Showing posts with label Colorado River. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colorado River. Show all posts

May 20, 2016

Birding Nature Center :: Other Things

The other things we saw on our nature hike at Matagorda County Birding Nature Center (MCBNC) included creatures both great...

An American Alligator slides stealthily into the water without making a sound.

and small...

An American Bullfrog sits on a log in a pond covered in duckweed.

And one creature with with long ears and a fluffy white tale that can swim if need be...

A Swamp Rabbit, one of the largest members of the cottontail family, crosses the trail.
I know, I was also surprised when I read that, too!

We also saw beautiful scenery, so diverse, you might not think that all of these photos were taken in the same park, but they were.

Swampy Wetlands

Colorado River View

Pretty Pond
And finally, I was delighted to see a few wildflowers hanging on.

Faded Texas Bluebonnets

Wild Daisies

Thistle

I know you won't be surprised to learn that after our nature hike at MCBNC, we purchased a family membership pass. Who knows what kinds of things we'll see the next time we visit?

April 25, 2016

Colorado River Flooding

We didn't go fishing this weekend for obvious reasons...

Pelican Point RV and Boat Slips, Matagorda, Texas, April 22, 2016
The Colorado River is WAY out of its banks and our RV park is flooded.

We debated about whether to leave our trailer in place. We left it last year when the river flooded and it was fine, but we decided not to take a chance this year and moved it out on Thursday before the park road was under water.


On Friday, when these pictures were taken, the river had just about reached its crest, so even though there is water under a few trailers in the new section of the park, I think they will be okay.

We can't see our section from the entrance and we weren't about to navigate the flooded road to check on it.


However the road was passable, if you have high clearance...and if you dare!

On Saturday we got a text from our next door RV neighbors. Evidently they had driven in to check on their trailer, which they left in place, and they reported that their spot and our spot were dry and had plenty of play left if the river got higher.


That's good to know for next time.

April 11, 2016

Home Away From Home

The weather was perfect this weekend. We arrived at the trailer on Thursday evening and spent all day Friday playing outside. My cold was finally improved enough that I could go out in the boat. We fished our favorite spot on the diversion channel of the Colorado River and by lunchtime we each had two beautiful speckled trout to brag about.


After lunch I worked in Happy Camper Butterfly Garden while John fished from the riverbank. There were a few weeds to pull, but the main thing was to trim back the lantana and the Mexican sage which can quickly outgrow this small space. Sometimes I think I should have named this garden The Beast.


The yarrow is in full bloom and so pretty that it deserves a closer look.


In this shot of the garden you can see that the milkweed is mostly stripped bare. Monarch activity has been very good this year. We found many empty chrysalis shells around the area and even a few small caterpillars munching away on the remaining milkweed leaves.


A female Monarch butterfly showed up while I was watering the plants. She went to work immediately laying her eggs.

And all the while John was reeling in fish from the river—two big redfish and a large trout. Well, that was all I could take. I had to join him.


This photo (taken one morning a couple of weeks ago) shows where I stood when I caught the best trout of the day—only steps away from our trailer.

And when I returned to the garden...


madame butterfly was still on focused on her mission.

What a blessing to call Matagorda our weekend home!

February 1, 2016

My Happy Place

Any day that I'm able to wake up to this view is a good day.


For those of you who don't know, John and I have a travel trailer that we keep on the banks of the Colorado River in Matagorda, Texas. This is my happy place!


That's because life here is simple, casual, and relaxed. Sometimes I think we should sell the house and live full time in the trailer.


If we could bring the chickens with us, we might. :)


It's doubtful we will ever make such a drastic lifestyle change...but that view makes me wonder sometimes.