Star Party 2019 - White Sands

We stayed over night in Alamogordo, New Mexico, after driving from Carlsbad, through Cloudcroft, and down the mountain. We thought about visiting the solar observatory but is wasn't open the day we were there. Oh well. I guess a trip back is in order.

We went early to White Sands and had to wait for the doors to open. We purchased our gifts first this time and even bought a sand disc. (Yes, you can return for credit but with our normal Star Party trips including Monahans, we decided to keep it).

R and I decided to sit down in one of the slightly less windy areas and watch the fun!

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Texas History Tour - Texas Independence - Washington on the Brazos

Because of all the construction on I35, it was recommended to us to travel across Central TX and use I45 instead. So, on our trip down to San Antonio, we went north of College Station. We decided on the way home, to go south of BCS and stop at one last history spot - Washington on the Brazos, where Texas Independence was declared. (It's was also a nice distance from Goliad and a great stopping point for lunch) The original monument next to Independence Hall This state historic site also incorporates the etched windows. Probably because of all the trees, these etched windows are easier to see. We walked down the side streets of town and went down to the Brazos River. There were lots of pretty flowers and some wild grapes along the trail. Our first glimpse of the Brazos River Here's the area where traders along the river would land and bring their cargo/passengers. Pecan tree that was here during the Texas Revolution We enjoyed the break from ridi...

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Texas History Tour - Spanish influence - Mission Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo de Zuniga

On the grounds of Goliad State Park is Mission Nuestra Senora del Espiritu Santo de Zuniga o. For this visit and our visit to Presidio la Bahia, we deviated from normal Texas afternoon behavior and visited both - in the heat! Why? Because mosquitoes aren't as numerous in the heat of the afternoon! Mission Espiritu Santo was where the CCC applied all they learned at the visitors center across the road. Most of the buildings have been restored/reconstructed and several are used as museums. The brickwork that we saw from the visitors center and many samples of the colors they re-created. Spanish culture was very vibrant! We also saw many examples of geometric shapes - shaped windows, rolled arches, built-in wall basins with rounded fronts. "Pirates lived here!" ~ R This mission had many textile operations here - weaving, dying, basket making.... Looks like the window seat we saw at the visitors center. This appears to be ruins of a building....

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