Harlingen TX

Harlingen TX, Tropic Winds RV Resort.  March 4 - April 17, 2016.

We were thrilled to pull out of Port Mansfield and head toward Harlingen TX.  We picked Tropic Winds RV Resort (Encore) for our next stop. It was the nicest and friendliest of all the Encore resorts.

LazyDays gave us 2 free camping weeks at any Encore park.  We then discovered that Encore was also running a special so we ended up staying for 6 weeks for $199/month with full hook-ups, cable, WiFi, the works!  A great deal that we took advantage of since we probably won't see anything like it again.   

The dog park was a hit and the Beagles made lots of friends!

Our spot on Sunshine St.  We were at the very end across from the dog park and bird sanctuary.  They had a rule not to put out bird or hummingbird feeders.  

Out and about, we kept passing a train with turbine propellers.  

  

So we stopped to take some pictures.  The propellers were loaded from the train cars onto trucks to be taken to their destination.  There were other components but the propellers were the most impressive. Certainly it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience because a week later they were gone.

Most of the Winter Texans were pulling out in March and April, so by the time we left, there were lots of empty spaces.  Activities stop the end of March as do the first-responders. There are a few folks who stay year-round, mostly in the Park models.  

The same holds true of the other parks we stayed in around the Rio Grande Valley.

  

Stay tuned for Part II at Tropic Winds for more of our adventures!

Port Mansfield TX

February 4, 2015
We were really excited to move on to Port Mansfield after a month at Hummingbird Cove.  We had been there to fish on the pier and loved the feel of a small fishing village. 

This was the store where we shopped - bait, milk, snacks.  The nearest real store and gas stations were in Raymondville, 25 miles away.

  

Yes, that little red spot is our car.  

  

Here are some pictures around Port Mansfield

This was our view when we fished

in the river going out to the Laguna Madre. 

      

Is this really legal??

There are probably more deer than people living here.

   

Our rig.  

It was usually too windy to fish and sitting outside was not an option.  Going to town was a 25 mile ride.  There were no activities and going to the laundromat was a treat because I usually met someone I could talk to.  We passed the time as best we could.  Not the owners' fault as they were responsive and kept the place nice.  

There just wasn't anything to do and the wind was relentless!  

Goodbye.

Onward to Rio Hondo TX

We left Americana RV Park in Mission TX on January 5 and arrived at Hummingbird RV Park only about 50 miles away.  It's closer to the Gulf and right on the Arroyo Colorado River with their own private pier and boat launch.

Found a local bakery that makes amazing apple fritters!  

Everything is baked right there and it smells amazing!

This is our spot for a month.  It's pretty windy so our awnings are usually in.

Our rig and my view from the window before I get out of bed.  

Colorful cemeteries 

This was a very common sight. They can be grass fires or controlled burning of sugar cane fields.

          

The dispersing smoke 

                         Not everyone in an RV park is an old fogie. 

 Some drive golf carts, others drive hot motorcycles with sidecars!

Country, gospel, jazz - many parks have weekly jams.  

Greatly attended, an outlet for musicians of all talents, to have a good time while on the road!

  

  

Super duper activities.  How about a duck race and Poker Run?

  

Poker Run,  Mix me a drink and give me a poker #.

  Chili Willies for dinner before we left.

  

 Some more fishing pictures...

  

  

 Beautiful morning...

We've already picked out our new camping spot in Port Mansfield TX.  We'll be moving on February 4 and plan to relax and fish. Eventually we will return to Seffner FL to have a window replaced while we hightail it up to Whitney Point to drop or and pick up possessions in storage.  

Next up:  Port Mansfield TX

See you soon!