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March 13, 2020 I’d forgotten we would revisit our old friend, the Guadalupe River! The very same waterway we’d enjoyed with Thoners back in November in Kerrville also flows through Canyon Lake area. There were kayakers and tubers in evidence every time we drove past. Oh, to have joined them! I couldn’t resist one last parting photo of rocks. Considering how many shells I was bringing home from SPI, it was probably a good thing I didn’t have time to go rock-collecting. Always have to leave a little something to do next time. We’ll miss you, Texas, from your bluebonnets and rugged hills to your sandy shores and pounding surf. God willing, we’ll be back.

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March 13, 2020

What a place to walk and enjoy the view. Unfortunately our moods were less than stellar, considering we were leaving for home only three short days after arriving. I’ve promised myself, we will return.

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March 13, 2020

The backside of the dam at Canyon Lake - what a bank! Long and very high.

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March 13, 2020

We did not have’ nearly enough time to tour the area around Canyon Lake, but did find this roadside map showing the enormity of the lake and extent of development all around. Mystic Quarry is located near the ‘straight edge’ of the lake in the bottom right; that is the dam seen in the photos below the map. It’s beautifully grassy and green on the north side, and sharply steep on the south leading to the water.

The last photo is a view of the area to the north from the top of the dam; again, a picture can’t capture how impressive and beautiful it is.

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March 13, 2020 We were not going to leave Mystic Quarry without taking in its outdoor peace and beauty. The nature trail was a quiet, meditative way to wander the grounds. I loved the use of rocks to feature their logo and point the way. We also found a few of the park’s residents, some living, some manmade. I scurried by the beehives too quickly to think of a photo!

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March 12, 2020

Our final destination for the winter was Mystic Quarry, a family park alongside Canyon Lake, about 15 miles east of New Braunfels, Texas, which in turn is about 20 miles north of San Antonio. As usual, you don’t even know you’ve left one city before entering the next. But the drive east to the lake took us back into the heart of Hill Country, our favourite area of Texas.

The park is beautiful, and features so many sights and activities: bocce ball, horseshoes, pool and hot tub, nature trail, garden, birds, bees and bats, outdoor raised deck with firepit, excursions by bus, and many planned activities. What a place it is. What a place it would have been to spend a month. We arrived Thursday and left Sunday. Damn you, Covid-19 - damn you to hell, for so many reasons.

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March 11, 2020

It was amazing how many ships and boats (what’s the difference?) used this passage in from and out to sea, day and night. From the Port of Brownsville and through this channel to the Gulf of Mexico is the southernmost US access to the Atlantic Ocean.

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March 11, 2020

Heading out to sea!

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March 11, 2020

We also took one final walk down the beach to the jetties on our last day in the park (while our truck and trailer were being hand-washed and waxed by a local company, for the unbelievable price of $200). It was an incredible day, warm and sunny, not too windy - the kind of day we’d been hoping for and here we were, busy packing and preparing to leave. Bittersweet!

We were lucky enough to get to watch one of the largest ships we’d seen head out to sea through the channel. It was escorted by a patrol vessel, which it dwarfed with its monstrous bulk!

We also had one final laugh provided by Spring Break . . . all week long, planes had droned overhead, pulling banners advertising various restaurants, bars and events. This one took its message to a new height ;)

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March 11, 2020

Turns out I was not done taking photos at South Padre; I could not resist a morning shot through the salt-water humidity that almost daily drenched our windows (and the rest of our trailer, and truck, and absolutely everything outside). Opening the door was always such a pleasant surprise - it wasn’t nearly as grey and dreary as it tended to look through the windows!

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March 11, 2020

Farewell, Isla Blanca and South Padre; I’ll keep you in my heart . . . and in my shell collection ;) 

(Disclaimer: the last photo was taken some days before leaving, and may not accurately reflect the final size of said collection.)

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March 10, 2020

I had it in my head we could tour through the Port of Brownsville, which is a massive seaport on the east end of the city, just a 20 minute drive from here. I had visions of walking along boardwalks, checking out shrimp and fishing vessels, and gazing in awe at massive container ships. Who woulda known it’s much like an airport - restricted grounds, and requiring ID to pass through the gate? Hmmm. Our tour was restricted to a few blurry flyby photos from the road!

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March 8, 2020

Full moon over South Padre during spring break; in the inestimable Dan Polkinghorne’s words, What could happen??!!!

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March 8, 2020

I lucked out on my way to catch the shuttle, passing through the surgical area just in time to catch these two women scooping up their next patient. Excellent work, Sea Turtle Inc!

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March 8, 2020

Great to see these rescued turtles moving well, looking good and preparing to be released!

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March 8, 2020

Behind the surgery and turtle tanks is an educational centre, gift shop and outdoor auditorium where I listened to a ‘turtle talk’ and learned more than I ever imagined about these awesome reptiles I have loved since I was young!

The third photo is a piece of work donated by an artist; the entire turtle is composed of trash she found on beaches. Plastic is a turtle killer; they see it as food.

There were more tanks in this area; one turtle sported a prosthetic tail, without which it could not maneuver. And I love the reflection created by the turtle in the last photo; it looks like it has wings!

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March 8, 2020

One of the few tanks with multiple turtles; I think there were four in total. They really preferred to hide way at the back.