Five feet above grade makes for very good critter viewing well out into the slough. Project number 4, the raised platform at the alligator viewing area is complete. 
It is satisfying to see the fruits of our labor. We have been working with fun loving, hard working volunteers and Dave, our project lead, has done a great job getting materials we need and maintaining focus on the projects.
This volunteer group doesn’t seem to need much of an excuse to get together and eat. 
Thursday we dined on some unbelievably delicious BBQ courtesy Dave, the maintenance lead here at Aransas. It was the official “Thank you” feed for the volunteers. There were enough leftovers for another feast the next day.
Saturday it was a Mexican food carry-in. No one left that one hungry either. Sweet, creamy, cinnamony cupcakes were a hit. Thanks Annaka.
An adult pair and four little ones emerged from a culvert near the visitor center and are happily munching on something. I saw them when we first arrived but they have been illusive ever since. It is wonderful to finally see them again.
Vehicle inspections. Transferring registrations. Moving all manner of vehicle insurance to a Texas agent. Obtaining Texas driver’s license. We spent a lot of time waiting in lines and filling out seemingly endless forms and in the end, succeeded at the first three. The driver’s license thing is going to take another try at it. We were not able to come up with residency paperwork that would satisfy the clerk. Annoying but not a real problem, our South Dakota licenses are good ‘til September. Surely we can get it done by then.
Well sort of. Our clocks have sprung ahead. Some redbud trees are looking beautiful. Marshlands are greening up. If this chilly rain would just move out of here it could actually feel like Spring.
We are able to get some work in on our most recent project, a 10’X30’ viewing platform and its access ramp. It is along a slough that is a favorite hangout for local alligators. We erected a fence along the waterline during construction and a six footer (nicknamed Elroy)
has been watching us through the fence every day. Hopefully he won’t misbehave when we remove the fence once the structure is finished. That would get him in big trouble.
This is one HUGE bullfrog 
enjoying a little downtime along the Rail Trail. It would have filled my two cupped hands. They make quite a splash when startled.
Weather is warming and the natives are getting restless. 
The swoosh of tails sliding along the grass is accented by random loud splashes as the alligators vie for territory. Gangly, clumsy-looking legs carry them across roads and high ground right up to the visitor center. We keep our distance but they are entertaining to watch.
Prep for a visit by a Congressional entourage disrupted progress on projects for a while. That is behind us now so we are back to construction. This time it is a quick project to build a deck on one of the refuge houses. We should finish this week. 
After that? Maybe a bridge or maybe a viewing platform for better gater watching. Time will tell.
13 gears and double clutching every shift. Well, I actually only used 9 of them since most of my miles were on rough gravel road. Still, that is a real workout for knees that are used to only driving an automatic! I spent two days driving dump truck hauling gravel to help repair some huge potholes and truck eating soft spots on backcountry refuge roads. I tried my hand at dump gate spreading roadbase for the guys on the grader. 12 miles or more, it was a pretty satisfying assignment.
Service roads crisscross the Refuge but visitors are not allowed out here. Wildlife back here is a little more skitterish to traffic noise. First 7 then 3 and 4 then 3 more for a total of 17 Whooping Cranes took to wing as we passed through the isolated area. Graceful, powerful wing strokes lift them into the air. Their croaky, gurgling call floats through the air as they coordinate their flight. We usually see the Whoopers walking along the flats while feeding so it was fun to see them flying.