This is Monday Feb 4th. We spent the night in Marathon Texas where we went to the Gage Hotel to their bar called the White Buffalo Bar which as a head of a white buffalo, the only one known to watch the Superbowl, very friendly place good drinks, food and great people. Just outside of Marathon we have a historical marker. Marathon Ft. Pena Colorado, the last active fort in this area on the old Camanche trail about 4 miles to the southwest was established in 1879. Marathon was founded in 1881 named by an old sea captain E. E. Shephard, for the plain of Marathon in Greece which the hills here reminded him. The west Texas cattle industry among the first noted ranchers here were Mayer Hallf and brother are famous for the circle dot brand. Original gate to the Big Bend National Park.
This is Tuesday, Feb 5th, we left one month ago on January 5th. On Hwy 90 heading east and the wind is behind us. We just stopped at Lantry and the museum of Judge Roy Bean. There is a mile loop just off Hwy 90, very worthwhile to stop. Judge Roy Bean supposedly the hanging judge, the only thing that the mesquite trees doesn't look like any you could hang anyone from. There is a lot of legend about him. There was no jail so they used handcuffs to the mesquite trees to hold prisoners. In west Texas we just crossed the Pecos River, it is a pretty good size river and gorge and this all flows down to the Rio Grande which is the border between U.S. and Mexico.
Today is Wednesday, Feb. 6th, Ash Wednesday, we spent the night at Comstock off the road here. Took off this morning on our way to Del Rio. Just came across the Amistad Reservoir which has a dam on the Rio Grande and has created this reservoir outside of Del Rio.
Today is Thursday, Feb. 7th we spent the night in Del Rio, getting supplies. Left this morning on our way towards Laredo. Half way between Del Rio and Eagles Nest is a valley area. Pecan groves, farms, cattle and also a farm where they raise miniature ponies. This farming community was a nice change in pace from seeing high desert.
Friday Feb. 8th we are on hwy 277 south and spent the night between Eagles Nest and Carrizo Springs. Got up in the morning headed into Carrizo Springs that turns into hwy 83 south to Laredo. Just outside of Carrizo Springs is a town called Asherton where there is an historical marker which is the original home of the Asherton family who named this town and set up the railroad that went by this area. It is privately owned at this point and time.
Today is Sat. Feb. 9th. We spent the night at a roadside table on hwy 83 prior to arriving in Laredo. Going through Laredo seen some of the back roads and city, made it to the last exit before crossing the border into Mexico. Still on hwy 83 south heading for Zapata, we will be there tomorrow. One other thing I saw going through Laredo some guy had a quad in the back of his pickup and for a seat he had a horse saddle on there. Yes I'm in Texas. On the way to Zapata I came across an historical marker. In the vacinity of this site was mission Delores A. Visita. Established in 1750 as part of Jose De Escandon's project to settle the region and christianize the Indians.
This is Sunday, Feb 10th and on hwy 83 south from Laredo to Zapata. There is an historical marker that says Old Ramireno was located on land granted to Don Jose Lewis Ramirez by the king of Spain in 1784. Part of the colonization effort by Coronel Jose De Scandon, Ramirez grant was designated as Torcion Five. This morning it turns out we had a little moisture here so I think we are out of the dry area so here is this desert rat coming into some moisture so we will see what happens from this point.
This is Monday, Feb. 11th, on hwy 83 South, spent the night in Zapata Tx. on our way to Brownsville, South Padre Island area. We started out going through the Texas Mountain Trail, then we went through the Texas Birding Watching Trail, and now there is a sign that says Texas Tropical Trail with a palm tree. On this route I have seen businesses and chickens running around. On hwy 83 the town of Falcon, an historical marker named Old Falcon; in 1746 Colonial Jose De Scandon was commissioned by viceroy of new Spain to lead the colonization of this area. The first settlers arrived three years later and was assigned land in which to build their homes. A survey was conducted in 1767 resulted in allocation of individual land grants to the settlers which started the private ownership of the land. In the early 1900's Ramirez opened a general store and a post office was established in 1915 and the village was changed to Falcon in honor of Jose Eugenio's wife Marie Rita de Gariza Falcon. The Falcon Dam was erected in 1952 which required the town to relocate to its current area. The history of Falcon gets its ties from 1800 old century Spanish colonization, remains an important part of the heritage.
