It takes days to load up for a trip, but after six weeks in the bus, we pull in front of the house and in two hours, unload everything we need to be back inside the house. The bus goes to its parking spot and we spend the rest of the day making sure everything we brought in is either in the laundry or put away. We amaze ourselves.
It’s good to be home.
There are so many USB chargers to carry now, and with this they just plug straight in to the wall outlet.
Less clutter.
Almost home. Tonight we’re in Falfurrias.
As 2018 year draws to a close; thinking ahead.
2019 is the year we finally make the Alaska trip. I was a teenager when I realized I needed to go to Alaska, the great northern frontier. Now it’s time. I imagined doing it as a homesteader and having a dog sled team. Maybe a bush pilot. We can make it simpler than that!
We didn’t make a big birding effort in 2018. Our normal annual count is around 400 species. We’re finishing this year with 380. Next year, however, with the Alaska trip, we’ve set our sights on 500 birds! That will be our biggest year yet.
And this year I’m not going to forget about continuing education hours until the last minute. No sir; fully cognizant. No way I’m waiting until the last moment to finish my hours.
Still traveling; now we’re in Junction.
Greeted by a bald eagle.
4,219 miles to go to get to Fairbanks.
500 species remaining to be seen for the year.
And 56 hours of continuing education to go.
The bassinette with Ayla in it.
And all the former residents of the bassinette on hand standing by it.
The updated bassinette list:
|
1 |
William Henry Taylor III |
Son of William, Jr. and Margaret Elizabeth (Waldron) Taylor |
September 3, 1937 |
|
2 |
Thomas Richard Taylor |
Son of William, Jr. and Margaret Elizabeth (Waldron) Taylor |
February 27, 1941 |
|
3 |
David Alan Taylor |
Son of William, Jr. and Margaret Elizabeth (Waldron) Taylor |
September 2, 1943 |
|
4 |
Stephen Paul Taylor |
Son of William, Jr. and Margaret Elizabeth (Waldron) Taylor |
December 19, 1945 |
|
5 |
William Henry Taylor IV |
Son of William III and Diann Clar (Mitchell) Taylor |
April 20, 1959 |
|
6 |
Jon Mitchell Taylor |
Son of William III and Diann Clar (Mitchell) |
April 3, 1961 |
|
7 |
Christie Lee Taylor |
Daughter of Thomas and Marian Ruth (Ament) Taylor |
September 19, 1966 |
|
8 |
Rebecca Lynn Taylor |
Daughter of Stephen and Judith Lynn (Shockley) Taylor |
June 13, 1969 |
|
9 |
Matthew Alexander Taylor |
Son of Stephen and Judith Lynn (Shockley) Taylor |
August 14, 1972 |
|
10 |
Michael David Taylor |
Son of David and Paula Sue (Waldo) Taylor |
December 11, 1972 |
|
11 |
Suzanne Alane Taylor |
Daughter of Thomas and Kathryn Alane (Free) Taylor |
September 12, 1974 |
|
12 |
Jacob Andrew Taylor |
Son of David and Paula Sue (Waldo) Taylor |
November 4, 1974 |
|
13 |
Elisa Margaret Taylor |
Daughter of William III and Patricia Carol (Caesar) Taylor |
September 21, 1981 |
|
14 |
Kyndal Justine Taylor |
Daughter of Jon and Amy Beth (DeLay) Taylor |
September 21, 1986 |
|
15 |
Jake Terrance Taylor |
Son of Jon and Amy Beth (DeLay) Taylor |
June 5, 1989 |
|
16 |
Cody Mitchell Taylor |
Son of Jon and Amy Beth (DeLay) Taylor |
July 26, 1991 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
Ivy Jackson Taylor |
Daughter of William IV and Joan Sally (Jackson) Taylor |
October 1, 1992 |
|
18 |
Taylor Marie Alexander |
Daughter of Brian James and Rebecca Lynn (Taylor) Alexander |
August 2, 1993 |
|
19 |
Kyle Bradley Aitken |
Son of Kenneth James and Christie Lee (Taylor) Aitken |
April 25, 1997 |
|
20 |
Anthony James Alexander |
Son of Brian James and Rebecca Lynn (Taylor) Alexander |
May 6, 1997 |
|
21 |
Cameron Christopher Aitken |
Son of Kenneth James and Christie Lee (Taylor) Aitken |
January 18, 1999 |
|
22 |
Son of Michael and Katie Elizabeth (Ostrander) Taylor |
August 24, 2000 |
|
|
23 |
Teigan Reanne Alexander |
Daughter of Brian James and Rebecca Lynn (Taylor) Alexander |
July 22, 2001 |
|
24 |
Daughter of Michael and Katie Elizabeth (Ostrander) Taylor |
November 4, 2002 |
|
|
25 |
Son of Matthew and Kari Lynn (Taylor) Taylor |
July 9, 2003 |
|
|
26 |
Conner Thomas Alexander |
Son of Brian James and Rebecca Lynn (Taylor) Alexander |
July 6, 2004 |
|
27 |
Aeryn Nahri Taylor |
Daughter of Jacob Andrew and Yousun (Kim) Taylor |
September 2, 2004 |
|
28 |
Natalie Bernice Taylor |
Daughter of Michael and Katie Elizabeth (Ostrander) Taylor |
July 27, 2005 |
|
29 |
Austin Lynn Taylor |
Son of Matthew and Kari Lynn (Taylor) Taylor |
March 26, 2007 |
|
30 |
Austin Jacob Taylor |
Son of Jacob Andrew and Yousun (Kim) Taylor |
September 12, 2008 |
|
31 |
Arie Paige Taylor |
Son of Matthew and Lindsay Paige (Seim) Taylor |
November 18, 2013 |
|
32 |
Ayla Marie Taylor |
Daughter of Matthew and Lindsay Paige (Seim) Taylor |
December 8, 2018 |
The weather cleared up just fine. Cold and clear. We moved on to Balmorhea.
A cold day, but dry roads, so no problem.
An interesting rig.
A big Volvo truck with a matching trailer.
And a matching car.
And an interesting trailer.
It looks like a high-tech collapsible tear-drop.
Lots of nice glass.
A 20 degree night predicted again tonight. Winter storm warnings to our north. We were going to visit Shannon in Albuquerque, but not this trip it turns out. Reports of black ice the way we’re going; east of El Paso. We’ll hold here until we hear it’s clear.
