23 – 26 Nov Big Thicket Preserve

Big Thicket and Village Creek

 

Many shops were shut on Thanks Giving Day, but a bit like Xmas in UK the day afterwards is the Sales rush which they called Black Friday – Black because it is putting the shops accounts into the black.  However we pack up and move on.

We were doubly glad that we decided to stay on in New Braunfels another couple of days when we heard the news of a fatal accident, on the I10 near Beaumont, on the Thursday which involved 150 cars and trucks. The I10 is the route out of Texas into Louisiana.

However on the Friday we travel up to Big Thicket Preserve staying at Village Creek State Park, just north of Beaumont.  We have some lovely weather and the park is very peaceful.  This area is part of the Texas Paddling Trail and we had thought to rent a canoe and spend an afternoon paddling down the river but Texas has very low water levels and the Village Creek river is really too low and neither of us fancy tackling the logs and sand bars that we can see.  Texas has had two very dry years and an agreement has been signed with Mexico to buy water from them.

Walking around the State Park we saw a little Opossum.  He was busy cleaning himself and quite oblivious to us approaching until we were within about 6 ft.  Then he looked at us, finished cleaning himself  and then ambled off into the bushes with his pink rat-like tail.  



Hornet's Nest

About 500 yds later we walked around a bush and there, within a few feet, was a hawk eating his latest catch – a snake.  He was so busy enjoying his meal that we stood for nearly a minute watching him before he became aware of us and flew off.  Of course all this happens when you don’t have the camera on you …!! 

When we walked back that way 40 minutes later the snake remains had gone so we guessed the hawk came back for the rest of his dinner.

 

However we did have the camera with us when we spotted a hornet's nest up in the trees.

19 – 22 Nov Thanks Giving Celebrations

After such an exciting weekend we took it easy for the next few days.  We went to see the new James Bond film ‘Skyfall’ on the Monday and then Louise flew back to North Carolina on the Tuesday.

We were due to leave New Braunfels on the Wednesday but as Thursday was Thanks Giving Day we decided to stay at this site and join in with their Thanks Giving dinner (for 70 people).  Alison helped with the table lay out and decorations, and Paul helped carve the turkey and hams.  We had a very enjoyable meal with lots of food and friendly chat.  All of Alison’s home-made Lime Cheesecake soon went!

This is the longest we have been at a camp site – two weeks.  Lots of things to see and do and Alison enjoyed the company of the other ladies at aqua aerobics and playing cards.  We may come back but for now we have decided to retrace our steps along the south coast and head to north Florida to get our US Driver’s licences.  We have obtained a Florida address via the Good Sam club and a US licence should substantially reduce our insurance premiums.  This will also make North Carolina a little easier to drive to for when we spend Xmas with Louise. 

 

USA F1 Grand Prix

16 – 18 Nov Formula 1 Grand Prix – Circuit of The Americas (COTA)

Day 1 (Friday)

Up early for a 50 mile journey to the circuit.  This would be the first time that we have seen the brand new track which is purpose-made for F1 since the last race in USA in 2007.  It runs anti-clockwise for 3.4 miles with 20 turns and the whole area covers over 1100 acres.

Today would be practice day for all taking part. First up was the F1 cars for their first and second session, the noise was so loud that we could not hear the commentary.  The Historic Grand Prix cars were next followed by the Ferrari 458 Italia’s (31 racing cars at a cost of over $300.000 each).  Then came the Porsche 996/997 GT3 cars.

 

Day 2 (Saturday)

The Qualifying session for the Ferrari’s.  Third practice session for the F1 cars, then qualifying for the Historic GP cars.Then at 12 pm what we had all be waiting for “F1 qualifying”.

In the afternoon came the first of the Ferrari Challenge races, in spite of the cost of these cars they were most definitely racing, just like very expensive bumper cars at a fair ground.  The GT3 cars did their last qualifying session and then the Historic F1s had an 11 lap race.

Day 3 (Race day)
Another early start so that we would not get caught in too much traffic.
First up was the GT3s for their 10 lap race followed by the second race for the Ferrari’s.
The Drivers Parade consisted of them being driven round the course in convertiable cars, some from the 50s.  

Just before 1pm the ear defenders went on and the race was on.  Just under 2 hours of fantastic racing.  As most people have probably seen the race by now, I will leave it at that – good result for the Brits, and we waved our Union Jack for Lewis Hamilton at the end.  Role on next year!

 

 

 

We were very impressed with the COTA track.  Some of the area still needed landscaping but they had done a good job at getting it ready for the event.  We used the shuttle buses between the car park and the venue and had sunshine all weekend.  The staff were always smiling and the rest of the crowd were friendly – there were many from Mexico there and the Ferrari Team was well supported.

On the Friday evening we went into Downtown Austin to see what was going on.  Austin is known as the Live-Music Capital of Texas and there was all sorts of entertainment going on.  We also caught the end of a stage interview with Jenson Button.

12 – 14 November Visits to Dentist and Missions

 Monday Paul spent 4 hours at the dentist!  The work done was worth it and he won’t be eating any more Snickers bars straight out of the fridge again!

