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| Instead
of going to Matagorda
for my 77th birthday my wife Yvonne and I decided to go to Lake
Jackson to find the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory on Buffalo Camp
Bayou. We left Houston
on 288 South headed toward a bird banding event was scheduled but
they were out of birds to band so we only took a few pictures and
left. While hunting for our second stop we made what we now recognize
was an illegal U-turn. Immediately a motorcycle officer stopped us.
He asked for our driving credentials and called in to headquarters. |
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Like we have
discovered previously, we are never as invisible as we would like
to think. This officer had nailed us “dead to rights” and we were
in line for a warning ticket. We gave him our Texas
Escapes "Press" card and explained we were celebrating my birthday.
While waiting to hear back from headquarters, he mentioned several
nationally famous people were residents here and how hard the city
tries in keeping a beautiful "serene and clean" image. “If pot-holes
are reported this week – they aren’t here next week.”
As we talked, I showed him our printed information and destination
map. He said we had just left where we thought we were headed. That
meant we had completed our planned trip, so Yvonne mentioned we were
looking for a good place to eat. The officer suggested many restaurants
but we settled on seafood in Surfside. On the way there we saw a sign
reminding us we could cross the toll bridge at San Luis Pass and eat
at Gaido’s where we really love to eat.
This was probably not the best way, but as experience has taught us,
talking with local people makes both of you feel great and have a
sense of pride in the encounter. A couple of blocks after the officer
and we had parted, he came alongside us again at a traffic signal.
He said, “I admire your car and I forgot to wish you a happy birthday."
Lake Jackson
is a great place to visit but we don’t recommend any U-turns. Our
best photo excursions somehow always seem to include the police and
a bit of chocolate.*
*The
Texarkana McCartney Hotel Fiasco of 2005 |
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Photographer's
Note:
We came into Houston from
Rockport on
Highway 59 and went out on 288S. The accompanying photos are in order:
The Houston skyline, the presidents (Artist David Adickes) near the
Brazoria County
line. At Hwy 35 & 288 west of Angleton
the Stephen F. Austin statue stands and finally the Buffalo Camp area
and Bayou. - Ken
“Mr. Third Coast” Rudine, July 22, 2008 |
Statues of presidents
by Artist David Adickes
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine |
Where
we go bird banding
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine |
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