Los Indios, TX

Three wilted dogs trying to find a cool spot. The RV air conditioning was able to keep the temperature down to 80 inside when it was 104 outside. The outside thermometer cringed and went blank today after it hit 103. It has been 18 months since this area was 100 degrees and the record was broken for this date.
As a result we have decided to move north tomorrow to avoid the heat. It's no fun being cooped up in the RV with no WIFI and no cable TV. I can only read for so long.

This beautiful flowing bush is happy in these temperatures.

I should be home in a week or so but will take my time and watch the weather as I go. People tell me that the snow has melted out of my driveway.

Los Indios, TX

If there was a way to teach Scooby to ride this thing I could take shorter walks. This is one of the 2 exercise bikes in the new rec building pictured below.

This is the old building that is right across the street from where I am parked. It has 3 washers and 3 dryers, plus clothes line, and a bathroom with shower. They say it will be torn down soon. This place is only open Oct. thru April. I'm beginning to understand why. It is 87 degrees outside. The local news has upped their prediction for tomorrow by 1 degree -- to 100. That is hibernation weather for me. I melt.

The WIFI doesn't work and they tell me that they expect a repairperson in a week or so. This is a very laid back park to say the least. The fishing is in the canals nearby. We walk by them when we take walks. There are too many dogs in the park that start barking at us when we walk by so we go out of the park. I was told a propane truck would be by today but haven't seen it.

I didn't post yesterday, didn't have much going on. This is actually very relaxing. I am doing a lot of reading and getting ready to make the trek north. A lot of the people who were here Monday when I came have already left. I guess it's about time.

Is the snow melted up north?

Los Indios, Tx

This morning was chilly but there was a great difference of opinion on how to dress. The nearest man has on a winter coat, the guy next to him is in a short sleeve shirt and the man they are talking to has on no shirt at all. I took this out my RV window so as not to disturb anyone.

I walked the dogs, read a lot, and enjoyed the weather. The local news says it will be 99 degrees on Friday. WOW I will burn up some of those killiwatt hours with my air conditioning.

I have been amazed at the birdcall sounds the grackles make so today I tried to record one with my digital camera. I got two 20+ second recordings before someone walked by with a dog and Scooby and Red went into their impression of attack dogs. The dogs were tied outside. In trying to get hold of Scooby before he broke his leash or his neck I inadvertantly pressed the record button on my camera. The video shows the ground and my feet but the sounds are amazing. I tried to upload the grackle video but it wouldn't go. Some kind of error. Maybe I'll try to put it on youtube sometime.

I am still at the rec center to get online. People are very friendly here. There are a couple of card games going on here involving nickles.

Angler's Nest RV Park

See my new doormat? Scooby already claimed it, the little stinker.

I had help backing into this spot between 2 trees. I'll have some shade. This campground normally allows only 2 dogs but they made an exception for me. Now I have to see to it that they all behave.

I am in the recreation hall at the campground plugged into the direct connection which is a large phone jack. Their WIFI is not dependable in the evening they say. We will see if it works tomorrow during the day. I don't remember the name of the nearest town and I didn't bring any papers with me to the rec. hall. I will do better later.

This is a nice campground owned by a couple in Minnesota who inherited it from their parents. They are trying to upgrade it. It is only $75.00 for the week but they have a meter for the electricity to each site and they charge .16 cents per kwh. That seems high but the rent is so low it all evens out. The other choice I had was $150.00 for a week and I think they charged for electricity too. Can't really blame them as the price goes up all the time.

I stopped by the thrift shop and found another pair of jeans that fit better, also got a few books to read. I get 3 or 4 TV channels from Brownsville on my antenna so I should be well entertained for the next week.

The difficult part of the day was saying goodby to Linda and Bob. I wish them a safe trip.

I will need propane soon and they have a truck that comes around on Thursday's to deliver so that will work out well.

Donna, TX

This picture was taken by my brother-in-law without my knowledge. The white things you see are --- yes, my legs. And they are still the same color.

I could qualify as a professional dog walker. See the cane held out in front of Scooby as a means of keeping him from running ahead and dragging everyone else behind. This campground is next to a railroad. It made me feel at home since my home is near a railroad. The one here is only used a couple of times a day.

Getting organized before our walk. Maybe I should add that I've lost 18 lbs. since walking the dogs 4 times a day. That may involve some new wardrobe since I gave up on losing that weight before I left last fall and gave away the "small" stuff. Oh darn.

Linda and I made a quick trip across the border this morning to buy a few items, one of them was alcohol. One of them was vanilla, pure vanilla. We also made a stop at the local flea market.

Tomorrow Linda and Bob leave on their way to volunteer at the Petrified Forest. Tomorrow I am moving to another campground about 25 miles east of here. They say they have WIFI and fishing. You can guess which one I am interested in.

I had a call from Ohio telling me about their weather so I am staying away a while longer. I have to give that snow time to melt.

Donna, TX

Today Bob, Linda, and I went to the Saint Anna Wildlife Preserve. We took the shuttle through the preserve. There are many hiking trails. We didn't see any wildlife except at the Center where they feed the birds. The preserve is surrounded by fields of onions and cabbages and other vegetables. Most of the plants have thorns and spines on them.

There was a 100 year old cemetery. They have erected the new crosses where they could find the remnants of old crosses. There are only 3 graves that are identified as to who is in them. The fence is original, made of Texas mahogany wood.

The picture above is of a vine that grows around a tree and chokes the tree. I have seen canes made of this kind of growth.

We took a quarter mile walk to see the Rio Grande river, the border between Mexico and the United States. The guide said people cross here all the time. They find their wet clothes on the shore where they have changed into dry ones. The plants you see growing on this side of the river are at least 10 or 15 feet tall.

We also went to the HEB grocery store and picked up a few things. It was so nice out I sunned my feet for a little while. There is another wind advisory out for tomorrow. They worry about the wind because things are so dry that fires could get out of hand easily.

Tomorrow it's back to Mexico for a little shopping.

Donna, TX

No pictures today. Linda and I went running around. We found a thrift store and I got some books and a pair of jeans. Also got some socks to tie knots in for the dogs to play with. I had to take them away soon because Scooby was eating them.
The weather was much cooler today and windy. Where I am parked, between two big rigs, I don't get rocked quite so much. I was surprised to find that even Bob and Linda's big rig rocks in the wind.
We plan another quick buying trip to Mexico. We cross at Progreso. I was suprised to find that Yahoo maps do not show Mexico. They show all roads stopping at the border.
We tried to look up what we can bring back without violating the laws. It is confusing as there is a duty free store on the Texas side that has super cheap prices on stuff but you are supposed to take it on into Mexico, then declare it on your way out. We found a large bottle of pure vanilla for $1.00. The liqour is very cheap also but I think you have to declare it when you come back across to the U.S.
We also plan a trip to a bird sanctuary tomorrow. Maybe I'll have some good pictures tomorrow.