Tuesday, January 30, 2018

TRAVELING ALONG THE TEX-MEX BOARDER

Monday, January 29 – We pulled out of Mission, TX, early this morning and followed the USA-Mexico border on US-83. This is a nice route through Texas oil field country. Most of the traffic we saw was service vehicles for the oil drilling industry. Thank goodness for oil because there isn't much else here for people to earn a living! It was a pretty interesting drive. (You can click on any photo to enlarge it.)

TX roads

One inspection center to go through.
inspection center

Scenery….what scenery?
DSC09798

We arrived at the Kickapoo Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, by early afternoon. This is our second time at this Indian casino (We were here in 2012.), and boy has it changed. What was once a small casino on a dusty road is now a large casino with a 200+ room hotel and a full hookup RV park. Nice to see they are spending all those tourist dollars on roads, sidewalks, and other capital improvements.

Last time, we parked in a small area at the back of a parking lot. We did have water and electric but little else. The casino has now built a nice full hookup campground with 20 sites, paved roads and sites, concrete patios, and nice grassy landscape areas. The rate is $15/night which we paid, via credit card, at a self-serve meter similar to the type used in many large cities for street parking. As a side note, if staying here be sure to use a water pressure regulator. Paul found the pressure in excess of 100 pounds.

2012 campground.  That’s are previous RV, a Tiffin Phaeton.
2012 Kickapoo Casino

2012 Kickapoo Casino

2018 campground
2018 Kickapoo campground

2018 Kickapoo campground

Looking right.  There’s the automated pay station.
2018 Kickapoo campground

Looking left.
2018 Kickapoo campground

2018 Kickapoo campground

2012 Casino
2012 Kickapoo Casino

2018 Kickapoo Casino…all three buildings.  Plans for adding more hotel rooms!
2018 Kickapoo Casino

The landscaping is beautiful.
Kickapoo Casino

“Humorous” side note. While walking around our RV admiring the campground, we mentioned to each other that there was an occasional sewer smell. Little did we know we parked in site #1, right next door to the sewer treatment plant. Ha ha! Good planning!

2018 Kickapoo Casino

After dinner, we decided to head over to the casino and win enough money to pay for our two nights stay. There is a very nice shuttle that we had pick us up at our door which came in handy since it cooled down significantly after sunset. Unfortunately, the slot machine devil was out and thanked us for the contribution to the casino capital improvement fund rather than allowing us to leave with big winnings.

Tuesday, January 30 - Today, we explored Eagle Pass, Texas. Our first stop was Walmart to pick-up a few supplies. What a wonderful surprise we had when we checked out at the register. NO BAGS! As of June 2017, single use bags have been banned in Eagle Pass, Texas. Only bags with handles and made of cloth, washable fabric, durable plastic or recyclable paper may be used. If you forget your reusable bag, they will sell you a recyclable paper bag with handles for 25 cents. The gal at the checkout said they can already see a difference in the amount or lack of litter in town.  We feel there are numerous South Texas cities that should consider this law.

We then drove around the city of Eagle Pass. The city borders the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, which is to the southwest and across the Rio Grande River. Eagle Pass was the first American settlement on the Rio Grande. Originally known as Camp Eagle Pass, it served as a temporary outpost for the Texas militia, which had been ordered to stop illegal trade with Mexico during the Mexican-American War. Eagle Pass is so named because the contour of the hills through which the Rio Grande flows bore a fancied resemblance to the outstretched wings of an eagle.

The population of the city is just under 30,000 people with a median age of 31.7 years and a median household income of $36,907. The population is 94.4 % Hispanic, 4.2 % White and 1% Asian. 90% of the population speak a non-English language, and 80.3% of the people are U.S. Citizens. 26.2% of the population in Eagle Pass live below the poverty line compared to the national average of 14.7%.

There is a very “different” RV that pulled in last night. We got a better look at it today. What do you think…a bit different?

The Sticker Bus

The Sticker Bus

The Sticker Bus

We enjoyed our little tour of the city and then returned to the Kickapoo Casino campground to relax for the remainder of the day. Tomorrow we head to Seminole Canyon State Park in Comstock, Texas. This stop was highly recommended to us by friends and blog readers, so stop back and see what we discover.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!

