Sea Rim State Park was a new experience for us—no showers and a pit toilet.
Anticipating Sea Rim
Sea Rim was our first experience in a Texas State Park. It was chosen because it was along our southwest path and near Houston, where we have relatives. The ratings were good and I booked it without thoroughly researching. The day before we were to camp there, I read reviews from several sources. Three things that I read concerned me:
There were no indoor showers. Only outdoor showers for removing sand.
Allegators were prominently mentioned in the reviews. Sightings were numerous! Late night treks to the restroom concerned me.
Mosquitos were mentioned as being vicious. I had naively thought that since we were traveling in the winter, we would not have significant problems with them.
We adopted a stoic attitude, recognizing that not all of the time spent on this trip will be comfortable and there will be challenges. I told my husband I was going to be “pioneer woman”.
Camping at Sea Rim
It actually was not as bad as I feared. Our son told us that when he had been camping with no showers, they used baby wipes. I had stowed some towelettes designed for just that purpose from when my husband was in the hospital so we had a solution for the lack of a shower.
Site # 4
Though it was about 2 p.m. when we arrived, it was amazingly foggy. The sun was shining, but it barely showed through the fog. It looked very “other worldly.” Our campsite was simple as it was for only one night. It is a very long drive into Sea Rim through oil well facilities with little or no commerce and restaurant options were non-existent. My big guy cooked a nice meal for us. It was pleasant and bugs were not bothering us at that time.
We walked over the boardwalk to the beach and it was even foggier there, but it felt good to have the salt air blowing in us. It was so humid that my hair remained damp the entire time we were outside.
Foggy view of the gulfA foggy walk on the beach
We enjoyed our afternoon. We did not see a single alligator, which was fine by me, though my husband would have liked it.
An Evening with Mosquitoes
As soon as it was almost dark, the mosquito army arrived and we were under siege. At least two dozen managed to make it into our cabin and we were killing mosquitoes for at least an hour. I have identified about eight bites and my husband got quite a few too. Most unpleasant!
On the plus side, the temperature was comfortable and were fell asleep to the sounds and smell of the sea. The restroom was close and not bad, though it was what is described as a pit toilet. It was basically a building with a men’s and women’s toilet over a pit about six feet deep. Surprisingly, it did not smell bad. The facility was clean and well-maintained. I did look out for alligators as I made the trek.
After the Fog Lifted
The next morning, most of the fog had lifted and it was a beautiful, sunny day. This remote park was lovely if you don’t consider the mosquitoes. The ranger did say that they were very bad when we arrived.
Ready to go to AustinView of the marsh and boardwalk
The next stop is McKinney State Park in Austin and it has showers. Yea!
We built a fairly elaborate road trip around a wedding we were attending in Houston. The teardrop was considered for the trip, but June in Texas would be very hot and we wanted to be in town for the many festivities. Our road trip focused on the cities of Lafayette, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; and San Antonio, Texas.
Road Trip, Houston
Everyone loves a road trip! However, this one began with some difficulty. We drove straight through to Houston and on a longer path because of a tropical depression in the Gulf. It was almost 12 hours in the car and a record for me, however, we were not as exhausted as I would have imagined. That night, we went out for dinner at the famous (with Houston family members) restaurant, Los Tios.
The next day some family members took us on a tour of Houston. It was my first trip to Houston and it was greener and far more attractive than expected. We spent most of our time in the downtown museum district. There were enormous live oaks everywhere, which are my favorite trees.
With Our Hosts under Live Oak Trees
We rode a train around an enormous park in the area and visited the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural Science. I have visited many museums around the world and have never seen so many dinosaurs in one place. The Museum of Natural Science was very impressive.
Train RideP Piece in Ron Mueck ExhibitOnly Triceratops Mummy in the World
The Wedding
The rest of our time in Houston was spent on wedding activities. Firstly, there was a bridesmaid’s brunch the next morning and then a rehearsal dinner that night. The wedding was the next evening and it was beautiful. The bride and groom were so happy! The reception was at River Oaks Country Club and included an awesome band, delicious food, and an open bar. There were also Star Wars characters and light sabers, which the bride arranged as a surprise to the groom. We had breakfast with family the next day and then were on our way to San Antonio.
