Travel Blog 257: Wildflowers, Steep Caves, and Crazy Aliens
Since my last blog, I had a week-long client engagement that took me from Orlando to San Jose and Chicago, and then back to Orlando. Early morning before my departure flight, we loaded up and did the Apopka Loop one last time. As always, lots of beautiful birds. Here is the first least bittern we have seen while exploring the loop.
The day after my return back to Apopka, we loaded the bus and started our trek west: I-429, Florida Turnpike North, I-75 North, and then the long slog across I-10. The weather was clear, and with just a few exceptions, the roads were in good condition and the traffic light to moderate. In the Florida panhandle we stayed by Holt at the Eagles Landing RV Park. In Louisiana we spent a night at Sulphur at the A+ Motel and RV Park. All across Louisiana underwater trees and overflowing banks showed the results of weeks of continuous rain and the flooding that ensued. After circling around the north part of Houston we picked up 290 West heading to Austin.
Leander Meander
We spent a couple of nights in the northwest corner of the Austin metro area at the Leander KOA in Leander, one of the fastest growing towns in Texas. Here we took a day trip with old friends, driving by the LBJ ranch, a marvelous wildflower farm, and then on to the destination town of Fredricksburg, home of Admiral Nimitz. Although the bluebonnets were in retreat, the roadside wildflowers were at their height in one of the best years on record. I took multiple photos, but none did justice. For over two hundred miles we visually feasted upon vibrant reds and yellows, speckled with blues, and a background of various greens…enough to make retina overload.
Ft. Stockton
After lots of miles, we camped at the Ft. Stockton RV Park just off of I-10…easy on and easy off. Here is a shot of the Mexican paradise plant right by our campsite.
Carlsbad
At Fort Stockton we took 285 North into Carlsbad, and just a few miles north we set up camp at the Carlsbad KOA for three days. Each morning was chilly and calm, but by afternoon it was hot and windy. At this campground, Jack was introduced to a bunny plantation, and soon he suffered from a severe rabbit habit, spending hours on the coach dash, staring at the hundreds of rabbits. The birds were plentiful and loud with boattail starlings everywhere, lots of doves, and scaled quails. We also saw a scarlet tananger, a Bullock’s oriole, and a few hummers. Jan also took a great pic of a flowering cactus.
Roswell Side Trip
A short hour north of our campground is the famous Roswell, home of alien landings, mystic happenings, and conspiracy theories.
Just north of Roswell, we toured the loop of the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Preserve. We saw some stilts, gallinule, and a variety of ducks--not bad for a hot, windy, midday in the off-season.
Carlsbad Caverns NP
We had another early morning plan: We would all load up and be at the Carlsbad Caverns at 8 a.m. opening, and I would take the elevator down to the main caves and spend an hour shooting photos, and then return to our car and resume our day trip (Jan doesn’t like caves).
Surprise #1: The 7-mile entrance road to the caverns brought a nice surprise, as I was focused on the caverns, not wildlife…right in front of us 14 momma and baby bighorn sheep crossed the road, went up a short hill, and then turned and stared at us--great photo opp! A short time later we saw another herd, and later a couple rams. Great way to start the day.
Surprise #2: As we pulled into the Visitor Center, there was Al Roker and a camera crew preparing to do a shoot for the Today Show’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park system. Jan hollered a greeting to Al and he smiled and waved back. I had a nice conversation with the lead cameraman.
Surprise #3: While showing my park pass to a ranger, he informed me that the elevators were broken and that it was a very steep and strenuous mile down just to reach the bottom and a very steep and more strenuous mile back up…my planned one-hour trip would take 3.5 to 4.5 hours…yikes! So I went to plan B, and we drove the 45-minute Walnut Canyon Desert Drive, and then we drove to another section of the park (Rattlesnake Springs) were we saw a flycatcher and a roadrunner resting in a tree.
Guadalupe NP
Since we were no less than a half hour away, we drove into Texas, stopped at Guadalupe NP, and then returned back to Carlsbad to the patio of a wonderful restaurant where all four of us feasted on green chili cheeseburgers, carne tacos, and frijole charros. Great way to celebrate Mother’s Day!
