Brazos Bend SP, Palmetto Island SP, Buccaneer SP...Gators, crawfish, oysters and walking

Well we left Corpus Christi/Post Aransas and headed to Brazos Bend SP near Houston. The Maloufs are much better at getting ready to travel and they had a ferry ride to contend with so they got an early start  and got to Brazos Bend SP before us. They were all set up when we arrived so Dave and Faye said they would cook dinner that night. We had shrimp and chicken thighs and we had some side dishes. Every one got their fill and felt very satisfied. after dinner we started a wonderful campfire I got a cool fire glow photo of Glenda. Almost eerie too.

We only had a couple days before we were to move on so we made the most of it. We took long walks on the trails around the park and their lakes. The wildlife we so abundant. We first stopped at the nature center for a impromptu discussion about alligators, the wildlife and the surrounding area.

After that it was time to check it out. We walked around Hale Lake on the trail and it wasn't long before we came across some alligators sunning themselves. I only had my IPhone camera but Dave had his Professional camera and he got some incredible photos. I didn't get a chance to get those photos from him yet so here are some I took.

This boy was around 12-14 feet

Scary walking past them but exciting too. The girls came after while we distracted them.

They certainly did a good job of keeping their distance

The landscape is so wonderful and scenic. We enjoyed watching all the birds and other wildlife in the park.

How can you not love this

Lesser Egret

Dave likes getting the close and personal shots

This is a wonderful park and we're so happy we had the opportunity to stay here and do it with our friends. Faye and Dave have been here a couple times before but at a time of the year that the weather was not good enough to explore the trails. We sure did that.

UPDATE: Had to add some of Dave's photos. Thanks to the Master.

Each night we were there we had a campfire with marshmallows on sticks. Delicious dessert.

Dave getting silly with Faye

Dave explaining how make a Wannadinger

We haven't had one yet

Dave loves to tell stories by the campfire

Wonderful campfire glow on Faye's face

Well there's a taste of our stay at Brazos Bend SP. A perfect start to our travels with our friends.

P'S. Dave even came over and installed the cable through my window and zip tied the antenna to my cell booster up on my roof for increasing our cell signal when we're in a reduced signal area. I want to be like Dave. HaHa

Next we moved on to Palmetto Island SP near Abbeville, LA. We were on a mission to eat some good seafood and did we ever do that. Our first night there we stopped at Richard's Patio for some delicious crawfish. They do a boil that has just the right amount of heat and flavor. Dave, Glenda and I opted for the crawfish. Faye decided to do the seafood buffet. We all were satisfied with our choices.

Dave taking a photo of me taking a photo eating crawfish

3 lbs. of crawfish

Happy Camper

Glenda not sure where to start

After a dinner like that we needed to get some exercise so we the next day we got up and went for a walk. Now you need to know there was a prediction of rain the day but the wives said we had about a 2 hour window to get out and back. Off we went on our walk then the clouds started to build up. Dave said "I think those are thunderheads". The girls didn't stop and turn around to go back so we followed them. The next thing we hear is the sound of rain hitting the tree leaves in the distance. then it got closer and then the rain started to come down in buckets with not where to get cover. We walked fast and jogged and tried to get under some trees but to no avail. We got soaked.

No that's not sweat

Glenda can really move

After our rainy walk we got cleaned up and hung out in the rig for the day. Nothing wrong with a lazy afternoon while it rained.

The next day the sun came out and Faye had seen a flyer for the World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook of in Eunice, LA so we hopped in their truck and drove north about an hour to the cook off.

We were truly rewarded with Crawfish Etouffee, music and meeting the locals. Everyone was very friendly and helpful in explaining the different foods.

As you can see Dave and I got 5 lbs. of boiled crawfish to eat there too. Can't seem to get our fill. This is a trend that will continue as we travel further east. We're not done yet.

The people here in Louisiana are genuine and down to earth folks. Our kind of people. We picked up some bread and butter pickles and tried several versions of crawfish Etouffee. All were delicious.

Dave and I also met a couple of crawfish queens of the festival. Lovely young ladies.

While in Abbeville we had to take Faye and Dave to Shuck's Oyster House. We've been there a couple times as we've traveled east and west through this part of the country. The raw oysters are delicious along with the crab cakes and bread pudding.