Rehearsal DinnerMr. & Mrs. John Barrere
Road Trip, San Antonio
Our hotel in San Antonio was on the outskirts of town. We knew we wanted to see Riverwalk and the Alamo but did not realize that the Alamo was in the same area as River Walk. It would have been much more convenient to have stayed at one of the Riverwalk hotels. If we go again, we will do that.
We took a Uber to Riverwalk that first night because we were not familiar with the area and wanted to be able to have a couple of drinks. Riverwalk is so very cool! We had a nice Italian dinner at Paesanos and took a boat tour.
RiverwalkPaesanos for Dinner
The Alamo
Our next day was all about the Alamo. Only a portion of the original is still standing and sits right inside a heavily commercial area. The Alamo played a very important role in Texas history, therefore, it was interesting to learn more about it. Two famous Americans, James Bowie and David Crockett, died in the battle there. The grounds behind the Alamo were incredible. We took a guided tour and also explored it on our own.
The AlamoLive Oak >200 years old at Alamo
Botanical Garden
We went to the San Antonio Botanical Garden the next morning and it was a beautiful place. I highly recommend it to anyone traveling to San Antonio. As it was raining, we rounded out the day with lunch at a local Mediterranean restaurant and a movie.
San Antonio Botanical GardenBotanical Garden
Leaving San Antonio, we had lunch with our cousins in New Branfels, where their longtime vacation home is located. It is a quaint resort town with cool restaurants and interesting shops. I could see why they love to spend time there. Our lunch was in an old building that was once a post office. The food and company were outstanding!
Lunch in New Branfels
Road Trip, Lafayette
Traveling home, we stayed a couple of nights in Lafayette because we wanted to break up the drive. Also, we wanted to check out the sights. We toured Avery Island, the home of the multi-generational family business that makes Tabasco Sauce. We were able to view the manufacturing process and receive free samples. One of the earlier family members established Jungle Gardens, a large Botanical Garden and bird sanctuary for the Snowy Egret, a bird that was in danger of extinction. It has flourished in the sanctuary. We also saw an alligator, an armadillo, and some deer.
Lastly, we ended the day with a movie (Wonder Woman) because it was raining and dinner at Bon Temps Grill. Both were very good!
Avery Island Tabasco Sauce FactoryBird CityJungle Garden
So we had a great time on this road trip to Texas and Louisiana and are looking forward to our next trip, which will be in our Tiny Trailer. Furthermore, you can follow us at Retirement and teardrop camping!
This post is not about teardrop camping. Instead, it is about a road trip to try out our new convertible. Monroeville, Alabama was our destination, a city with deep literary roots.
Harper Lee
First of all, I have always admired Harper Lee and her incredible book, “To Kill a Mockingbird” (TKAM). So when we were ready to take a road trip in my husband’s new car, Monroeville was the destination.
Greg and his New Car
We chose Monroeville because it is near and a place I have always wanted to visit because of its association with Harper Lee. So, a few facts about TKAM:
Pulitzer Prize winner
First book published by a Harper Lee
40 million copies sold
Voted #1 on many lists of must reads
Academy award winning movie adaptation
Translated to over forty languages
Voted best novel of the twentieth century
Taught in many schools in and outside the U. S.
(Can you tell I’m a fan?)
Storyline of the Book
Lee wrote about “small town middle-class southern life” and Monroeville was her home. Her father was the inspiration for Atticus Finch and Monroeville became the inspiration for the fictional town of Maycomb. Another famous writer, Truman Capote, was her childhood friend who was portrayed as Dill in her novel. I so loved the novel that going to the birthplace of its creation was very exciting for me.
Traveling to Monroeville
However, my image of riding down the highway with the top down on this first road trip with the wind blowing in our faces did not match reality. It rained off and on the entire trip to Monroeville and that first day in town.
We arrived in time to have lunch at a popular restaurant, The Prop and Gavel. It was at this restaurant in 2015 that Harper Lee received published copies of her second book, “Go Set a Watchman” from her U.S. and U.K. publishers. The decor is dedicated to aviation and the legal profession, an odd, but interesting combination. We had Barrister Burgers with sweet potato chips, voted one of the “Top 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama.” They were quite tasty.
