On the Guadalupe Riverbank

Good Morning from New Braunfels, Texas. 

We are on the Guadalupe River, here at a very rustic campground but certainly popular area in the summertime. Lots of tubing rentals places. The river flows quietly next to our site and ducks, herons, hawks and deer have been spotted in the short time we've been here. It runs 230 miles.

2 deer frolicking at water's edge

On Monday, we did a 10 mile bike ride and saw the Big Tree on Goose Island. It's the 2nd largest live oak tree in Texas, thought to be almost 2,000 years old. My pictures do not do it justice. 

We also experienced seeing the endangered Whooping Cranes. They are the tallest birds in North America and stand nearly 5 feet tall with a wingspan of about 7.5 feet. Beginning in September or October each year, the cranes migrate south about 2,500 miles from Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge about 35 miles north of the state park. After wintering in Texas, they begin their migration back north to Canada about mid March each year.

      

We started our day on Tuesday, March 19th, capturing a beautiful sunrise on Goose Island. Below shows the succession of the skies just moments prior to sunrise. Trying my new camera out and using different settings. It's been fun.

My try at a Spoonbill painted rock!

Our drive from the gulf shores to new Braunfels  was very interesting. Near the coast, the land was very flat. Mile after mile...... as we starting heading inward into Texas, the terrain became hilly and we saw ranch after ranch.  Nixon Texas seemed like a newly, revitalized quaint town.   

We had dinner at Black's BBQ in New Braunfels. OH MY GOD! I thought I had tasted brisket, but was I wrong! 

Ended our night by a real wood campfire and are excited to see our nephew Jake Pirnie, his new wife Emily and their children this evening for dinner!  We haven't seen Jake in over 15 years.....

Our weather has not been great. Actually needed heat on last night, but are hoping for some sunshine and warmer days ahead! 

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Texas Lightning!

Our Journey so far

Deep in the gulf shores  of Texas, the winds have  been relentless, rained every day for a majority of the day, and the lightning at night has been absolutely incredible. I have never seen a sky that lit up for as long as it does here. Maybe because it's just such flat lands..... but we definitely haven't seen as much sun as I'd like, but we've still had fun. And continue to meet some great people along the way.

Here's a view of the Fred Hartman Bridge in Baytown, Texas. Everything's big in Texas! 

The gulf shores at both Galveston Island State Park and now at Goose Island State Park are beautiful. I actually went up to my shins in Galveston Island. Water was the temperature of our water in RI in about late July! 

Galveston Island State Park

St. Paddy's Beers, Oysters & Shrimp @ Pop's Place!

Even though it's been sort of crummy weather, we're still trying to stay active, for 19 days so far! 

	Miles
Miles Traveled Rhode Trippin’	2,405.1
Cycled	78.5
Walked	25.7

Onto New Braunfels, Texas tomorrow morning to see our nephew Jake Pirnie and family! Might not blog for a couple of days. Hope all's well and you are enjoying our blog! 

Link to other videos posted on our YouTube Channel.

Bayou & Cajun Country

We've been in the Acadiana country.....what's that you say?

A little fun fact about Louisiana:

Acadiana (French and Louisiana French: L'Acadiane), also known as the Cajun Country (Louisiana French: Le Pays Cadjin, Spanish: País Cajún), is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that has historically contained much of the state's Francophone population.^[1]

Our stay at Poche's Fish N Camp was great. A drone video is forthcoming. We had warm, breezy weather. Got to go into Lafayette and Breaux Bridge for dinner and music 2 nights! YES.... they do have Uber out in the bayou!

 

The first night we went to Bon Temp Grill in Lafayette and was entertained acoustically by Sam Broussard. He's played with T-Mamou, Jimmy Buffett and Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, whom we've seen at Rhythm & Roots.

Second night, we went to Buck & Johnny's in Breaux Bridge. What a place. An old converted car dealership into a 2 steppin Zydeco joint with great music. We saw Reggie Matte & the Jambalaya Cajun Band.  Great fun and authentic music. Watching everyone dance was reminiscent of my maternal aunts and uncles who all danced beautifully.

We ended our stay at Poche's,leaving behind my trademark rock, and have arrived here at Sam Houston Jones State Park in Lake Charles, Louisiana for an overnight before heading on to Galveston Island, Texas. This park has been destroyed in Hurricane Laura. You can watch a brief video on the new transformation of this park.

We did make a brief stop at Crying Eagle Brewing Company which was a great brewery! 

We continue to meet fellow RVer's who share their stories and blogs. I love the southern charm and hospitality! 

Buccaneer Beach State Park