We sure had an enjoyable travel from Big Bend National Park to the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Mississippi where we are now. The varied landscapes and beauty of this country of ours never ceases to amaze me. Big Bend was an interesting park and is really the first place in three years where we have volunteered time and were not ready to depart when the time came. No wonder they have so many volunteers returning year after year. We left Big Bend at the very end of January headed east. The high mountains of Big Bend shrank in the rear view mirror and the lecchugia, sotol, and ocotillo of the Chihuahua dessert changed into mesquite, then pasture like rangeland, and finally the coastal marsh and beach sands of the Gulf of Mexico. Red tail hawks were seen all along the way but the real birds of interest changed from area to area. Common Ravens were replaced by crows, caracaras perched on telephone poles and finally egrets, herons, and roseate spoonbills got our attention.
Laughlin AFB was out first stop for its several offerings—a golf course and a military commissary. Haven’t played golf for nearly a year and my scores were as should have been anticipated. We made a commissary run and finding a well stocked grocery with reasonable prices was a treat after spending three and a half months in Big Bend where the are no groceries closer than 70 miles and no large well stocked groceries closer than 100 miles. We shopped, we golfed and we relaxed. In our accumulation of life’s experiences we find that our most enjoyable times are when we have no schedule. I no longer wear a watch so I do not know the time or date--I can usually guess the month. Since we had lots of free time we extended out stay at Laughlin an extra day just to relax (and get in an additional round of golf). From Del Rio Texas we took two days to get to Padre Island National Seashore near Corpus Christi Texas. Padre Island was much as we expected: coastal inter-tidal marshes, sand dunes, and sandy beaches. Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the world. A few attempts at fishing were unproductive but a birding outing with park volunteers was enjoyable and seeing thousands of redhead ducks made the day. After a few days camping within a hundred yards of the beach we packed up and headed further east along the Texas coast. Roads are interrupted by waterways and taking our RV on ferries was a new and interesting experience.
We took two days to get to Anuhuac National Wildlife Refuge where we had volunteered several years ago. After a tour of their new facility, Stephanie took us for a trip around Shoveller pond. Ducks were in abundance and the canvasbacks and cinnamon teal were the highlights.
From Anahuac we worked our way into Louisiana heading south to Grand Isle State Park--about as far south as you can get. Their campground, on the beach, nearly 100 miles south of New Orleans is the tip of the vast sea of Louisiana marsh that is slowly eroding away as a result of the channeling done by oil companies in years past. The oil industry is alive and well in southern Louisiana. Exceeded only by the number of boats in the armada of commercial fishing boats, the boats serving the oil industry are everywhere as are oil related businesses. Towns along the two lane road through the marsh from Houma to Grand Isle are few and far between and all are fueled by either the seafood or oil industry.
We stopped in at Golden Meadow to visit Rob Fritchey and Kathleen. Rob is a high school friend and author (Wetland Raiders). Kathleen is an accomplished artist and I would love to spend time with her to learn more about water color painting. Her artistic skills are exceptional. I could learn a lot from her. Boiled crawfish Cajun style whetted our appetite for fresh seafood and before leaving the area we picked up a half sack of fresh oysters that was our lunch once we arrived at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs Mississippi.
We spent several days at Grand Isle State Park enjoying the great weather and lousy fishing. My day of casting resulted in a few hardhead catfish and a few more stingrays. Nevertheless it was fun and relaxing. I did catch mullet that could have been dinner instead of bait. I may have to try for some mullet in Mississippi.
We left Grand Isle following the road on the west side of the canal stopping a roadside fruit stands for fresh strawberries and satsumas.
We had a most enjoyable trip to Gulf Islands in Ocean Springs MS where we will spend about two weeks. We both have appointments with physicians and friends to visit in the area.
Right now our lives seem to have no purpose or direction and we are happy. We must be doing something right (Borrowed from Snoopy the Peanuts beagle)
Laughlin AFB was out first stop for its several offerings—a golf course and a military commissary. Haven’t played golf for nearly a year and my scores were as should have been anticipated. We made a commissary run and finding a well stocked grocery with reasonable prices was a treat after spending three and a half months in Big Bend where the are no groceries closer than 70 miles and no large well stocked groceries closer than 100 miles. We shopped, we golfed and we relaxed. In our accumulation of life’s experiences we find that our most enjoyable times are when we have no schedule. I no longer wear a watch so I do not know the time or date--I can usually guess the month. Since we had lots of free time we extended out stay at Laughlin an extra day just to relax (and get in an additional round of golf). From Del Rio Texas we took two days to get to Padre Island National Seashore near Corpus Christi Texas. Padre Island was much as we expected: coastal inter-tidal marshes, sand dunes, and sandy beaches. Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the world. A few attempts at fishing were unproductive but a birding outing with park volunteers was enjoyable and seeing thousands of redhead ducks made the day. After a few days camping within a hundred yards of the beach we packed up and headed further east along the Texas coast. Roads are interrupted by waterways and taking our RV on ferries was a new and interesting experience.
We took two days to get to Anuhuac National Wildlife Refuge where we had volunteered several years ago. After a tour of their new facility, Stephanie took us for a trip around Shoveller pond. Ducks were in abundance and the canvasbacks and cinnamon teal were the highlights.
From Anahuac we worked our way into Louisiana heading south to Grand Isle State Park--about as far south as you can get. Their campground, on the beach, nearly 100 miles south of New Orleans is the tip of the vast sea of Louisiana marsh that is slowly eroding away as a result of the channeling done by oil companies in years past. The oil industry is alive and well in southern Louisiana. Exceeded only by the number of boats in the armada of commercial fishing boats, the boats serving the oil industry are everywhere as are oil related businesses. Towns along the two lane road through the marsh from Houma to Grand Isle are few and far between and all are fueled by either the seafood or oil industry.
We stopped in at Golden Meadow to visit Rob Fritchey and Kathleen. Rob is a high school friend and author (Wetland Raiders). Kathleen is an accomplished artist and I would love to spend time with her to learn more about water color painting. Her artistic skills are exceptional. I could learn a lot from her. Boiled crawfish Cajun style whetted our appetite for fresh seafood and before leaving the area we picked up a half sack of fresh oysters that was our lunch once we arrived at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Ocean Springs Mississippi.
We spent several days at Grand Isle State Park enjoying the great weather and lousy fishing. My day of casting resulted in a few hardhead catfish and a few more stingrays. Nevertheless it was fun and relaxing. I did catch mullet that could have been dinner instead of bait. I may have to try for some mullet in Mississippi.
We left Grand Isle following the road on the west side of the canal stopping a roadside fruit stands for fresh strawberries and satsumas.
We had a most enjoyable trip to Gulf Islands in Ocean Springs MS where we will spend about two weeks. We both have appointments with physicians and friends to visit in the area.Right now our lives seem to have no purpose or direction and we are happy. We must be doing something right (Borrowed from Snoopy the Peanuts beagle)
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