Stop 1/25

51 pts!

@ Howdy! Welcome to Texas!

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

Stop 2/25

11 pts!

@ Prairie Dog, Lubbock

Scaredy Cat started his trip in Mackenzie Park. He 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 he was from. "I've never seen so many prairie dogs in one place!" marvelled Scaredy Cat.

Stop 3/25

15 pts!

@ Sparrow Duo, Texas

"Lubbock!" Scaredy Cat sighed happily—his 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, Scaredy Cat made for Crickets Avenue!

Stop 4/25

11 pts!

@ Tortilla Chips, Chili & Salsa

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

Stop 5/25

66 pts!

@ Mama Possum and Brood

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

Stop 6/25

15 pts!

@ Black Vultures at Sunrise

Scaredy Cat rose at sunrise, wondering what it would be like to tune into 1950s KDAV for some country music. He 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 him whilst stretching their huge wings.

Stop 7/25

13 pts!

@ Texan Rooftops

Scaredy Cat heard mewing and saw a tiny kitten clinging onto a roof, in danger of sliding off the sloping tiles! "Oh, Joshua, what to do?" Scaredy Cat looked round. That tree! He 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

14 pts!

@ Mockingbird, Texas

Scaredy Cat could hear a blackbird's call, but he 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 Scaredy Cat left, they were fast friends.

Stop 9/25

11 pts!

@ Black Headed Squirrel, Texas

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

Stop 10/25

10 pts!

@ Texan Spanish Barrel Tile Roof

A group of pets was busy re-roofing a building. They told Scaredy Cat that Aged Mission Clay Spanish Barrel Tile copied an old style. "Can I help?" offered Scaredy Cat. "Yes, but take great care!" warned the forepet. Under supervision, Scaredy Cat 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, Scaredy Cat saw an elderly squirrel trapped in the water! "I've got a paw stuck between two rocks!" it wailed. Scaredy Cat 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

14 pts!

@ Coot, Mitchell Lake, San Antonio

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

Stop 13/25

14 pts!

@ Texas Rose-Bellied Lizard

After his evening meal, Scaredy Cat 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 Scaredy Cat.

Stop 14/25

15 pts!

@ Wild Horses, Texas

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

Stop 15/25

10 pts!

@ Black Rodeo Horse

"Can I get you some water?" offered Scaredy Cat, 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

10 pts!

@ Sunset on Rodeo

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

Stop 17/25

13 pts!

@ Bovine Contentment

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