After the raw oysters Dave tried the sampler platter of broiled oysters and found some he really liked then we all had one of their entrees and Faye and I took some bread pudding home for later. We were all full and content.

So much has happened since we got going on the eastward trek with our friends and I'm not sure when this happened but Dave cooked up some great shrimp and his famous French fries.

We feel very blessed to have friends like them who take such great care of us.

Well now it's time to head further east and stop at Buccaneer SP in Waveland, MS. This is where the crawfish addiction gets crazy along with our oyster addiction.

Dave and Faye got to Buccaneer SP before we did and they needed some groceries. They found a Wal Mart and it so happened there was a seafood market down the street. Dave found out they had boiled crawfish for 2,99/lb. if you buy 10 lbs.' or more so, of course, he bought 10 lbs.

 and shared them with me.

We pulled the tails off from the head and peeled them and placed those tasty morsels in our mouths over and over again. They had great flavor and just the right amount of spice in the boil.

Each morning we would all get up and take a walk along the multi use path next to the gulf shoreline. down to a new pier that had been built. It was about a 4 mile walk one way. The sun was out, there was a nice breeze and good conversation. Checking out the homes that had been rebuilt after Katrina in 2005.

Of course we had to plan our meals of seafood and it just so happened a couple were walking on the path too and the guy had a T shirt with the Tabasco brand on it.(My account of our visit to Avery Island and the Tabasco Factory and Jungle Gardens will have to come later) I said we were just there a couple days ago and we started talking about seafood. We found out they had been in Waveland, MS for the last month and recommended we go to 200 North Beach Restaurant in Bay St. Louis down the road.

Great idea. We did our daily chores and got together about 4 pm and headed to the restaurant. It was a seek night so it wasn't too busy. Our waiter was very attentive and we had a fun kidding him about looking like Will Forte from SNL. He even sounded like him.

He looked like this...Will Forte

Well Dave and I were on a mission for oysters so we ordered 2 dozen each to start. I must mention that they were 1/2 price from 4-6 pm too. That helped the budget some. We also tried the Oysters Rockefeller and some other oyster dish. Dave and Glenda also had Gumbo. The raw ones were the best. The girls got their meals and we all stuffed our selves. Dave and I not the girls, of course.

What's that smile on your face Dave?

Don't answer that...HaHa

Happy Camper friends...Faye and Dave

Faye and I took bread pudding home and Glenda took some Pecan pie home. If you're thinking we've been eating a lot, you're right....we have BUT we've been getting our walking in and burning those calories. :-) 

The next day was our last day in MS so we decided we needed more oysters. The best place for that was right down the road at the SAME restaurant. Dave and I each had 3 more dozen raw and we stuck with just that. The girls again had some other dishes but that's not important, what is important is Dave and I got plenty of oysters. I know, I know. Not nice.

Well each night we got together at Faye and Dave's place and played Spades. They have a unique way of playing and we plan to introduce our friends, Ron and Patsy to it next winter.

The girls didn't win the first night but they put the hurt on us the next night. We can't win them all even if we should. HaHa.

The morning that we were leaving for Gulf Shores, AL, Dave and I got up early and drove to the seafood market for some more crawfish to take with us. We still had not gotten our share of crawfish. Dave, of course, got 10 lbs. for himself. I just got 5 lbs. I think we're beginning to get our fill but we are heading east, staying along the gulf so I know there will be more to come.

We have arrived at Gulf SP in Gulf Shores, AL and we got set up on a nice pull through site. Faye and Dave are across the road. The party with the Alaska friends of Dave and Faye's are all here but we haven't had a chance to meet them all yet. I'll be updating the blog again soon with our trip to Avery Island and the Tabasco factory as I said and our stay here in Gulf Shores. You may want to stay tuned. It could get spicy. Small pun there.

Gulf Waters, Finally meeting our friends, Surf fishing and farewell

Well I'm working on catching up the blog and we finally made it to Corpus Christi to meet our friends Faye and Dave from The Wandering Camels. We will be traveling with them for the next 3 weeks on our way to Gulf State Park. They tried to get us to stay at the Mustang Island SP but we didn't know if we would be comfortable there so we made a reservation at Colonia Del Rey RV Park about 15 miles away. Now we wish we would have listened to them, it would have been right off the beach and only 5 miles from them. We learned a lesson...listen to your friends. Anyway, we had a great time when we finally got together at their park, Gulf Waters on the Port Aransas Island. They showed us around the park and we took a fun ride on a golf cart a friend let them use to ride up and down the beach. It has horns on the front and everyone that sees it give us a the thumb up or a big smile.

