Nov 28

Today is it on to Padre Island National Seashore. Except for the northern tip, the park is the whole island. It is 65 miles long and about a half a mile wide. (104 by .8 km). Long and skinny. The only roadway is the beach which was mostly very hard packed sand.




Only 4-wheel drive vehicles are allowed after the first 5 miles, and the park makes it clear they will not rescue any stuck vehicles. Lots of interesting stuff has washed ashore - like mooring buoys, channel markers, and oil drums. They grow them big in Texas.


Speed limit on the island is 25 mph, which means it would take forever to get to the far end. Today there was only a handful of fishermen, so we made good time and got to the very end, where the channel cuts through.

At the end, there were thousands of shells, and portugese man-o’war.





Afterwards, George spent 2 hours trying to get the sand out of the jeep!!

Weekend Over, Sunny weather returns

This morning was bright and sunny, though cold. We headed north through Port Aransas. There is a ferry system that connects the Island to the mainland. They must have about 6 small ferries that can hold “ as many as they can get on” and they shuttle cars back and forth all day. It is the distance of a wide freeway, and then there is a large bridge over the canal. Why no bridge, we couldn’t guess.

And is this an old BC ferry ??? Now one of the few gambling facilities in Texas.


First we went to Goose Island State Park, where there are camp sites with hookups right on the island on the beach, or sites hidden in the trees on the mainland. And a long fishing pier.


Then on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. These are always great. We saw all kinds of birds, and we think we may have seen the Whooping Crane ( this is its winter home ). We also saw deer and feral pigs. Photographing birds and animals is really hard as they don’t stay still, and most often run into the bushes. The alligators had gone into their winter holes ( too cold for them now).


Did I tell you that south Texas is flat, I mean really flat. And low, really low. Should a 20 ft wave come, south Texas would disappear. With global warming, they should be really worried.

At home, we have sea gulls, and starlings in plowed fields. Here they have cranes - hundreds of them.

Holiday spirit

Shopping, shopping - that's the American way on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving almost all the stores are closed ... and then it's early opening and "the best sales of the year". Supposedly, stores open at 4:00 or 5:30 in the morning with door opening specials and people camp out over night. they thoughtfully have Thanksgiving dinner at noon, so they can get to bed early or get into line as the sun sets. We went about 8:30, and except of the tool department in Sears, the mall was empty. George, of course, found a tool he needed. I saw nothing that moved me to spend my money. Out again on Saturday. This time to the Macy's mall - early opening. I think we were the only ones there. We did some touring of Corpus Christi, then passed the stores on our way back. The parking was packed!! I guess Texans like to sleep in.

BUT, on the day after Thanksgiving, everything Christmas gets up and going. I got into the spirit, and ......




What do you think!!!!!

On Sunday, we toured the King Ranch, which is larger than the state of Rhode Island. They have hundreds of horses and thousands of cattle. The ranch began before Texas became a state, so there were some old buildings. It is quite an organization - with cattle, and cotton, and sugar cane, and oil ( Exxon developed ), and sod, and shoghum, and hunting. (They sell permits to hunt on their property)


On arriving back at the resort, the skies were clearing, and tomorrow should be warm and sunny again.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Cloudy, windy, rainy, cold. Can you tell it is a holiday weekend! Thursday morning we were up and heading north to Port Aransas on Mustang Island.


The resort is right behind the sand dunes of the beach, so perfect for walking. After we got settled, we drove down to the port, which is a small beach town. From here, we drove the beach past our resort. On the beach there were a number of Rvs, a couple the same size as ours, camped out at the edge of the sand. They must be crazy or really know the tides. The picture shows the beach after the storm had passed ( on Sunday). On Friday, and Saturday, the waves were bounding onto the beach right up to the edge of the sand.


Within the park, there is a large pond for birds ( birding is really big here). On one side of the park, there is a developing golf course. On the other, well, here are our neighbours.

South Padre Island

Oct 19 - 22

Hit the road about 10:30 and arrived at the KOA on South Padre Island about 11:00 ( all of 23 miles ). Nice clean park and a coupon gives up 3 nights for the price of 2 ( good deal as this is an expensive park and we would be here without it. ) We look out over the lagoon and the bridge that connects the island to the mainland. Did a bicycle tour of the area.

There are all kinds of high-rises, condos, hotels, motels, and places to eat and spend your money. It definitely has a resort, destination feeling. March is supposedly one great big party here. The beach on the east coast just doesn’t end, just a wide strip of sand that runs the entire length of the island. Lots of people walking the beach, and some in the water. Haven’t tested it yet, but no one looked cold in the least.


Toured along the coast on the mainland. We found a national Wildlife Preserve tucked away in a corner by the coast - a birder’s paradise as well as an area for 2 endangered species - one type of falcon, and the ocelot.