This is Tuesday, Feb. 12th on hwy 83 on our way to Brownsville area. Came across a town Havana. Historical marker here located on land known as Porcion 46 ceded by crown of Spain Don Jose Matias Tijerina in 1767. The community of Havana was named for Havana Cuba where Tijerina had stopped on his journey from Europe. Among the settlers here were the families of Salinas and Civil War Union soldier Tatricio Terez. A framed church was built in 1891 and named for St. Joseph, decedents of early settlers that live in the area. Many Havana pioneers are buried in the Havana Cemetery. Traveling along hwy 83 getting closer in the Brownsville area is pretty well flat land. Each of the towns have their own water towers. Each water tower has the name of the town and the mascot of the high school.
This is Thursday, Feb. 14th Valentines Day, I wished my beautiful SJ a happy valentines day, she has made my life very wonderful and makes the world go round by having a love. Wish everyone a happy valentines day. Took a 25 mile ride from Hollengen where we spent the night around Brownsville which is the lowest point to start our trip along the gulf. Sandy picked me up and we drove to South Padre Island where we had lunch at the beach. There was a bar where we had lunch and a couple of drinks. Now we are heading back and we stopped at Port Isabela. To get to South Padre Island you take Texas 100 and you cross the Texas longest bridge 2.5 miles one way. South Padre Island has a long stretch of beach along the gulf of mexico, there are several condos and motels but their is some public access to the beach and then a couple blocks inland is the main street which has shops, a great place to be.
Friday, Feb. 15th we spent the night in the brownsville area and now heading on 77 north to Corpus Christi. Today is a good riding day, a little high clouds, and a good wind behind me. It is humid and I am dripping like a cloud itself, and also in the area here are some turkey vultures flying above my head, that reminds me I better drink some water pretty quick.
Saturday, Feb. 16th on hwy 77 heading towards Kingsville Tx. there is an historical marker. First producing gas in Kleberg County. Natural gas was first encountered in 1912 by Frank House while drilling for water on the Oscar Rosse Farm. Other efforts to obtain fresh water resulted in more gas pockets. The water was contaminated with salt and oil. An unsuccessful attempt was made in 1915 to develop gas production. On October 1919 the Kleberg County Oil & Gas Co. was formed and Kingsville by lumber and hardware merchants. The discovery of gas and oil in the county provided a foundation for economic growth and development. Along business 77 on our way to Kingsville is a historical marker. Taylor campsite 1846. In 1846 Zachary Taylor's army marched from Corpus Christi to Rio Grande. March 10, 11,12,13th the fourth regiment camped at Santa Gertrudis Creek. War with Mexico over the boundry of Texas began soon. The first battles Palto Alto and Rasacadelapelma occured near Brownsville. The result of the war the boundry of Texas was fixed at the Rio Grande. The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo gave the United States, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. A notable group of men got training for later public service of the 251 officers camped here. Along business 77 two historical markers. The first Camp San Fernando, military post on San Fernando creek guarded the lifeline of the federal city and cotton export and import route that ran from the Sabine river in east Texas to the Rio Grande in 1862. Historical cattle dipping vat. In 1894 this vat is the first in the world. It was built to stop the spread of tick fever which was destoying thousand U. S. beef cattle. By 1880 the disease had become wide spread and offical and shotgun quarentine to prevent cattle of crossing into the infected area bounded by a line from the Rio Grande to the Atlantic.
Sunday, Feb 17th. We spent the night just outside of Rockport Tx. Coming through Rockport is an historical marker. Rockport. The town of Rockport was founded by cattlemen J. M. and T. H. Mathis in 1867. Orginally part of the Refugio County it became county seat of newly formed Aransas County in 1871. The shipping and fishing provided a primary economic base of the town in it's early years. The railroad arrived in 1888 and with it came a decline in the shipping industry. Although ship yards were in operation during WWI and WWII. Traveling hwy 35 North just past Rockport and Fulton you will cross a bridge over the bay and it was a little on the fun side, didn't have much wind is part of the reason there. Right after the bridge an historical marker. Sight of the town of Lamar, named for Mirabeau Lamar 1798 to 1859. A resident of the public of Texas, 1838 to 1841 established in 1838 made a port of entry in 1839 sack by Union troops, Feb 11th 1864, survived until 1914 but never florished.
