APRIL 21 - MAY 2, 2025 ARIZONA,NM,TX

Monday, April 21, 2025

This morning we set out westward.  Our goals: to see TX hill country flowers, the Franklin Mts near El Paso, friend Anne in Silver City, NM.  Then on to Cave Creek Canyon birding area just over the border in Portal, AZ, a visit with Beth's brother Tom and his wife Sue in Benson, and then some wandering around a bit of Arizona. Possible stops at Big Bend and/or Guadalupe Mts on the return.

It's 69 degrees as we leave home but isn't supposed to get too hot.  This time of year is a bit of a crap shoot weather-wise, although it seems that weather in general is that way these days!

It becomes apparent as we travel through Brenham that the bluebonnets have finished their display for this year.  We see only a few.  Indian paintbrushes and some other flowers are still in evidence, but fading. We hope that the hill country will be better.

We decide to visit Wildseed Farms near Fredericksburg where we are bound to find flowers, and it doesn't disappoint.  Lovely poppies and lots of other flowers - even a few bluebonnets!  We haven't been here in this area in a couple of years and my, how it has changed.  

There is now a fee to tour the gardens and they have added a vineyard.

Wineries are EVERYWHERE in this area.  We remembered a few, but now they are prolific!  The vines are just beginning to fill out. Can't imagine how they all stay in business!As we continue on there are also lots of distilleries and breweries. Bourbon, Vodka, Rum, Whiskey... and lots of local brews!  Advertisements for Wine tours, tastings, etc.  Tons of development.  All a little sad, in our view as some of the charm of the Hill Country is gone. Driving through Fredericksburg shows a thriving tourism.

Some pretty flowers along 29W and back into countryside and small towns.  More bluebonnets here.

We plan to stop in Iraan, as there are several campgrounds there, but we find them all filled.  It looks like semi-permanent campers who are probably working in the area oilfield industry.  So we resort to a nearby picnic area where we have stayed before. It is on a hill overlooking Iraan, and we only see two other visitors while there. There is a steady, strong wind which offsets the near 90 degrees, but the wind actually rocks the Trek a bit as we sleep!

This is the view one way from our site.  The other way is hills and wind turbines, Iraan, and a hazy sunset.