Returned in time to walk the beach. This time I tested the water - slightly cooler than the air (must be about 78 (25’ ). Lots of pelicans getting their bedtime snacks.

On the coast

Nov 17: Cloudy and warm ( 84).
Left Mission and headed east, following the border and arrived at Brownsville. Our park is east of the park on the road to Boca Chico, which, in Spanish, means small mouth. We got settled and then headed to the beach. The beach is undeveloped and you can drive on the beach below the tide line,

So off we went south to the Rio Grande mouth, and then north to the channel into the Brownsville harbor. It was several miles long with sand dunes on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Thought we saw a dolphin playing in the surf. At the breakwater, there were many fisherman casting into the surf, and in the channel there was a pelican and a small green turtle.

Headed back and went to South Padre Island on the other side of the channel into Brownsville. Here, it is under development with many large resorts new finished or under contsructions. It’s fairly quiet now but apparently in January it gets really busy, and at spring break - avoid at all costs. Found a county park and will probably move there on Monday. Drove up the island, and the road just ends in the midst of sand dunes.



Nov 18 “interesting” hair day. We decided to tour Brownsville today. Found the old part, the part by the border, and university, and a golf course that was built on an old fort site, and the club house was one of their brick buildings.

But, the event of the day. .. My hair has been growing and growing and was driving me absolutely nuts, especially with the tropical winds blowing it into knots and tangles. So o o when we were in Walmart,…. Chez Walmart Salons. Thought I would get a trim at $12.95 it must be good. . As I sat in the chair, I realized that I did not speak American ( 98% Hispanic people in Brownsville), and she didn’t speak Canadian. So through a couple of words – How much? She pointed to the list ( only 1 price ) Shampoo? Si. This long off. Si. Anyway, I had a great shampoo and then indicated how much I wanted trimmed off. She got to work on the back, and it felt really good. Then she trimmed a bit off the side, and whoosh, up went a curl. Her eyes got big, and she started to giggle. “naturalis?” Si. More grins. She trimmed a bit more off, and it curled a different way. Hmmm - a challenge. A look of determination set into her eyes. Let’s jit curl, off it comes. Same on other side, only different curl pattern, and she never ceased to be amazed. Then she had to balance the back with the front, and whenever a hair flipped, off it came snip, snip, snip!! And now, shorter than George’s. Actually, it is a very comfortable cut for her, much cooler than before, and it will dry quickly and it will grow by Christmas (next year I’m sure my hair and all its twists will be a topic of conversation for many years.

Touring Mission still

International Ferry


Nov 15th

Really stormy last night. Front came down from Canada and brought winds and rain. Temps dropped to a chilly 56 ( 13’C ). Rain had stopped by morning, and most of the puddles had disappeared, but the sky remained a soft gray, and the winds were gusty. Golf this morning on a 27 hole course, a flat course with some water, and houses along some of the fairways. We had a cart, which was a good thing because here in Texas they have lots of room so things tend to be spread out. We had finished our 18 holes by 1:00,. George needed to do some repairs on the lights at the top of the motorhome, so it was the perfect day, warm but no direct sun. I circled the park on my bike, and found that it was connected to 3 other parks of our size or better so I got my exercise ( again no hills!!) Great excitement in the park - tomorrow morning is the yard sale morning so everyone is setting out their old treasures.

Nov 16th



Sunny. Up early to tour the park to see if anyone has a folding table. Nope!! But there are lots of people in their cars, golfcarts, and bicycles checking things out. About 8:00 we headed down to the State Park just south of Mission. It is on the World Birding sites list. The park is closed to traffic (except for service vehicles and a shuttle. We saw many birds at the feeders, and several groups of havelinas. Once again we walked along the Rio Grande and looked over to Mexico. After that, we headed to Los Ebanos to see the ferry that goes across the river. It is pulled by hand across and it takes 3 cars. We could have taken a ride for .50 each way, but decided not to as there was a very large group of cyclist waiting to cross into America and we didn’t know how long it would take a customs - 2 guys standing by the side of the road. Now I’m sitting in the shade of the canopy enjoying the warmth.

Touring About - Nov 14

Sunny. Went to Sears this morning - George needed a tool. Surprise, surprise.



Then went for a drive along the Rio Grande. We found a great little park which is free on weekdays, $3.00 on the weekend. I saw an armandillo in the wild. He ( she? ) was just toddling along, paused to pose for a few pictures, and toddled off .





Within the park, is an international dam crossing between Mexico and US. Lots of wire and signs posted.





However, the Rio Grande is a little wider than a roadway and there are boat ramps on both sides. Getting across into Mexico, or vice versa would be really easy!!