Finally, a public service announcement.
See ya’ll soon.
The day after my return back to Apopka, we loaded the bus and started our trek west: I-429, Florida Turnpike North, I-75 North, and then the long slog across I-10. The weather was clear, and with just a few exceptions, the roads were in good condition and the traffic light to moderate. In the Florida panhandle we stayed by Holt at the Eagles Landing RV Park. In Louisiana we spent a night at Sulphur at the A+ Motel and RV Park. All across Louisiana underwater trees and overflowing banks showed the results of weeks of continuous rain and the flooding that ensued. After circling around the north part of Houston we picked up 290 West heading to Austin.
Leander Meander
We spent a couple of nights in the northwest corner of the Austin metro area at the Leander KOA in Leander, one of the fastest growing towns in Texas. Here we took a day trip with old friends, driving by the LBJ ranch, a marvelous wildflower farm, and then on to the destination town of Fredricksburg, home of Admiral Nimitz. Although the bluebonnets were in retreat, the roadside wildflowers were at their height in one of the best years on record. I took multiple photos, but none did justice. For over two hundred miles we visually feasted upon vibrant reds and yellows, speckled with blues, and a background of various greens…enough to make retina overload.
Ft. Stockton
After lots of miles, we camped at the Ft. Stockton RV Park just off of I-10…easy on and easy off. Here is a shot of the Mexican paradise plant right by our campsite.
Carlsbad
At Fort Stockton we took 285 North into Carlsbad, and just a few miles north we set up camp at the Carlsbad KOA for three days. Each morning was chilly and calm, but by afternoon it was hot and windy. At this campground, Jack was introduced to a bunny plantation, and soon he suffered from a severe rabbit habit, spending hours on the coach dash, staring at the hundreds of rabbits. The birds were plentiful and loud with boattail starlings everywhere, lots of doves, and scaled quails. We also saw a scarlet tananger, a Bullock’s oriole, and a few hummers. Jan also took a great pic of a flowering cactus.
Roswell Side Trip
A short hour north of our campground is the famous Roswell, home of alien landings, mystic happenings, and conspiracy theories.
Just north of Roswell, we toured the loop of the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Preserve. We saw some stilts, gallinule, and a variety of ducks--not bad for a hot, windy, midday in the off-season.
Carlsbad Caverns NP
We had another early morning plan: We would all load up and be at the Carlsbad Caverns at 8 a.m. opening, and I would take the elevator down to the main caves and spend an hour shooting photos, and then return to our car and resume our day trip (Jan doesn’t like caves).
Surprise #1: The 7-mile entrance road to the caverns brought a nice surprise, as I was focused on the caverns, not wildlife…right in front of us 14 momma and baby bighorn sheep crossed the road, went up a short hill, and then turned and stared at us--great photo opp! A short time later we saw another herd, and later a couple rams. Great way to start the day.
Surprise #2: As we pulled into the Visitor Center, there was Al Roker and a camera crew preparing to do a shoot for the Today Show’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park system. Jan hollered a greeting to Al and he smiled and waved back. I had a nice conversation with the lead cameraman.
Surprise #3: While showing my park pass to a ranger, he informed me that the elevators were broken and that it was a very steep and strenuous mile down just to reach the bottom and a very steep and more strenuous mile back up…my planned one-hour trip would take 3.5 to 4.5 hours…yikes! So I went to plan B, and we drove the 45-minute Walnut Canyon Desert Drive, and then we drove to another section of the park (Rattlesnake Springs) were we saw a flycatcher and a roadrunner resting in a tree.
Guadalupe NP
Since we were no less than a half hour away, we drove into Texas, stopped at Guadalupe NP, and then returned back to Carlsbad to the patio of a wonderful restaurant where all four of us feasted on green chili cheeseburgers, carne tacos, and frijole charros. Great way to celebrate Mother’s Day!
Finally, a public service announcement.
See ya’ll soon.