Winter Solstice at Rockport, Texas

Rockport Texas on the first day of Winter.

 Migrating birds have arrived to Gulf of Mexico shores.

 Bird bundled up against the cool breezes.

Beach chairs are waiting for visitors and Winter Texans.

No fishermen in sight on this cool day.

Egret fishing for his lunch.

Harbor in Fulton is quiet except returning Oyster boats.

Burlap bags of oysters line the harbor.

Mixture of decorated Christmas tree with Palm trees in Fulton Harbor Park.

 Bait Shop joined the Christmas spirit with decorated Christmas tree.

 Boat repair shops busy this time of the year.

 Statue of Dolphins jumping white waves in fountain. 

Our home until Spring at Lagoons RV Park in Rockport.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Galveston, Texas East & West Ends

Houston Ship Channel east end.

Popular fishing area and watching ships.

This fisherman is doing both activities on a sunny day.  

Ferry crossing over Galveston Bay to Bolivar Peninsula. 

Many Rvr's use this free ferry to avoid the city of Houston.

West end of Island is quiet and has rural setting.  

On the other hand, 400,000 bike riders had a rally in 
Galveston a day after we left town.  

Our campground was half way to tall building in the background.

Galveston, Texas Hurricanes and Tree Sculpture Tour

The 2008 hurricane salt water poisoned thousands of trees in the 
East End Historical District. 

Various artists were hired by homeowners to turn the dead trees 
into works of art.  There more than 20 sculptures. 

The community has also replanted 8,000 trees.

                                                                                                           online photo

Many of the oak trees were planted after the 1900 hurricane.

Island Totem Pole

Dolphins and Mermaids

Two Crested Herons

Tin Man and Toto

Where Have all the Flowers Gone?

Watch out for street curbs with big water drains!

Galveston Island, Texas Historic Downtown and Beach

Over the I-45 bridge across West Bay 60 miles 
south of Houston is the Island of Galveston.

 The first Europeans to settle here in 1817 were Pirates

Thirty two miles of beach to enjoy.

Seawall Blvd. built in 1902 to protect

Galveston after the 1900 hurricane disaster. 

Storm Memorial

Pleasure Pier has amusement rides and 

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company Restaurant.

Brightly painted old town buildings.

Sea going oil rig in port.

Aston Villa built in 1859, one of the historic palaces preserved and restored.

Moody Mansion has 31 rooms.

Bishop Palace is a four story Victorian built in 1892 has 28,000 square feet.

Next door stately Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Piney Woods East Texas

The Piney Woods region of Texas

is home to four National Forests and five State Forests.

At the northern border of the region are two separate cities called Texarkana.   

One in Arkansas and the other in Texas.  

The state line divides the Post Office.  

Pine and hardwood forests even include a bayou.

Oil was discovered in East Texas in the 1930's, centered in Kilgore.

Nearly 1,200 oil derricks were crowded into one square block downtown.

Today this area is a memorial park.

Historical Harrison County Courthouse in Marshall, Texas.

Nearby Antique Store with a good cafe for lunch.

Town of Jefferson, Texas used to be a river port.  Steamboats used to travel all the way from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Quaint old time General Store.

You eat the shell and all..... of the southern fried peanuts.

Many people may remember eating candy cigarettes as a child. 

One of these paper doll books...... might be popular after November 8th.