Prop and Gavel Restaurant
It was too late to go to the Monroe County Heritage Musem after we had lunch and checked into our motel. Fortunately, our innkeeper had copies of “Walk Monroeville II”, which has a lot of information and history about the town and sites referenced in Lee’s books.
The Town of Harper Lee
So we began the tour late that afternoon. Most stops on the tour were at or near the courthouse. Its lawn was beautifully landscaped with many references to Lee’s books. The sculpture below is “A Celebration of Reading”, by Birmingham sculptor, Branco Medenica.
A Celebration of Reading
Every year in April and May, there is a TKAM play. However, we just missed seeing it. Act I is in the Otha Biggs Amphitheater, which is on the courthouse grounds. The set has the houses of Atticus Finch, the Radleys and Mrs. Dubose. My Big Guy is below in front of the set.
Set for Act I
It was interesting to me that the Alabama Bar Association has erected a monument to Atticus Finch: Lawyer – Hero. This plaque is on the courthouse grounds.
Alabama Bar Association Monument to Atticus Finch
We also checked out the sites a few blocks from the courthouse where Lee and Capote grew up. Capote spent his summers in Monroeville with his cousins. Lee’s old home has Mel’s Dairy Dream in its spot, which is referenced in Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman”. A plaque dedicated to Truman Capote’s life is next to Mel’s. But, there is nothing but a stone wall from the original house of Capote’s cousins. Note the dark sky in the photographs because the rain was rolling into the area again.
Mel’s Dairy Dream, former site of Harper Lee’s childhood home
Former site of Truman Capote’s childhood home, next door to the former Lee homeMarker for Truman Capote
We had a milkshake at Mel’s and headed back to our motel to beat the rain. Consequently, we had ice cream for dinner. We’re seniors–it’s allowed. Our evening ended with a movie and a bottle of wine.
The Courthouse
After a very good breakfast at the motel, we headed to tour the old courthouse. It did not disappoint! Built in 1904, it stands majestic in the center of town. It was in danger of being torn down several years ago, but was ultimately preserved. There were exhibits for both Lee and Capote. It also has rooms set up as they would have looked in the 1930s, the years depicted in TKAM.
Old Monrobills County Courthouse1930s-Style Legal Office
The courtroom looks just like the one in the movie because the movie version was based upon it. So it was a most gratifying end to our tour at the courthouse. Anyone familiar with the movie can see the striking resemblance. There is a second story overlooking the main floor, just like the movie and the book. You can almost see Scout looking down from the second floor. The courtroom is where Act II of the annual play is performed, with members of the audience as jurors.
The CourtroomView of the Upper LevelThe Witness ChairThe View from Above
The trip to Monroeville gave me a much stronger understanding of Harper Lee and her hometown. In a sense, I found her, but in many ways she is even more a mystery.
Controversy
In recent years, controversy has surrounded another published book by Harper Lee, “Go Set a Watchman”. But, I must admit it is a little hard for me to reconcile the two books in my mind.
It is my understanding that the town is divided over the second book and some legal action that occurred in the later years of Lee’s life. She died in 2016 at 89 years old. Therefore, questions have been posed as to whether Harper Lee in her late 80s had the mental capacity to authorize the publication of the second book.
Consequently, the controversy adds to the mystery of Harper Lee, the brilliant writer who only wrote one book in her lifetime with her second publication being a draft of her first novel. But, she was a very private person, who remained silent to the public for most of the time after TKAM was published. However, I find her fascinating. If you have not read the book (TKAM), you are really missing something. There is also an audio recording of the book by Sissy Spacek that is excellent. She was wonderful as Scout!
Goodbye Harper Lee
Finally visiting Monroeville, I am even more of fan of Harper Lee.
Returning home, in contrast, we had sunshine for the most of the trip. So we were able to have the top down on the car. Such fun! We have another road trip coming, then it will be back to our Tiny Trailer.
If you are a camper, there are several campgrounds nearby. Don’t miss Monroeville if you find yourself going through southern Alabama. You don’t have to go in a convertible. Follow us at, Retirement and teardrop camping!
