MANY OF TEXAS STATE PARKS have begun installing bird blinds for those of us who enjoy viewing birds. Some of these parks have even begun to set out seed and suet to attract the birds.

The Texas state parks that have observation platforms, enclosed shelters or birds blinds include: Abilene, Blanco, Bensen-Rio Grande Valley, Brasos Bend, Davis Mountain, Devil′s Sink Hole, Estero Llano Grande, Falcon Lake, Fort Parker, Franklin Mountain, Goliad, Guadalupe River, Huntsville, Inks Lake, Kreutzberg Canyon Natural Area, Lake Mineral Wells, Lost Maples, Palo Duro Canyon, Pedernales Falls, Resaca de la Palma, San Angelo, and South Llano River.

The above list is not complete by any means but is a good start and would hope to add more when I learn about them.

Upon arriving on Tuesday afternoon at two, I drive to the water to look for photo opportunities and find a few but the cold front that preceded my arrival is most likely the reason few birds are still on the wing and not in their nests for the evening.

I do see several wading birds, a spoonbill, several herons and then in the late afternoon I see a kingfisher sitting on a hand rail looking weatherworn.

As the temperature drop steadily, so does the number of birds, so I head for my space, park, climb into the back and get into the down bag for the evening.

Awake long before sunrise and I work for a while on my journal. The cold front that moved in yesterday made it much colder this morning.

At sunrise I go to the St Charles Bay boat launch and photograph the sunrise, after which I go the big tree, then to look for the whooping cranes and see them in a pasture but they are too far away to photograph.

Then at eight, I meet with a group of birder′s and walk along the waterfront where we see well over twenty birds including an osprey fishing.

After the walk, I drive north into the Texas Hill Country and see a large bird behind an inclosed fence.

Next, I stop at Blanco State Park but their WiFi is not working, so I leave and drive to Pedernales Falls State Park arriving not long before sunset. I drive first to the blind and then to the falls for the sunset.

There are many birds here, most all of which are song birds, but the sun drops quickly and it becomes too dark for me to get all but a few good pictures.

After dark, I drive to the campsite and set up for the evening. It is comfortable early this evening but then the temperature begins to drop.

The sun is already one hand’s width above the horizon when I arise this morning and immediately drive to the bird blind for photos. The host came by earlier to load the feeders and the birds have been busy eating.

In thinking about photographing the birds from the blind here at Pedernales Falls state park, I come to understand that one must needs arrive before sunrise to catch the majority of the birds who feed there.

Too, I have been reading the log book here at the blind and have learned that there are many species that frequent this blind that I have yet to see much less photograph. Methinks, that when my work with my sister in Houston is done, I will return here and make a point of getting an early start at birding.

Just before noon, I drive west on SR 2766 to Johnson City, where I head west on US 290, cross the Pedernales river and enter what is now called the Texas white house, where president Johnson lived during his presidency when in Texas. Upon arriving at the Johnson ranch, I am really impressed with the low water bridge, built in 1951 when Lyndon Johnson purchased the soon to be Hereford cattle ranch.

Afterwards, I head east towards Austin, stop at a w-mart for WiFi to upload my journal and check my com. Not too long after, I begin the drive to the Bay Area so that I may attend the meeting tonight and see some of my friends there.

I arrive in the area by six-thirty and go to a coffee shop near by the hall to wait for it to begin. After the meeting, I go to the d-mart, park and get ready for bed.

My sister is not expecting me until the first of March, so until then, my plan is to spend some time birding at the Alligator state park west of here. My work here will be helping my sister in her endeavor to close out our Mother′s estate, my job being the task of scanning and digitizing all of our Mom′s photos to share with other family members. I suspect that will keep me in the Bay Area for about two weeks.

Upon my awaking this morning, I see that the Bay Area is in full bloom despite all the unprecedented cold weather that has hit Texas in recent weeks. Too, I have always said that the Texas Gulf Coast has four seasons, December, January, February and Summer.

As I drive along the muddy brown waters of Galveston Bay exploring my childhood stomping grounds, I see clearly that spring is in full bloom now, yes, all the flowers are definitely blooming. After a couple of hours checking out the flat coastline, I then retire to the w-mart shop to work on my web gallery pages.

Last night, I parked at a d-mart and this morning I sleep in until after nine. After my morning routine, I go directly to the coffee shop to work on the gallery pages. I am able to get a lot more of my photos online and have changed the gallery from pop up photos to photo gallery pages.

Later in the day, I return to the d-mart and do my Bible study for the meeting in the morning tomorrow. Then, I climb into the back and get horizontal.

Upon arising, while watching the sunrise at six-fifty and noticing that the humidity is very high this morning, methinks this is exactly how I remember spring in the Texas of my childhood.

