Nearest town, McCoy, Texas

We made it through July and most of August - the typical summer period - without too much suffering. Oh, there have been some days with temps in triple digits, but all things considered it hasn't been terrible. Mostly work days with very few break days. This is the period of maximum oil field activity and the fewest number of Gate Guards available. Some of the smarter ones go north for the hottest months. But not us. So what does that tell you?

Gretel is growing rapidly and at five months is almost full-dog size. That's not quite right, She's still only half a dog high and a dog-and-a-half long. MOSTLY Annie and Gretel get along just fine. There are some instances of doggie games being played that become quite territorial, as with toys and/or treats. They can be at each others throats one minute and snuggled in their common bed the next as if nothing had happened.

The ranch we have been on the past month is an exotic wildlife game farm. I believe all the exotic animals are of African origin. We didn't get to see all the species (it's a big ranch and we are pretty much stuck in one place) but we have photos of a couple of the horned critters.

The sign on the gate. Many of the ranches have this type of sign, cut with a computerized laser or plasma cutter.

This photo, and the one below, show Blackbucks. There isn't much to judge scale to know the size of these animals. They are about the size of a goat, but their antlers are disproportionatley long.

I think this is a turkey vulture. Found this one catching some rays shortly after sunrise.

Here he is again with wings folded and keeping an eye on the little bird above.

This is how we get most of our exercise. Open the gate. Close the gate. Repeat.

August sunrise.

August sunset.

Mesquite sap (amber). The sunlight just radiates through it.

Another piece of amber. It is very hard, and not at all sticky.

This looks like a stick. In fact, the ground is covered with them and looks like a forest of sticks. Not sticks. This is a mud tube formed by a tiny, winged insect. The sand is moist when formed and then dries and hardens. That's all I know about this item.

It's common to see white ibis "grazing" with the cattle.

Another exotic species. Don't know the name of this one. It is larger than the blackbuck.

Gretel and Annie engaged in a doggy game. Just playing?

Wish this had sound so you could hear the growling and snarling going on.

Guess it couldn't have been all that serious.

Beauty in nature is where you find it.

This is the current view out our dining room window. We're now on a different ranch, but only about four miles from where we were. Slightly different scenery. Looks more like Texas brush country than African veldt. And no exotic animals here, either.

 

 

So, our RV life is still an adventure. There will not be any serious time off or serious travel for us the rest of this year. We will have a couple of months off, January and February, and then do plan a little travel later in the summer and fall of 2015. Watch for the next post, whenever it might be.