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Donna M. ByrneDonna M. Byrne
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Donna M. Byrne

March - May 2019
50/50/50
50th Wedding Anniversary
50th State Visited (Hawaii)
50th State Added to Union Read more
  • 73footprints
  • 2countries
  • 60days
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  • 37.2kmiles
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  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    1
    Day 10

    Dripping Springs, Texas

    April 1, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Driving toward Dripping Springs we started seeing signs along the Old San Antonio Road and Texas State Road 21 telling us we were on the Original El Camino Real de los Tejas. Okay.

    Turns out these roads, and there are many of them in this country and Cuba, were built by the Spanish kingdom. The one Denny and I were driving on was the Spanish mission trail which ran through Texas and into Louisiana. Apparently it played a major role in the settlement, development and history of Texas.

    We started seeing our first beautiful Texas bluebonnets today along with the brightly colored orange Indian Paintbrushes. These were scattered alongside the highway as soon as we entered the Hill Country.

    Tomorrow promises to be filled with fields of them. Fingers crossed.

    Finished up the day with some real Texas BBQ at a place called Salt Lick - Joe and Marilyn's favorite spot.

    Thanks for the recommendation!    Read more

  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    1
    1
    Day 11

    Brownwood, Texas

    April 2, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    The little Native American girl overheard the elders of her tribe talking about how to ease the great drought. The Great Spirit decreed that a sacrifice of their most prized possession was required. The young girl went out and threw her beloved cornhusk doll into a fire. Her beautiful doll, dressed in a deerskin robe with horse hair braids and BLUE feathers, burned completely to ash. She then scattered the ashes to the east, west, north and south.

    In the morning the land was covered in green with magnificent patches of blue everywhere.

    We saw those magnificent patches of blue all over the Texas Hill Country today, the famous Texas bluebonnets.

    The orange Indian Paintbrush wildflowers bloom at the same time as the bluebonnets. There is a great legend about this flower as well.

    Author Tomie dePaola's book of Native American legends was one that I often shared with my class. Check him out.

    Denny and I started the day at the LBJ Ranch located in Stonewall, Texas. President Lyndon Baines Johnson loved it here. It is where he was born, where he first attended school and where he died and was buried in the family cemetery under two massive oak trees.

    As we drove around the ranch, we encountered some of the direct descendants of Johnson's Hereford cattle. They still roam this Texas White House.

    Joe and Marilyn, buddies of ours from our Chicago days, happened to be vacationing in Texas - they live in Kansas - so we hooked up with them for lunch today. We met at - where else - the Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls.

    A really great day.    Read more

  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    Day 12

    Lubbock, Texas

    April 3, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    The contrast between the pump jacks and wind turbines was on stark display all along our route today as we traveled through west Texas.

    They call the turbines the State Bird of Texas, with good reason. There are over 10,000 of them in the state, which makes Texas the nation's leader in wind energy. It beats out the state in second place - Iowa - by a huge margin.

    We could not believe our eyes. Mile after mile as far as the eye could see were wind turbines. Thousands of them. It seems to be a really great deal for all parties involved. The farmers rent the land to the wind farm operators so everyone makes a profit. Not to mention the jobs that are brought into the area and the lower energy costs.

    A real win-win for all.

    Denny and I arrived in Lubbock, Texas 60 years and a few months after "The Day The Music Died."

    Buddy Holly was born here and after that fateful plane crash on February 3, 1959 he was buried here.

    We played his music as we drove into town singing along to some of our favorite songs. With his signature horn-rimmed glasses and Fender Stratocaster guitar he cut quite a figure in his/our time.

    "True Love Ways"
    "Peggy Sue"
    Oh, Boy"
    "That'll Be the Day"
    "Maybe Baby"

    Thank you, Buddy.    Read more

  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    Day 13

    Roswell, New Mexico

    April 4, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Our drive today took us past more pump jacks and freshly plowed fields of iron rich red soil.

    Goodbye Texas. Hello New Mexico.

    The landscape sure was different once we crossed into the Land of Enchantment. We started looking for Walter White from Breaking Bad. Then suddenly we saw Sardine Mountain in the distance. Nice.

    Denny and I toured the UFO Museum in Roswell and spent some time at the Spring River Park and Zoo. They are just getting things up and running so we didn't get to see the antique carousel - which was the main reason for going. We did enjoy the antics of the black bears and loved seeing Gus and Lake, two rescued bald eagles. Their injuries were so severe they could not be returned to the wild.

    So far, no alien sightings but we will keep an eagle eye out.    Read more

  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    1
    Day 14

    Alamogordo, New Mexico

    April 5, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    These dunes are made for walking . . .
    And that's just what we did.