And we saw the original Mission church built by the Oblate Fathers ( sounds like the other Mission).

It's about 3:00 here, and the temp is over 90' with a breeze. A cold front is coming in tonight, so tomorrow it should only be in the 70's. Just got back, and am eating leftovers from Red Lobster for lunch.

In Mission

Sunny. Had a great walkabout the park before we left. Arrived in Mission about 11:00 and found our resort. It is just like the RV parks in Yuma and most of the people return each year and stay for the winter – average age 75. But it really feels like California or Hawaii temperature wise in the high 80’s or 90’s with a breeze and some humidity so you don’t feel so much like a prune. Did some shopping, ate at Red Lobster, and lazed about. Life is good

Freeways are interesting.

It is called an expressway, and it has a frontage one-way street that is right beside expressway and the frontage has exits and entrances to the expressway every 2 or 3 major streets. Speed on expressway – 70, speed on frontage 60. You can access major shopping or stores from the expressway and the expressway goes over the major streets and .it’s hard to explain, but it seems to work really well.

Almost south

Sunny - Decided to tour Laredo. It is the largest inland port in the USA, which means there are about a billion trucks and trains going across the border. There are three big bridges over the Rio Grande, and trucks don’t seem to be backing up to get across. There are also multiple pedestrian crossings. We found the old section with a fort and old buildings. The area along the river is much like Nogales and Tijuana with lots of people milling about, and lots of stores in old buildings selling anything you could ever want. It is primarily a shopping town with a huge mall and easy access to the Mexican shopping over the border. Since shopping is not for us, and we had finished the tour before 10:00, heades south again. We had planned to get to Mission today, but there was a state park en route that was right on the dam-created lake on the Rio Grande. There are lots of birds and butterflies here, I means lots ( déjà vu to Asa Wright last year as this time ). But it is really hot - over 90 with some humidity. This place would be fabulous if it were 20’ cooler. But there were maybe 20 others in the very big park so the crowds were good.

Some of the local creatures:
alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132514266218252690" />

Heading to South Texas

Sunny. We headed south and east into Texas. It was only 100 miles to the next campsite, so we were set up by noon in Pecos. (some of you may know the story of Pecos Bill - it is set here ). The Rv park is really a gravel parking lot, with little room between rigs - not impressed, but it is the only place in town. We went to the local museum which is housed in an old saloon and hotel. Lots of good stuff, but the best was the lady who introduced us to the displays. She was in her 80’s and her grandparents came across America in a covered wagon, and the stories that she told us - really, really interesting. Every museum should have someone like her.



Sunny. Head south east to the Rio Grande Valley, following the Pecos River. Most of the road was straight and empty so I drove for about an hour. We went from flat desert to rolling hills desert. Ended up at Seminole State Park about noon. We decided to camp here only to find that a troup of boy and girl scouts were also sharing our space. Tonight should be interesting. In the afternoon, we went on a ranger-led tour of the rock art in the overhangs of the Seminole Canyon. These are supposedly some of the best examples in the world, and it was really interesting, and the ranger is working on his doctorate focusing on the rock art. He really knew his stuff, and he was very personable. Well worth the hike!! And the campsite quieted right down with the sunset. (6:09)



Some things about Texans:
They are very polite - yes m’am, no m’am, thank you m’am, sorry sir
They are accommodating - y’all find what you need, y’all know where you are going,
They are very friendly - Y’all come back, Y’all enjoy your stay.
“We are really good shots.” ( quote from a park ranger explaining why the black bear is almost extinct here.)


Today was cloudy, so we decided to head south. Drove down to Laredo which is the beginning of “tropical Texas”.- mostly straight flat driving through desert scrub. It is beginning to get greener. And there are some fields with melons and onions. We are staying a Lake Casa Blanca State Park, which is the largest big-mouth bass fishing lake totally in Texas. . It is just a riot to see all the big boats on this rather small lake, and apparently it is not nearly as busy as usual!

Carlsbad continued

Sunny again. Is this a starfish? In the Desert? Wrong. It is the bloom of a cactus. We went to the Living Desert State Park, which was on a hill overlooking Carlsbad. When something is on a hill, you can see forever in all directions. Zoo had the usual animals in too small places. But they also had a botanical greenhouse with amazing cactus. Some of which they had tricked into blooming. Then back for a quiet afternoon of enjoying the sunshine.

