Year 3 Week 38

March 4 to 10, 2007

La Feria to Mission, Texas

Year 3 week 38

 

Sunday ; La Feria to Mission, Texas

Today was cloudy and cool in the morning, but the sky cleared and it warmed up later in the day. This morning we prepared for departure from La Feria RV Park, and just as we were about ready to leave, Erbon and Lorraine showed up. They had left Port Aransas early this morning, to meet us. We drove about an hour west in The Valley, on Hwy. 83, to Mission. We found our way to Seldom Rest Ranch, an RV and mobile home park where we had rented a mobile home for a week for Erbon and Lorraine, and an RV spot for us right next to their mobile home.

After getting set up, and having lunch, we left to go explore Bentsen State Park nearby. We picked up information on the park's birding activities and schedules at the park's visitor centre, planning to return another day. From Bentsen State Park we drove to "Pepe's On The River", a local honky-tonk of some renown. HA HA HA ... welcome to Texas ! Pepe's is sort of an indoor / outdoor thatched roof honky-tonk. The first building we went to was a huge, thatched roof, no walls, dance bar sort of place. Live country band, lots of old people / Winter Texans with pitchers of beer, drinking and / or dancing, overlooking the banks of the Rio Grande River, and Mexico on the opposite shore. We walked along the shoreline of the Rio Grande River, looking at birds, over to the other Pepe's building. This was the indoor portion. Similar to the first building, but a bit smaller, and with walls. We ordered beer and Margaritas, and sat down to listen to the country and western band. Hey, you know ... when in Rome ...! Lorraine promptly spilled her Margarita all over the table. Ooooops.

After finishing our beer and Margaritas, we left Pepe's and drove next door to an old "mission", La Lomita Chapel. We walked around the grounds, and inside the old, small church. The city of Mission is named for this "mission". We drove into Mission and stopped at H-E-B to buy a few groceries. We drove over to Mission Nature Park and walked around briefly, admiring huge Prickly Pear Cacti, and the blooming wild flowers.

Back at Seldom Rest Ranch we sat and visited ( and drank Jack Daniel's ) in the nice screened porch attached to Erbon's and Lorraine's rental mobile home. I barbecued some really nice steaks we bought yesterday, that Joanne had marinated overnight. MMMMM ... very good. Following Lorraine's example of earlier today, I spilled a glass of wine all over the dinette table. Ooooops again ! Have another bourbon, Dan !

 

Monday ; Nuevo Progreso, Mexico

Today was sunny and very warm. For breakfast I picked a fresh grapefruit off the tree by the clubhouse in our RV park. We left this morning for a day in Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. But first we had to drive west on Hwy. 83 to the city of La Joya ( "J" sounds like "H" ), where we bought tickets at the high school for their Saturday evening Mexican Folkloric concert. We back tracked east on Hwy. 83, then south on FM 1015 ( FM is "farm to market" road ) to Progreso, Texas. We parked and walked across the International Bridge into Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. Joanne and I have been to Nuevo Progreso a few times. It was the first time Erbon and Lorraine have been into Mexico. Our first few stops were at pharmacies. Erbon wanted to buy some medication for their friend Marion in Port Aransas. Once we got those medications purchased, we spent a couple of hours wandering down the main street, shopping for nothing in particular. Erbon and I each had a $1 Margarita, sipping on it as we walked down the street shopping. Hey ... welcome to Mexico. I bought a leather pocket change pouch. Erbon and Lorraine bought a custom made signature bracelet for a friend's child with an unusual name. Joanne recommended it. We had purchased these personalized name bracelets for her nieces a couple of years ago. We had a great lunch at Arturo's Restaurant, a restaurant Joanne and I have not tried before. After lunch we went for haircuts, all four of us. $4 for men, $5 for women. Then we did some serious shopping. Lorraine bought a dress. I bought a lot of Mexican chocolates. So did Erbon, although not quite as much as me. I bought our old standbys, Creminos, Nugs, and Coconugs. But I also bought some new ones to try. Turkos, which are similar to Creminos, but flavoured differently, Nugs Crujiente, and Mui-Bon. My backpack sure was heavy, loaded down with all those chocolates and chocolate bars. Lorraine bought a straw hat.

We were all shopped out, with sore feet. We walked back across the bridge into the United States. We drove to a nearby new state park called Estero Llano Grande ( double "L" sounds like "Y" ). Erbon and Lorraine picked up information and schedules on birding activities. While they did that, I sat on the visitor centre's outdoor deck and watched a Naria swim around the marshy pond, and hunt on the shoreline. A Naria is a local small mammal, looks somewhat like a beaver or an otter. We drove back to Mission on the "scenic route", Hwy. 281 A.K.A. Military Highway. We stopped to watch a plane doing crop dusting. YIKES ! That's certainly not the way I was taught to fly an airplane.

