Well, we finally got a few consecutive days strung together that no one had dr appointments, craft shows, work, or other obligations.  Jack & Di rented a car & we booked a couple of hotel rooms (free hot breakfast & wifi included), and we boogied on up the coast to Rockport-Fulton to go see the whooping cranes.  Some of you may remember a few years ago, when we had first merged with FU, as a matter of fact, and we were forced to postpone our vacation, due to a team-member in Charlotte wanting the same timeframe off....and we couldn't BOTH be gone at the same time.  You'da thought the world would come to an end if it had happened, big a stink as was made, but, oh well...we changed our plans...and, of course, timing was off and we missed the whoopers by the one week we'd had to postpone.  So, we've been wanting to return since then (actually, that comes to about 9 years!!)...and were so looking forward to being in the right vicinity at the right time.  Ya gotta understand, anywhere within a day's drive in Texas is still in the vicinity. 

Sooooooo, we pack up everything we could possibly need for 3 days away, make arragements for Prissy's care, and off we go!  Of course, it's a bit foggy & drizzly the morning of our adventure, but things are sure to clear up as we go north, right?  HAHAHA!

Before long, it is POURING rain!!!!  Remember my posts of earlier this summer?  And last winter??  Nary a DROP fell.  Remember the pictures of the dried up ponds?  Remember the dying fish & easy pickin's for the birds up at Woody Acres?  HAHAHA.  Well, someone's makin' up for lost time, fer sure.  We got to the first rest stop (you know I cannot pass one up), and got out to stretch our legs.....oh, my gosh, was it biting cold.  AND WET.  Di & I were looking for a geocache we just KNEW was there, and oh by, the stink was surpassed only by the cold & sharp wind!!  Apparently, that was a good time to pump out the potties, and yup, we were downwind.  Between the cold, the wind, the rain, and the STINK (oh, and the sign that warned of snakes), we decided that geocache just wasn't worth our time & trouble.  We quickly bustled ourselves back into the car (where the boys were patiently (and warmly) waiting) & I checked the logs.  HAHA - that cache had been reported missing back in DECEMBER!  And hadn't been located SINCE.  Ah, well, if only I had checked that first, we coulda saved ourselves quite a bit of trouble. 

We got to Rockport in good time, tho, and stopped at both my favorite stores - HEB & Wallyworld - before proceeding on to the hotel.  HEB provided us a bit of fruit and chips for the long night ahead, and of course, Wallyworld's fabric dept needed checking - it had been almost 5 months since I'd last looked there - they might have some pretty new stuff!!!  Like I need more fabric.  Actually, tho, I do.  I am still getting orders for more product from my last craft sale, plus, I've been commissioned to make some nifty jewelery pouches.

We finally get to the hotel & settle in to kill a couple hours before we're ready for dinner.  Of course, in Rockport, our first dinner is ALWAYS at Charlotte Plummer's.  She didn't disappoint!!!  Oh, her shrimp is simply devine!  As usual, we over-stuffed ourselves & made another trip to Wallyworld to walk it off.  Di just couldn't believe how CLEAN & INVITING the Rockport store is....aisles are clear, English is spoken, and merchandise is orderly and ON THE SHELVES.  And, what IS that lovely sound?  Oh, that's SILENCE!!!  NOOOOO screaming kiddies, can you believe it??  It was actually a PLEASANT shopping experience.  And, yeah, I found fabric I just HAD to have.  And it was sooooo cold (remember, we are currently living in the tropics, and we're just not used to cold weather!!), I had to find & purchase a long-sleeved shirt to layer under the tee-shirts I'd brought along with me.  Luckily, I'd also packed a jacket AND my fuzzy vest, AND socks, so I was gonna be ok.  Jack & Di, on the other hand, were struggling to find suitable clothes...seems the cold snap had about emptied the shelves before we ever got there.

