Nature – Page 38 – Wandering Dawgs

Wandering Around America One State at a Time – Texas

August 8, 2017Posted in Birds, Nature, RVing, State Parks, Texas, Tourist Attractions, Wandering around America, WildlifeTagged America the Beautiful, Palo Duro Canyon, Texas Bluebonnets, Texas Longhorns, Whooping Crane23 Comments

State 39:

Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!

I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state in my series is

Texas

Texas became the 28th state on December 29, 1845. The Capital is Austin.

Texas is the second largest state by area and unless you’ve driven through Texas it is hard to comprehend the size. Our Texas adventures have taken us through the Texas Panhandle, mesquite and cactus covered plains, the green rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country, and the beautiful Texas Gulf Coast. Along the way we camped by beautiful lakes, near the Gulf Coast, in the second largest canyon in the United States, and a quite a few places in between. As we drove around the back roads we saw canyons and creeks, dance halls and wineries, historic sites and ranches, quaint small towns and old homesteads, toured museums, made a few hikes, attended a fiddle fest and chuck wagon races, met wonderful Texans, and saw more wildflowers than I ever imagined.

The lighthouse trail at Palo Duro Canyon, Enchanted Rock, and the Devil’s Waterhole Trail at Inks Lake were some of our favorite hikes.

Starting the Lighthouse Trail

Enchanted Rock

At the Summit of Enchanted Rock

View of the Lighthouse from the trail the first overlook

Devil’s Waterhole Trail at Inks Lake

The official Texas Longhorn herd is divided between a few state parks. At Copper Breaks State Park and Palo Duro Canyon State Park we saw them up close.

One of the official Texas Longhorn herd, at Copper Breaks State Park

Part of the official Texas Longhorn herd at Copper Breaks State Park

Longhorn kiss at Copper Breaks State Park

T-Bone, one of the Texas Longhorns

We planned a spring trip to Texas so we could see the bluebonnets in bloom. Texas is the only place on earth where some of the bluebonnet varieties bloom naturally. There were also many other wildflowers along the way.

Texas Bluebonnets in Laredo

Bluebonnets beside boot topped fence

Unknown wildflower beside a rest area in the Texas Plains

Bluebonnets at Lake Arrowhead

Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush along Park Road 4

Texas Bluebonnets in Laredo

Bull Thistle, Copper Breaks State Park

Wildflower growing along the road

Prickly Pear Cactus, Copper Breaks State Park

Wildflowers at Padre Island National Seashore

Bluebonnets near Stonewall, Texas

We found some wonderful places to camp. We especially enjoyed camping at many Texas State Parks.

Palo Duro Canyon

Copper Breaks State Park

Green all around at Lake Arrowhead

Relaxing behind our campsite at Inks Lake State Park, Burnett, Texas

Rain and fog couldn’t keep us from enjoying the three state parks and Padre Island National Seashore along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Sand Dunes at Mustang Island State Park

Hazy day at Padre Island National Seashore

Morning sky from our site at Goose Island State Park

Sunrise over the Gulf at Galveston Island State Park

There are many varieties of birds along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Sandhill crane and Whooping crane near Goose Island State Park

White Pelicans, Goose Island State Park

Whooping cranes, near Goose Island State Park

Roseate Spoonbills and Egret,Goose Island State Park

Green Heron

Great Blue Heron near Goose Island State Park

Whooping Cranes and Sandhill cranes near Goose Island State Park

Mallards at Inks Lake

Sandpiper with a tasty crab

Tri-Colored Heron

Texas Horned Lizards, Cottontail Rabbits, mule deer, white tailed deer, prairie dogs, and wild turkeys are some of the wildlife I was able to capture.

Texas Horned Lizard, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Mountain Cottontail, Copper Breaks State Park

Wild Turkeys, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Mule Deer, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Prairie Dog, Lake Arrowhead State Park

We saw deer almost every day at Cranes Mill Campground

Being serenaded, attending a fiddle fest, listening to music in a dance hall, touring the Buddy Holly museum, going to Luckenback, and seeing signs about Willie Nelson reminded us of how important music is to the Lone Star State.

We were serenaded with a Bob Wills classic while we enjoyed our steak at the Big Texan

Llano Fiddle Fest 2015

Luckenbach, Texas

Buddy Holly Statue and West Texas Hall of Fame

Gruene Hall is one of the oldest dance halls in Texas

Gotta love Texas

For us, no trip to Texas would be complete without sampling some of their fantastic steaks and barbecue, especially the brisket.

Cooper’s Barbeque in Llano, Texas

Salt Lick Barbeque

Chopped brisket sandwich at Triple J Chop House, Lubbock

Brisket Sandwich at the Branding Iron in Wichita Falls

The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo

In Paris, Texas we stopped to see the Eiffel Tower with a red cowboy hat and attended chuck wagon races.

Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas

Start of a Chuck Wagon Race

Spectators at the Chuck Wagon Races

There were interesting things to see all around the state.

Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo

The Big Tree in Goose Island State Park in Texas is a 1000 year old live oak

A common sight in the Texas Plains

At the LBJ Ranch

Big Blue Crab in Rockport, Texas

Sculpture at the entrance to a ranch

One of the best things about visiting Texas is meeting native Texans. Without fail, every Texan we met was proud of their state and eager to share their favorite places to visit or where to find the best brisket. One woman I met had so many good suggestions about places to go I had to get a notebook out of the truck to take notes!

To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee

Wandering Around America One State at a Time – Tennessee

July 28, 2017July 27, 2017Posted in Nature, RVing, State Parks, Tennessee, Tourist Attractions, Wandering around America, Waterfalls, WildlifeTagged America the Beautiful, bear, Cades Cove, Chattanooga, Graceland, Jack Daniels, Old Stone Fort22 Comments

State 38:

Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!

I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state in my series is

Tennessee

Tennessee became the 16th state on June 1, 1796. The Capital is Nashville.

Elvis, BBQ, Blues and the Mississippi River in Memphis. Country music, The Grand Ole Opry and camping beside a lake in Nashville. The Tennessee Aquarium and other attractions in Chatanooga. Waterfalls near Crossville. Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Sevierville. Waterfront camping at J. Percy Priest and Normandy Lake. Touring a famous distillery in Lynchville. These are just a few of the things we loved in Tennessee.

Before our RV days, the Opryland Hotel was our home base in Nashville for a night at the Grand Ole Opry, cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs as they played the Vanderbilt Commodores, and a night at the Wild Horse Saloon.

20031017Opryland-Hotel-(8) — Atrium at the Opryland Hotel

20031018Wildhorse-(4) — Line Dancing at the Wild Horse Saloon in Nashville

On our way home from our first RV trip out west we spent a couple of days wandering around Memphis. We toured Elvis’ Graceland, ate our fill of ribs at two different restaurants, listened to blues at B. B. King’s BBQ and Blues on Beale Street, and strolled along the scale model of the Mississippi River at Mud Island River Walk.

20060908Graceland-(47) — Elvis’s grave at Graceland

20060908Graceland-(52) — Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis

20060908Graceland-(70) — Elvis Presley’s Pink Cadillac

Mud Island River Park river walk in Memphis, Tennessee is a 5-block long replica of the lower Mississippi river, from Cairo, IL, to New Orleans, LA.

Beale Street in Memphis

BB King’s BBQ and Blues Club in Memphis

While wandering near Crossville we discovered two waterfalls.

20090810Ozone-Falls,-TN-(1) — Ozone Falls near Crossville

We enjoyed the campground at Old Stone Fort Archeological State Park and have camped there twice. Both times we hiked beside the Big Duck River to see the waterfalls.

20100623Old-Stone-Fort-(2) — Campers cross this bridge to get to the campground at Old Stone Fort State Archeological Park

20070405Old-Stone-Fort-SP-TN-(14) — Waterfalls on the Big Duck River in Old Stone Fort State Park

One November we traveled to Sevierville to take in the beautiful fall colors and scenery of Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Cades Cove in Great Smokey Mountains National Park

John Cable Grist Mill at Cades Cove

Fall in the Great Smoky Mountains at Cades Cove

Horse pasture on Cades Cove drive

Millstones at Cable Mill

A mama bear and her cub were hanging around the picnic area when we stopped for lunch in the park. Mama kept a close eye on her cub as he searched for a bite to eat. When the rangers chased them off the cub scampered up a nearby tree.

20081105Cades-Cove-(63) — Mama bear watching out for her cub at picnic area in Cades Cove

20081105Cades-Cove-(53) — Bear cub at picnic area in Cades Cove

20081105Cades-Cove-(70) — The cub escaped to a tree when the rangers chased them away

Seven Points Corps of Engineers Campground in Nashville is a favorite of ours. Seeing this sunset from our campsite was a great way to end the day.

20090811Seven-Points-Site-23-(11) — Sunset over J. Percy Priest Lake at Seven Points COE Campground

In Chattanooga the Tennessee Aquarium was a highlight of our stay.

The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga

The penguins were my favorite at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga

We chose a waterfront site at Barton Springs TVA Campground as our home base for taking a tour at the Jack Daniels Distillery in nearby Lynchburg.

Blondie enjoying our site Barton Springs

Spring at Callaway Gardens

April 17, 2017May 12, 2018Posted in Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Georgia, Nature, Tourist Attractions, WildflowersTagged azalea, Callaway Gardens, F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Flowering Dogwood, Pine Mountain, Spring17 Comments

Our latest wandering took us on a short trip that was full of excitement. Our first stop was F. D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia’s largest state park, in Pine Mountain. It was the perfect place for us to use as home base for exploring both Callaway Gardens and F.D.R.’s Little White House in Warm Springs.

After driving in the rain on the winding road through the park we arrived at the Visitor’s Center to check in just after a tornado warning had been lifted. Everything was fine in the campground and we set up camp just before another rain shower began.

“Connecting man and nature in a way that benefits both.” – Callaway Gardens Mission

With the sun shining the next morning we drove about 15 minutes from our campsite to Callaway Gardens. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Callaway Gardens opened in 1952. Today, there are many different gardens to explore, a lodge, golf course, swimming beach, and even a zip-line adventure.

