Image 1 of 70
Turns out we'll be 5 weeks in Texas instead of the 2 we planned on
Image 2 of 70
We can overnight here free just outside El Paso
Image 3 of 70
Outside El Paso, a giant crucifix on a mountain over the border in Mexico
Image 4 of 70
Texas does some fun things with their overpasses
Image 5 of 70
Outside Fort Stockon, a welcoming party
Image 6 of 70
Three days of driving across Texas gets us to the Gulf Coast
Image 7 of 70
Most people come to Rockport to fish, but on Easter weekend some came to play
Image 8 of 70
In nearby Corpus Christi, the Texas State Aquarium is a very nice facility
Image 9 of 70
It's a little smaller than the Oregon Coast Aquarium, but has some things you won't find in Oregon
Image 10 of 70
Lobby decorations are important to set the mood . .
Image 11 of 70
We like being able to get close to the sea birds
Image 12 of 70
This roseate spoonbill was oblivious to us land dwellers
Image 13 of 70
A very well-camouflaged flat fish on the sand
Image 14 of 70
Salt water fish often have such great colors
Image 15 of 70
The guy on top IS right side up.
Image 16 of 70
The Indonesian Lion Fish is becoming quite a pest in Atlantic warm waters. It has no natural predators
Image 17 of 70
First spotted in Florida waters in the '80s, they've moved to the Texas coast in the last year or so
Image 18 of 70
Birds that hang around tropical waters - the Amazon - qualify for aquarium display
Image 19 of 70
We do like the colors . . .
Image 20 of 70
We also like sea horses . .
Image 21 of 70
Wikipedia says there are almost 2000 kinds of jellies, with more being identified with every dive
Image 22 of 70
They swim so gracefully it's hard the believe they have no brains
Image 23 of 70
Awwwwww. A river otter takes a moment's rest
Image 24 of 70
A sea turtle with a buoyancy problem - there's a bubble in his butt
Image 25 of 70
Some stautary is decorative
Image 26 of 70
Some are just built for playing
Image 27 of 70
Alligators aren't the most appealing creatures, but this small pool is just sad
Image 28 of 70
People closer to the fence than we learned that Baldies are prodigious poopers
Image 29 of 70
The stage for their bird show . . .
Image 30 of 70
They flew a few raptors
Image 31 of 70
The Harris Hawk is relatively large for a hawk
Image 32 of 70
Not sure what a Kinkajoo has to do with an aquarium, but the kids loved it
Image 33 of 70
Teenage girls liked them both . . .
Image 34 of 70
Just a model, folks. Step along . . .
Image 35 of 70
Piranha! Beautiful fish, awesome reputation. And quite flavorful, we're told
Image 36 of 70
How do poison dart frogs make love? Very carefully . . . .
Image 37 of 70
They said it was the largest of the tarantulas
Image 38 of 70
Wonder if it could see us?
Image 39 of 70
Anemones are so pretty
Image 40 of 70
They have three captive-born male bottlenose dolphins
Image 41 of 70
The dolphin show was very popular
Image 42 of 70
In the splash zone - but then, so were we
Image 43 of 70
Each dolphin has a personal trainer
Image 44 of 70
Probably not much of a life for a dolphin, but it's all they know . . .
Image 45 of 70
It's a very nice facility.
Image 46 of 70
And the animals do fascinating things
Image 47 of 70
This is about when he flipped his tail and gave us all a shower
Image 48 of 70
Close by the aquarium is the art musuem, which we visited another day
Image 49 of 70
You can't take pictures inside, so we took a few outside
Image 50 of 70
We both like the water art
Image 51 of 70
The fountain was very relaxing - as well as cooling
Image 52 of 70
There are even a few bronzes in the yard
Image 53 of 70
Our last weekend, and the "Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Abridged"
Image 54 of 70
A cast of 3 took almost 2 hours to work through all the plays (sort of)
Image 55 of 70
Just a couple of kings - see the crowns?
Image 56 of 70
From Rockport, on to Conroe, north of Houston
Image 57 of 70
And north of Conroe, Sam Houston supervises I-45
Image 58 of 70
The first Texas state prison was in Huntsville, and today there's this curious museum
Image 59 of 70
A spectacular monument to correctional officers killed in the line of duty
Image 60 of 70
One convict carved this stump. Took him two separate prison stays to finish it.
Image 61 of 70
These guests from Oklahoma were settling into the demo cell
Image 62 of 70
We'd heard about this letter, but never seen it before
Image 63 of 70
We'd heard about this letter, but never seen it before
Image 64 of 70
Correctional officer uniforms worn today in Texas
Image 65 of 70
Once upon a time, the Huntsville Prison staged an annual Prison Rodeo
Image 66 of 70
Raised quite a bit of money for the prison, not so much for the prisoners
Image 67 of 70
Old Sparky, the Texas Electric Chair, executed 361 prisoners from 1924-1964. Ironically, it was built by prisoners
Image 68 of 70
Headed north to Lake Tawakoni, a very nice overlook outside Jacksonville TX
Image 69 of 70
Al with his uncle Lee Wilson and cousin Kathleen - hadn't seen her in almost 20 years
Image 70 of 70
We end with this image of Marian & Lee's home at Hideaway, TX - outside of Tyler.