Opinion of Houston

Above, believe it or not, Space Center Houston has longhorn cattle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that we have visited Houston, Texas for the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, here's my opinion of the host city.

After arriving in Houston, our first experience was with a car rental agency that ties to scam people into buying their insurance in order to rent a car. Not good. We ended up going with a name brand car rental agency.

Driving from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport wasn't too bad until we got onto the freeway system. The freeways (mainly Interstate 45) were clogged like those in Los Angeles. In fact, Houston reminded me of Los Angeles a lot. Small wonder, it is the nation's fourth largest city with a population of 6,971,000. It wasn't western in vibes, unlike Dallas and Fort Worth.

It seemed that every surface street had road work going on. The George R. Brown Convention Center was huge and a great place for the NRA convention.

We stayed in the Hobby Airport area at the Wyndham Hotel. I suspect it was once a Holiday Inn. The room was okay, but the hotel seemed to have seen better days. We had to shuttle to their sister hotel a block away for breakfast (at least the breakfasts were decent and free). 

Getting to the Space Center Houston and to Galveston wasn't too bad. But the traffic was terrible when heading to the downtown area for the NRA convention. Space Center Houston was great with a lot of neat stuff to see. Galveston was a nice place. 

We decided that we would avoid Houston for future trips. Fort Worth and Dallas were much nicer cities. We wouldn't mind visiting them again. 

Visiting The Longhorns

Above, the longhorns at Mesa Ridge Ranch yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As yesterday was a nice warm day, I took an late afternoon Jeep drive around the subdivisions of Whispering Cedars and Mesa Ridge Ranch.

I stopped for awhile in Mesa Ridge Ranch where the longhorn cattle are at. At first, they were about 50 yards away, but two came over to check me out and then a mother and calf came over but remained a few yards back.

Naturally, I took some pictures of them. 

St. Patrick's Day and Longhorns

Above, near the Six Mile Canyon fence line. 

As yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, I kept with my own tradition and watched The Quiet Man (1952) starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald and Victor McLaglen during dinner.

Before doing so, I took a Jeep drive around our subdivision and then over to the neighboring subdivision, Mesa Ridge Ranch to see the longhorn cattle. 

Sure enough, they were gathered around fifty yards from the fence. I took several photos of them.

After watching The Quiet Man over dinner, I got into the Jeep again and drove over to the gate to Six Mile Canyon. There was a Class B camper parked near the corral there. I didn't see anyone there. I took a drive along the fence line from there. I took a photo of myself with the Jeep. 

When I was done, I headed back home for the night. My phone's battery was near zero, so I'd better get home and plug it into the charger.

It is supposed to be 77° today, which will make for another good driving day.

Some photos:

Afternoon Jeep Drive

Above, the longhorns at Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For the first time in months, I took a Jeep drive up to Mesa Ridge Ranch, the subdivision next to ours.

There are a few more homes in the subdivision. One of them, a double-wide mobile home, sat in two sections while a foundation was being built. 

Above, one of the longhorns giving me a look-over. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After driving through, I stopped to see the longhorn cattle. I took some photos and then proceeded down the hill. At the bottom, just inside the entrance to the subdivision, there were some black cattle penned. I didn't notice them when I was heading up. 

Above, the cattle near the entrance to Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following the drive to Mesa Ridge Ranch, I took a short drive on Six Mile Canyon Road where I noticed some cattle in a field near the shooting area and our subdivision, Whispering Cedars. 

Above, the cattle with Whispering Cedars in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I didn't to all the way to Six Mile Canyon as it was pretty muddy and I wasn't in the mood to wash the Jeep. I had to do some washing anyway as a few muddy puddles splashed onto the Jeep.

Above, the Jeep on Six Mile Canyon Road. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Still, it was an enjoyable drive. 

A Visit To The Longhorns

The other day, after working on the oil and water on the Jeep, I took a drive in Mesa Ridge Ranch to see the longhorn steers.

The steers were out and about in their area up in the Mesa Ridge Ranch community. 

Naturally, I took a few photos of them.

And, of course, one of the Jeep:

Why Is Fort Worth Called Cowtown?

