Marc, Bev and our Australian Kelpie: Louisiana to Texas

Leaving Louisiana

One of our final nights staying in Fontainebleau State Park. . .

a view from the North Shore of Lake Pontachartrain.

as always, the sunsets are phenomenal and fortunate to see this one!

I go to the pond and say farewell to the alligators. Those eyes!!!

And we say farewell to the brown pelican and seagull as we travel onwards and inland.

This is a very fast moving little lizard - barely caught a photo of it. It is small, only about 5-6" long with the tail.

The Brown Anole was native to Cuba and the Bahamas. It now lives in Florida and believed to spread over into Mississippi and Louisiana from potted plants transported from Florida. They were originally brought into the US as pets.

Home owners who truly live up to the saying,

"My home is my castle."

Heading west to Texas

Lake Charles (a half hour from the Texas border) is bordered by the Calcasieu River in the north and the Prien Lake in the south and Bayou Contraband in between.

Barges, industrial plants, chemical plants, sternwheelers, ships and barges pass through this very busy waterway. This area is a hotbed of industry - petrochemicals being the largest industry so far.

One such chemical plant (South Korea-based) is now the largest MEG plant in the world. The plants produces MEG - an important ingredient in making paper, textile fibers, latex paints, asphalt, resin, antifreeze, coolants and adhesives.

A fan boat, air boat or swamp boat.

MISSIONS

The missions of San Antonio were not just churches, they were communities. Each was a fortified village, with its own church, farm and ranch. Franciscan friars gathered native peoples, converted them to Catholicism, taught them to live as Spaniards and helped maintain Spanish control over the Texas frontier.

ESPADA MISSION

(founded in 1690)

A few remaining walls are all that is left of the many buildings.
In 1731 the Mission was moved from Weches, Texas to San Antonio.

Catholic mass is still held in the 18th-century church.

MISSION SAN JOSE

Known as the "Queen of the Missions" - Mission San Jose is the largest of the missions and was almost fully restored to its original design in the 1930s.

This year, the Mission turned 300 years old. Three hundred years of preserved Spanish colonial history.

The Mission's inhabitants worked and lived here from 1782 to 1824 and then stopped operating. The mission had baptized over 2,000 Indians.

A large, carved limestone entrance to this gorgeous church. In 1941 the site was declared a State Historic Site and National Historic Site.

One of the notable features is the stairway to the church bell tower and hour loft; each of the twenty-five steps was hand-carved from a single live-oak log and constructed without nails or pegs.

FROM THE RV PARK, WE CYCLE TO DOWNTOWN, HISTORIC SAN ANTONIO

San Antonio River walk, hike and bike; bike path is a 30-mile trail that winds along both sides of the river. It takes you to several of the Missions and also runs right past the RV Park and direct to downtown, historic San Antonio.

Along the way, we spot this heron - at a distance, it looks like a blue heron. At closer look, it turns out to be a heron called "little blue heron."

Coloring of moody blues and purples, it is a resident of the Southeast. Fortunate to see this as they live year round in the Florida, New Orleans and Mexico regions. Most live and breed in Central America and the Caribbean south to Peru and Uruguay.

Egyptian Goose

Also known as the Nile goose - originated in the Nile Valley in Africa.

They are considered sacred by the Ancient Egyptians, and appeared in much of their artwork.

They have now spread across Europe and the southern US.

They are unusual, as they sometimes perch, and even nest, in trees. Sometimes they will nest in trees.

The name is misleading as it is not a goose but a duck.

Downtown, historic San Antonio

La Antorcha de la Amistad (Spanish for "The Torch of Friendship"). This is a monument sculptured by a mexican sculptor (Sebastian). It is a symbol of cooperation and shared culture between the country and the city.

The San Antonio River Walk (also known as Paseo del Rio) is a city park and network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath the streets of San Antonio, the city.

It is lined with bars, shops, restaurants, nature and a major tourist attraction.

(I see advertisements currently, March 28th, that they claim the River Walk is running clear during coronavirus shutdowns).

Biker Gang hanging out

COURTHOUSE WEDDING CHAPEL

A famous chapel for marriage and people place a lock on the river walk fence - like a ring, it is meant to signify forever unity.

Marriott Hotel

San Antonio is a city rich with history and historical sites. The San Antonio River Walk is 15 miles long including the Downtown, Mission and Museum Reaches.

The Riverwalk began in 1929 when architect Robert H. Hugman was up with a plan to improve the aesthetics of the river that ran through the city. Today the river is a unique attraction that combines nature with entertainment and dining establishments.

Photo courtesy of visitusauruguay.com

Remember the Alamo

Built as a home to Spanish missionaries in the 1700s. Over time, the mission was turned into a fort for Spanish soldiers who called the fort the "Alamo." Eventually, Texan soldiers occupied the Alamo.

THE BATTLE

In the early stages of Texas' war for independence from Mexico, a group of Texan volunteers overwhelmed the Mexican garrison at the Alamo and seized control in 1835.

THEN BEGAN THE FAMED 'BATTLE OF THE ALAMO'

February 23 - March 6,1836 was a pivotal even in the Texas Revolution. Mexican troops, numbering in the thousands, began the thirteen day siege of the fort. The Alamo's 200 defenders (including Davy Crockett) were overpowered.

Davy Crockett
was a frontiersman, soldier, politician, congressman and a 'tall-tales' storyteller. Known as the "King of the Wild Frontier."

For the Texans, The Alamo remained a symbol of courage. The Battle became a symbol of heroic resistance and a rallying cry in their struggle for independence.

The last part of our visit through historic downtown - a statue of Teddy Rossevelt Jr and the horse drawn carriages ready in wait for their next sightseers.

We pass through a neighborhood of immaculate yards and estates.

Construction began in 1876

This historical mansion has received the official historical medallion from the State Historical Survey Committee.

"I've got your back!"

A harmless spider - the Orbweaver

Crested caracara. One of few raptors that hunts on foot. They prey on small mammals, reptiles, fish, crabs and their main diet consists of carrion. They will aggressively displace vultures from small carcasses. Like eagles, they build large nest in trees and cacti.

BACK AT THE RANCH

Travellers World RV Resort

All buildings are western themed. This is the entertainment hall. We attend one of their friday nights barbecue (you bring your meat and dishes and the resort supplies the rest).