King Ranch

La Feria, TX  74º  Sunny & little windy  -- In case you are wondering why I always start out with location I am (with weather) --  I read, when I have time, a lot of blogs -- you see some on the side of this blog, and you can just click on them to read them, also --and quite often they refer to the weather or local trips, etc. but don't tell in that particular blog where the dickens they are.  Since there are some from all parts of the US and Mexico and Canada I find it a little disconcerting some times and read back many, many pages before I come up with hint as to where they are.
   Anyway, since I didn't get much posting last week, I will now bring up last Saturday when O & MJ Herzberg and A & C Ruhde and we went to King Ranch.  We left kind of early to make sure we got a space on the 11:00 am bus tour of the ranch, which we did.

  It was such a nice day (especially after the Thursday tour we had taken at King Aloe Vera Farm in the wind and the cold) and we had some goodies at a table near the Visitor Center.

There was an actual old Chuck Wagon there (no food, though) on display; and, it included a bread recipe.

This wagon was used for many years.  The photos on it showed canvas awnings that were pulled out over the sides when it was being used.

Carolyn found some cattle to ride while we were waiting for time to get on the bus.

We got on the bus, with several other people, and our tour guide Dusk drove the bus.

 Many stops were made for picture taking. 

 We saw a lot of fauna: horses, cattle, deer, turkeys, Caracara, hawks, mules, coyote, armadillo, turkey vultures, etc.;  as well as lots of flora: grasses, brush, cactus  etc., etc.  Dawn gave a good description of the working part of the ranch as well as history.  She had grown up on the ranch.

We drove by the "birthing pasture" and a couple of cows were in the process.

The ranch house is huge, though not large enough now to house all the King descendents, so they have to book times to be at the building.  We were not able to enter the house, but drove by it.

After leaving the 1 hour 45 minute tour we drove through Texas A & M Kingsville campus and to downtown where we toured the Museum and looked around at the

Lots to see and absorb.  Even though this was probably the 4th time we had been to these three locations I think I still learned something and found it interesting.  I did buy a book written by one of the sons of a worker (and he also worked) from the ranch written in 1950. 
Getting late in the afternoon we headed south and went to Bafflin Bay and ate lunch/supper at the Kings Inn Restaurant on  Laguna Salada.  They have no menu and sell fish, shrimp, scallops, etc. by the pound and serve it family style.  Depending on the amount you guess you need, it is a little pricey, but really good food.

Onion rings, shrimp, a scallop, french fried potatoes and slice of tomato.

Shrimp

Scallops

 

MJ will give me the dickens for this picture, but she was enjoying the shrimp.
We headed on down 77 and went west on 107 and south on Bass Road, seeing some area we hadn't seen.  Bass Road, to the north of Expressway 83 looks to be a good road for riding our Trikes.
Was a fun day.  Will fill you in soon on our tour of Kings Aloe Farm last Thursday, our touring Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge Wednesday and our picking oranges and grapefruit.  Remember, click on photos to make larger and give you a slide show.
Till later, Lynn