Saturday, January 27, 2018

ONE FINAL TRIP TO PROGRESO, MEXICO

Thursday, January 25 – We returned to Progreso, Mexico, this morning to finish up our dental work. The trip across the border from Mission, Texas, was as always uneventful. Our appointment wasn't until 1:00 p.m. We arrived about 10 a.m. because we wanted to do some shopping in Mexico prior to seeing the dentist. It's fun to see all the sidewalk vendors and stop in the numerous shops along the way. You never know what you'll see.

A nice way to greet visiting Americans.
Mexico
 
Shopping would have to wait because the first thing we did was to get Paul a haircut. We really likes to go to Gloria’s. He says they always cut his hair just right. And speaking of right, haircuts are only $5.00.

Mexico

Mexico 
Then it was off to do some shopping. There are tons of stores that have just about anything you need and don’t need.

Mexico 
Need glassware?
Mexico

How about some roosters?
Mexico
Pottery?
Mexico
Maybe a dressed-up pig or turtle?
Mexico 
Another fun occurrence is the many sidewalk opportunities to grab a margarita or a Mexican beer. Of course this is a great place to do a little people watching or enjoy a strolling Mexican musician willing to play you a love song.

Mexico 
Mexicans have such a sense of humor.
Mexico

Mexico
We arrived at the dentist about ten minutes early, and Marsha was called back right on time. She received her permanent crown and a cleaning. Since we use the same dentist in this dental group, Paul had to wait his turn but was called in to have his permanent crown cemented in place soon after Marsha was finished.

We had a brief shower while in the dentist office. We remained dry, but Progreso is not really modern enough to get rid of water in the asphalt/dirt streets. Things tend to get a little muddy after an infrequent rain shower. Luckily all the sidewalks are covered so things were high and dry except when necessary to cross the streets.

With dental work completed it was time to have a little lunch. We shared an order of Lonches at Farmacia Jessica. You get a free margarita in the restaurant with any purchase in the drugstore. The Lonches were delicious, the margaritas refreshing, and the customary Mexican musician very enjoyable.

Mexico 
We rarely take photos of food, but for those who do not know what Lonches are….here you go. We got four with our order. The buns were so fresh. We highly recommend getting an order at Jessica’s. 3 margaritas + 4 Lonches = $10.

Mexico 
It was a long day in Mexico. We arrived about 10:00 a.m., and it was 2:30 p.m., so time to head back across the border and return home. Border crossing are quick in the Rio Grande Valley. We showed our passports and were ushered through customs without any problem. They didn't even check our purchases. They only asked if we were American citizens, and if we had cigarettes or alcohol to declare. Forty-five minutes later we were pulling into the RV park in Mission, Texas.

It’s always a good idea to set your emergency brakes!
Mexico 
We have a couple more social events this weekend with friends, and then we head down the road early Monday morning. We are heading to Seminole Canyon and then on to Big Bend National Park. Both are located in the very isolated area of South Texas, which has very limited cell phone or internet service, so we probably won't be posting any blogs until after we return to “civilization”  or find a hotspot at the Lodge. Funny how being “disconnected” is an unfamiliar event these days! If you have a suggestion of a “must see” or “must visit” place near Seminole Canyon or Big Bend, please pass it along. Thanks!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great time!

Sunday, January 21, 2018

BOAT TOUR OF THE RIO GRANDE RIVER

Saturday, January 20  – It was a beautiful day here in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. A nice day for a cruise on the Rio Grande River. We met up with friends Louise and Duane who are staying in Harlingen, TX, which is about an hour east of our park in Mission, TX.

The boat, which is a large enclosed pontoon boat, can carry about fifty passengers. The boat is clean and well maintained. The cost is $12 ($10 for seniors). Reservations are advisable. The cruise lasts about one hour. It departs from Riverside Restaurant. They were so busy today that a two additional cruises was added. We departed at 10:30 AM with other cruises at noon and 2 PM. The captain is also the tour guide giving a nice informative and sometimes humorous explanation of the areas along the river. There are beverages and snacks for sale on the boat as well. Note:  All photos had to be take through the window.

