Messin' With Texas

We started our winter trip in late January. We had some problems with the rig that took extra time so we left on January 20th.  A week before we left our boxer mix, Max, started choking as though he had something caught in his throat.  We took him into our vet and after tests he said Max had congestive heart failure and put him on some medicine.  We left on our trip and headed to Waveland, MS, for a few days.  The area was pretty much rain and cool weather so we didn't get out much.  Max started to get worse so we went to another vet who recommended we take him to a cardiac vet in a specialty clinic in Louisiana.  We drove there and after more xrays, blood work, and an echo cardiogram they said there was a dark mass near his heart and trachea but they couldn't get to it.  So they hoped it was an infection and put him on a broad spectrum antibiotic.  We continued our trip down to Port O'Connor, TX, where we were spending a week on the Gulf.  

Crossing the Mississippi River.

There had been a lot of rain in Louisiana and the boggy areas along the interstate  were full of water. 

Outside Baton Rouge we traveled on a 30 mile bridge which crosses over the Atchafalaya Swamp. 

 

The area is a national wildlife refuge.

Port Charles on the Louisiana Texas border is a booming metropolis.

The Captain relaxing and getting a few zzz's while I was driving. 

Heading into Texas for a stop at the Welcome Center.

Snapped this picture on the way in.  It's a little blurry but it says, 'Watch For Snakes'.  I thought that was a unique greeting at the Welcome Center.

Houston in the distance.

NRG stadium where the Houston Texans play.

Lots of lanes and the traffic wasn't too bad because it was a Sunday.

As we headed into the country we noticed how many of the electricity poles tilted to one side.  

We arrived in Port O'Connor which is at the end of the world....or at least it seemed like it was.  

Took the dogs to the beach and Max seemed to be rallying.

Th shells on the beach were huge.  Lucy's tennis ball was placed alongside to show a comparison.

This is Gus who joined us on the beach so we could throw his ball for him.

Port O'Connor is a strange town.  The Gulf is on two sides and the Intracoastal Waterway on the third.  You could see large barges coming down the waterway heading out into the Gulf.  The town is very old and a mecca for fisherman.  That is about all it has other than a few stores and a restaurant or two.  But it has benefited (I use that word lightly) from the Texas oil money which has surged in the area.  There are also several large chemical plants within a half hour of the town.

A barge being pushed by a tug boat down the Intracoastal to the Gulf.  The house on the left has a wonderful view.

With the new money Port O'Connor has developed new housing projects near the water.  This section is right next to the Intracoastal Waterway and the houses actually sit in water.  Unfortunately, these big homes have blocked the view of the older residents of the town which I think is sad.  They are also gated communities so regular residents or visitors cannot get to the water.

Wherever you look, if it's near water, these big homes are going up. Notice the brave construction worker on the roof.

Another section in Port O'Connor being prepared for new housing.

 

In the distance is some type of an oil rig platform.

A pretty area but there wasn't much to do.

 

While in Port O'Connor our Max took a turn for the worse.  We rushed him to another vet in Victoria, TX, and he tried a different drug but it wasn't meant to be.  Max died  in our rig on January 30th.   He was a good dog and  we wish we would have just put him down earlier rather than trying the different drugs the vets touted.  In the end he suffered longer than he should have until his heart finally gave out.  Sadly, a lesson learned.     

One last view of Port O'Connor, TX.

Our next stop will be Mission, TX, and the beautiful Rio Grande Valley.  New views and an adventure or two.  Peace to all!