Shiner Bock is a red ale similar to Rickard's Red or Big Rock Traditional Ale. Very tasty!

My thanks to Tony and Elaine for putting up with me, er...putting my up in their home for a night. I highly recommend the trip to Galveston for anyone who wants to paddle beautiful ocean waters with sandy beaches. Many thanks to Kurt and Tony for the grand tour of Galveston Island and especially, the Air Museum. I learned that Tony is an Ohio import to Texas, no real accent that I could hear. Kurt, on the other hand, is a real Texan with the drawl, euphamisms and spit I expect from a Texan. I had a great time, guys!

For some reason they wouldn't allow me to arm a gunner's turret with live ammo and take a few test shots at the wall - the place could have used more open-air windows. I did eventually earn my place in the pilot's chair and managed a brief flight around the area. The sun was bright during the flight so we had to turn away. Kurt was occupying the forward gunner's turret and took time to get off the photo you saw of Tony and I at the controls. No animals were injured during the inhouse flight.

Ideally, you want to go to Texas when it's warm. I heard Texas was a warm place to be, even during the month of December but interestingly enough, it was cold (by Texan stadards) while I was there. Certain locals associated my visit with unusually cold temperatures. Heck, the only gator I got to wrestle was a wee laddie at the Brazu Bend State Park and he was resting on the hand of a volunteer. I did get to scratch the little guy under the chin but kept my finger tips away from his wry grin...those little teeth looked as nasty as a great white's.

My last day in Houston was very pleasant, 72 F, a pot of coffee, a good book, and a few lazy morning hours watching lizards zipping along the sides my Houston friends house. It was very difficult for me to assimilate that there are warmer climes during December days, warmer than Canada's Great White Northern sub-zero butt freezing temps. Why do I live here? I keep asking myself that question. Maybe I need to marry a Texan and make the move. Hey Tony, what was her name, Rosalina? Hmm!

Robert N Pruden