Stop 1/25

71 pts!

@ Howdy! Welcome to Texas!

Rose, a Baby Seal, arrived in Lubbock, excited but a little nervous. Texas was so huge! But Kerry had told her the pets here were really friendly, and it was true! She was greeted with smiles, firm pawshakes and an enthusiastic 'Howdy!' on all sides. Everypet seemed so glad to see her!

Stop 2/25

13 pts!

@ Prairie Dog, Lubbock

Rose started her trip in Mackenzie Park. She sat by a beautiful lake and became aware of a number of prairie dogs nearby. In the Texan way, several called "Howdy!" and asked where she was from. "I've never seen so many prairie dogs in one place!" marvelled Rose.

Stop 3/25

14 pts!

@ Sparrow Duo, Texas

"Lubbock!" Rose sighed happily—her first port of call was the Buddy Holly Center. Pausing only to share some seeds and fruit and to have a conversation with some chatty house sparrows, Rose made for Crickets Avenue!

Stop 4/25

13 pts!

@ Tortilla Chips, Chili & Salsa

Emerging hungrily from the Buddy Holly Center several hours later, Rose headed for a street vendor of tortilla chips and salsa. "This is the official state snack of Texas!" the vendor informed Rose, serving her with a large, fragrant helping. "It's deeply rooted in Texas tradition."

Stop 5/25

55 pts!

@ Mama Possum and Brood

Rose headed back to Mackenzie Park to wind down after her first full day in Texas! Here she was enchanted to come across a young family of opossums with their proud Mama. Rose read a bedtime story to the wide-eyed, appreciative baby opossums and said Goodnight!

Stop 6/25

15 pts!

@ Black Vultures at Sunrise

Rose rose at sunrise, wondering what it would be like to tune into 1950s KDAV for some country music. She went for a quick trek round the block and said Howdy! to some black vultures roosting in a tree, who all made friendly hissing noises at her whilst stretching their huge wings.

Stop 7/25

15 pts!

@ Texan Rooftops

Rose heard mewing and saw a tiny kitten clinging onto a roof, in danger of sliding off the sloping tiles! "Oh, Joshua, what to do?" Rose looked round. That tree! She climbed the tree, carefully moved over onto the roof, just in time to catch the kitten as it slid helplessly down the slope!

Stop 8/25

13 pts!

@ Mockingbird, Texas

Rose could hear a blackbird's call, but she could only see a grey bird with a long tail! The bird stopped singing and chuckled. "I'm a mocking-bird," it explained. "I enjoy copying other birds' songs!" The two pets got to know each other. By the time Rose left, they were fast friends.

Stop 9/25

13 pts!

@ Black Headed Squirrel, Texas

Texas Hill Country! What an amazing place! Rose was enjoying a trip in the woods. On encountering a Southern Fox Squirrel, she shared some fruit with it and enjoyed a chat.

Stop 10/25

12 pts!

@ Texan Spanish Barrel Tile Roof

A group of pets was busy re-roofing a building. They told Rose that Aged Mission Clay Spanish Barrel Tile copied an old style. "Can I help?" offered Rose. "Yes, but take great care!" warned the forepet. Under supervision, Rose proudly laid a new tile, then slid back down to the ground. It had been a bit scary, but fun!

Stop 11/25

12 pts!

@ Riverwalk Waterfall, San Antonio

At the Riverwalk Waterfall, Rose saw an elderly squirrel trapped in the water! "I've got a paw stuck between two rocks!" it wailed. Rose edged closer to the dripping wet squirrel and freed the imprisoned paw. Then holding onto each other, both pets cautiously moved to the bank.

Stop 12/25

10 pts!

@ Coot, Mitchell Lake, San Antonio

Rose got chatting with an American coot at Mitchell Lake and added another friend to her list! The coot was a good swimmer but not so good, Rose noted, at taking off for flight! However, once in the air, it could fly as well as any other bird.

Stop 13/25

11 pts!

@ Texas Rose-Bellied Lizard

After her evening meal, Rose strolled along a trail in one of San Antonio's parks, and chatted to several small Sceloporus variabilis, or Texas rose-bellied lizards, basking in very relaxed fashion along the way.
"Kerry told me I'd love all these laid-back little lizards!" reflected Rose.

Stop 14/25

13 pts!

@ Wild Horses, Texas

Going off the beaten track, Rose fell into conversation with a group of wild horses and she learnt that the numbers of their herds were hugely reduced since former centuries. Rose had a bareback ride on one horse, which was great fun!

Stop 15/25

12 pts!

@ Black Rodeo Horse

"Can I get you some water?" offered Rose, seeing a rodeo horse looking rather hot. The horse gratefully plunged his muzzle deep into the bucket for a welcome cooling drink.

Stop 16/25

14 pts!

@ Sunset on Rodeo

Winding down at the end of the day after the rodeo—what a day of adventure!—Rose spent a long time chin-wagging with other pets, and ended by promising to get back in touch with them the next time she was in the area!

Stop 17/25

11 pts!

@ Bovine Contentment

Rose made friends with some Texas longhorns and told them about her travels in Europe. She showed them a picture on her phone of a cow in a meadow. "This is Matilde, in Portugal," she said. "She's mighty purty," drawled one of the Texans. "We'll say she's an honorary Texas longhorn!"