Magnus in the Swamp, Day 9

Friday, December 12 

We left Louisiana and returned to Texas--Cagle Recreation Area between Houston and Huntsville. We’ve been there before but I was delighted to go there again. Cagle is such a beauteous place! The big pine trees are soft and all the little understory trees are turning yellow and orange. Palmettos are scattered about like deliberate plantings. 

Molly and I had several short walks, including the circle trail around by the boat ramp. There we encountered a woman with whom we chatted a bit. Strange woman, going for a walk alone with no dog and no binoculars. Oh, well—to each….

I did find myself confounded by a bird, until I finally looked in the book and realized that it was a red-headed woodpecker, which I know very well, only it was a youngster. First year or so. They have big white splotches on the wings but none of the red/blue/white pattern so distinctive of the adult.

We tried to take the trail over to the other campground and then across to the river, but it was closed. I don’t know why. Hopefully to protect nesting sites for red-cockaded woodpeckers.

 Dinner at Pappadeaux!