Saturday afternoon, we drove the West Lake Road for the first time this season to determine the readiness for bird tours. Caliche has been hauled in and 1 of the dump trucks had gotten stuck and created a large crater that had to be filled in. Our inspection showed the road easily passable and tour ready, as we reported to Ranger Marion.
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| A face only a mother could love |
This Turkey Vulture perched on the fence near Buena Vista Ranch and refused to fly away.
This 22 degree halo around the sun indicates ice crystals in the high cirrus clouds, a possible harbinger of a winter storm.
Sunday's tour netted only 34 species but we nailed the Aplomado Falcon on the nesting platform near Tower Gate. On this trip the Eastern Meadowlark actually outnumbered the Northern Mockingbird with Savannah Sparrow not far behind.
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| This large gathering of White Pelicans was amazing. |
Sunday afternoon we opted out of the 2 PM birdwalk to leave for New Caney, just north of Houston, where we left our generator for repair on December 16. Not what we had planned, but that's life. We drove as far as Robstown and found Reed's RV just off Hwy 77 just before sunset. We just don't drive the coach after dark and setting up in the dark is no fun either. The owner of the RV park is a DPS state trooper who was very nice and managed to fit us into a space. Most of the park was occupied by oilfield workers, so South Texas is just as booming as West Texas.
We were on the road by 8 AM Monday morning, late because of dense fog. The first rest stop was near Victoria 3 hours later. We also made a brief detour due a grass fire in the median between El Campo and Wharton. The wind was strong, 20 MPH and gusting to near 30, making driving very nerve-wracking. The weather forecast was not looking good either, a winter storm advisory for Houston and Southeast Texas, again. We located an RV park about 3 miles from Community Motors, the facility repairing the generator.
Because of the weather forecast, we were told the workers might not work on Tuesday. Not welcome news. Plus, the office worker asked if we could leave the coach for 2 or 3 days. They never understand this is our HOME.
I heard Titmouse, Chickadee, Yellow-rump, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers as we filled the propane tank and settled in our space.
The temperature dipped below freezing Monday night, so Alvin disconnected the fresh water supply and we depended on the onboard water tank. Good water from Rainbows End in Livingston. We don't travel with a full tank of 100 gallons due to the added weight, but we do try to keep an adequate supply. Tuesday morning was icy, but CM called about 8:30 saying the techs did come in to work and we could bring the coach in. We drove the jeep over to check the condition of the roads which were surprising clear. Metal surfaces were iced over, such as the folding stops on the coach, but cement and asphalt were not. We made arrangements to deliver Clyde at 1 PM for a 2 hour installation process. Putting in the slides was quite an adventure, slide toppers were coated with ice, and the hydraulic leveling jacks were super slow in retracting, but the drive was safe and uneventful. We had no freeway ramps or high bridges to cross. We returned to Forest Retreat RV Resort by 3 PM and prepared for another cold and icy night.
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| Not a winter view |
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| Of course, we didn't use the pool this trip... |
Wednesday morning dawned cold but not icy. Seems like we lucked out this time. The heavy ice stopped about 10 miles north of our location and the heavy snow was near Livingston and Huntsville. We waited until noon to start south to make sure the highway was totally clear and Houston traffic was tolerable. If we have to travel through Houston, Highway 59, soon to be I-69 is the easiest and most simple. It's a straight shot and mostly on the lower level. The only section raised is right near downtown near the George R Brown Convention Center. We drove as far as Refugio and located Jeter RV near the city park. Small and old, with only 30 Amp hookups, but large pull-through site where we didn't have to unhitch the jeep. I heard Titmouse, Chickadee, and Yellow-rump as we leveled and hooked up. Took a short walk just before sunset, but everything had roosted except an Eastern Phoebe. Pretty quiet except for the occasional train. The sky was clear and the winter stars of Orion, Taurus, and the two canids were exceptionally bright. Jupiter blazed in Gemini. Early Thursday morning, the city attendant stopped by to collect the overnight camping fee. A flock of American Goldfinch decorated the anorexic trees over the picnic area and both Ladder-back and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers fussed noisily as we prepared for an early departure.
Hgy 77 is a straight shot south with just a slight zigzag on I-37 near Corpus. Being here a second year has taught us several shortcuts the GPS doesn't recognize. Taking Hwy 508 from Combes through Rio Hondo and Hwy 106 to the refuge takes several miles and the necessity of going through Harlingen of the route. We arrived back at LANWR by 1 PM. We put the outside lights under the coach before putting out slides, much easier that way. The lights are a necessary deterrent for the woodrats lurking in the dark just waiting for the opportunity to gnaw on wires or fan belts. But that's why we have coyotes and Great Horned Owls.
Next on the agenda was hot showers to prevent any unwanted company in the form of chiggers. Personal experience has shown me the South Texas chiggers are especially virulent. I brushed against some tall grass filling feeders more than 2 weeks ago and I still suffer the effects.
We are so glad to be back in the thorn scrub and coastal prairies amid the solitude and seclusion. And the generator purrs like a kitten.
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