Pet Parade

Today they held their Pet Parade at the park.  We weren’t going to bother entering Jackson because I really didn’t have anything to dress him up in.  Then Ken suggested we put one of his Hawaiian shirts on him with a baseball cap and sunglasses.  So we did put a shirt on him and sort of got the baseball cap on him but we figured the sunglasses must might get damaged so we didn’t bother with that.  The proceeds go to the local no kill dog shelter.  That is always a  bonus in my book.  The shelter even brought in several adoptable dogs.  Oh so cute and I sure hope they find their forever homes soon.  I don’t know if anyone here adopted one.  Last year they said 3 were adopted here.  There was one wee pup there that I had my eye one.  But we’re not ready to adopt another dog at this time.  It’s a good thing Ken is there to give me ‘the eye’ when I say, Look at this one!.

I believe there will be several rigs pulling out at the end of the month.  Some head home, some head to another campground.  They say it gets very hot here in the month of March.  We have decided, depending on the weather, if it’s too hot we are going to head up to San Antonio.  The weather up there is a little cooler and we have heard such great things at that area.  For us to head home at the end of the month wouldn’t be a good idea.  It is basically still winter back home and we could run into snow either at home or on the way home.

This little bird comes to our suet feeder everyday.  Also his mate..does anyone know what it is?

We took a trip over to the Mexican side, Progreso a few days ago.  You park you car on the US side and walk over.  Oh my, dentists, dentists, and more dentists.  And Pharmacies, load of them.  I had 2 things I had to get.  This cream that everyone raves about Gelmicin, that can only be purchased in Mexico.  You can get it in Canada, but only by prescription and it’s expensive.  I got a tube for $2.50.  Check it out online.  Jackson had a sore on his tail that he had aggravated by biting it.  I put it on in the evening and next day it was gone.  And a bottle of single malt, 20 year old scotch that my son said he wanted.  But as you can buy anything there in a pharmacy without a prescription I picked up some Nexium, dirt cheap.  Even though I have a plan at home, they only cover so much for this product.  There is absolutely nothing you can’t get there. 

We make our own wine at home, have done for 22 years now.  Personally, I think we make some pretty darn good stuff.  Anyhow, this year we brought 4 cases (48 bottles) with us.  No issues at the border, and we told them.  It’s hanging on pretty good, and it will ‘almost’ see us to the end.  We will probably have to pick up a few bottles, but not a lot.  So glad because we really do prefer our own wine to store bought.

Well that’s it…until later..take care.

Window Screens

When we had our Class A I had window screens for the outside of the big front window and the 2 side windows made.  I could not believe the difference they made on hot, sunny days.  Of course they went with the rig when we sold it as they were custom made.  We have a ton of windows in our 5th wheel and sometimes when it’s very hot and sunny we have to close the blinds on that side so the A/C won’t work so hard.  I really hate my blinds closed during the day.  A few weeks ago while out riding my bike in the park I came across a fellow who has making customs snap on screens for a 5th wheel.  I stopped and talked to him and asked him to come over and give me a quote.  I had investigated purchasing the roll down sunscreens that you can buy at Camping World and for our biggest window it was around $200 for one.  And I wanted 5 of them!!!  This gentleman was in business for himself and he made them in his utility trailer right on site.  He quoted me $345.  for all 5.  And they are big windows.  He does a really good job and I like that I don’t have to worry about them becoming unfurled like the other kind, while driving down the road.  I just unsnap them, roll them up and put away.  If anyone is in the Rio Grande Valley area and is interested, I would recommend him.  He not only does 5th wheel windows but the big front windshield windows on Class A’s.  Just remember during the day you can see out but people can’t see in.  Not so at night, so close those blinds at night!!!!

This is what it looks like inside.  It does make the side with the existing window screen look really weird though. 

Outside

The other side of the rig

This is his business card..

That’s all I have for now..so until later..take care.

Aren’t you going the wrong way???

Today we went for a pontoon ride on the Rio Grande River.  There were 4 couples aboard and the ‘captain’.

For the most part the scenery wasn’t all that spectacular.  Kind of boring really, but I always enjoy a boat ride of any sort.  There is just muddy banks on both sides really.  We did see some cars that they dump on the sides in the bushes.  Not cars anymore really, just rusted out hulks.  We were told they were put there to hold up the bank of the river so it doesn’t erode anymore.  Saw no alligators but was told there’s a big guy near the boat launch.

