Ft. Worth Stockyards

We took Noel to the Forth Worth Stockyards for an early 8th birthday.  The Stockyards area is one of the oldest areas of Ft. Worth.  Originally it was one of the busiest marketing regions of the southwest.  Over 160 million head of cattle, horses, sheep, mules, and hogs were sold here.  Today it is a great day destination with restaurants, saloons, galleries, museums, shopping and entertinment.

Twice daily a cattle drive is conducted along Main Street of the Stockyards

Texas Longhorns. 

Sockyard Maze.  This maze was featured on the 6th season of "the Amazing Race"

Paul and Noel planning their strategy for the maze.  This was the highlight of Noel's day. They had to collect cards that spelled out maze.  The cards were scatterred throughout and it It took them 22 minutes to complete the maze.

Noel on Texas Longhorn

Barre & Marion with "Wild Bill Hickok"

Replica of 1840's Concord Coach that ran the southern route between St. Louis and San Francisco.  We all enjoyed a ride around the stockyards. 

Roughriders game



Dr. Pepper Stadium, home of the Frisco, Texas, Rough Riders, farm team of the Texas Rangers



Michelle, Noel, and Marion at the game.  The game was played on Saturday night, the night of the many tornados to the north in Oklahoma and Kansas.  The wind the night of the game was strong and many balls were hit out of park.



Paul and Noel in the stands.  We enjoyed the game as the Rough Riders won the game

Noel in her Brownie vest prior to leaving for her meeting.  Paul is very busy working on the last stages of the new game "Borderlands 2".  He is spending many extra hours working to get it ready for release in the late summer.  Michelle is busy as a volunteer at Noel's school and as the newly elected President of the PTA at McGowen Elementary School.

Our Trip South



We started off our trip by visiting my high school best friend and his wife Theresa at there home on Virginia's Northern Neck. (photo is from a previous trip to previous home in Virginia).  We left Massachusetts with temperatures in the 40's.  It was in the 60's and low 70's in Virginia.  They have a beautiful home on the shoe of Chesapeake Bay at ther confluence with the Potomac River

The incentive for our trip south was to attend the NCAA Frozen Four National Hockey Championship at Tampa Bay, Florida.  Boston College won the Championship 4-1 over Ferrris State University of Michigan.  We stayed with Barre's cousin Gordon and wife Merrily north of Tampa.  We visited them for 9 days and visited many local attractions while enjoying  temperatures in the 80's and low 90's.

                                               



Road to Bayport through subtropical vegetation



Bayport Marsh along shoreline.  This area is frequented by Manatees.



Sinkholes are a common problem along the coastal communities north of Tampa.  This sinkhole is on the golf course at the development where Gordon and Merrily live. 

Spanish moss typically covers the branches of the large Live Oaks throughout the south.

Gordon, Merrily and Marion viewing the remains of the Yulee Sugar Press at Homosassa, Florida.

We visited Homossassa and ate dinner at a restaurant overlooking Monkey Island (above).  The island is the home of 5 Spider Monkeys that are descendents of previous moneys placed on the "island".  The island was the result of dredging operations in the waterway.  The monkeys remain on the island since they do not like the water and will not swim.  (Google: Monkey Island, Homoasassa, Florida).  We caught a quick glimpse of a Manatee in the river.

Barre and Merrily spent part of the last day canoing 5.5 miles down the Weekie Wachee River from the main spring which produces 117,000,00 gallons of water each day.  The water is crystal clear and a constant 72 degrees.  (See: Weekiewachee.com).  We saw numerous fishes and many interesting shoreline aquatics. 

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Bald Cypress in the Weekie Watchee River.

Our trip now continues on to Texas to visit, Paul, Michelle, and Noel.  On the way we will stop to visit Liz and Robert in Louisiana.  Barre was Robert's Teaching Assistant at the University of Michigan Biological Station years ago.