We chose Goose Island SP, just north of Rockport, TX as a slightly out of the way destination on our way to Austin.  We wanted to be in Austin over the weekend so we could have time with Leigh and Pat.  We had not been to Goose Island State Park before and when I called I was offered the choice of “Bayside” or “Wooded Area.” since we had no idea we chose Bayside because it is always (?) good to be on the water.  As we set up I was not so sure, the wind was blowing from the north at 25 mph and there was nothing to block it or reduce its force.  We had to hang onto the door when opening it and closing it required a strong pull.  As the sun set so did the wind. 

The next day, that would be Monday, we drove into Rockport to see what there is to see.  We had lunch at Hemingway’s, which we would strongly recommend if you are in the area.  Nice atmosphere, tasty food at a reasonable price.   On the way we stopped at a Nature Trail – see Carol’s Message in a Minute for much more about this.  We stopped to see the Big Tree on the way back to Gee 2. On Tuesday we packed lunch and headed for Aransas National Wildlife Reserve (NWR) to see the Whooping Cranes among other critters.  We did see the Whooping Cranes at a great distance, a bit disappointing although clear enough to enter them on my Life List.  Back to the coach for dinner and reading.

Wednesday we joined a bird walk with Jim and Sally Lockwood leading to see shore birds and we saw plenty.  The group list was over 40 species and my personal list was 26 species that I could identify.  At the talk we heard that Whooping Cranes could be seen in the park so we went to see them. That afternoon we went to the recreation center for a talk by the raptor lady, an 87 year old woman who travels the country in a van with a Great Horned Owl, a Caracara and a Screech Owl and an American Kestrel.  She has state and federal permits to have these birds and she gives a very educational talk about them.  After dinner we came back for a preview talk on the small birds we were likely to see on the next morning’s bird walk.  It’s a good thing we went because the birds were not in evidence the next morning.  We could hear them, but spotting them was very difficult.  We left our new found friends and packed up Gee 2 for the trip to Austin and more rain.

For more of the pictures Click Here.

Back in Austin Lone Star RV Park for probably the 6 or 7th time we settled in to wait out the rain, do some writing and reading.  As usual there was nothing to watch on TV.  On Saturday we joined Leigh and Pat at their home and set off for lunch and the Austin Modern House Tour.  That link will take you to photos taken by a photographer we saw at several of the homes.  Most of the houses were for sale and the realtors were very active at each location.  The house with the lap pool cantilevered over the gorge was extreme.  Priced at over $3 million it was not at all ordinary.  Others were also extreme in different ways.  It was a lot of fun.  We went to dinner at Fabi And Rosi an intimate dining room with an excellent menu, fine service and great food.  Sunday we went to the Blanton Gallery on the UT campus and went to the Austin Playhouse for a matinee performance of Misalliance, Shaw at his most Shavian.  It was well done.  I would go back to the Playhouse.  Leigh had prepared a wonderful meal back at the house and we enjoyed it and the time with them immensely. 

Monday we packed up and set out for Falcon State Park.  Oops! I called from the road to find that there was no room for us.  While Carol drove I called Texas Parks and Wildlife Reservations and got us booked in to the Water and Electric section for four days.  That is about the comfortable limit for us with no sewer hookup.  I found a Passport America RV Park in  Zapata, TX.  Just follow 16 across 83 and down to the water. 

Posting from Site 202 – full hook up in Falcon SP.