Texas 2015

6 Hours after we passed this sign, and after a night at an en route RV park, we arrived at Little Possum Ranch in Dripping Springs, Arkansas, home of Randy and Wanda Reynolds. Randy was a US Air Force Medical Officer who worked with me as part of the Air Force Health team in Canberra. 

Familiar site in Texas- long-horned steers

Bev Wright also worked with Randy and I in Canberra, and her and her husband Ross now live in San Antonio. They joined us for a meal at the Ranch. Randy, Wanda, Bev, Ross and Murray are in the photo at left, ready to tuck into the delicious spread - including a delicious Shrimp Salad lovingly prepared by Bev and the shrimp cooked by Ross. Yes, I know we call them prawns in Australia - but when in Rome...

After catching up for a few hours, Bev and Ross had to head home, but not before Randy played a piano rendition of 'I Still Call Australia Home' for his Aussie mates. 

Our RV parked out the front of their kitchen window

I set the timer on my camera then ran back to be in this group photo. Pity about the Aussie flag obscuring Ross. 

Pretty Texas wildflowers made the drive very pretty

While the Texas Blue Bonnet wildflowers were blooming everywhere, Wanda took us to the renowned Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Bar for lunch after our visit to Hamilton Pool Preserve. I couldn't believe the size of the dessert pies - especially the height of meringue on top. On top of that, the slice sizes they serve are huge as well. Wanda and I shared a coconut cream pie - no meringue for us. 

Me in a field of wild Texas Blue Bonnets and a few red Indian Paintbrushes

Some of the pretty birds we saw in Arkansas and Texas

Those of you who know Randy will know his love for snakes and 'critters' in general. Murray and Randy took cameras to catch the sunset on our last evening, and within a few minutes the phone rang in the house. It was Randy ringing Wanda, asking her to bring his snake stick and a pillow case. He had found a 2 foot Western Diamond Back Rattlesnake. It was initially hard to spot as it was so well camouflaged against the ranch landscape, but once Randy touched it, it rattled furiously and tried to escape. Eventually Randy let it go. I'm sure they will meet again...

This is a baby Ball snake - result of two of his snakes mating 

About 20 minutes from Randy and Wanda's ranch is the famous Hamilton Pool Preserve, a natural pool that formed when an underground river collapsed thousands of years ago. The collapsed grotto and waterfall create a picturesque swimming area. Apache and Comanche Indians used this area when they lived in the area in previous centuries.

Hamilton Pool Preserve

First view I had out of the RV on our first morning at the Ranch

Another fleeting visit, just 2 nights in Dripping Springs, and then we made our way another 3 hours south to Corpus Christi, Texas - looking out over the Gulf of Mexico and over the miles to Cuba beyond.