As a travel blogger, it feels strange to have been in Aransas Pass for over a week without writing a word. Maybe because I don't quite know what I am doing here, with these words and images.

I was stimulated by motion and now we've stopped. And the world is new in a different way as we live here among palm and gnarly wide-spreading short trees and explore and experience a share of warmth and sun while our friends at home are overwhelmed with cold and snow.

Driving through Houston in the rain was an ordeal. Margaret's friend who lives there told her to tell me to expect rain. She was right. It was harrowing to be speeding along, at times in 6 lanes of traffic with poor visibility, and exciting to witness the spread of the city. There were glimmers of seeing the expressway system as art. That appreciation dimmed as we saw an accident on the opposite side of the road, with flashing lights, ambulances, fire engines, responders in yellow, and a long line of traffic building up behind the emergency cessation of motion. This happened 2 more times as we wound through the city!

Finally we exited from the highway past the city centers, and pulled into safe haven—a Walmart. But, due to town regulations, we had to get on the highway again and travel a few miles down the road to another Walmart. The next morning, after a peaceful night despite sirens and train whistles, we set off in fair weather to Portobelo RV & Mobil Home Park at Aransas Pass. And here we are.