I drive to the hall for the ten o′clock meeting and afterwards, go to the twelve-thirty meeting, doing so as to visit with more of my close friends who still live here.

After the meetings, I go with a large group of the friends out to eat at an Chinese restaurant and I order the General Tso chicken.

Late in the afternoon, I drive to Brazos Bend state park so that I may have a few more hours of bird photographing before becoming fully involved in the work at my sister′s home. Also, this is the closest state park with a hot shower, being just over an hour′s drive west of the Bay Area.

I purchase a tent camping permit for eight dollars which will allow me to park my van and sleep in it for the night. At the site, I first use the water to wash my van, then take a hot shower and finally drive through the park looking for birds, and do find a few, but this park is known for its alligators more so than for it′s birds.

At the campsite, I strike up a conversation with a couple walking to their car so that I may witness to them about God′s Kingdom. After the woman replies There are Many stairways to God, I answer with, "Actually, the true God excepts worship only from those who adhere to the path He prescribes in His Word the Bible."

I then offer the couple a Would you like to know the Truth tract, but because the reply she gives me is done curtly, I choose just leave the tract, say goodbye and go. Afterwards, I drive back to the camping area and park for the night.

A new addition here is WiFi service but is only available near the entrance building. However, this is ok because I will work on my computer tonight at the campsite and then upload the gallery pages tomorrow. I must say that I really like this state park, primarily because it is so close to Houston but also because they have a discounted tent camp area where I can park my van for eight dollars.

It rains all night but shortly after the sunrise it stops. I drive to the front gate of the state park to access the WiFi. After uploading my files, I begin replacing the heater core, accessing it behind the glove box and by removing several panels around the front door and dash.

Soon, I have the heater core access panel open, remove the old core and install the new one. The only problem is the quick disconnect hose clamps will not release easily but I finally am able to get them off. However, instead of using the old ones again, I decided to wait until I check for the availability of new ones. After re-installing all the panels I drive to one of the large parking areas, clean out my van to allow it to dry in the hot mid-day sun.

At about three, I walk to the lake with my camera and see a pileated woodpecker but do not get close enough for a photo. Well, at least I am able to see one, something I have been wanting to do for a long time. Maybe my next encounter with a pileated will present an opportunity for me to get a photo.

I continue search about the lake and I am able to photograph a coot, snowy egret, white Ibis, also a robin and tree sparrow.

Finally, I drive back to League City, arriving at about six pm and call Susan, who tells me that she is shopping with Lauren, so I meet them in the store. Then we both drive to her home where Chad has supper ready, King Ranch Chicken casserole.

Afterwards, we watch a movie and then I retire to the jammer which is parked under the oak tree.

Up early for my routines and out to the coffee shop to sit down and check my e-mail. At nine, Susan calls and tells me that she has dropped of Lauren at school. I invite her to stop here for a cup of coffee and she arrives a little later.

We talk about computers and scanning photos before she heads back to do laundry at home. I remain here to do some uploading before I drive back to Susan′s home and upon arriving, help Susan with an online purchase.

Much later, Lauren and I play a game of gin before her bedtime. I then head out to retire in the jammer for the evening.

Up before the sunrise and go directly to the coffee shop and check email. I have one message which informs me of fraudulent withdrawals on my debit card. Now, I must go to the bank to get a new card issued, but I am glad that the fraud charges were detected. I will leave shortly and drive to the branch at the time it opens. It turns out that not all of my money is returned to my account. Too, I need to go to the police to make a report of fraud, get a copy of the report, return it to my bank, and initiate a fraud alert on my credit bureau report; all of which takes hours or running around and chasing paper.

The worse part is that it may take a week or two before the full amount is restored; the good news: my money has to be restored because it is insured by the FDIC. Still, it is a major hassle.

Upon returning to Susan′s home, I am stressed out and begin thinking how bad I need some physical exercise to help me remove it. I grab my shower kit and begin to walk to the front door when I notice that there is an abundance of leaves covering the yard which have dropped from the mature oak trees in the front yard. I drop my shower bag on the front porch and begin looking for a rack in the garage.

In just a few minutes I already have one large pile and don′t stop until all the grass has been scratched. Both Chad and Susan comes home for lunch and smile at me when I tell them that I was disturbed so I felt I should disturb the grass some.

I start the day working on the computer: first formatting it and restoring it to peak performance. Then, I download several files and finally complete the day scanning the photos used on the reader board at my Mother′s funeral.

Quite an uneventful day.

The number of photos in the digital album increases and this is yet another uneventful day for this wayfarer.

A good and lasting servant Camp 7, Bolder Colorado USA has proven itself to be but now the end of it′s usefulness has come nigh after nearly thirty-five years.

