Vagabond Tales- Guadeloupe National Park

Started off early to drive to Guadalupe N.P. The weather was just about perfect. Nice cool day to hike. Stopped at the visitor’s center and immediately had our mental challenge for the day….Match the fossil with the ocean plant/animal it came from.

First clouds we have seen in these deep blue skies.
It was challenging. Suffice it to say, we did not get 100% correct.

Took a quick tour of their museum and watched an overview movie of the area. We love those!

This little guy is a ring-tailed cat. What animal do you think it is related to?

Hiked a short hike, right behind the visitor’s station, The Pinery or Pine Spring Stage Stand built in 1858 as a station on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route…Saint Louis to San Francisco. Pictures of the ruins to follow.

Looks like they may be figuring out if they might
renovate as they have supports at the back of it.

This wasn’t too long of a hike so we headed over to frijole Ranch and Museum and the Smith Springs hike. Had lunch with a couple from England. We shared a table as it was crowded with a Road Scholar group visiting the museum.

Notice the trail…so many small stones…like walking on marbles. Love our pine needle trails at home!
One of the Smith Springs making this a perfect area for farming.
The Santa Rita Prickly Pears turn a red to red purple
during stress from cold or drought.
This tree has personality.
Texas Madrone- evergreen.
There was a couple of volunteers working here from Louisiana. Both were painting canvases when we came in. Interesting couple and history.
An island in the dessert, a guidepost for early settlers signaling the halfway mark on their journey to California.

If we hadn’t hiked enough…we took Onyx on a 45 minute walk on the Lake Loop trail at our campground. Not being able to take her on trails in the National Parks is tough but we certainly understand. With this hike we totaled 14,533 steps…5.1 miles and 3 floors of elevation.

Took several shots of this and can’t figure out what is reflecting. Oh, well.

22 thoughts on “Vagabond Tales- Guadeloupe National Park

  1. I love the cloud picture…..you should paint that later 😀 The cat looks like it has a lemur’s tail?? Love you guys

      1. Thank you, Karol Lynn! We are enjoying it. They are calling for another high wind couple of days! THAT…We are not particularly fond of! When does your brother come?

  2. Beautiful pictures!!!! You always have had a knack for odd scenery, which I love. I loved the tree with the personality. I know that you guys are having a great time! Great pictures of you, Harry and Onyx.
    A journey of a lifetime!
    Love you guys
    💕😊

      1. I will keep trying!! Pretty day here in Houston. so sorry we missed you. M.E.

      1. If you get near Phoenix, be sure to contact Cindy. She has horses, ponies and dogs galore and I’m sure would love to see you both.

      2. We will be going through Phoenix and we would love to see Cindy but we are only driving through and we have arranged to visit our nephew and his family in Litchfield Park on the way . Harry remembers fondly the early days of visits to the Owen family and pony rides!

      3. Oh too bad. She also has a home in ShoLo, AZ if you’re near there. Hugs! M.E.

  3. Love the picture of Dad and Onyx. The stone path, blue sky and water. Nice photography! Love you guys.

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