Gulf of Margaritaville, TX

Great BW spot on the San Bernard River

SpaceX was planning Launch number 8 of their prototype Starship from Boca Chica, TX sometime over the next few weeks so Kelly VI and I wended our way slowly south along the Gulf coast.

We stayed at Boondocker Welcome sites, truck stops and Walmart parking lots, so every night was free, except one when I decided to use the paid overnight to dump and fill my tanks.

Fancy shark sculpture

 

A solo musician played for the diners at Sunday Brunch, for video, Click Here. 

Northbound tug and barge

For video, Click Here.

Campsite, Magnolia Beach, Matagorda Bay, Indianola, TX

Dawn on the bay.  For video, Click Here.

At the fishing marina,
Indianola, TX

Sunset as the fog moves in.

Fog was THICK!

On the beach enroute to Corpus Christi.
Free camping on the beach here at Mustang Island,
yet the sand is very fine and Kelly VI, my RV, almost got stuck.

Bill Taylor flew in from DFW to enjoy a few days
together on the beach.

Sunset in Brownsville, TX 

Storms rolled through Brownsville and 

South Padre Island for a couple days.

In Isablanca Park on South Padre Island,
looking across at the SpaceX Starbase.

I believe this little octopus was dead.

Huge, noisy flock of birds at Brownsville Walmart

Kooser 2025

Sean, Bill, Murph and Guy on the deck outside
the Goggle Pub at Seven Springs.

The annual Kooser Ski Trip proved to be another great weekend of skiing and camaraderie.

Flew with this fellow to Pittsburgh.

I stayed with Bill the night before the
weekend and discovered this
Steelers Skull, reminiscent of Arizona!

Plenty of snow this year!

Guy skis the sunny slopes!

And Sean brought the steaks again,
ribeyes this year.

The crew enjoys tailgating in the cold sunshine.

Sean had a great FB post:

Warren Stewart (Guy), Bill Paviol, Allen Murphy, and I had our annual Kooser/Seven Springs trip last weekend. We met up at Hillbilly's Pub 'n Grub Friday night. After a couple years of lame snow, we had a proper winter for this trip. We even got to ski Corkscrew, which was still technically closed, but fun. We met Gary and Mike on the slopes, and Kevin for lunch in the north lot since he couldn't get a lift ticket- they were at capacity. The Big Red crew and Mike met us at the cabin for dinner Saturday night.  Sunday I threw another GoPro mount on the back of my ski for a new angle. We had another great day of skiing, hung out at the Goggle for a bit, then I had to head back to Grit for nine sets of volleyball. My legs were Jello by Sunday night.

Click Here to see Sean's FB Post.

Caught pics of both flights
for the return trip.

FB Post: Florida Cycling vs Pennsylvania Skiing

AZ, NM Hot Springs!

Love the Arizona sunsets, this one
from Jada's home in Tucson.

This was a wonderful visit with Jada as we trailered her home, "Belly," to hot springs in Safford, AZ and Truth or Consequences, NM.

Tucson, as the plane was on its approach into Phoenix.
Looking southwest.

Jada makes everyone happy with her infectious smile!

This fellow didn't seem to mind the cold 
weather as we hiked near our campsite.

Roper Lake in the State Park where camped our first night.

Our hike around Roper Lake at sunset.

The next day we explored the
Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area.

Bonita Creek

Cliffs above Bonita Creek
For a brief video, Click Here.

Looking southeast along Bonita Creek
towards the Gila River.

Looking northeast over Bonita Creek
For a brief video, Click Here.

A significant test of "Nellie,"
Jada's four wheel drive truck.
That's a 19% Grade! 

No worries, Nellie made it just fine,
although the humans were jostled quite a bit!

This cabin made of stones from the creek bed,
is a hundred years old. 

Bonita Creek

Bonita Creek

Those are a family of javelinas.

The camera doesn't do the 19% grade justice!

A number of open range cattle were grazing.

The Solomon Pass Road was a sheer drop to our left and a steep cliff to our right.

Then into Stafford, AZ for murals and a Hot Bath!

That cow is watching you!

Our hot spring bath in Stafford.

View from the campground.

Roper Lake for another hike.

It was even colder in Truth or Consequences, NM.

Our hot springs bath looked over
the Rio Grande.
When it wasn't snowing,
the mountains are visible.

A break in the snowstorm and the mountains came into view.

Not very fancy, but good brews!

Jada tried several, most were pretty good.

Occasionally they present live music.

The next day Nellie took us exploring
the snow covered area by
Elephant Butte Lake.

Our Hoosier Hot Springs Bath for our second day in T/C.
Founded a hundred years ago by folks from Indiana.

After a nice soak, we went back to the pub.

A beautiful day for the return drive to Tucson.

A "Two Lady Show," featuring
Vicki Lawrence and Mama.

The following evening we attended a
presentation of the Tucson Jazz Festival.


Great Tunes!

My last evening in Tucson we enjoyed an
odd circus by Cirque de Italia.

Well, it was Not my last night, as my shuttle to PHX
never arrived and I had to reschedule my flight for a day later.
Yay!!  A bonus night to enjoy music at Monterey Court.

OK, music AND Dessert!

Then back to Houston.

FB Posts:

Arizona Sunset

Arizona Hot Springs

Tucson Jazz

Florida vs Arizona Sunsets