Even though it now will only occupies a small berth as one patch among many, it will always be remembered with full honorary status. ¹

First, I go to the meeting and immediately after return to League City with what I suspect are only the good intentions from the friends. Truly, I feel for these friends because life here in this big city is too busy, even overwhelming.

Too, many have succumb to the heavy pollutants this city has in the air; it is evident in the many chronic coughs I hear. Neither am I immune because the pollutants are effecting me also I will not stay here much longer and go inside my sister′s home to work on the task at hand.

Well before the sun rises, I am enjoying my first cup of coffee primarily because I could not sleep past five this morning. The mornings are slowly getting warmer, but if the temperature stays in the fifties, it will present no problem for sleeping.

A warm night it was and awaken during the pre-dawn glow to head for some coffee and to check my com.

Then, I return to work the scanner and complete all the loose photos today, leaving only the album photos of the siblings and their families. I will begin these photos tomorrow morning.

I hear on the news today that there are ten thousand holes in British Lancaster and a cold front is moving into the Bay Area bringing with it more rain. Immediately, methinks beautiful and perfect but then I hear comments from others nearby as they begin to complain about the coming rain. I then think that one′s outlook in life must determine how you perceive things; either the glass is half full or it is half empty, it always remains a choice for each person to make.

I do laundry to wash my bedding pads and pillow cases and afterwards take a hot shower; nice to be under the hot once again. Finally, I retire to my van to type today′s entry and read some in the book of first Samuel.

I am sitting here at the coffee shop about ready to get a refill, having finished all of my business before eight and take the coffee to go.

Next, I return to work on the photos and because Susan found another large stack of loose photos, I do not get to begin on the sibling photos today. In the afternoon, Chad begins digging a trench for a concrete footer to support the side gate and I go out to help build the forms for the pour. We then go to the lumber yard and get ten bags of concrete, new gate hinges, carriage bolts and an edge tool. Because the afternoon was occupied with outside activity and those activities which causes me to perspire, I take a hot shower, the second in as many days. ²

Then I go shopping at my favorite Texas g-mart chain and buy two mountain energy bars, rolled oats, a half gallon of rice milk, tea tree shampoo and a half gallon of Mocha Almond Fudge, my second favorite ice cream. (Any queues on what my favorite is? Hint: I use to eat it when coming off the AT to get my mail.) I eat the mountain bars and drink half of the milk while shopping and when the checkout person asks if I had a snack, I reply, “No, that′s my supper.”

Late morning start, half past seven and when getting dressed Susan comes out to take some trash to put into the garbage can, greets me and offers to make breakfast for me; such a nice sister I have. I remind her that I already have food in my van, to which she smiles, so I then head to the coffee shop.

Upon returning, Chad is now getting up and heads out to work on the gate. Joining him, we begin to mix and pour the concrete using up all ten bags without reaching the top of the form. He goes for one more bag so we can finish the pour and then I begin floating the mud until it begins to harden, at which time I trim out the edges of the concrete. Yep! Yep!

We go in for some supper and ice cream. Afterwards, I begin scanning the sibling photos getting all of the ones of Fred, Thom, Elise, and Barry, leaving to finish the photos of Becky, Susan and Robert. It is eleven before I make it to my van.

Today is the last day to awake in League City, at least for this journey as I begin my return trip to Washington state. I tell Lauren goodbye before she goes to school and I begin scanning the remaining photos.

Susan then asks me if I would stay for supper and tells me that we will be having shrimp. I can not say no to that invitation and stick around for supper.

At nine, I leave for points northwest and stop at a road side park for the evening. It is a great location for viewing stars and because it is atop a hill, this location also has a commanding view of the surrounding area.

Check it out! 29.958000° N  97.087000° W

I awake just before sunrise, drive to Bastrop state park where I go to the facilities and take a hot shower. Then, I drive the seventy or so miles to Pedernales Falls state park and go directly to the bird blind. The hosts have already arrived but I am the first to sign the log book today.

The number of new birds amazes me and I stay until noon before packing out.

Next, I drive to South Llano River state park and drive to the bird blind next to the park office and stay here for several hours too.

Finally, I drive through Rockspring, Texas and then back northeast to Brady in order to attend the weekend meeting. During the drive to Brady, the sun sets and shortly there is a grand sunglow which follows.

After the even begins, I see a planet about one hand high above the horizon which I believe is Venus or Jupiter and then another planet rising in the west which would be Saturn. Mars is high overhead.

I arrive in Brady at about nine and set up for sleep.

After waking, I head directly for coffee and to study the Bible. At nine-thirty I arrive at the hall for a very encouraging meeting. Afterwards, I go with Barbie, Norma and Wheaty out in the memorial tract work for a few hours.

Then in the late afternoon, I begin driving north and at ten pm, arrive at my destination in the panhandle area very tired.