Rusted cars used to stop erosion

There was several buildings on the Mexican side but were all totally deserted.  In 2010 hurricane Alex (according to Bing) came through and the river rose about 15 feet.  We saw on some properties the water line mark.  Amazing.  The ‘captain’ doesn’t know for sure but thinks those buildings on the Mexican are still under repair from that hurricane.  Apparently our RV park here was under 3-4 feet of water from the river.

We saw several deflated, abandoned rafts on the US side.  These were used to escape from Mexico to the US.  The border patrol is very much in evidence, either by racing speedboat, foot patrol or helicopter.  And we saw something very, very interesting.  From the Mexican side this fellow sets off in a inflated raft with 1 paddle racing for the US side.  We’re thinking oh yeah he’s making a run for it.  Our captain called border patrol.  But…..he gets to the US side and picks up at least 6 people and transports them back to Mexico.  What the heck??? Hey buddy, aren’t you going the wrong way???  We find out later he is picking up people who have been transported to the US to distribute drugs and he’s picking them up so they can get more drugs and go back across again.  I think you call them ‘mules’.????  They had so many in that tiny raft I’m surprised the raft wasn’t swamped.  A few minutes after the phone call to the border patrol we saw them racing off in that direction.  Man have those boats got power.  I’m sure the border patrol does a good job, but that’s a might long river and I have to wonder how it is possible to patrol that especially at night.  The widest section we saw was about 1/4 mile wide, with most sections being about 500 across, an easy swim, or whatever they use.  We saw a discarded life jacket that the captain said was NOT there yesterday.  There are a couple Mexican communities close to the river which will give sanctuary to those that make it across the river.  It was interesting to see first hand the stuff you hear about on the news.
 

We are still planning a trip across into Progresso on the Mexican side before we leave.  We will leave our truck parked on the US side and walk across the border.  See what they have in the way of some good, cheap hooch!!!!.

So until later…take care.

Goodbye to one of Jackson’s Best Buddies, Koby

Today our dear friends, Tee and Lois had to say goodbye to their beloved Golden, Koby.   It’s such a very hard thing to do, saying goodbye and making the decision to do so.  It takes a deep, deep love for your friend to do that and not wanting to see them suffer any longer. 

Last year in Ocala, we met the 3 of them for the first time and we were supposed to meet up again this year here in Texas, but just a few days before they were to leave Koby had a nose bleed.  They made the decision to stay home this year as it appeared that he would need further tests and medical supervision.  As it turned out he had cancer and there was nothing they could do.

Tee and Lois, our hearts are breaking along with yours.  Koby was a great guy, gentle soul and a wonderful friend. 

Goodbye Koby, run free and happy my friend.

A Success .. I Think

Yesterday the campground held their very first Progressive Supper.

The campground here is laid out a little different than most.  There are 6 circles with a Palapa in the middle of each.  Our palapa has the pool tables, the next one over has the clubhouse and so on.  You can book your palapa for a private event if you like.  There are sites all around the circumference of the place too.  So this progressive supper was held in 4 of the palapas with the residents of each palapa (if they wanted to of course) would supply the course for that particular circle.  Circle 6 had the appetizers and wine, circle 5 (this is ours) had the salads and wine, circle 4 (the clubhouse) had the main course which was baked potatoes with ALL the trimmings and wine, circle 3 had the desserts and wine.  And the other 2 circles also contributed to the eats also.  It still amazes me what people can do with such limited cooking resources.  The food was fantastic.  We could have stayed at the appetizer table for the duration.  By the time we had consumed the baked potatoes with the sour cream, butter, cheese, chili, onions, and whatever you dumped on it we were done.  We didn’t even venture over to the dessert section.  I was very surprised that Ken didn’t because he just loves his desserts.  I probably would have had something and that would have been a big mistake as I was uncomfortably full already.  So it was a very wish decision to pass it up.  Too bad though cause the people here just out do themselves when it comes to the food.

In line for the appetizers

the good stuff

The management was wondering if it would be a success and I would definitely say that it was.  I think just about everyone here participated.  It was lovely.  Everyone brought over their lawn chairs to their own circle so people had somewhere to sit down, and tables were set up also.  They asked to spend no more than 45 minutes at each circle and then to move on.  It stated at 3PM and the timing was just right.  Sure hope they do it again before we head home, it was fun.

