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.