Day 28: Early Water Aerobics and a Look Outside the Park

It was 55 degrees this morning and we were surprised to look over at the swimming pool and find it was full of tough senior residents getting some morning exercise.  They are tough down here.

Notice the steam coming off the heated water.

Phil and Nancy Smoker stopped by to see the park on their way back from a music festival they had attended on South Padre Island.  Here is Karen, Phil, and Bill at one of the pool areas.

On the west side the park is bounded by a large citrus grove.

 

On the south side is the canal or Resaca that flows into the Rio Grande.  This picture is from atop the levee (that protects the park from flooding) looking south.

Looking to the southeast from the levee one can see nothing but open land.  The park is quiet because no major highways or cities are nearby. We are halfway between the towns of McAllen and Harlingen, Texas.

Here is a small lake in the park with valuable waterfront lots.  Weatherman says the temps are going above 80 degrees today.  We are at the same latitude as Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Day 27: Inclement Weather Offers A Rare Bike Ride Opportunity

Tuesday night was not only cold down here in Texas but we got about 3/4 inch of rain and the wind blew pretty hard.  We even heard a low rumble of thunder or two.  Would you believe that ice was dropping off the palm trees Wednesday morning?  Consequently, the RV park golf course was closed on Wednesday as water was standing on parts of the course.  This offered Bill a good opportunity to ride the cement cart paths and check things out.

The concrete path followed all 18 holes, Bill just had to ride through the puddles.

The wind hardly made our trailer shake the night before.  It was surprising to see the tree damage on the golf course.  The trees down here in Texas must be wimpy.

 

This is how all golf courses should be:  Wide open, and flat as a table top with few trees and hazards to get in the way of your ball!

This Jackrabbit was enjoying the quiet afternoon.  He was fast and could really kick up his heels when he ran.

The sign on this bench indicates that the golf course used to be a country club before Llano Grande Lake Park Resort took it over.

This big white bird was showing his little Buddie the ropes about how to catch frogs and fish in one of the water hazards.

More storks were coming in to enjoy the quiet golf course water holes.  It was a terrific bike ride through a great outdoor setting.

Day 26: Getting to Know the New RV Park

Llano Grande Lake Park is so big that we are still trying to walk around or ride our bikes without getting lost.  It has been pieced together over the years so the streets do not run parallel.  The park is bordered on two sides by a deep winding canal they call a Resaca.

We discovered that on Tuesday mornings these produce wagons come in for two hours to sell their fruits and vegetables.  We bought a few tasty items.

The park has 18 shuffleboard courts!  It should be easy to find a court to play on a normal day.

We found a room near the library that was full of nothing but jigsaw puzzles.  We admired this completed work.

It seemed strange to see a Killdeer this time of year.  He will be back in Michigan about the end of April.

Day 25: We Move on East Down the Rio Grande Valley

Bentsen Palm Village was probably the nicest RV park we had ever parked Edgewater in, but wanderlust set in and off we go to a new place to set her down.  We drove about 30 miles to the east (toward Brownsville) and moved into Llano Grande Lake Park which is just south of the town of Mercedes, Texas.  After all, how can one compare the RV parks if one doesn't get in and set a spell?The Park has an old, middle-aged, and new section.  The new section was full so we had to settle for the middle-aged area.

The Park is huge with 1140 total total spaces.  Here is the spot where we landed.

Llano Grande Lake Park has four heated swimming pools.  It is cool today (Tuesday).

We booked in for a two-week stay.  We now have a lot of exploring to do.

Day 24: You Don't Need a RV to Stay in a RV Park

Many of the bigger RV parks or RV resorts in the Rio Grande Valley have places to stay for people who don't own a trailer or motor home, but like the amenities and fellowship that the parks offer.

This is a park model which is like a small house trailer.

They call this type of small rental house a casita.

Here is another casita that probably has two bedrooms.  Some older parks have apartment buildings with small units for rent.

On Sunday afternoon Bentsen Palm had a jam session under one of their large palapas.  Anyone with an instrument can come join in.  Jam sessions are common in the Valley.

Most of the RV parks have exercise rooms like this one to work out.

Day 23: Another Concert and Another Bike Ride

We saw another musical show Friday night in our RV park. This was the Farnam Family of Mom and Pa and six children. They were talented and entertaining but it was not as good a show as the Redhead Express.  They are not quite ready for Las Vegas at this time, but we enjoyed them.

The Farnam Family played Bluegrass, Gospel, and Cowboy songs.

Bill felt sorry for the father.  Not all the children seemed happy about what they were doing.  It is a tough way to support a family or eight.

This nearby neighborhood saw Karen coming on her bike and threw out this banner for her.

This is a golf course we found.  It was not plush but it was busy.

We saw a flock of Pelicans overhead landing in a pond.

This beautiful home had mobile, self-propelled, lawn mower units trimming their yard.

Day 22: A Few More Sights around Mission, Texas

Tom Landry, the long-time football coach of the Dallas Cowboys, was born and raised in Mission, Texas.  The old barber who cut Bill's hair in Mission said Landry's father was the fire chief in Mission when Tom was a child.

In downtown Mission there is a huge mural on a 95-foot wall that depicts Tom Landry's life and football career.

He coached or played in five Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys.

Outside of town, on a bike ride, we came across this beautiful Rio Grande State Veterans Cemetery.

 It was immaculate in layout and maintenance.

Here Bill poses in part of the memorial to the fallen.

Day 21: A Texas Kayak Trip on La Parida Banco

Once a week Bentsen Palm RV Park offers a free kayak trip on a large lake in the State Park for the first six campers to sign up.  Of course, Bill signed up and took the plunge on a windy day with five other hearty people and our blond guide, JoDon. 

Here is the kayakers getting ready to launch.

So we went in all directions and checked out the lake.
 


The water in the lake was quite rough and JoDon just said, "Be back in two hours."

Who needs more instruction than that?

 

The scenery along the shore was beautiful and much different than the lakes in Michigan.

I thought the Banco was man-made, but was told it was created when the Rio Grande changed course hundreds of years ago.  Bill paddled against the wind to the far end for a look in a sheltered area.

It was a fun trip and Bill liked the Old Town kayak he chose.  No snakes this time of year helped as well,

When Bill got home he found Karen in the middle of the "beer for lunch bunch" who was having their 4 o'clock happy hour in our back yard.  Our neighbors are from Iowa, Georgia, and Ottawa, Canada.

Day 20: We Go South of the Border - Down Mexico Way

On Wednesday January 22 we got an early start with Phil and Nancy Smoker and drove east and south about 25 miles to the international bridge near Progreso, Texas.  We had been told that the border towns of Reynosa and Matamoros in Mexico are now too dangerous to enter, but Nuevo Progreso, Mexico was deemed safe for Winter Texans.  We parked the truck on the American side and walked across to Mexico.

Here is the Rio Grande from the bridge. -->

This is the middle of the international bridge.

 Karen Phil and Nancy at the edge of town

 

We stopped at a bakery for a sweet roll and coffee.



 And we were serenaded by a band.  Note the tip jar by Karen's cup.  They were talented.

 



Many Winter Texans come here for dental work.  You could get your teeth cleaned for $25.00

This a great place to get your drugs.  They were cheap and you did not need a prescription.  Bill bought a large bottle of Kahlua for $10.30. (made in Mexico) for medicinal purposes only.

After a late lunch back in Texas, we stopped at a flea market in the town of Donna.

Phil, Karen and Nancy check out the merchandise.  We saw many of the same items we had seen across the border.  We had a long, fun day and appreciated the Smokers showing us around.