last stop in TX...the gulf coast!

today marks our last full day in Texas; it's been 43 days of family, fun and freakishly strange weather patterns.  we kind of did this diagonal thing across the state, starting in the northwest corner at Guadeloupe National Monument and meanderd our way to the southeast corner & Gulf Coast Region...yes, we went the long way!

our 1st stop in the region was Brazos Bend State Park, best known for it's alligators!  there was a significant difference in the landscape and scenery as we headed towards the gulf coast, long gone was the cactus and prairie shrub, we are now in the middle of swamps, marshes and spanish moss. eager for an alligator sighting, i did my best 'alligator bait' impression and we went for a hike.  3 miles with zero alligator sightings; apparently 50 degrees is too cold for them...sissy's!  we did get a visit from the armadillos...they can jump 6 feet when scared by a red, feisty wiener dog!

Sea Rim State Park is our very last stop in this super-sized state, and it it where the gulf of mexico meets the marshlands.  still on the hunt for an alligator before we leave Texas, we took a long walk on a boardwalk that meanders through the marsh and lands at the beach.  No visual on the 8' beast that is rumored to hang here, but we did find gator tracks on the beach...my retractable leash just got shorter!

tomorrow we invade Louisiana, fair warning people...ready or not, here we come!