Our tour of the gardens began with a stop at the Pioneer Log Cabin. From there we strolled along the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Trail with many Georgia native plants. The Flowering Dogwoods and many other wildflowers displayed their brilliant spring colors.

Flowering Dogwood on Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Trail at Callaway Gardens

Next we walked on the trails to the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center for a look at some tropical butterflies. Butterflies of all sizes, shapes and colors fed on the colorful blossoms and sailed by our heads as they flew from flower to flower.

Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens

We learned about some of Georgia’s birds of prey at the Discovery Center. As our guide gave a very informative presentation, two different species of owl and a red tailed hawk flew over our heads during the program.

Juniper the Great Horned Owl at Birds of Prey program

Willow the Barred Owl Birds of Prey demonstration at Callaway Gardens

Red Tailed Hawk Callaway Gardens Birds of Prey Show

We must have just missed the Azaleas at their peak because most of the Azaleas on the Overlook Azalea trail had finished blooming. The Flowering Dogwoods and other trees added color to the landscape.

20170404Callaway-Gardens-Azalea-Trail — Callaway Gardens Azalea Trail

20170404Callaway-Gardens-Flowering-Dogwood — Flowering Dogwoods were in bloom at Callaway Gardens

Eastern Redbud Callaway Gardens — Eastern Redbud at Callaway Gardens

Our visit to Callaway Gardens included only a few of the many gardens there. It is a wonderful family destination and bicycles are a popular way to get around the park. There are several restaurants to choose from or you can have a picnic in one of the picnic areas.

Wandering Around America One State at a Time – California

January 12, 2017July 7, 2017Posted in California, Historic Sites, Lighthouse, National Parks, Nature, RVing, Wandering around AmericaTagged Cabrillo National Monument, Joshua Tree National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Redwoods National Park, Sequoia National Park, USS Midway, Yosemite National Park14 Comments

State 5:

Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride! I will be featuring the states alphabetically and next up is

California

California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850. The capital is Sacramento. California is the most populous state and the third largest in area.

In 2007 we spent three weeks exploring California. It wasn’t nearly enough time to see the whole state but the Pacific Ocean, giant trees, five national parks, San Diego and everything else were all spectacular.

Our first views of California were along the Pacific Coast Highway as we drove south from Oregon. Gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean, Redwood National Park, and the beautiful vineyards were a few of the things we enjoyed in northern California.

Along the Pacific Coast Highway in Northern California

Lighthouse near Crescent City, California

Pacific Ocean in Northern California

Pacific Ocean in Northern Califoronia

Redwoods National Park

We were tiny beside the Big Tree, Redwoods National Park, California

Redwood National Park, California

Elk Meadow in Redwoods National Park

Redwood National Park, California

One of the many vineyards in the California wine country

Our home base for exploring Yosemite National Park was the Wawona Campground inside the national park. We drove through Yosemite Valley, took a few short hikes, made the the drive to Glacier Point, had a delicious lunch at the Ahwahnee Hotel, and felt small as we walked through the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias.

Yosemite Falls

We took the trail to Lower Yosemite Falls

Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View Overlook

Overhanging Rock with Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park

El Capitan

Dining Room at the Ahwahnee Hotel

Mariposa Grove of Sequoias in Yosemite National Park

There were many more of the magnificent giant trees in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. We even spotted a bear in one of the meadows.

Sequoia National Park, California

General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park

Bear in Sequoia National Park

Kings Canyon National Park, California

After all that sightseeing we decided to take a couple of days to relax in a resort near Palm Springs and spent a day wandering through Joshua Tree National Park.

In the Mojave Desert

Joshua Tree National Park

Scull Rock in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

An oasis in the middle of the desert in Joshua Tree National Park

Our final stop was San Diego where we toured Cabrillo National Monument and the USS Midway. Our Labrador Retriever Blondie was in heaven when we took her to the dog beach near Coronado. As we drove east from San Diego we passed by the Imperial Sand Dunes and the Chocolate Mountains.

Cabrillo National Monument, California.

Point-Loma in Cabrillo National Monument, CA

Point-Loma in Cabrillo National Monument

Point Loma

USS Midway in San Diego

Dog Beach in Coronado

Imperial Sand Dunes

Chocolate Mountains and Saguaro Cactus

To read previous posts about the states featured in this series just click on the state name: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas

December Caterpillars in Coastal Georgia

December 15, 2016June 16, 2026Posted in Butterflies, Georgia, NatureTagged Butterfly Garden, milkweed, monarch caterpillar13 Comments

I’ve been so busy lately with Thanksgiving, cleaning up after Hurricane Matthew, and getting ready for Christmas I haven’t had much time to look at my butterfly garden.

With all our Christmas packages and cards in the mail, I could finally catch my breath this morning so I went out to our porch to enjoy my second cup of tea. As soon as I sat down I saw a Monarch butterfly flitting around our milkweed. I abandoned my tea, grabbed my camera and rushed downstairs to get a picture. The butterfly took off but when I began to examine the milkweed I was excited to find several caterpillars munching away on the leaves.