Cook Travelogue 2007-8-9: Arriving in Texas

We crossed the line into Texas on December 22, having traveled Louisiana from Vicksburg to Shreveport, then over the border into Marshall, Texas, where we spent one night at the Circle M RV Ranch. Our plan had been to make it as far as North Houston, but since we choose a longer route, that goal waited another day.

Usually we see Marlin's cousin Judy Covert at her home in Lillian, Alabama. This year, however, she was visiting with her brother Rick and his wife Pam in Humble, TX, just north of Houston. The last time Marlin saw Rick he was a toddler in diapers, so it was great to make the connection for the first time with the adult version. Rick and Pam work nights so we attempted to take Judy for a walk through Lake Houston State Park. Unfortunately, the park was closed for the holiday so we opted for coffee in our camper.

Pam and Rick invited us to share dinner with them during the next two nights, which included Christmas eve. It was strange to be away from home on this holiday but wonderful to have new friends and extended family to celebrate with. After dinner on Christmas Eve, we played a dice game Judy Covert had taught us in the past. Judy won, as usual. With her perpetual luck you would think she could be a successful gambler at a casino. Guess she is content to trounce family in card and dice games.

Judy, Pam, Rick Covert

The cousins, Marlin, Pam, Rick and Judy

We left the North Houston area on the 26th and sailed through downtown Houston without experiencing any traffic problems. Last night, and again tonight, we are camped at Goose Island State Park located on the gulf coast. We have heard much about this campground on our previous Texas travels. It always seems to be full and anyone who has been here raves about the facility. Park staff recommended we camp on the ocean side campground, due to the low overhanging trees and narrow entry slots at the forest campground. We followed their recommendations and located an easy to pull into site.

This part of the park resembles a whale's tail shaped spit that extends past a natural inlet where the boat landing is located. Yesterday afternoon we walked out to the end of the long, long, long fishing pier.

The water looks to be only two or three feet deep, with extensive oyster beds as far as you can see. Even the sand bar appears to be made of oyster shells.

This morning we walked from this campground over to the forest section.

The ocean side sites are directly on the gulf.

This recreation building was built by the CCC in 1933. One more of the many CCC projects we have seen in Texas parks.

Part of our walk was on the Turks Cap trail. The oyster shell path lead through a thick forest of live oaks that reminded me of the Hobbits going through the enchanted forest. (minus the oyster shells)

A thick tangle of twisted branches could be quite creepy if you let your imagination run wild.

We wandered throughout the forest campsites and decided it was much larger and more to our liking than the ocean side. The sites were no where as intimidating as we were led to believe. My personal driver could back into most of them with ease!

When we were returning, we again crossed the channel inlet where the boat landing was located. It was just after noon and several boats were coming in and several going out. Some were fishing boats, but most were powerful air boats carrying duck hunters out to duck blinds somewhere in the bay. We were fascinated, not only by the boats, but by the well trained Labrador dogs riding along with the hunters.