Above, cattle drive of Texas Longhorns in Fort Worth. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few years ago, a friend and I went to Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas for a mini-vacation.

While there, we visited Dealey Plaza, Southfork Ranch, the John Wayne: An American Experience and the Fort Worth Stockyards.

While at the Fort Worth Stockyards, we watched the morning cattle drive through the streets of Texas Longhorns.

Did you know that Fort Worth is known as Cowtown?

Fort Worth.com has posted an article on why it is called Cowtown.

It begins with:

As part of the largest tourism destination in Texas, Fort Worth is known for great dining options, the cultural arts and some really great music. But before it was Funkytown or The Fort, Fort Worth was known as Cowtown. Yet the biggest question often asked is, “WHY?”

To read on to find out why, go here. 

Sunday Drive

Above, the Jeep on Maverick Road in Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before it gets hotter out, I took a Sunday drive up Maverick Road in the neighboring (and new) subdivision of Mesa Ridge Ranch. It has been a few months since I was last there.

Above, a windshield view looking north towards the mesas. The longhorn cattle are at right. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to my count, there are now 6 residences there, one of which consists of a Coleman travel trailer and tent. The rest are double-wide mobile homes.

I stopped to see and take some pictures of the longhorn cattle. They were relaxing in a shady section of their lot next to the road. There was one calf.

After the stop, I headed down the road to our subdivision.

Here's the longhorn cattle: 

Cowabunga!

Above, the longhorn residents of Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since today is a nice clear day at about 50°, I took the Jeep out for a drive around our subdivision and the neighboring Mesa Ridge Ranch subdivision.

The roads were a little muddy, but it was still an enjoyable drive.

At Mesa Ridge Ranch, I saw that the longhorn cattle were fairly close to their barrier fencing, so I pulled over to take a few pictures.

There is another occupied home at Mesa Ridge Ranch since the last time I drove through. 

Longhorns

Above, the longhorns keeping a watchful eye on me. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, I took a Jeep drive around our subdivision and the neighboring subdivision of Mesa Ridge Ranch.

While at Mesa Ridge Ranch, I stopped for a while to see the longhorn cattle and enjoy the view of the valley below. The weather was nice in the 70s with no rain, which will be the general pattern for the rest of the week.

Afterwards, I got home and popped open a bottle of Alien Amber Ale and relaxed on the deck. While there, I noticed a semi truck with flashing lights coming up Whispering Cedars Road. It was leading one part of a new double-wide mobile home.

I had an idea on where the home was going and, after dinner, I took a Jeep drive up Birch Road. Sure enough, the new home was placed on a pad on the Birch Road loop, a few doors south of Greg Lucier's.

While at the longhorns, I took a few photos.

Took A Drive Before The Rain Starts

Since we have a 40% chance of precipitation from scattered thunderstorms, I figured it would be a good time to take the Jeep out for a drive around our subdivision and the Mesa Ridge Ranch subdivision before it starts.

According to the National Weather Service:

This Afternoon

Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

I noticed one new residence at Mesa Ridge Ranch. 

I drove over to where the longhorn steers are kept and took a few photos. 

Snow Showers Tomorrow

Above, a longhorn steer at Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like today will be comfortable at around 60° outside, except for gusty winds we're supposed to be getting.

But, we may be getting snow showers tomorrow. As usual, when things start to warm up, a snowstorm comes rolling in.

From the National Weather Service:

Today

Areas of blowing dust after noon. Sunny, with a high near 60. Windy, with a southwest wind 20 to 30 mph increasing to 30 to 40 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 3am. Areas of blowing dust before 9pm. Increasing clouds, with a low around 25. Windy, with a southwest wind 35 to 40 mph decreasing to 25 to 30 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday

A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Patchy blowing snow between 9am and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Windy, with a west wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Sunday Drive Longhorns

This morning, I decided to take a drive in the Jeep up Maverick Road in the Mesa Ridge Ranch subdivision that's next to ours.

When I got up there, I saw that the longhorn steers were out in the open near the retaining fence. So I stopped and took some photos.

After I was done, I headed down and decided to take a drive to Six Mile Canyon. Only...