Sun., Nov. 9

Early AM bike ride down by nearby St. Charles Bay. Started with warm jackets and soon we were stripping them off and being bitten by hungry skeeters. Visited the 1000+ year Old Oak tree in Lamar and tried to walk up the adjoining field to see Whooping Cranes, but the weeds were high and snaggy and we both came out with dozens of burrs on socks and shoes. Re: The Old Tree

The tree has allegedly been a hanging tree, a pirate's rendezvous, and even a ceremonial site for the cannibalistic Karankawa Indians. Record or Champion Trees are determined by their girth, their spread and their height. There are many Live Oaks that surpass this tree's height, however when the tree's girth is factored in, it makes this one the Champion Live Oak in Texas.

Today got news of the death of my 97 year old Aunt Polly in Oakmont, PA. How much she experienced in all those years, and most of them were good years for her. Our cell service here is not good and calls could not made because of this.

Finally got to see our friend Pat from Houston who has a second home nearby (our cell phones hadn't meshed) and had a good bird/movie/books/political sharing. To be continued tomorrow.

Mon., Nov. 10

Periods of heavy rain through the night--so much needed after months of drought down in this area. Took a ride up to Arkansas NWR in the AM--got to see five Whooping Cranes out in a nearby field, along with hundreds of

Sandhill Cranes. Lakes on the refuge were dry or nearly so, so alligators were piles up and wading birds were all but absent. We did watch a Great Blue Heron catch a huge garfish at Jones Lake--the fish so large he couldn't hold it

up. He finally arranged it so it could go down the old hatch and it was amazing to watch. Many feral hogs were in evidence all around the refuge. It used to be that these were weeded out periodically but apparently not now.

Did laundry in the afternoon. The laundromat had many machines but each one had a glitch--known only by the attendant. After donation many quarters to the dryers, I took home most stuff quite damp (in 100% humidity!) and hoped for the best.

Later in the afternoon we went to Pat's place for wine and cheese, fruit and conversation. She gave us a list of her favorite movies and books--fun to share all these. Tomorrow we get to pack.

Tues., Nov. 11

Proceeded to get things in order, and that for us is no easy task. When empty, our car looks sizable, but it isn't. Much to cram in tomorrow. We will park the mh in the nearby Lamar compound at 9 AM Wednesday. Went out to dinner at Charlotte Plummer's in Fulton, sat on the upper deck where the view was great (as was the meal), and reminisced about a fine fall journey.

Wed., Nov. 12

Not such a spectacular beginning to our journey home. A can of battery preservative sprayed all over Charlie's face and glasses and clothes as he was stowing stuff in a mh bin. Cleaning body and accessories set us back in time and later we made a grand loop back to our storage place since we couldn't find the camera. Much relief when Charlie found it inside the mh. This kind of forgetfulness is scary--I have no remembrance at all of setting the camera back in there. With all delays in mind, we decided to spend this night in Junction, at days end taking as much time as we could at the bird blinds at S. Llano River St. Pk. (We had to choose two, found the usual bunch of birds we remembered there and felt so much at home. In one blind there were at least 12 male cardinals that we could see at one time--plus females.) Around the park were dozens of armadillos. This area is very dry and numerous plants I remembered are no longer there, doubtless victim of drought. Got gas today for $1.99--never thought we'd see that price again. Ended day at Best Western in Junction that actually had a nice hot breakfast

Thurs., Nov. 13

Passed many cotton fields, most still unpicked; many wind farms-we wondered why so many were not at work (it was windy); and the usual number of oil rigs. Took a road that avoided both Lubbock and Amarillo--yea! Ended day at a Raton, NM Comfort Inn, having witnessed an amazing sunset on our left and the rising of a full moon on our right.

Fri., Nov. 14

Saw good bumper sticker: "Hang up and Drive." Winter began to set in--hit some snow out of CO Springs where the highway is always inadequate for the traffic. Our antenna waved wildly with ice on it. Temp. 25. Took I-25 and I-80 through CO and WY. Ended day with blinding sun blazing through the dirty windshield--not fun. Stayed at Rock Springs Super 8.

Sat., Nov. 15

To Pinedale in AM, visited with the McCarty family and had lunch out together. Took off for Driggs, ID, trying to get there before sunset. Just made it and the Super 8 there had better rooms than most.

Sun., Nov. 16

Long day of driving over mostly frozen landscape--ducks half in water, half on ice. As we moved north, the temp warmed--way up in the 50s. Reached home late in afternoon. We could use tractor to bring stuff to house since there's no snow.