Texas
After coming home from California, I spent a couple of weeks getting both eyes worked on by removing cataracts. It makes me feel old to think about it but it certainly had to be done.
When it was over, I was amazed to see how bright and clear things were. My doctor said it was entirely necessary because I'd probably not be able to pass the drivers license vision test my next time up.
After all that was handled, I had a couple of Texas assignments. The first was in the small town of Bastrop, just east of Austin. I'd hoped to see the burst of bluebonnets but unfortunately, the assignment ended before they came to full bloom.
I did spend a bit of time on weekends walking along the boardwalk in Austin and hiking the state parks nearby.
I had hoped to be there when the bats return to the Congress Street bridge. Each afternoon just after sundown, bats pour out of the crevices of the bridge and fill the skies attracting hundreds of people just to watch the site. Again, I had to leave a couple weeks early and missed it.
There was this quick 2 day trip to Oklahoma which yielded nothing but an extra plane ride. After that, I found myself in Weslaco. Texas. It's a little town in the Rio Grande Valley between McAllen and Brownsville. (Trivia fact: Weslaco got it's name from the W. E. Steward Land Company)
Fortunately, I was located near another co-worker, Jim Larson with whom I spent a lot of time with exploring the RGV and much of what it had to offer. That included a lot of Mexican and seafood.
Besides the tourist attractions, I managed to become friends with some locals and for a while considered myself as either a Winter Texan. Since it wasn't winter any longer and the temps were now reaching 100°, I'll refer to myself as an Undocumented Texan. Either way, I think Texas and I fit.
Included in our explorations were the butterfly sanctuaries. I found out more facts about the Monarch Butterfly than I could possibly explain in this blog. Just look it up, it's astounding.
In every location, certain birds were everywhere. Some of the more common birds were loud and noisy Chachalacas. These birds were sometimes called Mexican Pheasants. I asked a naturalist if they were edible and he said yes but they were a protected species in Texas so they weren't to be hunted. Another was the big black Crackles. They too were loud but not nearly as large as the Chachalacas.
On this picture, you'll have to look closely between the two Crackles to see the well camouflaged Chachalaca.
We did see a pair of Orioles nesting. The nests were fascinating in the way they hung like a big bag from the tree limbs. I've never seen an Oriole. This species doesn't get too far north in the USA but is home in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV).
When I first arrived it was spring break time so it took a month or so to conjure a trip to South Padre Island. I was disappointed there were no naturally growing trees there but the beach people didn't seem to mind.
One weekend, Jim and I rode over to Corpus Christi and took a tour of the USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier, now a museum with several airplanes on display on the deck. Jim, being a former Navy pilot was all over the place.
Good times.
Texas has come and gone for now but I still miss it.
When it was over, I was amazed to see how bright and clear things were. My doctor said it was entirely necessary because I'd probably not be able to pass the drivers license vision test my next time up.
After all that was handled, I had a couple of Texas assignments. The first was in the small town of Bastrop, just east of Austin. I'd hoped to see the burst of bluebonnets but unfortunately, the assignment ended before they came to full bloom.
I did spend a bit of time on weekends walking along the boardwalk in Austin and hiking the state parks nearby.
I had hoped to be there when the bats return to the Congress Street bridge. Each afternoon just after sundown, bats pour out of the crevices of the bridge and fill the skies attracting hundreds of people just to watch the site. Again, I had to leave a couple weeks early and missed it.
There was this quick 2 day trip to Oklahoma which yielded nothing but an extra plane ride. After that, I found myself in Weslaco. Texas. It's a little town in the Rio Grande Valley between McAllen and Brownsville. (Trivia fact: Weslaco got it's name from the W. E. Steward Land Company)
Fortunately, I was located near another co-worker, Jim Larson with whom I spent a lot of time with exploring the RGV and much of what it had to offer. That included a lot of Mexican and seafood.
Besides the tourist attractions, I managed to become friends with some locals and for a while considered myself as either a Winter Texan. Since it wasn't winter any longer and the temps were now reaching 100°, I'll refer to myself as an Undocumented Texan. Either way, I think Texas and I fit.
Included in our explorations were the butterfly sanctuaries. I found out more facts about the Monarch Butterfly than I could possibly explain in this blog. Just look it up, it's astounding.
In every location, certain birds were everywhere. Some of the more common birds were loud and noisy Chachalacas. These birds were sometimes called Mexican Pheasants. I asked a naturalist if they were edible and he said yes but they were a protected species in Texas so they weren't to be hunted. Another was the big black Crackles. They too were loud but not nearly as large as the Chachalacas.
On this picture, you'll have to look closely between the two Crackles to see the well camouflaged Chachalaca.
We did see a pair of Orioles nesting. The nests were fascinating in the way they hung like a big bag from the tree limbs. I've never seen an Oriole. This species doesn't get too far north in the USA but is home in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV).
When I first arrived it was spring break time so it took a month or so to conjure a trip to South Padre Island. I was disappointed there were no naturally growing trees there but the beach people didn't seem to mind.
One weekend, Jim and I rode over to Corpus Christi and took a tour of the USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier, now a museum with several airplanes on display on the deck. Jim, being a former Navy pilot was all over the place.
Good times.
Texas has come and gone for now but I still miss it.
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