Tuesday the temperature had dropped to just above 60 degrees - and then it rained. 

We visited a couple of the Missions in San Antonio.  Originally built in the 18^th century by Franciscan Monks they became communities where local Indians were educated and taught skills and were safe from attacks from other tribes. 

It all reminded us a bit of the film The Magnificent Seven.

 

Wednesday Louise flew in to Austin with the Formula One Grand Prix tickets.  Yippee!

 

 

9 - 11 November. New Braunfels Texas.

We booked the RV in for an oil change and spent some time visiting a small town called Gruene.  A strange little town that used to be a bit of a 'ghost town' and they have revitalised into a visitors area with original shops. 

At our camp site we were invited to spend the evening with a Group of other RV’ers who were at the staying for the weekend.  We learnt how to play “Train” (an interpretation of dominoes).  We also joined them for breakfast the next morning.

 New Braunfels was settled by immigrants from Germany in the 19^th Century.  We arrived in time for their “Wurstfest” which was a bit like an “Oktoberfest” but in November.  We spent most of Saturday there – German beer and German sausages and several ‘Oompah’ bands – great fun! Paul doesn’t remember too much about the journey home.

 Sunday we made use of the camp facilities of the swimming pool and hot tub.  We then joined the San Antonio Hash for an afternoon trail.  The weather was a little cooler – top 70s instead of mid-80s.

6 – 8 November Saw Palmettos and Vultures

Our next stop was a camp site in Lulling, just off the I10.  Oil was discovered in this area in the mid-1920s and there are still some ‘active’ oil wells within the city limits.  We looked around their Oil Museum and saw some of the Pump Jacks which they have decorated with wooden figures to make them look more attractive. 

We visited another state park called Palmetto.   Here they have a large area of Saw Palmetto plants.  It was supposed to be a swamp area as the plants like heat, wet and humidity, but because Texas hasn’t had any rain for a while the swamp was very dry.

One thing there was a lot of was Black Vultures.  We counted at least 60.  We were very surprised to see them all taking a bath in the river, very funny to watch.

We stayed at Lulling for three nights just to rest and go fishing.   

5th Nov “Houston, we’ve had a problem here …….”

Everyone we spoke to said “Houston has traffic” and they were right.  Fortunately we didn’t have too much of a problem but we had to drive through the centre of Houston, on the interstate, between 15.45 and 17.15 hrs and hence we came across “The Traffic”!

 

We had set off in the morning over to Galveston by the ferry and on to the Space Centre at Houston.  We spent most of the day learning about the Space Centre, in the company of about 100 Japanese tourists (who just kept on talking through all the guides’ commentary).  We took the tour bus and sat in on a couple of Live Lectures and learnt that everything is recycled in space, including wee.  The Space Centre was particularly geared up to educate children (boring for adults) we thought the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida was much more interesting.

 

After leaving Houston we set off for our overnight stay in a state park (Stephen F Austin) a journey of about 60 miles.

As it was getting dark we heard a commotion in the trees behind us, we found out in the morning that we had parked next to the trees that the Turkey Vultures roosted in. There were also deer that wandered around the site.

 

Galveston and The Lone Star Motor bike Rally

1 – 4 Nov

All I knew of Galveston was from the song by Glen Campbell back in the 70s.  It is a sea-side resort on an island just south of Houston.  The ferry over from Bolivar peninsular to Galveston is free – courtesy of the Texas Transportation Dept.  We see dolphins everywhere – not to mention motor bikes!

 

There are thousands of bikers – they estimate up to 400,000 people come here for the rally.  The bikes are terrific – mostly Harley Davidsons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  The atmosphere is great; tattoos and black leather everywhere (and that’s just the ladies!); live rock music all day.  Few wear helmets – just jeans, T-shirts and headscarves.  These are not boy racers – they are just cruisin’, many with the ladies as pillion.    Three-wheeler motor-trikes are also common.

Whilst in Galveston we also visited the Ocean Star, an off-shore drilling rig which has been turned into a museum about the oil industry.  The oil industry must be one of the biggest employers in this area.  We had passed 'nodding donkeys' on the drive down and can see oil rigs from the shore where we are camped.

 On our drive home we came across six or seven racoons who were fairly tame and came up to us when we stopped and got out of the car. 

The Lone Star State

29 – 31 Oct

We arrive in Texas, the Lone Star State!  The temperature has warmed up again and is around 80 degrees.  We stay a couple of nights in a campsite in Beaumont where breakfast is included in the site fee!  We chat to a neighbour who recommends visiting Bolivar Peninsular; so the next day we set off for the Gulf coast.



The peninsular was flattened by hurricane Ike in 2008 so many of the houses are new, having been rebuilt – all on stilts. 










This is also where migrating birds pass on their way south for the winter.  There are brown pelicans everywhere as they are the ‘locals’ and there are also large white pelicans, who are ‘visitors’ as they are on their way south. 

 There are blackbirds everywhere too – skinnier than the UK ones, with long tails and a very distinctive whistle and call.

 

We learn that there is to be one of the biggest gatherings of motorbikes this weekend at The Lone Star Motorbike Rally in Galveston.