Walk In The Park: Animal adventure

I didn't wear my hiking shoes. What was I thinking?

It is spring break and our young friend, OB, is out for the week. We know (personal experience) that you can only watch so much TV before going crazy so decided we should all take a little trip north to the Cameron Park Zoo and the Waco Mammoth Site, a paleontological dig.

We snagged OB and headed into a foggy foggy morning.*

We started weaving our way through this small city towards the zoo. DH is not fond of bad drivers, red lights, or train crossings. Of course we were stopped by a train! DH barely had time to grumble and growl. I said, "Look how short it was!" OB has a math mind. She counts things and announced, "It only had 7 cars." I would never have noticed that, but she did!

We couldn't tell how long this train would hold us up. Fortunately it was a short one!

We discovered we were not the only spring-breakers who thought the zoo was a good idea. We entered and decided to go the opposite of most of the visitors. It was partially decided by OB's desire to see the lion.

We saw him, but he wasn't interested in showing off. The tiger was. He yawned at us a couple of times. The elephants were missing, but the giraffes were eating and one took great interest in OB. He would just stand and stare.

The reptile house was pretty impressive - and hot! I suspect they keep it warm or the snakes would all hibernate.** Anyway, the reptile house is a new attraction since my last visit (about 18 years ago) and OB had not seen it either. And it isn't all snakes, there are frogs, turtles, crocodilians, and

I am a fan of snakes - when there is glass between them and me. Some were familiar. Some looked unreal. Most were lazy, but one was moving around and flicking his tongue at us....DH is not a fan of snakes, but was a good sport.

Zoo:

There were lifelike sculptures everywhere. This was a stunner.

OC taps the guy on the head.

MEERKAT!

Lots of exotic birds - and vultures.

Lesser flamingos for my friends who love yard art.

The elephants were not to be found, but the rhinos were out - eating.

The giraffes had a number of places to feed.

This little guy would spread his front legs and reach down for the hay. But most of the time he just stared at OB.

And stared some more.

Some kind of turtle we have never seen before...walking in his area of the reptile house.

OB knew there was a waterfall we could walk under. We found it!

These sweet little monsters screamed at the parrots so the parrots would scream back. It was deafening.

I always like to see humans behind the barriers. They were working on the habitat for the larger rodents - you know, the scary ones from South America, capybara and nutria (?).

We called this Turtle Island. There were about four turtles sunning at the beginning of our visit and 11 or 12 when we left. I counted 11 - OB counted 12. I think I trust her math (and eyes) more than mine.

I am not sure you could have gotten too many more turtles on this rock.

Flowers at the zoo:

Fruit tree of some kind.

Redbud - lovely spot.

These guys carpeted parts of the area. I have no clue what they are.

They are tiny. The bloom is about the size of a pinky finger nail.

Another fruit tree with rain.

Banks roses. I used to have these in the yard. They bloomed out or the drought and dogs conspired against them.

We left the zoo and passed the Dr. Pepper Museum, a historic bottling company's museum and soda fountain. Who says you cannot have dessert before lunch? We turned around and stopped only long enough for "floats," before we headed across town for lunch and then back to see the mammoth bones.

Mammoth Site:

In the late 1970s a couple of guys were looking for arrowheads and found an enormous bone. Clearly it was old and not a cow (the place was used as a dairy). The men took the bone to the local university which resulted in additional digging and the discovery of a group of mammoth skeletons. This area is now a city park and the city has built a building around some of the bones. Others are stored at the museum at Baylor.

They have big plans for this place.

Skeleton of large male

Juvenile skeleton beyond

Female

When you listen closely to the guides (they have lots of information) it becomes clear that these are extraordinary finds. The first group found was "nursery group" and one of only three known. The second find was also unusual. Most males were solitary and scientists wonder why this male mammoth has been found with a female and number of juveniles. It may have been because of the flood event that trapped them all, the last of three major flood events between the two rivers that run through this area. More study is required and more digging is planned. They know there are more bones on the place.

Miscellaneous:

OK. These final photos were taken just because. I don't remember where the crane fly photo was taken, but I love crane flies.

We drove past the bridges on the way out of town. This community is famous for them - old bridges and new. I love rivers and bridges and the camera did its job.

DH did his job too and got us home for everyone to head off to the next thing. We were more than happy with another successful adventure complete.