Alaska, Vermont and life in between ..........: Texas

We were deposited in Louisiana as if riding a Gulf wave from Mississippi. While the white sand beaches of Biloxi, Gulfport, Pass Christian and finally Waveland Mississippi, implied summer pleasure, less than fifty feet away, another story was told. Katrina spared very few first row beach homes. Those that had once been second row houses, now held the distinction of being first row with magnificent views of the ocean. Where first row homes had sat, sidewalks lead through gates and past mature trees to vacant foundations. Perhaps most impressive, were tall street lights standing forelorn in large parking lots. These were once needed for lighting malls and grocery stores that are no longer standing. Lines of for sale signs dot the landscape. It is questionable as to if rebuilding should occur, but then, as time passes, the lure of owning such desirable real estate will undoubtedly win over common sense. For now, it appears as undiscovered ocean beach. Passing through Louisiana with her swamps, Cajun allure and New Orleans, we encountered the industries related to ocean living. The architecture associated with oil/gas drilling and refining collided with seafood harvesting. Here beach front communities coexist with industry. It made eating Gulf shrimp somewhat less appealing......but maybe that’s why the breading and frying comes in!

It wasn't long before we found ourselves in Texas, hugging the coast toward Galveston.

The colorful beach houses of Port Bolivar lead us to a free ferry taking us to Galveston.

Galveston appeared from the fog as a delightful mix of old and new, having a historic downtown bordered by resorts and again, oil related structures. Sitting on the water's edge, Galveston is no stranger to hurricanes.

The ever present shutters guarding against the Texas heat.

Interstate highways led us to San Antonio and the "hill country" of Texas. Large, leafy Oaks shaded the countryside and Bucky delighted in seeing deer scatter as we approached. The hill country quickly gave way to sand and cactus as we drove west, our destination Sanderson, Texas, "cactus capital of Texas", but more importantly part-time home of our Alaskan friend, Curtis.

Upon arriving in Sanderson, we settled in as the only transient residents at the Canyon RV Park. The thunder of trains moving down the tracks a mere 100 yards away, accompanied by the shrill blowing of their whistle, made for a wakeful first night. However, by night four, I never heard a thing.

We enjoyed days filled with sun learning the landscape and wildlife of west Texas. We were privileged to have access to ranch land through Curtis' uncle Kendall. It was here that we spent several days looking for elk sheds and arrow heads......who knew that elk lived in the cactus capital of Texas!
Fisher seemed more than happy to lie under the RV during the heat of the day, but she did pose here near a century plant. We saw some that were blossomed, with what looked like trees sprouting as high as twelve feet. Curtis' aunt Lee told us that once they blossomed they died.

What we were hoping to find. Curtis beat us to it!

say cheese

Lee displays the beautiful arrow head she found, while Curtis shows what he says is a scraper????

He did however find a pig's snout!

Bandit and Katie keeping us company

Uncle Kendall seeing if he can find an arrow head.

Curtis was generous with his time and toured us around the small Texas towns near Sanderson. I was convinced that he had a relative in every town we entered. There was always a cousin, aunt or uncle close by. Near the end of our visit we took a trip to Marathon to pick up some Aoudad horns belonging to a hunter Curtis had guided. I had never seen an Aoudad, so I tagged along with the hope of seeing one alive and grazing. These beautiful African animals were introduced here and join the many exotics that inhabit the ranch land of Texas.

horns of the Aoudad

We learned so much about Texas through spending time with Curtis, his aunt and uncle, his cousins, and eventually his grandmother. Spending time with these honest hard working and hospitable folks made us truly appreciate Texas. Many small Texas towns such as Sanderson are struggling to stay viable, leaving the residents to travel long distances for employment. Like so much of the West, be it the US or Canada, folks survive with very few conveniences. Those living in Sanderson need to travel 100 or more miles for groceries. When sitting outside visiting with Curtis' family, the kids played in the dirt while the dogs tussled, often mixing it up pretty good. Bucky said later that it had the resemblance of Opie and his family in Mayberry. Simple, but good pleasures. Heading home from Marathon after retrieving the horns we were busy chatting away. Curtis had just mentioned that we were at the furthest point at which he usually saw Aoudad. And, then there they were......"out of Africa".

With this sighting, my trip was complete! I had never seen such a beautiful animal in the wild. The following day we said goodbye to Curtis, knowing we would see each other again upon reaching Alaska, but now sharing so much more than before.