Dudes

We could not visit Texas without a visit to a real ranch, so dressed like a couple of dudes in shorts and tees we went to the biggest - the King ranch.

 The first sign I noted on arrival was a warning about rattlesnakes. A hundred years ago Henrietta King, bothered by all the rattlers, offered a nickle bounty for every set of rattles. Within a couple months she was surprised to have paid for 10,000 sets of rattles. Poor folks had a new job - killing snakes. She lowered the bounty from five cents to three cents. Before the year was up the count reached 100,000. She lowered it again to two cents, but ended the bounty when an out-building was full and the count passed 250,000. The oppressed reptiles were never wiped out and from the looks of the ranch and 32,000 square foot ranch house Henrietta's bank account did not suffer unduly.

 Note the insolent deer placidly grazing in the front yard of ranch house.

 The out-buildings, like this stable, were brick construction because of the fear of fire.

 Our time is about up in Bayside. Our next stop is a condo over-looking Lake Conroe (north of Houston) until just after New Year's. Then we will spend the roughest two months of winter in Puerto Rico. First in Punta Las Marias, then the second month in Biascoechea.

Meeting up

Friends from Mexico Beach, Dawn and Brian, parked their RV for a few days in Rockport TX on their way west. We spent the next couple days as a foursome of tourists.

 While lounging outside their RV I mentioned to Brian we had a restaurant we wanted to try for lunch that had been recommended by a friend. Brian said "Fine, as long as it's Snoopy's". I was stunned - that was where we had planned to go. After further questioning Brian said he had read about 10 restaurants you should visit around the USA and Snoopy's was on the list.

The following day we visited the Rockport Maritime Museum which also has the high point in Rockport with a third story "observation deck". Note the storm approaching - it's not always sunny in south Texas.

A trip to the big city

The title may be a bit misleading; however, Corpus Christi is the biggest city anywhere near by. Of course the waterfront was where we were heading and Corpus Christi has a beautiful marina and boardwalk overlooking the bay.

 I was drawn to take a picture of the appropriately designed lounging area below:

While taking that picture De Anne was, as always, drawn to the water and tried to make a get-a-way:

Looking back on the city:

Like many other harbors around the country a replica of the Nina, one of the ships of Columbus:

We (and by we, especially De Anne) are enjoying the 80's and sunshine of south Texas.

Around town

Our little town of Bayside (population 350) can be traversed easily by bike, and hugs the north side of Capano Bay.

 We paused at the city pier for a vista, and caught an air boat going by.

I have a new theory on the prevalence of pickup trucks in rural Texas. Everyone has dogs and the bed of a pickup is the ideal place to carry them - especially if you take them with you everywhere. 

Here in Bayside the number of dogs seems to equal people. As an added bonus the guy next door has a big coop for pigeons, who get an hour of exercise every afternoon flying a big loop repeatedly around the town. 

A woman down the street has 2 small dogs and 2 huge pigs in her yard. When De Anne goes by, the dogs race up to fence barking, followed by grunting pigs.  

It's Texas - live how you want to live!

Bayside

It has been a busy couple weeks and I have not had a chance to post before today.

Tristan and Kat had a formal wedding at the Omni in downtown Washington DC on Oct 22nd. Although they had a civil ceremony on June 10th, the day after Tristan graduated from his Master's program, she and her family wanted the full ceremony in a nice setting.

It was quite the event with 2 days of parties, gazebo wedding, and formal dinner and dance afterwards. My role was father of the groom, which entailed little responsibility, and also best man which added a bit more. I did run the aisle more than anyone else since I had to walk the mother of the groom (known on all other days as De Anne) then run back down the side to enter with Tristan. Afterwards I walked the Maid of Honor out then ran back up for De Anne. Don't worry - I made it look good! De Anne, of course, was stunning in a floor length, off the shoulder, slinky black and white gown. Even though I clean up well and was in a tux I am sure people were wondering what a woman like that was doing with an ugly brute like me.

 We did return to Virginia Beach where he and Kat now live while Tristan is stationed in Norfolk. All four of us returned from DC with matching colds.

 We took it easy knowing we were a few days away from a 1,600 mile cross-country trip. Alas, rest did not make us well, so De Anne and I crossed the country coughing and blowing and spreading germs from state to state. Should you hear news reports of wide spread illness across the southern states of America - you gentle reader will know the cause.

In Louisiana I spotted a billboard for an urgent care center at the next exit and made a command decision to stop. After $386.00 in doctor fees and dropping $120.00 at the Walmart across the street for various meds we continued our journey west. The doctor did give us both shots and a double dose of pills plus some liquid codeine to help us sleep. It made today's travel tolerable. I consider the $500.00 an investment in continued life.

 We are now in a cute cabin in Bayside Texas overlooking Copano Bay.