Sunny. Busy day. We first headed east across the desert. Driving through nothing by sagebrush and cactus and cattle and flat. After an hour, we turned a corner and came into a depression, a small canyon. There were lots of trees and greenery. It is the Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area. A falls in the desert - you have got to be kidding!! Following a short trail, there it was. A waterfall. The ranger said that someone from Texas once said, “Sh__, I can piss more than that.” But there was a steady falling of water. Apparently there is a spring about a mile from the cliffs, and the water flows over the cliffs, and then about a half mile down, it disappears into the sand. Really amazing to see. ( nothing like the water at Cascade Creek, but this is the desert. Then golfing in Carlsbad. 90 degrees, dry heat, golf cart to zoom around in. Great day.


Sunny. Happy trails to us. We headed south and east into Texas. It was only 100 miles to the next campsite, so we were set up by noon in Pecos. (some of you may know the story of Pecos Bill - it is set here ). We went to the local museum which is housed in an old saloon and hotel. Lots of good stuff, but the best was the lady who introduced us to the displays. She was in her 80’s and her grandparents came across America in a covered wagon, and the stories that she told us - really, really interesting. Every museum should have someone like her.

The "ranch" is by a town called Lakewood. The picture shot from the Ranch, shows the town . the church, and the post office. You can’t see the 2 mobile homes. That’s it! The Ranch is in the middle of a working ranch with cows and oil pumps, and somehow, there is a train track close by. Heard nothing at night fortunately. We had the royal welcome here.



Sunny and cooler ( Canadian air). It’s north to the UFO’s and a fabric store. Just north of here is the city of Roswell, where there was a UFO landing in 1947 and they haven’t forgotten it. There is a UFO museum and research center which is really an old cinema that looked really dumpy, so we didn’t go in. However, to the south of the city, there is an airport that is full, I mean really full of airplanes, with no markings, and parts missing. I think that it is where unloved and forgotten airplanes go - or it is a parts department to keep old planes running.



And here we have a field of snow???? NO, it is a field of cotton ready for picking.

Onward to East New Mexico

Sunny. This morning we packed up and headed east, passing through the White Sands National Monument which are massive white sand dunes ( made of gypsum) and also the site where they tested the first atomic bomb in 1945. Then up over a mountain range to 8860 feet where they have skiing in the winter, though the ski run looked pretty short and not too steep. And onto “the Ranch” – an escapee park just north of Carlsbad. It is in the middle of a ranch, but somehow, there is a train track close by. Heard nothing at night fortunately. We had the royal welcome here.


Sunny. It’s caving today on the plan so we headed south of Carlsbad to the caves – which is a national park. Really interesting - several very, very big rooms with lots of stuff hanging down and growing up. In the past, there were meetings and weddings held in the caverns and people were encouraged to take a bit of the cave home. So many of the formations have been broken and some written upon. Now it is closely monitored and there are designated paths to follow. Very impressive. It was a cool 53 degrees inside and down about 800 feet, but it was a cozy 88 when we emerged into the daylight. The visitors center is at the top of a mountain range ( rather short mountains ) and the view to the south is over Texas prairie.


If you look quick enough, it looks like you are looking out over the ocean and you can see islands on the horizon.

A Week at Deming

A Week at Deming: Sunny and warm

We went into Las Crusces to get a new part for the jeep light connection and toured about. We went to the old town of Mesilla with an old Spanish-style plaza , church, and shops. Most of the afternoon, we spent relaxing at the campsite, reading and enjoying the sun.

Head south to Rockhound State Park, where you can collect rocks and actually take them with you. We found lots of perilite. This is like obsidian, but it has more water content. Up Albu way, they heat it to 800’ and it explodes and they sell it to us in bags for our garden and plant boxes.
Desert Humour: Two snakes are slithering along. One asks, “ Are we poisonous snakes?”
Other snake answers, “ Darn tootin’. We’re RATTLESNAKES, and we can kill!! Why?”
“I just bit my tongue”

After a good hike, we set off for the Mexican border, went to 2 museums on the Mexican attack in 1916 and then headed home on a dirt road. Many border patrol looked carefully at us as we drove by.

Went to go golfing, but it was men’s morning, so we went up to Silver city, saw on old mining town, had good Mexican food, explored the Gila Cliff dwellings, and visited Rock City.

November Already. Golfed in the morning. Greens were really hard as they were like saucers. Very flat course ( like everything here ). Nice walk. Did laundry while George investigated stabilizers that are made here and are recommended for the MH. Had rootbeer floats at happy hour, and talked to several people about the stabilizers, We are going to get them tomorrow.

Headed to explore some ghost towns. We went first to Lordsburg – supposedly a usual town, only it was like a 1990 ghost town – most of the motels, restaurants, home were empty. Some of the town had people – but I have no idea what they did. Then we went to Stein – a three-building stagecoach town that was being disassembled and carted away. No sign of anything other than the three very old, decaying buildings. Returned to Deming and sat in the sun, and puttered the remaining day away.

Up and away to southeast New Mexico.