300 miles (500 kms) from Lake Jackson through Houston to Orange for a swamp cruise, then back via car ferry to Galveston, Surfside and home! So here goes….
With a three and a half hour leisurely drive to Orange County, we left home at 8ish to get the tire pressure checked on the rental car (warning light was showing). Turns out the tyre wall was torn and they changed us from the peanut car to a medium size car! However this then meant the 3.5 hour leisurely trip became a 2.5 hour, no stop, frantic trip through all the big freeways at 120kms per hour most of the way.
Our trip out the swamps on the border of Louisiana and Texas was booked for midday and we just made it!
Ready to go, looking rather more relaxed than I felt. Two hours (private tour as no one else had booked) on the waterways hunting for alligators certainly gave me time to relax.
Cyprus trees that grow in the water – the water was like glass and the reflections were perfect!
Turn this one upside down and it looks the same!
Osprey eagle on top of the tree.
Egret – white heron – these birds were all through the swamp.
A houseboat still above water (just) after the last hurricane.
More sunburned Cyprus trees – they go orange in the sun when the moss falls off them.
And finally the bridge from Texas (left) to Louisiana (right)
Note the absence of alligators, at this time of the year they lower their body temperature and heart rate to four beats a minute (not quite hibernation) but in a state of in activity.
It was a beautiful clear day and not a breath of wind, the air was cold (as it is actually winter here) but a perfect day for exploring the swamp lands.
We then had the most delicious fish burger for lunch, and headed off on part two of the days adventure!
South towards Galveston Island, a two hour drive, and with still half an hour to go we were sure to miss the 4.20pm car ferry.
However…. as luck would have it we were the last car on, the gate was lifted and we were off!
The last little black one at the end of the left row!
These seagulls took a ride with us – though my black car was well and truly in danger of getting some white artwork!
And the sun is going down – we only had about half an hour of daylight left.
Off along the coast of Galveston – the beach holiday destination for Texans.
The beach at twilight.
Bubba Gump shrimp restaurant on the pier – offering breakfast with Santa!
The amusement park on the pier – open after dark! We still had an hour and a half drive so we’ll put this on a future to do list!
What a beautiful evening at Galveston – sort of makes you want to sing the Glen Campbell song!
We then drove, in the darkening evening, the length of the island and across the causeway to Surfside, south of Lake Jackson. We had half an hour, in the dark, north to get home with all the work traffic (this was a little tedious).
We had completed our full circle (500kms) with a couple of side trips in 11 hours! Big day for the kiwis in Texas… I was very glad I was in a bigger car today, especially on the five lane freeways.
All who wander are not Lost girls 