Wednesday dawns bright & clear, with promise of sunshine and WARMTH ahead...what a GREAT day to go birding!  After a good, hot & hearty breakfast, we head right back to HEB (always eating or planning to eat, that's typical Winter Texan behaviour) to pick up lunch.  See, there's just nothing out there at Aransas NWR...NOThing.  Well, nothing for humans to eat.  And, we're off to see the whoopers!  And, of course, whatever else cares to show its head or tail.

After an uneventful (THANK YOU GOD) drive, we hit the turn to the Wildlife Reserve.  Now, the actual preserve is about 10 miles (20 minutes) off the main road, and you have to wind your way thru lots of fields to get to the entrance.  All along the way, we were floored by the number of raptors we saw - red tailed hawks, falcons, buzzards, and even some crested caracaras!  Di swears she saw a green parrot, too.  I didn't see, but I'm sure not gonna deny it - we ARE in the tropics, and some birds are cuckoo enough to fly that far north, regardless of the weather. 

After a short stop in the visitors' center & viewing of the video, showing just what to look for, we piled back into the car and took off for a leisurely drive around the 16 mile auto loop.  We were signifcantly rewarded with good views of Couch's Kingbird, a couple small 'gators, a lovely warbler, osprey, numerous egrets & a couple of great blue herons, 2 javelina, and quite a few hawks.  We walked a few short trails, then headed for the observation tower & our ultimate goal, the whoopers. 

Gotta give 'em credit - Jack, Di & Jose all dragged me (yes, quite literally) up the ramp to the observation tower.  Not quite kicking & screaming, but not real happy about it either.  I just SOOOOOOOOOOO wanted to see those birds, and we KNEW they were there.
Oh, my gosh, they were, too....just as happy & contented as 2 cows in a field.  They were totally oblivious to all our squeals & carrying-on's and just went about their business without a care in the world.  Their business was simply eating as much as they could, and boy, did they.  Every once in a while, one would glance up & around, but they always went right back to grazing.....except once.  I just so happened to have the 'nocs up when one sook a few strides & actually FLEW.  TOWARDS US!  Oh, my, that was exciting. Everyone got a chance to see the magnificance and splendor of these large birds...it's something we'll not forget. It was totally worth the trauma of climbing that ramp!!  We spent quite some time in the marsh, on the boardwalk & walking the trails, just absolutely in awe of all the wildlife out there.  The hit of the day, tho, was the begging racoon......he walked right down the middle of the road, and up to the cars, just looking for a handout!  Unfortunately, he was not at all afraid of the cars or the people! Soon as I can get the pics downloaded & uploaded, you'll be able to check him out! 

Dick & I are still talking about the possiblity of spending a month or so up there as volunteers.  The volunteer coordinator is still very much interested in having us, but we think she may want us to work harder than we aim to....not that we've gotten lazy, but, um, yeah, we probably have.  And it gets HOT there in the summer, and there is NO POOL.  Oh, and no swimming in the ponds, either, since that territory is relegated to the resident 'gators.  My bright idea is that we can stay up there just long enough to hike all the trails & set up a bunch of geocaches in the park.  That way, it won't really seem like work and we won't have to stay as long as they want...remember, while there's lots & lots of wildlife, that's ALL there is out there!  And there's NOOOOOOO fabric store anywhere close by, so, I just don't know how long I'd last!!  I dunno that they're gonna go for that - they really want each couple to be there no less than a couple of months, 3 preferred, and they want a maintenance worker plus an inside, visitor center worker....umm....guess which one of us would be cleaning the potties?  Yeah, he doesn't really wanna do that anymore.

Well, it IS a worknight, and I am getting kinda tired..Jose & Di have taken Jack off to the ER - he's been sick in bed all day, and a little while ago he was sorta delirious..dunno if he's got a fever or what.  But, I'm expecting them to be home anytime now, hopefully, with some potent meds pumped into him so he can be all better tomorrow.

Y'all take care, stay warm!