Monday Feb. 18th President's day. Stopped yesterday at Port Lavaca and traveled to Palacios an historical marker named. Camp Hulen. Camp Palacios was established on this sight in 1925, the summer training camp for the Texas National Guard 36th division which formed during WWI.
This is Tuesday Feb 19th, we spent the night in Palacios on hwy 35 business; the town itself is a small community by the seashore where we spent the night in an RV park which had a marina. The town had a park area with a cazebo and also tables, nice hometown setting. After using hwy 35 we went to farm road 521 to cut across going towards the Galveston area. On this road passed a generated electric plant which turns out to be a nuclear plant, as I was approaching there was a half dozen animals that looked like white tale deer but I am a desert rat so I haven't seen too much deer, so it is either deer or cotton tail rabbits that were eating some radioactive material. Traveled to hwy 25 and came to hwy 332 of which we have turned south going towards the gulf area on our way to Galveston.
This is Wed Feb. 20th, we spent the night at Lake Jackson Tx on the side of the road, on hwy 332 on the way to Surfside Beach. Crossed a bridge called the Intercoastal Bridge where I stopped at the top overlooking the gulf and you can see quite a distance, we even have a little sunshine today and should reach Galveston today. Arrived in the Galveston Island area came across a plaque. You stand at the sandy shoreline of a 30 mile long barrier island one of several that edge the Texas coast and help protect the mainland from the sea. Straight ahead there are over 600 miles of open water named the Gulf of Mexico lies the Yucatan Penisula area of Mexico. Rather cloudy can't see that far and not going to take the kyakes across that. There is a nice walkway by the gulf, cloudy and windy but we are glad to be here.
Today is Fri. Feb 22nd we spent the last couple nights just outside of Galveston. We are on hwy 87 and then going north on hwy 124 and we stopped a roadside area with an historical marker. This is the community of High Island. The coastal community of High Island sits atop a salt dome at the east end of the Bolivar Penisula. It was called High Island because it sits about because the hill sits about 45 ft above sea level, the only land visible during storms and flooding. Settled by Anglos in the 1800's. Nearly all the island within the Martin Dunman Survey granted in 1837. The town expanded in 1886 when the gulf and the interstate railroad began operation in the area. A depot was built along and many new businesses. In 1897 Ct Cade constructed the Seaview Hotel on the hill overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel became a refuge in 1800 and 1918 when hurricanes hit the Texas coast causing flooding. Oil was discovered on High Island in 1916, patroleum products were in 1931 which caused a boom and employment for the area. High Island has been recognized nationally as an important habitat for migratory for birds and created a place for many bird watchers to the area.
Today is Saturday Feb. 23rd, we have left Hill Island in Texas going down hwy 124 and we took hwy 73 and made it to Port Arthur Texas.
This is Sunday Feb 24th we spent the night in Port Arthur, took hwy 73 down to connect with hwy 82 where I crossed the bridge over Port Arthur gone through this strand where I got water on both sides and a few homes. Sunday people are out fishing enjoying a nice day. I just passed over a swinging bridge, being a desert rat I wasn't sure what that was. Traveling on the hwy a little bit and my gosh we have traveled into Louisiana, we are now out of Texas. Narrow road with water and vegetation on both sides but peaceful, a very nice ride today. Following hwy 82 you come up to a ferry that takes us across the water to a town called Cameron. Cameron is being rebuilt. In Sept 2005 when the hurricanes and several tornadoes came through and actually eliminated the town. People are rebuilding some with brick and mortar, several have gone with a mobile home, a quick place to live and also value because insurances were not able to cover all the losses in this area. Also I just received word that my dad had a stroke today please say a prayer for him and a quick recovery.