Friday, April 12, 2013

East Texas and Dogwoods




We are almost ready to head to the eastern states and leave Texas behind for the next 7 months!  I can’t believe how fast the winter went by and now here we are at Caddo Lake State Park enjoying an almost too warm spring day.
 
 

David says spring is here and it’s time to get started on our journey.  I’m hoping his spirit of adventure will inspire me because after our humid, sweaty walk this morning through a forest of pine with a mostly solid poison ivy ground cover, scratching my chigger bites and picking ticks off of Maya - I’m thinking I’ve had enough of the ‘east’ already…  But it is so green and beautiful and the dogwoods are in magnificent full bloom.
 
Caddo Lake Saw Mill Pond





‘So, you think you can tell
Heaven from hell
Blue skies from rain…’
 
Pink Floyd got it right I think.  The good and bad are all mixed together and it is just pretty hard to tell the difference until you have experienced it.  So, there is nothing left to do but go for it.  Goodbye Texas, see you this fall…




Poison Ivy
 
 
As far as the eye can see...
 
 
 
 


Thursday, April 11, 2013

Cooper Lake and Daingerfield State Parks

Little Pine Lake at Daingerfield State Park


Stuffed with German Chocolate Cake (although my family did help us eat it) we said our goodbyes, left West Texas and headed towards the Louisiana border, a mere 500 miles away.  Needless to say, we were going to take a few days to get there and make a few stops along the way.

One stop was Commerce, TX to visit our longtime friends Chad and Resa.  Years ago, we all lived in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and spent many a day and night sailing on Lake Grapevine.  We also backpacked and camped together.  Times have changed and I guess David and I traded the backpacking tent for an RV but we are all still ‘playing’ outdoors.
 
Chad and Wyatt fishing on Cooper Lake
 
We camped for two nights at nearby Cooper Lake State Park while visiting. We had some great meals together and Chad, Resa and their son, Wyatt met us at the park for a fun day of hiking and fishing. The lake was low but we didn’t realize how low until David informed us that his new GPS unit indicated that we were standing in the lake.  And we were all quite dry with the water’s edge still a good 20 yards away.
 

Dogwoods in the forest

The next day we traveled about 70 miles east to Daingerfield State Park, another new park for us.  We loved the 3 mile hike around beautiful Little Pine Lake.  The deep green forest around the lake was brightened with the sparkling blossoms of dogwood trees.   The night was a little warm but perfect for sitting out and enjoying our campsite beside the little lake. 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Happy Birthday RV! Happy Birthday David!


German Chocolate Cake... 

Exactly one year ago this weekend our new RV arrived from Canada and we picked it up in Ft. Worth and drove it back home to San Antonio.  We camped the first night in the parking lot at the RV dealer.  Not exactly a beautiful location for our first night, but very practical.  We were able to try everything mechanical making sure we knew how it all worked and then we had a list of questions in the morning for the guys in the shop.  The next night we stayed in a commercial campground nearby in Arlington just in case we had more questions and then we felt good enough to take off. 

Our brand new RV last year at Dinosaur Valley State Park
 
I’ll never forget our first ‘real’ camping night at Dinosaur Valley State Park.  We were so happy and excited to be camping in our new RV.  Everything went smoothly including cooking our first ‘real’ meal of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.  The bluebonnets were just fantastic and their fragrance was incredible.  I tend to think of wildflowers as a visual experience, but camping in the middle of fields of bluebonnets is also quite a fragrant experience.  And David celebrated his birthday with a new RV in bluebonnets.  It doesn’t get much better!

Maya came with us on our 'maiden voyage.'
She didn't really want to pose for a cheesy bluebonnet 
photo but I made her, just like moms do.

 


Only a few short weeks after picking up the RV last year, the house sold unbelievably fast and we were packing like crazy getting ready to take off on the adventure of a lifetime.  And here we are one year later (still married, I might add) so the closeness of RV life has worked out for us.  The bluebonnets aren’t quite as magnificent as last year, but we’ve seen some nice fields of wildflowers this spring.  I baked David his favorite German Chocolate Cake in my mom’s kitchen in Odessa.  Our RV has a combination microwave and convection oven which is a little small to bake a cake in (although it does pretty well on cookies and brownies).
 
David’s birthday present this year was a really nice GPS unit.  He wasn’t very satisfied with the GPS ‘app’ on my phone and besides it depends on cell service and often on our hikes we have not had cell service.  Satellite service should be more dependable.  David is practicing using the GPS right now so look forward on this season's adventure to ‘Stats by David.'  We will be leaving Texas in just a few days and appreciate all your suggestions of places to visit along the east coast and Appalachian Mountains.  There is still plenty of time to send us a suggestion...  

Searching for a satellite
 
Maya knows where she is...
 
 
 

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Joe T Garcia's, Pedernales Falls and the River Walk




We bought our RV a year ago in the DFW metroplex and although the engine has been serviced, it was time to get the RV itself checked out – inspections on all the moving parts, the appliances, gas lines, etc.  While the RV was being checked out we took the opportunity to visit David’s brother in Ft. Worth and several of our friends in the area.  And no trip to Ft. Worth would be complete without at least one meal at Joe T. Garcia’s, one of David’s all time favorite Mexican Restaurants.

