Comments on: Birding above Ocampo

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 05:34:35 +0000

Tula was really dry. Much dryer than the area west of Agua Zarca (which we visited earlier).

By: Randy Packer

Randy Packer — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 05:21:26 +0000

I found Ocampo and Tula on Google Earth but couldn’t find Gallito. NASA World Wind had all of them, however. The area looks mucho cool. I noticed that this is all on the western (backside) of El Cielo and Alta Cima and it looks so beautiful with the winding road along the valleys. Tula looks dry with a lot of fields for farming. Did it remind you of the area west of Agua Zarca?

I saw a little town up the main river going north from Ocampo named San Antonio. It looks like a place I would love to visit, although it might be a difficult hike to get there. It’s west-northwest of Gomez Farias way up the valley on the western side of El Cielo. I’d love to see Tula to get a feel for an old Mexican town (not a tourist stop).

Hope the birding is as good in a few weeks as it was today. Keep up the good reports.

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 02:40:56 +0000

Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll make it to the town of Tula itself. It’s another 30 minutes up the road, which means roundtrip, we’d loose an hour in the day. We went because we had no lunch, and we were hungry. On the trip, we’ll have box lunches. Everything’s a trade-off. Less birds will give you more culture. More culture will give you less birds. Still, I think we’ll get a nice experience in Mexico, in addition to the birds.

By: Laura Packer

Laura Packer — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 02:04:39 +0000

Ah, Napoleon Dynamite. Mg found another parody called Anakin Dynamite. It is hilarious! I’ll point to it later.

I’d love to see Tula. Wonder if most participants could maneuver the city’s terrain. Well, you’re certainly having a grand time and whetting my appetite!

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 21:49:58 +0000

Nope. We crossed at Brownsville-Matamoros. Mel lives in Brownsville, so it was the most convienent place to cross. On almost all of my entries to Mexico, we’ve crossed at Brownsville. I think it often has quicker access than McAllen (though that’s anyone’s guess), and the roads that lead out of Matamoros are better situated for reaching destinations within Tamaulipas.

I’m looking forward to posting pictures too! Once we’re back, I’ll start processing them and should have some up by Tuesday or Wednesday evening.

By: Gramps

Gramps — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 17:10:47 +0000

Hi, Jay, sounds like you are having a great time on the pre-festival scouting trip. I have been posting places you are visiting (when I can find them) on a Streets & Trips map of Tamaulipas. Streets & Trips does not seem to identify a few of the spots but I am enjoying your descriptions and comments. Makes for excellent reading. Keep those postings coming. I’m with your Dad – anxiously awaiting postings of pictures. BTW, I’m assuming you crossed the Rio Grande at McAllen/Reynosa – is that correct?