Snapshots: Roll on Highway--Part 4

We were only at our rental house for two full days before we had to start the drive home*, so we left Saturday morning. We didn't try to get going really early, both because we knew we would be stopping somewhere along the way for the night, and because A. wanted to see the wooden boat museum in Port Aransas.

We weren't sure anyone would be there on New Year's Eve, but when we pulled in, there were two of the retired guys that volunteer there and they were more than happy to show us around.

Calling it a museum is a bit of a stretch. What it really is is an old boatworks that became a "museum" when the old guy who ran it died. They kept all his old tools and things that were in his shops--I guess that's the museum part--but they actually still build wooden boats there. It's even still called Farley Boat Works. So I would say it's more a way to carry on the knowledge of the craft than just a look at the old tradition. Which is much cooler, in my opinion.

A. and the boys were fascinated. There were several old boats for them to look at.

One of the display boats inside the shop.

A historic Gulf scow, used to ferry cargo from the big ships in the Gulf to the shore before they dug out the deeper bay route.

Poppy was not so enthused. She was mad that we weren't at the beach again, so I spent most of the time we were there dealing with her. That included letting her take some pictures for me.

All of which included her finger.

After A. had his fill of inspecting boats, we got on the road. We had considered stopping at one of the beaches that were on our way to the land bridge we took to get off the island, but there was such heavy fog, we didn't.

Very unhappy beach girl in that van, for sure.

We did stop again in San Antonio this day, as A. was determined to see one of the missions. There are several open to the public. The biggest ones were PACKED, though, because of the holiday crowds, so we went to San Francisco de Espada, which is one of the smaller ones.

Lots of impressive stone work.

A. was very pleased. A day with both wooden boats and giant complexes of stone buildings is his kind of day.

Also a really impressive old mesquite tree that was perfect for climbing.

Something my monkey children lost no time in doing.

I do not have a photo of the actual church, because there were so many people going in and out, and I didn't want to take a picture with some random person in it. That'd be weird.

We didn't stay too long, as we had many miles to cover, so back on the road we went. And drove and drove. And drove.

We stopped for the night in Brady, Texas. I don't have any photos of Brady, because it was entirely unremarkable. Very nice motel, though.

The next day was another full day in the car. The only photo I took this day was when we got off the main road somewhere around Brownfield, Texas, to make sandwiches and let the children and dogs run in the wheat fields.

Which are millions of acres of red sand. Literally sand. If we had tried to pull off on the side of the road, we would have gotten stuck. Perfect for running, though.

And then we drove some more. At the end, due to endless bickering and a slightly hysterical child who was SO DONE with the car, I had to get all the way in the back seat of the van to entertain the troops for the last few hours. 

We did finally make it home, on New Year's Day, 2023. And there was much rejoicing. 

The end.

* Yes, we were traveling longer than we were actually at the sea. We should have stayed another day, but it felt like a long enough trip as it was. Next time.