We’re within the boundaries of the famous King Ranch though not on ranch-owned land.  That is now in parcels but the ranch continues to be larger than the state of Rhode Island.  Today cattle are only a part of the business.  Remember the movie Giant?  Oil and gas are a big part of the business.  Today half of the land produces sorghum and cotton.  Tourism also provides big dollars.  We bought a birding tour and hunters pay thousands of dollars to sport here where the game is managed to insure abundance and large racks.

The weather is clearly that of south Texas.  We turned on the heater this morning but this afternoon the thermometer read 79 degrees.  The climate is reflected in the vegetation.  Palms, Live Oaks, Bunch Moss, and Spanish Moss indicate warmth and humidity.  Many of the trees are deciduous, but some of these are already coming into bloom.  Spring is coming.  On the ranch tractors are pulling 30 meter wide disc units across the fields to prepare the soil for planting. 

We watch the machines to see what birds are chasing them.  We’re enjoying the south Texas “specialties” including Green Kingfisher, Great Kiskadee, and Green Jays.  Much fun.  We’re chasing “accidentals” from Mexico that we have not yet seen.  So far no luck, but several good birds are in Brownsville now.  Will they be there next week after our arrival?

Our travels go well with only minor crises.  I had a dental emergency last week and enjoyed a root canal in Bay City.  We have to make a long drive back there from here on Friday to have a new crown mounted. 

Our other equipment, including the motorhome and gear are doing well.  Our winter pilgrimage along the southern border of Texas continues. 

We admire the state of independence here.  The Lone Star Flag is prominently displayed.  It brings to mind the Texas rebellion and its annexation by the United States.  We wonder if that had not happened.  Today the border would be farther north and the contrast between the two nations would be not at the Rio Grande but on the land.  Desperate people would be there trying to leave Texas instead of trying to enter it.  We are very thankful for the blessings of differences in culture and institutions (or documents) that make this so.  We as gringos may enjoy the quaint and colorful Mexico across the border.  Those on the other side crave our peace and prosperity. 

The Pope who seems to be strangely naive is coming here at the end of the week to ask Mr. Obama to tear down this wall.  He seems to think that open borders will somehow solve the problems of the world.  Those of us behind it seem to think that it insulates us from them.