Baby Boomer Traveling: Day-Trippin' Yea!

Today was quite simply made for a day trip out of San Antonio. After working around the house, on the computer and the garden yesterday, I left out early this morning and headed toward the Texas Hill Country for a little rest and relaxation. First stop was the Cibolo Nature Center in Boerne.

Now my idea of R & R is to take my camera and seek out great spots, interesting shots and spend the day taking pictures all kinds of things. One thing I was not expecting however, nor wanting to shoot was a snake. Today I took pictures of not just a snake, not just two snakes but THREE snakes!

I should be perfectly clear on the fact that I do not like snakes, and was certainly not expecting to run across any. As a matter of fact, I could have gone my entire life without meeting a snake in person (so to speak) especially one that is not safely behind a wall of glass. But I have been told that this is snake mating season and with the rain that we have been having, they have moved out of their normal locations to stay dry.

News flash: The first two snakes I met, were in water. At my first stop of the Cibolo Nature Center, I chose the creek trail head and headed that direction. As I reached the water's edge, I noticed that there were quite a few people milling around the creek. So being the determined person that I am I chose to cross over to the opposite bank for some photographs. I picked my way gingerly through the water with a backpack of camera equipment on and a camera hanging around my neck and being held up with one hand over my head as the stones in the creek were covered in moss and slippery. I was paying very close attention to my feet and very little attention to the wildlife in the water until I was about a foot away from Larry (snake #1) and Curly (snake #2). They were about a yard away from the opposite shore.

I screamed "SNAKE!!!! SNAKE!!!! SNAKE!!!" then proceeded to drop my camera and high-tail it (for those who are not versed in Texan, that is a Texan expression) back to where I came from waving my hands in the air. I did make the other bank and thanks to a loud voice managed in the process to clear the area.

After a few minutes (and I do mean a very few minutes) I left the area and moved on down the trail thinking water and snakes are not for me so I'll try dry land instead. Yep, you guessed it. On the trail in front of me several yards from the creek was Mo (snake #3) stretched out across the trail. Yep, right again. I screamed once more "SNAKE!!!!! SNAKE!!!! SNAKE!!!!" and then turned tail (another Texan expression) and ran. Yes backpack, camera and me. I had had enough of them legless wonders.

In answer to your silent question, no I have no idea what type of snakes they were. I didn't stay to introduce myself, nor did I stick around and examine them to determine their pedigree. I repeat snakes are not my thing.

So after those two amazing adventures I decided to bid goodbye to the Cibolo Nature Center and head to a nice safe field of bluebonnets. So off I drove, leaving behind several snakes who I'm sure were very unhappy about my loud and rude behavior as well as several scared people who didn't know whether to stick around and take their chances with snakes or do what I did and exit stage "adios" to other locales.

Next stop for me was bluebonnet heaven, better known as a large field filled with bluebonnets, a few albino bluebonnets (don't know exactly what they're called so I'll just give them this name for the present), some Indian Paintbrushes, some Queen Ann's lace and a few other assorted varieties of wildflowers. I am happy to report that the word must have quickly spread among the Texas wildlife to steer clear of that crazy lady with the camera and no additional incidents occurred.

Now I know that I've interrupted the New Orleans posts for this little day trip, and I hope you don't mind that I did. But I thought you too might like to meet Larry, Curly and Mo. It is after all the least I can do; take you right along with me wherever I go and whatever I see. But don't worry folks, the next post you see here will bring you back to the Big Easy.

This tree was very near the parking lot at the Cibolo Nature Center. Not sure what it is, but I liked it.

Another tree that was near the entrance and parking lot of the Cibolo Nature Center.

I found this lovely little flower on the trail to the creek.

Another shot from the trail on the way to the creek.

Creek trail flower.

At the creek.

One of the bridges on the trail to the creek.

This was so interesting. There are actually two parts to the flower the bottom part with all the little buds and then the wing part up above. Found on the creek trail.