    The largest gypsum dunefield in the world covers 275 square miles and has settled over the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico.

    And Denny and I got to walk on them today!

    The White Sands National Monument is nestled in-between the Sacramento Mountains to the east and the San Andreas Mountains to the west affording spectacular views all around.

    Finished up the day at a little Mexican restaurant called Margo's with wine margaritas.    Read more

  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    Day 15

    Las Cruces, New Mexico

    April 6, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We met the caravan at Tularosa High School in Tularosa, New Mexico at 6:30 AM and drove escorted through the White Sands Missle Testing Range to Trinity Site where the first atomic bomb was tested at 5:29:45 AM on July 16, 1945.

    Security was very tight because we were actually driving on an active testing range. The army has an Open House twice a year to view ground zero, where the actual detonation of the bomb took place.

    A lava stone obelisk was erected to mark the spot.    Read more

  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    11
    Day 16

    Tucson, Arizona

    April 7, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Dry. Very, very dry.

    Las Cruces, New Mexico only gets 9-10 inches of rain FOR THE WHOLE YEAR! Contrast that with Virginia's annual rate of 43 inches.

    The land is dusty. Sandy. Very little green around except where we saw some irrigation ditches that provide water to the crops. Then you had lush fields of green.

    And pecan trees. We saw mile after mile of pecan trees.

    The drive from Las Cruces, New Mexico to Tucson, Arizona was filled with warning signs about dust storms.

    Pull onto shoulder.
    Turn off car.
    No headlights.
    No brake lights.
    Buckle up.

    Wow! Thank goodness we did not have a lot of wind.

    But we did have trains. Lots and lots of trains carrying all sorts of products.

    I love trains.

    We arrived in Tucson where the landscape is a little greener and dotted with palm trees and cacti.

    After all, they get 11 - 12 inches of rain a year.    Read more

  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    Day 17

    Mesa, Arizona

    April 8, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Visiting the Tucson Mountain District of the Saguaro National Park just west of Tucson was literally like stepping back in time. Some of these giant cacti are 150 years old and sit on the floor of the Sonoran Desert.

    There is a great trail in the park which leads up to Signal Hill. At the top of the hill ancient people called the Hohokam carved their stories in the rocks. These petroglyphs are very well preserved in this dry, arid environment.

    Finished the day watching UVA win the National Championship.

    Wahoo Wah!    Read more

  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    Day 18

    Yuma, Arizona

    April 9, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    First of all - we've heard from some of you that you
    have had some problems with the travel blog - FindPenguins. Sorry about that. The app was updated yesterday so maybe the issues will be resolved. Sure hope so.

    Second of all - today was Denny Byrne's 73rd birthday!

    Happy Birthday to Dennis Wm. Byrne. 🎂

    We hung around Phoenix checking out the downtown area and then headed out of town. The temperature was 96 degrees and the wind was blowing like crazy.

    By the time we rolled into Yuma the gusts were up to 50 mph and the air was filled with dust. Thank goodness we didn't have to pull off the road.

    We heard about a major snowstorm hitting the Midwest. Hard to believe we are in the same country.    Read more

  • TravelerDonna M. Byrne
    Day 19

    El Centro, California

    April 10, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Yuma, Arizona is the oldest city established on the Colorado River and just chock full of history. We spent some time at the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park.

    Yikes!

    The prison was built in 1876 and many of the buildings have been preserved and look exactly as they did 143 years ago including the Sally Port - the check point where prisoners entered and left, the Cell Block and - wait for it - the Dark Cell.

    An iron cage was placed inside a cave carved out of rock. Prisoners would be placed in the Dark Cell for various infractions of the rules. Not a fun time.

    We climbed up a reconstructed Guard Tower which sits on top of the Prison's original water supply and then visited the cemetery. 104 inmates were buried in this harsh place.

    Right next to the Prison is the Ocean to Ocean Bridge. It was built across the Colorado in 1915 and allowed folks to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific without having to get on a ferry. The Union Pacific added a railroad crossing in 1923 and as luck would have it a train crossed the river right before we left.

    Denny and I had lunch in the historic section of Yuma at a place called Prison Hill Brewing Company. The owner and brewmaster is the great grandson of Jesus Gil, who served time at the Prison.

    As we drove along the California/Mexico border we passed the Imperial Sand Dunes and in the distance we could see part of the 654 mile Border Wall which was built in 2006 as a result of the Secure Fence Act. One of the locals told us where to look for it and sure enough there it was.

    Laundry and repacking filled the night. We board the ship in San Diego on Saturday.    Read more

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