Timing is Everything
We were still thirsting for a wave of spring migrant birds and followed migration forecasts religiously, using an app called Birdcast. Did it help us?
No, it did not.
The maps and text were easily understood, and projections at the time we were researching possible fallouts, indicated that the weekend of April 23rd was looking real good for High Island! So spur of the moment, we booked another campground, this time on the Bolivar Peninsula about 20 miles from High Island, from April 23 to April 27.
As it turned out, the fallout was the previous weekend, and birders were saying they just stood in one spot and warblers and other migrants came to them, rather than they having to search the birds out! Of course. Well, yes, we were disappointed that our timing was off, but we thoroughly enjoyed a second visit to the area.
Our ride down to Bolivar Peninsula was eventful...a flat tire on our trailer. Timing was good, as it occurred by a truck stop, so we pulled right in and stared at the tire in the pouring rain.
A call to roadside assistance was futile, as they don't provide "heavy duty" service for RV's (versus "light duty", meaning the truck).
So we began raising the trailer with the trailer scissor jacks and the truck jack, but we only could get so high. That's when the road angels arrived! A couple of awfully kind people had the jack we needed and before long, with their help, we were on our way again. We've since bought the right jack!
Within about 15 minutes of arrival to our campsite the scariest storm we have ever encountered during our many years of travel adventures descended upon us! The wind was rocking the trailer, the rain sounded like hail, so we hid in our bathroom (although in hindsight we realized that this really wasn't going to save us from possible injury) to ride out the storm.
After about 15 minutes it subsided and we knew we were safe. Our neighbors didn't fare so well. A huge trampoline blew from a house about a block away right to their campsite where it smashed their Jeep windshield and left three gashes in the front of their fifth wheel. Thank goodness the occupants did not get injured. We missed being the target of that trampoline by a matter of a few yards. We appreciate how fortunate we were.
In time for this trip, Michael gave me an early birthday gift, a Canon DSLR camera! Finally, I can offer better photos to you! So without knowing a whole lot about the camera, I did shoot a ton of pics over the weekend. As I understand the camera more, these pics should improve. Bear with me!
Our birding took place back on High Island, as well as throughout the Bolivar Peninsula. A free ferry ride of about 15 minutes took us over to Galveston Island. Bolivar and Galveston were especially nice and birdy.
Back in Livingston, we are getting needed repairs done to the truck and taking care of other odds and ends. On May 11th we'll leave Livingston and Texas heading east for new adventures...
Stay well!
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