Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks

If you are like we were, you have never even heard of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Well, it does exist and it is a hikers paradise. It is located in the northwest corner of Texas near the New Mexico border. We stayed at the campground there ($4 with old geezer pass but no hookups) and we hiked only about three miles of the more than 200 miles of trails. On our hike we saw the "alligator trees" that are one of things for which the park is known. As you can see, the bark really does look like alligator skin.
The Manzanita trees are bigger here than we have seen anywhere.

I caught a great picture of Mike (well, in my humble opinion, anyway).

Overall, it was an absolutely beautiful day for a walk in the Guadalupe Mountains.

Later we stopped at an old stage stop for mail delivery. Took these pics for you, Janet.

Rural Delivery has changed a bit... I made Mike turn around so I could get a picture of this west Texas "town".

We stayed two nights at the park and one of those days we drove up to Carlsbad Caverns National Park which is only 45 miles north in New Mexico. I was there with the folks 45-50 years ago and remembered little except that mom really didn't like being so far underground and there was a lot of walking. Well now there is an elevator and even a cafeteria underground. When we left the park, Mike said, "If you are only going to visit one cave in your lifetime, that would be the one to visit." We have been in many caves and I have to agree with him.

Caves are very difficult to photograph but trust me, this one was magnificent. So, if nothing else, enjoy the photographs as tributes to Halloween...

There were "curtains" hanging from the ceiling. (Keep in mind all of this is natural formations made over millions of years.)

And more curtains on the walls.

And sometimes there were just too many different formations for the eyes to absorb.

Sometimes, you needed to look through an opening to see yet another scene.
And then other times the scenes looked almost man made, like a play area for children. Those are "soda straws" hanging down.

There were spectacular columns where the stalagtites met the stalagmites.

And huge impressively massive structures.
Of course, some of my pictures look like this. Your guess is as good as mine about what it might be.

This is Rock of Ages - the biggest column in the cave.

Everywhere you looked nature laid out another scene to admire.

So many different dimensions and craters and nooks. Can you even imagine what it must have been like for the young man who first explored this amazing cave with only a lantern...
Some formations resembled body parts.

Some looked like creatures.

This is another must see location for your bucket list!
When we left the national park area, we headed for southern Arizona and will be hanging out in the Benson area for the next couple weeks or maybe a month. This is our time to just rest and relax. Today I went swimming and made banana chocolate chip cookies (mom's recipe) and Mike enjoyed some much needed sleep and TV time. It was a good "at home" day. In coming days we hope to hit a golf course and soak up the sun. Ahhhh, Life Is Good!

A Week In The Lost Pines

Since arriving in Bastrop, Texas, we have learned that this area has long been known as The Lost Pines area of Texas. A few years ago when we were in Texas, we visited The Lost Maples area. As you may recall, thousands of acres of woodland burned in this area just a month or so ago. It was devastating to drive mile and mile and see charred remains of trees and lost houses everywhere. (no pictures - too awful) The Bastrop area may keep its title but the majority of its pine trees are gone. The park in which we are staying, the one in which Debbie and Richard are working, was spared but its counterpart on the north end of the lake was destroyed as was 90% of the state park across the road. The signs cannot be missed in the park and all around the area. I even saw an announcement on TV about not welding outside; it is definitely still a drought area.

LRCA South Park is still rich in wildlife. This deer is seen every evening.

There is a blind for watching birds and I have enjoyed visits there. My favorite bluejays
and cardinals are there in abundance.

The female cardinal looks so feminine as she performs her morning bathing ritual.

The monarch butterflys are migrating south and spending some time in Texas; they are everywhere!
And then there are the squirrels. Before going to the bird watching area one day, I was chatting with some other camp hosts about how so much bird food was consummed. With this picture, I showed them where some of it was going. This hungry guy crawled right up the inside of the squirrel barrier!

One day Debbie and I visited the
in Austin and enjoyed all it had to offer. This is the Austin city skyline as seen from the botanical garden.
Miss Debbie walking by one of the ponds.

I loved the water lilies - so many colors.

This dragon fly has a most unusual color... or is it not a dragonfly... don't know for sure.

It is fun walking with a friend and fellow photographer.

Figure this one out...
The flowers,

and the butterflies - WOW!

Another day, Mike and Debbie and I went to an area town festival. The town of Elgin (hard g like in begin) is very serious about the pig theme...

Of course, it is Texas and Texans are serious about ... Bar-B-Que

BIG toys,

drinking beer and their state!

This state symbol was a shut off handle on the Bar-B-Que grill.

Oh, and let's not forget ...

There were a f ew left for us to sample - YUM!

Of course, the very best part of visiting Texas is spending time with Debbie and Richard. They are comfortably settled into their host position at the campground and welcomed us warmly.

During the week, we enjoyed an adult beverage or two, shared wonderful food and even better companionship. We taught them how to play Hand and Foot which Richard has given a Texan name... Hand and Boot! We all enjoyed it in our own way...

Deb always has a bowl of candy - we both remembered this from Richmond days 5 years ago.
They have expanded their family. Traveler

and Belle are good little watch dogs and cute as can be!


It was great to see Richard feeling good and to see both of them looking so good.


It was a great week in The Lost Pines.