Texas Tour - February 12, 2008

Leaving metropolitan Houston this morning, we were driving through an area of Texas where many row crops are planted. Sorghum, rice, soybeans, corn and cotton are raised in flat fields that stretch from horizon to horizon. Currently the fields are just ridges of plowing, although we kept looking for some corn to be up. By noon we were in the city of Corpus Christi, right on Corpus Christi Bay (which leads into the Gulf of Mexico). Our first stop was at the Texas State Aquarium, where we enjoyed a demonstration of dolphin training, followed by a wonderful tour through the exhibits. The waters of the Gulf Coast have everything from alligators to sea horses. Our next stop was at the U.S.S. Lexington, an aircraft carrier with a flight deck the length of three football fields. We could climb all over the ship, from the bridge to the lower levels. The finale there was a powerful IMAX movie, "Fighter Pilot." A final treat was a drive along the waterfront where the homes certainly belong to the rich, and perhaps some famous. Our hotel tonight is right across the street from the water. Breakfast tomorrow morning will be on the 11th floor in a room with almost floor to ceiling windows, so we can't wait to
watch the sun rise over the Bay as we enjoy our complimentary start to tomorrow. A final note: temperatures in the mid-70s are certainly being enjoyed! - Laurel Johnson, Tour Director