The Lone Star State Part 2

San Angelo State Park in San Angelo, Texas was our home for a little longer than we had originally planned.  The weather went from mid 70's to freezing within a day.  So, while we weren't really stoked to be at a stand still, we were grateful to plug in RV Airabess for a few extra days.  Bonus~ there was semi-decent wifi (a novelty on this trip). 

Our first couple of days there we biked around the park, which is massive.  Lots of desert terrain, and open space.  

Coco and Hubs took to the trails, which they both LOVED.  But, thanks to so many cactus needles there where 5 tire repairs.  

Then... it snowed.  Not a lot. But just enough so that Coco got to make her first snowball.  
Plus a pretty cool book exchange.  
Oh, and there were bison..... um not really.  Actually the park is host to THE Texas Longhorn Herd.  We saw where they should have been, but missed seeing them in person.  As for the bison.  Supposedly they are in the park too. The only ones we got to see where these.

We finally left San Angelo after a week and went to Monahans Sandhills State Park for a couple of days (and put our shorts back on).   Probably one more day than we needed.  It's name is pretty self-explanatory.... sand dunes everywhere.  Which for this Florida family was surreal.  First, we kept expecting to see the ocean on the other side (just more dunes).  Second, you are actually allowed to play, slide, roll, jump down them... a novelty.  Where we are from the dunes are off limits.  
So we played on the dunes.  And got sand EVERYWHERE.  

The place is in the middle of no where and the only reason we chose it was because it was a halfway point to the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks.  That being said, it was a good time and cool experience.  
The drive there however.... looooonggg and boring through oil fields and dust. 

Now onto Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

The Lone Star State Part 1

Our first stop in Texas was League City (just outside of Houston).  Not the normal stop for the average road-tripper, but we were visiting Hub's mom. 

She took us into Galveston where Hub's spent some of his formative years.  It was FREEZING the day we went... We still managed to check out some of Hub's old haunts.  A lot of the places we saw weren't exactly like he had remembered.  Hurricane Ike changed the landscape substantially.  When the town rebuilt, they upgraded in places. 

  Galveston Bay is host to the oil tankers in and out of Texas City.  We tool a quick look, but left quickly as the wind was howling and we had all turned into popsicles. 

While it was great to see family, we were glad to get out of the hustle and bustle of the greater Houston area.   

We took our leave on another rainy, cold morning.  But by the time we made it to our next destination, Guadalupe State Park (just north of San Antonio), the sun was out and the mercury was rising.  It turned out to be a gorgeous couple of days there.  We finally had some elevation and terrain.  Hub's got some serious mountain biking in.  I was able to finally get my mat outside again. Coco and I hiked up and around the Guadalupe River.  She earned a Texas Junior Ranger badge.  
***Guadalupe State Park has a fantastic interactive Discovery Center for kids. They offer many different hands on activities and exhibits.  I highly recommend the park for families.***
  

After Guadalupe River SP was Lost Maples Natural Area.  But first we had to get there.  
It was the first time the good ole RV Airabess had to climb up and with the pedal to the floor she really doesn't have that get up and go.  But she does have some serious momentum going down.  It was by far the most exciting road we have traveled. 
Hubs and Coco loved it.  I did too, after I had a mini anxiety attack during the roller coaster up, down, and around through Hill Country. 

We were parked in the valley and there were cliff outcroppings on both sides.  For this Florida family it was a thrill to have to look up at the landscape just outside our window.  

Lost Maple offered the highest hiking elevation yet at 2500 feet.  Coco was a champ and made it up the steep and rugged inclines with no complaint~ chatting me up the whole way.  Once to the top we got our first really impressive vista.  
At night the sky was a blanket of stars that, even aboard S/V Airabess, were brighter and clearer than we have seen so far.  That alone is worth the trip. 

We are currently in San Angelo and the weather has turned.  There is snow predicted next week... not really something we wanted to see on this trip.... but we will roll with it.  After a couple of days here we (think) the Monahans Sandhills before an extended stay at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park (the highest peak in Texas at 8700ish feet). 

I'll post more pics soon.  Loading them with out enough bandwidth is PAINFUL!