We have installed a new couch with a queen size hide a bed and a new recliner chair that bolts to the floor. Teri is happy so I am happy.
The couch has a regular mattress well as a air mattress with a top cover. Nice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are very busy with stained glass, golf, swimming and sightseeing.
On Sunday we went to the Laguna Atoscosa National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is on the mainland looking out onto Laguna Madre then on to South Padre Island.
“The south Texas landscape is a unique blending of temperate, subtropical, coastal, and desert habitats. Mexican plants and wildlife are at the northernmost edge of their range, while migrating waterfowl and sandhill cranes fly down for the mild winters. This combination makes Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge world famous for its birds, and home to a mix of wildlife found nowhere else.
Laguna Atascosa NWR is the largest protected area of natural habitat left in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, an oasis for wildlife with few alternatives. The refuge's 45,000 acres become more valuable with each acre lost to development--valuable to wildlife and valuable to those who enjoy wildlife in wildlands.”
“Bayside Drive: This semi-paved, 15-mile, one-way loop passes through thorn forest and coastal prairies before reaching the Laguna Madre. The shelter at Redhead Ridge Overlook and numerous pullouts allow for nature photography and viewing. Note: Restrooms and drinking water are not available along the route.
Lakeside Drive: It's only a short 1 and a half miles out to the lake that gives the refuge its name. Atascosa means "muddy" in Spanish, which describes the shallow lake on windy days. The lake is an important resting and feeding area for the more than 20 species of waterfowl that winter here. Osprey Overlook features two permanently mounted telescopes for a closer look.”
Some photos:
Along the banks of the lower Rio Grande is the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,088 acre refuge established in 1943 for the protection of migratory birds. Considered the ‘jewel’ of the refuge system, this essential ‘island’ of thorn forest habitat is host or home to nearly 400 different types of birds and a myriad of other species, including the indigo snake, malachite butterfly and the endangered ocelot.
At an ecological crossroad, Santa Ana is strategically located where subtropical climate, gulf coast, great plains and Chihuahuan desert meet. Thousands of birds from the Central and Mississippi flyways funnel through the area on their way to and from Central and South America. This small patch of midvalley riparian woodland is also habitat for about one half of all butterfly species found in the United States.
Before dams and control structures significantly reduced the flow of the Rio Grande, periodic floods cut shifting channels into the delta creating crescent-shaped oxbow lakes, referred to as ‘resacas.’ Santa Ana’s management program mimics the historical flooding of the Rio Grande, maintaining the bottom land hardwood forest and providing crucial nesting and feeding habitat for birds, watering holes for animals, and homes for countless amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans and insects.
With over 95 percent of the original habitat in the lower Rio Grande delta cleared or altered, Santa Ana is a reminder of the semitropical thorn forest that once dominated the area.
Before we got to the Refuse we when through some farm land.
cabbage.
Onions
Palms.
Then to the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuse:
This is a 34 mile long stretch of white sand bordered to the east by the Gulf of Mexico and to the west by Laguna Madre bay.
In 1519, Spanish explorer Alonso Alvearez de Pineda was on a mapping mission for the King of Spain when he discovered the Brazos Santiago Pass. He described treacherous sandbars and a shoreline littered with spars and rigging from shops that had wrecked may years before.
In 1554 three ships, part of a treasure fleet outbound for
Spain, wrecked along the shores of Padre Island. Over three hundred people survived only to be hunted down and killed by local Indians while trying to walk southward for safety. Only two survived to tell the story.
The Spaniards sent ships and men who managed to salvage over 40% of the treasure that the three ships carried. The rest lay buried beneath the sands of Padre Island. It was the rediscovery and excavation of one of these ships by local treasure hunters in 1967 that led to the institution of the Texas State Antiquity Laws which covers all publicly owned property in the State of Texas. This jurisdiction also extends ten and 3/4 miles into the Gulf of Mexico.
In 1811, Padre Nicholas Balli, for whom the Island gets its name, was the first European to bring families to the Island. He and his family kept cattle, horses and mules.
By 1912, the southern part of Padre, now known as “Tarpon Beach”, was home to a hotel and a cluster of fishing camps.
in 1974 the second causeway opened to Padre Island. The residents of the Island voted for incorporation in April 1973. Thus the Town of South Padre Island was born.
Today I golfed in the men’s scramble. I contributed two drives and 1 putt (there are 8 per team). Teri did the laundry this morning. The rest of the day is still open.
Hopefully I will have a faster internet by the end of the week.
Until tomorrow,
Teri and Terry.
On Sunday we went to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Harlingen, Texas.
This is the original working model prepared by Dr. deWeldon for the casting of the bonze in Washington. He gave the work of art to the Marine Military Academy on October 1981, as an inspiration to young Cadets.
This is molding-plaster figures specially preserved. The figures are 32 feet high and the steel flagpole is 78 feet long.
Iwo Jima is a small island 660 miles south of Tokyo. On February 19th, 1945, US troops started the campaign to capture the island from the Japanese. The Americans wanted the island for the landing strips to aid in winning the war with Japan. The Americans lost over 23,000 solders as did the Japanese.
The museum went into reason for the battle and why it cost so many lives.
In the morning of the 6th, I went golfing in the mixed scramble, then in the afternoon went shopping.
The golf course is a par 3 course that is not too long but all the holes are at least 90 yards. The longest hole is 130 yards. The course is in good shape and is well used.
On the 7th we did the lazy things including a soak in the pool.
Today I washed the motorhome with the wife acting as supervisor. Did the general beach stuff.
Tomorrow we go to the Rio Grande Valley.
Today we drove to the Rio Grande Valley and found room at the Winter Ranch RV Resort in Alamo, Texas.
The park has a swimming pool and hot tub, a small hall and a large hall, craft rooms including stained glass and woodworking, free par 3 golf course, shuffleboard and horseshoes.
Our site
The office and small hall.
Shuffleboard
Pool and hot tub.
Large hall.
The Golf Course Club House.
Hole number 9 at the golf course.
Horseshoes
We did the laundry, the grocery shopping and ferry trip. We did very lazy things like washing the car, going to the beach etc.
On Sunday we went to the USS Lexington.
“Commissioned in 1943, LEXINGTON served longer and set more records than any carrier in U.S. Naval history. Decommissioned in 1991, the 910-foot, 16-deck, 33,000-ton aircraft carrier now serves as an important historical repository and museum. Because of the historical significance of the USS LEXINGTON, the ship is maintained as a tribute to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and as a memorial to the people who died serving the US, in the defense of freedom, especially in World War II. Displays, ceremonies, and other programs emphasize the heroism and sacrifice of those who have served the nation in the Navy and the Marine Corps. Historical reenactments vividly portray the service of the people who fought in World War II.
LEXINGTON has approximately 20% of the ship refurbished and open for touring. There are five, self-guided tour routes covering 100,000 square feet and eleven decks.”
