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Borrego Springs, CA

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

A return trip to Gulf Islands National Seashore

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A week ago last Saturday was the grand opening of the Visitor’s Center for this National Park.  I was busy attending the air show at the Air Force Base, so I missed it.

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Everything had to be rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina, and I guess it took over five years!  The new VC has lots of educational displays, and the 20 minute or so video about the park is well worth the time to view. 

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The first thing I noticed as I arrived was the profusion of blooming azaleas. 

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It was hard not to take a million pictures of them.  They were just glorious.

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Emma tried to be patient while I hovered from bush to bush with my camera.  It never ceases to amaze me that if I say, “Time for a picture,” she stops pulling on her leash, and waits until I’m done.  She’s such a wild child in the rest of her life, why is this the only time she is calm?  Of course, if someone walked by, that calmness would be right out the window!

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Then we headed out to see how things had changed along the trail we did in February.  Things were beginning to bloom this time around.

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It looks like the Southern magnolias that are found along the trail are getting ready to bloom.

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I found the work of this caterpillar along the way on some of the magnolia leaves.  It was resting along one of the buds of what I think will be a blossom.  Guess I’ll be taking this trail again in a week or two.  I really want to see the magnolias in bloom.

_MG_0125On the way back to the car, we encountered this 6’ long fellow out basking on the other side of the boardwalk.  Skies were overcast, but he didn’t seem to mind.

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It’s hard to see, but we also spent some time watching this river otter fishing the Davis Bayou.  All in all, a great outing today.  While at the Visitor’s Center, I spoke with the volunteer coordinator about opportunities here.  My thoughts are for next winter/spring.  Solo’s are required to put in 32hrs/week, and the park provides a site in the campground.  The red flag that went up for me was that the site included water and electric, but I’d have to move the rig every two weeks to dump the tanks.  Packing up every two weeks while volunteering that many hours is not something I’m willing to do at this point.  Too bad for them.  Smile with tongue out

 

The skies are beginning to rumble outside, and the forecast is for 2-3” of rain in the next 36 hours.  I’ve rolled in all the awnings, and packed away my rocker in preparation.  There’s a tornado watch on until 10:00 tonight, so I’ll be monitoring the weather radio, and am prepared to pull in the slides and get us to headquarters if necessary.  I hope you’re all in fair weather tonight.

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy 

20 comments:

  1. I hope you weather the storm OK. Stay safe. I really do like the rain and lightning of spring storms, just not the wind.

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  2. That sounds ominous. I hope the tornado decides to forget about you. Your pictures are beautiful. The flowers are gorgeous and I am not surprised you wanted to take lots of pictures. Your dog is amazing!!

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  3. I hope the tornado warnings suside and are nothing. The flowers are gorgeous! I, too, want to see the magnolias blooming. Be sure to take lots of pictures!

    If I really liked the park, I might consider a porta potty and dispersal of the grey water where it would do the most good!

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  4. Your pictures today are just fabulous. I love those azaleas. Stay safe during the tornado watch!

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  5. I lived in the Milwaukee area until I was in my 30's then move to Texas. I was rather disturbed that we didn't have a basement to go to in Texas because there were plenty of twisters.

    I'm not sure how I'm going to handle tornado warnings when we are in an RV. I know I'll be heading for safety a lot sooner than Craig will. Have you ever had to go in the middle of the night?

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  6. Please tell what kind of camera you have -- don't think I have ever seen such beautiful pics! Hope the weather has moved on by now -- I know we are expecting rain here all day tomorrow (NC).

    Be safe!

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  7. blooming great pictures as always, Judy!..stay safe and we hope you don't have to make a quick exit!!

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  8. Wow, it looks much nicer than when i was there in January!! AND an alligator sighting!

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  9. I always like the videos at the VC's. They give me so much information and things to look for. I hate tornado warnings. They really put me on edge. Hope you stay safe.

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  10. Tornado warnings are one of the main reasons we hustle so quickly across Texas, Arkansas, & points northeast every year during the month of March. Bad storms can happen so fast in all those areas down around where you are. Nice flower pics & always so nice to see the bright Spring colors.

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  11. Hope you weathered the night OK; love those azalea blooms ... still waiting for ours to bloom here in the East so we have something to look forward ... if spring decides to show itself that is!

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  12. I saw that the weather was gonna get bad where you were...Hope all is OK this AM. Those are the hazards of being in that part of the US in the spring...but the pay offs are sooooo worth it!..Loved you pictures, as usual. There is something majestically prehistoric about the alligator...I am terrified, yet totally fascinated by them..Brazo Bend State Park South of Houston is a great place to observe them!!

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  13. Thanks so much for the "southern" photos--I miss the azaleas. And I will wait patiently for those magnolia blossom photos! I wouldn't want to volunteer either if I had to move every two weeks!

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  14. Tornado's scare the wits out of me - I'd rather be in our earthquake zone. Fantastic flower pics! Those gators seem to be everywhere.

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  15. Nice gator picture. He looks like he is made out of rubber. The flowers are really pretty this time of the year.

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  16. The pix are great as usual! You seem to have the knack for seeing the beauty around you. What a wonderful gift.

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  17. I love azaleas and your pictures of them are lovely. Did you use a telefoto to get the alligator picture or were you that close?

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  18. Judy, you are truly amazing. I thought you were just an expert on birds, but you know plants, animals, weeds . . . just everything. Reading your blog every day is such an education. We are enjoying the joys of spring too a little north of you. Ann

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  19. I've been reading your blog on my phone as we've been traveling towards home, but can't comment there... I'm beginning to wonder if your name isn't really Dorothy, i.e. all these tornadoes you seem to attract!!!

    p.s. the blog is much more impressive on a computer screen!

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