Riverside from the water.
Riverside Boat trip

Riverside Boat trip 
Duane and Paul enjoying the ride.
Riverside Boat trip

The Mexico side of the river has new construction of many private entertainment venues used primarily in the summer by residents of nearby Reynosa, the third largest city in Mexico with a population over 700,000 people. Americans and Mexicans are free to use the entire river for fishing and pleasure but are not allowed to land on the other countries shore. The river is 200-300 feet across in this area and averages about 25 feet deep. The USA – Mexico border is actually at the mid-point of the river.

Private entertainment venues in Mexico.
Reynosa

Riverside Boat trip 
The roofs for these picnic shelters are made out of palm leaves. They put the leaves on when they are green.
As they dry the palms shrink and make great covers for buildings and picnic tables.
Riverside Boat trip 
Much of the USA side of the river is a large national wildlife protected area. It is also the area where many illegals cross the river from Mexico. The captain said the border patrol, which has an extremely large presence in the Rio Grande Valley, intercepts an average of 100 illegals crossing into the US in this area per day. Only two of those caught are from Mexico. Eight are from other countries. It is common to see US Custom and Texas Custom gun boats running at high speed up and down this section of the river.

Wildlife Refugee on US side.
DSC09738

Riverside Boat tour 
There is a sugar cane field that lines part of the river on the US side.
Riverside Boat tour
 
Boarder Patrol lookout.
Riverside Boat tour

Riverside Boat tour
One of the places were illegals cross.
Riverside Boat tour

Our guide told us that the Rio Grande river twists and turns so much that sometimes you will find yourself East or West of the river rather than North. We found ourselves exactly in that situation in the next photo.

Riverside Boat tour

The boat goes East down the river until it reaches the Anzalduas Dam that was built by both countries is a flood-control dam. It is the last dam on the Rio Grande before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico about 80 miles away. On the other side of the dam, the river is very shallow averaging only about five feet deep. At this point the boat turns around and returns back to the departure point.

It is in this area that President Trump wants to build the first sections of his wall. There is currently a levy for helping with river flooding on the US side of the river. The plan is to build the wall on top of this levy all the way to the Gulf. Unfortunately, the levy sits back about 500 or more feet from the river and there are many homes, business, and RV parks along the river which would be cut off. The Riverside Restaurant from which we departed is one of the many business that would be affected.

On the other side of the dame is a 30 ft. waterfall.
Riverside Boat trip

We did see some wildlife. Mostly Blue herons.

Blue herons

Riverside Boat tour

We enjoyed the cruise. We found it both informative and interesting. Remember, if in the area and interested in the cruise, it is a good idea to make reservations. Of course, we had to have lunch after our tour. Another delicious meal.

Duane and Louise
Duane and Louise

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day.

Friday, January 19, 2018

GOINGS ON IN MISSION

Friday, January 19 – We are enjoying our time here at Leisure Valley Ranch in Mission, Texas. Like most of the nation the weather has been less than favorable with record setting temperatures down in the 30's. Thankfully, it appears over and temperatures are forecasted to climb back to the customary 70's.

temp

We've enjoyed several social events with friends. There have been happy hours, dances, and card parties. Of course, Marsha, has enjoyed getting together with her lady friends and has picked up a new hobby......wine glass painting. She was so proud of her painting prowess. Like a little girl with her “all – A's” grade card! Now where do we pack those wine glasses, brushes, and paint jars?

Thanks to Cookie for sharing her supplies and techniques.
wine glass painting

Marsha in deep concentration.
wine glass painting

She never starts out simple.
wine glass painting

Side 1
wine glass painting

Side 2. Marsha said she ran out of time and didn’t get to finish this side like she wanted to.
wine glass painting

We've also enjoyed meeting up with old friends over lunch. We meet our friend, John, for lunch at Riverside Restaurant located on the Rio Grande River. We originally met John many years ago via his blog. We catchup every other year during our visit here to the Rio Grande Valley. Angie and Rick have joined us the last couple visit with John. John and Paul always enjoy the huge pork tenderloin sandwich. Great time with great friends.

This is the actual size of the sandwich.
IMG_3982

L-R: Rick, Paul, John, Marsha, Angie
IMG_3978

We've always wanted to take the river cruise that leaves Riverside Restaurant and have plans to do that in the very near future. Check back and share our adventure.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day.