Houston, Texas

Bev is now on the first of three flights home to Melbourne, Australia.  I was sad to say farewell to her.  It is such a l-o-n-g series of flights and layovers and one is very tired after the Australia or New Zealand journey. In Italy last month I promised Andrée a visit to Canberra but gosh, ...... I do hate that flight!

What a fantastic visit! Bev, like Andrée and Kees, you were a pleasure to travel with. It is always wonderful to have folks visit who appreciate the natural wonders of the USA and is not negative on the country (as so many are).  We journeyed far from home and saw many beautiful National Parks.  We traveled through interesting little towns and about eight Native Reservations.  We kept away from the big cities except Phoenix, Arizona, where it was necessary to see the wonderful Heard Museum. I will miss you Bev and hope that one day you will return and travel the northern National Parks with me.

My Blog was written to keep family and friends informed of our daily travels (April 28 through May 11, 2011). I also hope that the Blog could help a stranger planning to travel through the Southwest.  The Title each day is where we stayed, how we moved on. In each town there were many hotel/motel options (Best Western, Comfort Suites, Super 8, Holiday Inn etc.). In parenthesis is the places that we visited during the day while working our way to our chosen rest stop.

If you are an American citizen or permanent resident over the age of 62 years then I encourage you to apply for the $10.00 (one time fee) National Parks Senior Pass before leaving home (or purchase at the first NP).  The Senior Pass saved us a considerable amount on fees to the National Parks.

http://seniorliving.about.com/od/traveldiscounts/a/golden_age_pass.htm

Houston, Texas (San Jacinto)

Texas - The Lone Star State

The Texas flag is red, white, and blue with one star - hence the Lone Star State.

The San Jacinto Battle Monument

Some of the story .....

The Port of Houston

Views from the 570ft (173m) Observation Deck
Houston is an petroleum city with many refineries

The Battleship Texas

A dreadnought which served in WW I & WW II and was at D-Day

 USS Texas from the San Jacinto Monument

Photo: Bev

Houston, Texas (Big Sam)

Bev stands at "Big Sam" statue

A concrete Sam Houston stands in Huntsville, Texas.  Standing on the pedestal he is over seventy feet tall and in his fancy shirt and waistcoat he is far too warmly dressed for the hot and humid Houston weather.  According to one web site with the cane he looks like P.T. Barnum (Barnum and Bailey Circus emcee).

Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, LA

Down by the bayou .....

Along the walkway we saw birds and wildlife and fortunately did not see the Cottonmouth, commonly called "Water Moccasin". In this area you do not want to see this snake as it is one of the USA's most venemous snake species, they are mean and do not hesitate to strike if cornered. 

http://www.carolinanature.com/herps/cottonmouth.html

Walkway.  Photo: Bev

 Red wing blackbird

 Nutria (capivara in Brazil) largest living rodent

Ibis - they took off as we walked the path

 Heron

Alligator

A Southern Wedding

Sulphur, Louisiana

After a morning spent poolside and lunch at Central Market we drove to Louisiana for Melissa and Andrew's wedding at 6:30PM.  We stopped by Dawn and Danny's to say "hi, we are in town" and drop off some Central Market bread we had for them.

The GPS did not direct us to the home where the wedding was being held.  We drove up and down LA27 passing zero on the GPS which was announcing - you have arrived - when clearly we had not.  We called Dawn who was able to direct us and we were only one street and under a half mile from the place. We arrived with plenty of time to spare as the bride was over a half hour late in arriving for her wedding.

 A garden wedding

 Dawn being escorted to her seat

The pool house for reception and dancing

 The Wedding Cake

The Groom's Cake
(a southern tradition)

The Bride (Melissa) and Father (Danny) dance together

The Bride and Groom's sparkling farewell

Houston, Texas (NASA, JSC)

Bev and I visited NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) where we took the tour of Mission Control and the Rocket Hall.  For lunch we went to Hotel Galvez in Galveston. I forgot to take my camera. I am home .... I forget that I might want to take photographs. Photo's courtesy Bev.

Texas Longhorn

JSC, Clear Creek Independent School District Agriculture Science Center Learning Laboratory, along with Houston Livestock and Rodeo are partners in The Western Heritage Longhorn Project.  The longhorn above managed to get his horns in and out of the bars in the feeder, he has turning his head down to a fine art.

Just enjoying the day - Texas Longhorns

Houston, Texas (LBJ Ranch)

We are home and tired after a full day driving from San Angelo, Texas. Today we drove 380 miles (611 kms) some of it through the Texas Hill Country which was settled by the Germans in the 1840's. Bev drove most of the way leaving only the last 80 miles coming into Houston for me.   Two days running the girl has been a marathon driver, thanks Bev. Our round trip journey was ~3830 miles (~6163 kms).  

 Shops on Main Street, Fredericksburg, Texas

German sausage anyone?

From Frederciksburg we drove to Stonewall and stopped at the LBJ Ranch.

Monarch butterfly in the specially planted wildflower garden

Photo: Bev. 

According to a sign at the LBJ Ranch the Monarch butterflies stop here on their annual north/south migration.  There were a few butterflies, not thousands, so I guess these guys stayed over.

We stopped along the way for lunch and then drove until we arrived home a little after 8:00PM.  

It was a fantastic vacation .....