A MYSTERIOUS AND SPECIAL PLACE--LA SAL DEL REY

Monday, February 25 – We did another “Making Memories with Friends” field trip today. The group was only Paul and Marsha and Angie and Rick. Our destination was La Sal del Rey (the King's Salt) also known as “La Purificacion.” It is a salt lake which includes an estimated four million tons of salt and was once part of an extinct inland sea.

Home of 1100 types of plants, 700 vertebrate species, and more than 300 kinds of butterflies, the region is one of the most biologically diverse in the nation and is commonly visited by nature enthusiasts, birders and history buffs from around the world.

Our trail was a dirt road.

The lake has a circumference of five miles, is a mile long, and normally ranges from two to four feet in depth. The bed consists of 99.0897 percent sodium chloride. The large salt deposit has no connection with any other body of water and no one knows for sure how the lake was formed.

Paul tasted the salt and confirmed.....”It sure is salty!”

We walked on an area that was once under water that felt “mushy” under-foot due to the amount of salt. It just felt like any minute we would sink ankle deep in muck. But thankfully, we returned to firm land without a mishap.

They are drilling oil/gas wells in the area and a gate guard required us to park about 1.5 miles from the lake.

We hiked not really sure where we were going but Marsha's iPhone gave us a visual reference where we were and led us right to the lake. We hiked several miles around the salt deposits in spite of gusting winds that were making everything rather dusty.

Marsha found lots of shells and other signs of life left behind.

We were concentrating so hard on finding this place that we didn't even know we were driving on a famous street.

WEAVER Ranch County Rd. How appropriate.

We stopped at a local restaurant, Cheddars, on the way home for lunch/dinner and enjoyed a delicious meal. It was a long day in rather windy conditions. When we arrived home, we found that leaving windows open during dust storms is not a “good thing.” Everything was covered with dust......jeesh!

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

ADIOS AMIGOS SOCIAL HOUR(S)

Friday, February 22 – We had a “Farewell-To-Friends” dinner on Friday as Jane and Joe were going to be leaving the RGV on Sunday. We went to a wonderful barbeque restaurant – 492 BBQ.

We enjoyed delicious Baby-Back Ribs, Chicken, Jalapeno Sausage, Brisket, and a variety of side dishes. Everything was fantastic.

The barbeque is done outback by a couple of guys. Man did that area smell GOOD!

Here is where the magic happens.

There is an outdoor dining area where a fellow was busy painting a mural on the wall.

Angie and Rick kindly picked up the tab as a thank you for work Paul and Joe did around their house here in Leisure Valley. Thank you very much! Of course, the friendship we shared was the best part! Joe and Jane and Angie and Rick will be surely missed as we prepare to head out ourselves on March 1.

Saturday, February 23 – Marsha had her “Adios Amigos” social hour(s) today. Not having a place for her guests to get out of the hot sun, Jan and Barry were kind enough to have the get together at there place.

The boys.

Marsha spent two days preparing food for the event......”enough to feed the entire neighborhood,” Paul said. Surprisingly, most everything disappeared. Paul thinks she must have given it away out the back door just to prove him wrong......again! Marsha…."I don't think so, Paul!"

The ladies.

She had Calzones, sausage stuffed peppers, rice pilaf, cinnamon pull-apart, orange-pineapple cake, lemon bars, vegetable tray, Mexican fruit tray, homemade bread, etc. The ladies all pitched in to help her. Interesting drinks were available also, like Beer Margaritas and Champagne coolers.

Everybody had a great time and enjoyed the wonderful food. It's true…It's the friends you meet along the way that make RVing such an interesting lifestyle. We'll sure miss these friends!

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

CRAZY JOE'S SALOON

Friday, February 21 – We met the gang this afternoon at Crazy Joe's Saloon to check out, what we were told is the best country band in the Rio Grande Valley – Country Roland Band. Thanks Gayle and Jim for the great recommendation.

Our directions to Crazy Joe's told us to take Conway Street South toward the Mexican border. Turn left on Military Highway, and we'll see the saloon just after passing under the bridge going over the river to Mexico. Yep, we're enjoying the band right on the USA – Mexico border.

Here is where the boy's room is located. 

The crowd was made up of many bikers, Gringos, Hispanics (from Reynosa, MX), and a big group of Winter Texans, retirees enjoying the wonderful weather here in South Texas. It was an interesting and fun group of friendly people.

Country Roland Band was terrific.

Eight of us got together and enjoyed several adult beverages, good music, Texas two-stepping, that's dancing folks, and a lot of good fun with friends. The band plays from 4-7 p.m. Marsha and I were there for most of the show. What a great time!

Some were having more fun than others.

Marsha and a group of ladies attended a Ladies' Ropa Fashion Show at a local park. Marsha had a wonderful time and wanted to share just a few pictures with mostly the ladies. You men might not get much out of the next section.

The centerpieces were so clever.

This lady is 90 and modeling night wear!

The cutest cookies were at each seat.

In our last blog we mentioned our time is winding down here in South Texas. Many readers mistakenly assumed we were heading into the COLD NORTH. No way!

From the Rio Grande Valley, we plan to visit Texas Hill Country for a couple of weeks, then on to Houston for several more weeks, including the Houston Rodeo, and from there, we will saunter along the Gulf of Mexico for some beach time.

We plan of visiting Paul's brother in Augusta, GA, some time in April and from there, eventually, turn towards Ohio. So we aren't pushing Mother Nature, regardless what that groundhog said about an early spring!

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