Back at Seldom Rest Ranch we quickly changed and headed for the swimming pool while there was still some sunshine and warmth left in the day. While were all changing out of our bathing suits, some mystery neighbour hollered through Erbon's and Lorraine's screen door that he was leaving some grapefruits. They didn't even see who it was, they just heard the voice. Some grapefruits ? ? ? Geeeeez ... it was a huge box full. We were laughing that grapefruits in the Rio Grande Valley must be like zucchinis back home in Canada. When they're ready to harvest, you can't give them away fast enough.

We convened in Erbon's and Lorraine's porch to plan our activities for the rest of the week that they are here with us, So much to see and do, and so little time ! We ( well, everybody except me ... hmph ! ) decided we weren't very hungry, after such a large lunch at Arturo's. Joanne made a fresh fruit salad, and we had that with Mexican pastries for supper.

 

Tuesday ; Today was sunny and very warm, a bit windy in the afternoon.

This morning we loaded into Erbon's and Lorraine's car and headed for Bentsen State Park, about 4 miles south on the road we're located, Bentsen Palm Drive. We wanted to go on the once per week guided birding tram tour at 11:00 A.M.. It was very good. We were driven around the park on a tram trailer that seated about 20 people, towed by a pickup truck, stopping periodically at bird viewing stations. Erbon and Lorraine spotted about a dozen new types of birds to add to their birders' list. We saw Altamira Orioles, Green Jays, Chachalacas, Kiskadees, a Screech Owl, and very interesting Leaf Cutter Ants at work. The Ranger who led the tram tour was a Naturalist, now retired from the National Parks system and working part time for Texas State Parks. It seemed as if most of the 20 or so people on the tram tour were Canadians. It appears as if the American Snowbirds / Winter Texans have begun their migration back north, but the Canadians haven't yet. After the tram tour ended back at the park's visitor centre, we spent about a half an hour at each of two of the bird viewing stations in the park before heading home to Seldom Rest Ranch.

We had lunch, then headed for the swimming pool to float away the afternoon. The park's very sociable female cat visited with us at the swimming pool. After the pool it was time for a nap for most of us.

Finally ... the much awaited and anticipated supper hour arrived. We loaded into the Dickinson's car for the drive back towards the border crossing into Mexico at Progreso. We had some difficulty finding it , but ... just before Progreso ... there it was ! Fat Daddy’s ! ! ! The best barbecue in the Rio Grande Valley ! Actually, I thought it didn't quite live up to its reputation. But I couldn't eat the signature pork spareribs. Erbon, Lorraine, and Joanne all thought that the pork spareribs were the best they've ever eaten.

 

Wednesday ; Today was sunny and hot.

We slept in this morning. Erbon and Lorraine left early this morning for a birding tour in Estero Llano Grande State Park. We met them for lunch at Whataburger in Donna, about half an hour east of here on Hwy. 83. After lunch we went to the Donna / Weslaco Flea & Farmer's Markets, between the cities of Donna and Weslaco. I wanted to buy a few small items I needed that I knew would be available at the flea market. Joanne was looking for something specific that she bought here before, but the vendor she bought it from was not here this year. Erbon bought Lorraine a very lovely silver and turquoise bracelet made by a Zuni Indian artist from New Mexico. Joanne stocked up on fresh fruit and produce at the farmer's market. It was about 3:30 P.M., and Erbon was much too tired from a morning of walking around the state park to want to stay near Weslaco for another couple of hours to view the late afternoon return of the green parrots that roost in Weslaco each evening.

On the way back to Seldom Rest Ranch I stopped to pick a few blooms off the top of a Yucca tree. Erbon and Lorraine had been told that the petals of the blooms on the Yucca trees are a nice addition to a garden salad, and the Yucca trees are in bloom right now. It was bit difficult to find a Yucca tree that I could reach the blooms on top, but finally Joanne spotted one that was growing bent over, and I was able to reach the blooms on top. Back at Seldom Rest Ranch we all headed for the pool and hot tub for the rest of the afternoon. Erbon and Lorraine made supper for us tonight. While they prepared supper I went to the clubhouse and got online with Wi-Fi to check e-mail. After we had supper Erbon and I returned to the clubhouse with my laptop so he could pay a bill online. We shot some pool. HA ... I won, two games to one.

 

Thursday ; Today was sunny and hot.

This morning we left for the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. East on Hwy. 83, then south on Hwy. 281, then ... WHOA ... < SCREECH > ... MEXICAN BAKERY ! I slammed on the brakes and turned into the bakery. Joanne thinks I should have a bumper sticker that says " I brake for Mexican Bakeries". HA HA HA ! I bought a bunch of Mexican pastries, as did Erbon and Lorraine. I also bought a white chocolate cappuccino, and when we got to the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge a few minutes later, the cappuccino and a pineapple empanada were my breakfast. Ahhhhh ... life is good ! HA HA HA ! We walked slowly around the grounds of Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge viewing birds ( and lizards ) until it was time for our guided tram nature tour. It was an hour and half around the refuge, stopping occasionally at interesting places. After the guided tram tour we ate our picnic lunches, then hiked into the refuge, following the Chachalaca hiking trail, to view birds. Erbon and Lorraine are still spotting "new" species of birds. These past few days in The Valley have proven to be quite productive to them as birders.