The 'standard' dinner at Joe T's 

Joe T’s serves family style Mexican Dinners of cheese tostados, tacos, enchiladas, guacamole, beans and rice, chips and salsa and if you aren’t full after that I don’t even want to know you.  The margaritas are pretty awesome too.  We managed a couple of meals at Joe T’s during our stay. The first time we met my uncle Gary and his wife Deb plus David’s brother, Jim and then for round two Jim came again and my friend, Alice, a "BFF" since elementary school.  Alice was my matron of honor and Jim was David’s best man in our wedding some 35 plus years ago.  Come to think of it, my uncle Gary was at the wedding too.  I guess it should have been our anniversary!  At any rate it was wonderful to connect with everyone over great food and drink.

David's brother Jim and my dear friend Alice 

We enjoyed sunset dining by the pool at Joe T's
(I shouldn't say, but Alice has been thrown in this pool
before - I believe it involved margaritas and a certain birthday...)

With the RV a little heavier (pounds gained by David and I from Joe T’s) we headed south and spent a little time at Pedernales Falls State Park on our way to Fredericksburg for my family reunion. Pedernales Falls is a beautiful hill country park with a great bird blind.  We did a bit of hiking and enjoyed the river.  Things were getting green and blooming for spring but the water level was a little low.  The drought still has a hold on Texas but maybe there will be abundant spring rains this year.


Maya checking out the Pedernales River

Bear grass blooming

Top of Pedernales Falls

Maya climbing the rocks near the falls

We left the park for the family reunion and it was great to see all my cousins.  I must say, we are all getting a little grayer these days and not as wild and crazy.  And that might be a good thing.

Our plans were to head back to Odessa to spend Easter with family and say goodbye before starting our journey to the east coast. But we couldn't resist one last trip in to San Antonio before heading east.  Spring is such a beautiful time and my favorite time in San Antonio.  I'll miss Fiesta this year, so  have an extra good time and crack a few cascarones just for me...  

River Walk near Pearl Brewery


David and I enjoyed visiting the San Antonio Botanical Garden again.  The Garden was my work place but also such a big part of my life for the last 5 years.  I got to see many of my co-workers and several of the Garden's fabulous volunteers.  The SABG really does have some of the hardest working, most loyal volunteers you could ever know.  And I don't think that I am all that biased...   

Enjoying the roses with Charlotte and Luka

After our time at the Garden, we took Maya for a walk on the ‘Museum Reach’ part of the River Walk with friend and SABG volunteer, Charlotte and her dog Luka.  It was a beautiful way to say 'fare thee well' San Antonio and we will see you again in November.




Monday, March 18, 2013

More Spring Break - Nacogdoches, the Azalea Trail and Tyler State Park

Native Azalea blooming near Mission Tejas State Park


After several days in the Big Thicket, David and I headed to the picturesque town of Nacogdoches, home to Stephen F. Austin University and Texas' largest Azalea Garden. Since the dogwoods had not started blooming yet we had to see some spring blooms, so azaleas would have to do.  And 'do' they did!  Although not at peak blooming yet, the azaleas at the Mast Arboretum were stunning. And many of the beautiful homes in town had their own azalea gardens. We strolled the garden on campus and drove around town enjoying the gorgeous color.   



The largest azalea garden in Texas
Ruby Mize Azalea Garden at the Mast Arboretum
on the Stephen F. Austin Campus

While visiting Nacogdoches we stayed in Mission Tejas State Park and then traveled to Tyler State Park on our way to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Both parks were lovely with trails through pine and hardwood forests.  David and I enjoy identifying plants that we either think we know or know we don't know.  So many hours were spent wandering the forests with our tree and plant guides.  As usual Maya was very patient with us.


Long Leaf or Loblolly Pine?
Inquiring minds want to know...


Early morning on the Nature Trail at Tyler State Park

Spring pool on the Nature Trail at Tyler State Park

One more beautiful azalea...

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Spring Break Gallery - Martin Dies, Jr. State Park and the Big Thicket


Island Trail Bridge crossing over to Wildlife Trail
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park

Martin Dies, Jr. State Park is in far East Texas near Jasper.  This area of Texas, know as the Big Thicket, was once so vast it covered over 3 million acres of southeastern Texas.  Today the Big Thicket National Preserve protects 12 separate 'units' of land comprising 97,550 acres of pine and cypress, hardwood forest, meadow and blackwater swamp.  Only a remnant of what used to be here, the Big Thicket is still an amazing place. 


Slough (pronounced 'slew')
A boggy area where there is flowing water
Big Thicket National Preserve

Here four major biological areas converge:  southeastern swamps, eastern forests, central plains and southwest deserts.  Bogs sit near arid sandhills and eastern bluebirds nest near roadrunners.  Plants and animals from all these regions live together in the Big Thicket. No wonder it has been called the biological crossroads of North America.


Trunk of American Holly covered with colorful lichens

Red Maple winged seed pods or samaras


Baygall or blackwater pond
caused by the tannic acid in the fallen leaves
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park
 
Village Creek
Big Thicket National Preserve

  

Spring Break Gallery - Brazos Bend State Park

Carolina Jessamine blooming in the Big Thicket


Spring Break is almost over and we have visited parks in South and East Texas from Guadalupe River to Brazos Bend to the Big Thicket.  We enjoyed visiting some of our favorite places again and adding some brand new parks to our list. 

Today we are leaving the ‘country’ life behind and heading for the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for our RV's one year check-up.  It is hard to believe that just this time last year we were picking up our brand new RV and getting all excited about going 'on the road.' 

Here are some photos from our spring break adventure starting with Brazos Bend State Park near Houston.



Brazos Bend State Park

An amazing place to see birds and alligators

Anhinga sunning 



American Alligators

Ibis
Blue-winged Teal
Great Egret