I bought myself a new bike.  The gears on my old one were shot and not being very handy people we didn’t know how to fix it and taking it to a bike shop would cost alot.  so I opted to buy a new one.  I love it.  It does ride so much smoother.  Now..what do we do with the old one.  I would like to find someone who wants a bike and is handy and could fix it.  Think I’ll ask the host here at the campground.  Maybe some organization.  Other than the gears it’s in great shape, it’s a Schwinn.

There’s a little bird that comes every single day and sits on our neighbours dish.  He will sit there for hours, literally.  Don’t know what he is, but I took this picture.  Maybe Judy might know.  He’s a fat little guy too.

Well until later..take care.

Meeting Fellow Bloggers

It’s really great to put faces and personalities to people whose blogs you follow.  I had put a comment on a blog I follow when one of their blogs said they had made it to the Rio Grande.  And of course, that is where we are.  I left a comment on Dee and Michaels blog Gone RVing! to the fact that we were very close.  They contacted me and said they were coming over to meet another fellow blogger who is staying at the same park we are.  I didn’t even know that.  They are Anne and Archie and I also follow their blog The Accidental RVers,  So we all got together the other day at Anne and Archie’s rig, which is just kitty corner to us.  I had met Archie at bingo one night but didn’t have a clue he was one of my bloggers.  Small world.  Unfortunately, they are heading out in a few days for more exploring.  We really hope to hook up them somewhere out there in RV land and Dee and Michael will be around for a little while so we will, for sure, get together again.  And their summer campground is only about 30 miles from us back home in Canada.  So we will definitely get together then.  All 4 of them are fulltimers.

We had an absolutely lovely afternoon, chatting, discussing other blogs we all follow.  I took my camera but didn’t use it.  Was so busy chatting,chatting,chatting.  But Dee took a picture and I’m sure she won’t mind if I attach it here.

That’s, from left to right, Anne, myself, Michael, Archie and Ken.  And of course our Jackson, and Dee and Michaels little guy, Timmie. 

It has been raining non-stop, literally, non-stop for 2 days now and the weather says this will continue until tomorrow.  We are all getting cabin fever and we have our life jackets ready in case we need to abandon ship!!  Some of the roads are flooded and you have to drive carefully through them especially if there are people nearby.  People still have to get out and walk their dogs and I guess just get out of their rigs for a bit.  Jackson is totally fed up, because he likes to sit outside the rig and just watch the world go by.  He does have a window that goes down to the floor that he can see out of, but it’s just not the same.

Well hopefully we haven’t all floated away and I can write another blog in a few days.  Take care…

Christmas Dinner

In one word..AWESOME!!  There was 22 of us, everyone brought a dish, some brought more than 1.  The food was outstanding.  I hear so much about the Green Bean Casserole that seems to be a regular dish at all of our US friends Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.  Well I finally got to taste it and it was delicious.  There was all the stuff I love, whipped potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, turkey, ham, beets.  Now I know beets are something that some people would probably pooh pooh at, but I absolutely love them and don’t get to eat very often.  Ken is not a vegetable guy and beets, well, you can just imagine.  These were wonderful.  I ate far, far too much but oh it was so good.

Today it has been raining all day long.  But seeing as it’s the very first time it has rain in the month we’ve been here, that’s ok.  I do love the sound of rain on the roof of the rig.  So soothing and relaxing.  I was going to BBQ steaks tonight but of course Mr. Weber is sitting outside where it’s pouring but I do have a grill so I had to dig it out and literally dust it off and that’s what I’m going to use to grill the steaks. 

Jackson is a goofy guy.  Quite the comic and like several goldens, he ‘smiles’.  I sometimes have to tell people that he’s not baring his teeth, he is really smiling.  I finally got a picture of him in goofy action and actually smiling.

I don’t know if you heard about the terrible ice storm that went through Ontario.  It was very, very bad.  It started last Friday, the 20th, and there are some people that still don’t have power.  My nephew being one of them.  Fortunately his father-in-law had a generator which he brought over for them.  The storm covered a huge area and thousands of people were without power, my son was without power for almost 2 days, and fortunately again, he has a generator.  My daughter and our house (we live only a couple miles apart) was only out for about 6 hours.  We were sooooooo lucky.  My next door neighbour took a couple pictures of our house.  I think our birch tree is toast.

Well it’s another rainy day here, (I started the blog yesterday).  Dull and gloomy day. 

Until later..take care.