The next day we went back to the park and Dave, being the great fisherman he is, gave me one of his poles and we hit the beach to do some surf fishing.

What a fun time we had. I could really get used to this life on the beach. I actually had beginners luck and got the first 2-3 fish of the day. However they weren't really big enough to keep so we gave one to a Blue Heron that was standing near by and we threw the other one back in.

Dave calls him Steal a Fish

There were a couple other guys fishing near us and one of them caught a hammer head shark. It was a baby but pretty cool.

After a few photos we went back to our fishing and the guy on the other side of us caught a Black Drum and a Gaff Catfish. I didn't get a photo but they were big enough to keep and the guy didn't want them so we took them and Dave fileted them and we had them for dinner that night. Yum, Yum.

We used shrimp as bait and you could feel the fish nibbling at the bait and you would jerk the pole to try and snag them on the hook. Typically they would eat our bait without us being able to get them on the line. We would then walk out into the surf and cast the line past the breakers to get to calm waters so they would take the bait.

That was a fantastic time on the beach. The girls were out horseback riding while we caught our dinner. Everyone had a wonderful time. The girls joined us on the beach when they got back. That was one of Glenda's bucket list items. Riding a horse on the beach and she has now done it. Faye and Glenda had a great time and maybe they can do it again in the future when we come back and visit them there again.

Dave, being the ultimate chef, had a mess of shrimp and with the fish we caught and were given, we had a delicious fish, shrimp fry that evening. OMG, the batter he uses is so light and tasty. There is no way we can repay them for that great meal.

We were only in the area for 2 days so the second day we did some walking on the beach and because they were leaving the next day their friends had a happy hour for them and we were invited.

We met Pat and Reana and Duwayne and Jackie who provided some snacks to go with the drinks. Glenda brought some cheese and crackers and salami. The stories flowed along with the food and drink. It was a lot of fun meeting the folks that Faye and Dave were hanging with this past winter.

After our happy hour, Faye and Dave walked us back to where our truck was parked. We would be seeing them the next day at our next destination. Brazos Bend SP as we all travel through TX, LA and MS on our way to the big party in Gulf Shores, AL. Lots of folks to meet that are friends of Faye and Dave from their Alaska trip last summer. Lots more to see and do on our way. Make sure you stay tuned. You might see some interesting amphibians and wildlife as we travel. Until next time. thanks for following along. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME SEAFOOD? I am.

Balmorhea State Park...moving further east

Our first stop after Las Cruces was in the west side of TX. We had a reservation at Balmorhea SP near Balmorhea, TX. Not a lot to do around these parts except for this State Park. The park has a pool that is made from a series of underground springs in the area. It's teaming with small fish and the canals near by have soft shell turtles. You are literally swimming with the fishes...as they say. Most are very small.

Our pull through site

The spring feed pool

There's fish in there

Cabins for rent

The canals

As we took our walks around the park we were able to get some good photos of the turtles. Interesting shapes with broad leathery shells and webbed feet.

The park was extremely busy with families on spring break and this being the only pool in the area with camping and picnicking areas. They also have several cabins that can be rented. We were only there a couple of days and that was enough. The park is a little tight and there isn't much else around he area. It was better than staying at an RV park right off the interstate and the price was right. $18.00/night for E/W. This LINK will give you more information about the park.

We moved on from Balmorhea and did an overnight stay in Junction, TX at a former KOA. The North Llano River RV Park. Typical park with seasonal residents and many pull throughs for overnighters like us. $37.00/night with Good Sam discount. Only about a mile off the Interstate.

We're on a mission to meet up with our friends, Dave and Faye who are staying at Gulf Waters RV Resort. They own a site there and have alternated years staying there and in AZ. We will be traveling with them across the Gulf states until we reach Gulf Shores, AL. They have some friends they met on their Alaska trip last summer that will also be joining us there. Should be quite a party but until then we have a lot of places to go, things to see and seafood to eat. Our next stop will be Corpus Christi near their park out on the Port Aransas island. Surf fishing, shrimp and fish fry and farewell to friends. Stay tuned. Thanks for following along.