we had taken the hummingbird feeders out of the motorhome and also realized we didn’t have any sugar to make the hummingbird food with. So, we took a ride about 15 miles back to the small community of Utopia and found a farm supply store that had hummingbird feeders in stock. We also picked up a bag of sugar at a general store. Back at camp, LaVerne made up a batch of nectar, we got the feeder out, and within 10 minutes we had a couple of customers.

Tuesday, we did some backroad riding looking for birds and anything else we could see. Didn’t see many birds, but did see some interesting animals. I think I mentioned in a previous blog that this hill-country of Texas is well known for its exotic game ranches. Today we saw a couple of different kinds of ‘antelope’ type critters.

Also, we passed a big ranch that had a couple of Texas Longhorns, plus a breed of cattle we had never seen before. There were a couple of ranch hands working on a gate so we stopped and I asked them what they were. They said they were a breed called African Watusi. The cows weren’t really that big, but they had huge horns – not necessarily long, but really BIG around at the base. Amazing! Later, I found out that the actual name of the breed is African Ankole-Watusi.

Wednesday (yesterday) was a day of camping and R&R. It was cloudy and breezy most of the day with a little bit of a sprinkle early. Later in the afternoon the sun came out and we were able to sit outside a little while and watch our birds – not really any new ones. Still having hummingbirds, cardinals, titmouse, chickadees, and sparrows. Had a gorgeous almost full moon, then a gigantic T-storm during the night.

Today (Thursday) was moving day – didn’t have service enough yesterday to make this blog post, so I waited until we got to the next destination (more on that next time).