Day 46: The Brownsville 77 Flea Market

On Sunday we drove about 25 miles south to the main Brownsville Flea Market that is only open on weekends.  It was so big it makes Shipshewana,  Indiana look small.  It was so busy that traffic was backed up on the interstate at the entrance.  Here is a sampling of a few things we saw.

Most items for sale were outside on tables and racks.

Need a weed eater?  We saw new washers and dryers for sale as well.

There were beautiful plants.

There were five narrow buildings that had to each be a quarter of a mile long.

How is this for a selection of live birds?   There were large lizards as well.

You do not see stuffed toys like this in Michigan.

Need to replace that lost remote?

 

 

Out of all the many items - Karen admired this puppy that was not for sale.  Go figure!

Day 45: Here and There and This and That in the Bottom of Texas

On a recent drive through the countryside we saw what we thought was a building fire.  When we drove into town a few miles away small pieces of burned plant fiber were falling out of the sky.

We discovered that the smoke was from a sugar cane field that had deliberately been set on fire.  Burning the dry leaves makes harvesting easier on the picking machines.  Burning like this is illegal in California.

Here is a sugar cane field before harvest.

On a recent visit by the Smokers we saw this vehicle for sale.  Here Phil tries it on for size.  Question: Is it a car or motorcycle???

On Saturday Bill and Karen hired Ricardo to wash and wax our trailer.  He brought his eleven-year old son to help and they did a great job.  Edgewater is shining like a new penny now.

On Saturday night we went to a concert here at Sun N' Fun.  It was called "Eagles Tribute" and they played only songs by The Eagles.  The group was very talented and put on a great show for a big audience.

Day 44: A Trip to South Padre Island (Part 2 of 2)

As Michigan residents we have been spoiled by our beautiful Great Lakes and the pristine beaches and sparkling waters they offer us.   Therefore, the beaches and waters of  South Padre Island here in Texas did not impress us much.  However, deep sea fishing is available here.  Also, in Michigan we do not have sea turtle rescue centers like you will see below.

We climbed a sand dune and here is Karen with the western horizion behind her.

This is at the end of the paved road north of town looking east into the Gulf.

The beaches near the water were covered with thousands of small sea shells.

Back in town we stopped at Sea Turtle, Inc.  It is a nonprofit sea turtle rescue center.

This huge old girl Green Turtle had a front flipper bit off by a shark and will never be returned to the wild.  They have built her a removable prothesis so she does not always have to swim in circles.  She will be featured in an upcoming PBS Special about injured animals.

This little guy was waiting to be released.

This male had a rear fin bitten off by a predator.

And here is poor Walter who is in intensive care - really.  On a night when the water was too cold he came ashore and they think a coyote worked him over before giving up

 

All five species of Sea Turtles in the Gulf are endangered or threatened.  The center operates by donations.  We found the center to be the most interesting attraction on the Island.

Day 43: A Day Trip to South Padre Island (Part 1 of 2)

Thursday was another warm beautiful day so we decided to head about 25 miles east to South Padre Island on the Gulf of Mexico.  It is a tourist attraction we had to see for ourselves.

Here we cross the bridge from Port Isabel to the Island.  It reminded us of a miniature Mackinaw Bridge crossing.

But the water was not as clear and bright as the Straights of Mackinaw.  And the bridge had a curve or two.

The town on the Island had many high rise condos overlooking the Ocean.

The area was brimming with restaurants, bars, high rise condos and T-Shirt shops.

As you drive north out of town you soon see the shifting sand of the dunes filling the main road.

Here is how they keep the road open.

 

We walked along the beach.  We did not like the fact that cars and trucks are allowed to drive along the beach as well.   It is hard  to enjoy the ocean when a few hot-rodders are zooming by that might just run over you.

 

More about South Padre Island tomorrow.

Day 42: Fun and Games at Fun N' Sun

Wednesday was a beautiful day in the Valley. Phil and Nancy Smoker came over to San Benito from Mission to get a look at our latest RV park and pay us a visit.  We had a fun afternoon with some exercise mixed in as well.

Here is Karen, Bill, Nancy and Phil getting ready to play Pickle ball.

Here is the "Good Guys" team going for another big point.

Here is that other team trying to score.

After the game we were all friends again.

When we got back to the camper after a park tour it was time for some wine and a couple games of cut-throat "Pegs and Jokers".

Day 41: The Rio Grande Valley Music Festival in Mercedes Texas

A big annual event in these parts is the Rio Grande Valley Music Festival held at the Livestock Show Grounds near Mercedes Texas.  It is a five-day event that is held to raise money for the local schools in the Valley.  There are five different stages with different performers going in 1/2 hour sets.  Most of the entertainers are local groups who are down here playing shows at the RV and mobile home parks.  The various musical groups all donate their time and only make money by selling their CDs.  A few groups from the high schools also perform as you will see below.

Here is the metal sign above the main gate at the show grounds.

This was our favorite group called Cross Strung.  Two of the best fiddle players we had ever heard.

Betty Rydell was there with a band this time.  (Remember her from a month ago at Bentsen Grove?)  ((I didn't think so --- but Bill does))

Here is Red Johnson and his band.

This was a family called The Punches.

Here was the Edcouch-Elsa High School Estudiantina.  They were happy to pose for a picture before they went on stage.  Their instructor has the dark suit.

They played mandolins, guitars, and two bass fiddles and sang beautifully.

Their music was wonderful to hear.

Day 40: A Look Around FUN N' SUN RV Resort

Most of the lots in this park are smaller and closer together than we like.  However, the bathrooms and showers are very clean and the facilities are numerous and very new.  The equipment in the fitness center is brand new.  They have the first indoor shuffleboard courts we have seen and the courts are almost always busy.  There is a music room with two digital pianos that guests can just go in and use if the feeling strikes them.  There is also the first Boccie ball court we have seen and a softball field.  The park has a small barber shop and a small beauty shop.

Here is a display of the wood carvers club that meet every week and welcomes guests.

The library is very large with the best organization we have seen.  Like all the others it runs on the honor system.  Karen loved the magazines available here.  Bill picked up a DVD he had not seen.

The billiards room has excellent equipment and beautiful furniture and decor.

We often admire the purple ground cover we see in the parks.