Tired, and mosquito bit, we returned to Seldom Rest Ranch around 4:30 P.M.. Today was the first time we've encountered mosquitoes in The Valley. Joanne and I headed to the swimming pool and hot tub for awhile, then had an early light supper. At 6:30 P.M. we departed for Bentsen State Park, and the evening nature walk. A few days ago when we signed up for tonight's evening nature walk, Erbon and Lorraine got the last 2 spots available. Joanne and I signed up as "standbys". Everyone who had signed up showed up tonight, so us "standbys" didn't get to go on the tour. Joanne and I returned to the trailer, watched Survivor, and I downloaded and processed some photos before driving back to Bentsen State Park at 9:00 P.M. to pick up Erbon and Lorraine.

 

Friday ; Today was mostly sunny and hot. There were a few clouds this morning, due to high humidity and heat.

This morning we loaded into the Dickinson's car and headed west on Hwy. 83 to Falcon State Park, about an hour west of here. We first visited FalconState Park when we went there a year ago to visit friends of ours who were WorkCamping here. Falcon State Park is at the Falcon Dam, on the Rio Grande River, creating Falcon Reservoir.

At the park we spent some time viewing birds from inside a bird blind, then explored the park a bit by car before having our picnic lunch. We wandered from the picnic area down to the water's edge where I chatted with 2 couples from Winnipeg. Small world ! They told me about a nearby "hippie couple" who have turned their 2 acre piece of property into a bird watching haven. Following their directions, we drove out of Falcon State Park, found the small village of Salineño ( "ñ " sounds like "n" followed by the "y" sound as in the word "yellow" ), drove down to the Rio Grande River, parked, and walked to their property. We spent an hour and a half sitting in lawn chairs in their yard, viewing birds. The "hippies" are an 80 year old couple from Michigan who have been coming to this property of theirs for the last 22 years, from November to April each year. They have turned their yard into a bird watching area, and invite all birders to visit, opening their yard to the public each day from 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M..

Alongside the road I broke a long segment off a huge Aloe Vera plant, to sample fresh Aloe Vera gel ( I know ... I’m a bad boy ). We drove back into Falcon State Park, and did more exploring by car and by foot. We drove to the city of Roma, and briefly explored the waterfront area looking across the Rio Grande to the Mexican city across from Roma. I can't remember the city's name. As the sun set we went for supper to a restaurant in Roma called El Mexicano. Our friends Jack and Sharon Board took us there a year ago. The meal we had there today was good, but not as great as the meal we had last year. And the service was poor. And they no longer are licensed, so I couldn't have an ice cold Dos Equis cerveza ( servaysa / beer ) to cool down my tongue which was on fire from the salsa that came with the tortilla chips as an appetizer < opening mouth wide and breathing fire >.

It was a productive birding day for Erbon and Lorraine again. They continue to identify “new” species of birds that they have never seen before, including 2 new types of orioles. Spring has arrived in The Valley. Everything is blooming. Falcon State Park smells like a perfume store.

 

Saturday ; Today was sunny and hot again.

This morning Joanne and I slept late. Erbon and Lorraine left early in the morning for another guided birding outing in Bentsen State Park. They are leaving tomorrow morning to return to Port Aransas, but have decided to return in a week for another week in The Valley. So Joanne and I are going to stay here for 2 more weeks.

When I lifted the hood of the truck to do today's preventive maintenance, an old man wandered by to stick his head in under the hood with me. That's a common occurrence in RV parks when one lifts the hood of one's truck. HA HA HA ! We chatted for a long time about my relatively new Dodge truck, his old Dodge truck, and what pieces of shit both our previous GMC trucks were. His burnt to the ground. Said it was the best thing that could have happened to it. HA HA HA !

We spent the afternoon floating around the swimming pool. Nice work if you can get it ! We had an early supper. Erbon and Lorraine bought a Honey Mesquite barbecued chicken at H-E-B, and Joanne prepared spinach salad and potato salad. Most barbecue down here is done over Honey Mesquite wood because the Honey Mesquite trees grow like weeds around here.

After supper we loaded into Lanoire and drove about 15 minutes west of here to the city of La Joya ( remember "J" sounds like "H" ), to the gala concert at La Joya High School. It was the 25th anniversary of the high school's performing arts program, featuring their musical instrument and singing group, Mariachi Los Coyotes, and their dance group, Grupo Folklorico Tabasco. It was a 3 hour performance of Mexican music, singing, and dancing. It was great ! A real treat was that the last quarter of the show featured alumni. Graduates of the performing arts program over the last 25 years. As they mature, Mexican women might lose their shape, but they sure don't lose their voice. Seeing the 40 year old alumni makes me think I should cut back a bit on the Mexican food and pastries. Aiy, Chihuahua ! One of the 3 principal female singers of Mariachi Los Coyotes had a vocal range and singing ability that made shivers run up and down my spine !

 

DSK