Getting Lonely

At months end the remainder of our friends have started to head home. Many of the 'Full Timers' are taking indirect exploratory routes. On Wed. we will visit some friends that stopped off at South Padre island for a few weeks. We are looking forward to a real beach and of course our 'missed' friends. That's the 6 of us on the right.

The picture on the right was taken at Macaroni's Bar & Grill in Pharr, Tx. It was a 2 for 1 special, boy did we dine well for under $15.00.






We did a quick run over to Mexico to get dog medication (Heart worm) which is required during warm climates (mosquito infections) so we will be using this med every month from here on. The Mexican cost is a fraction of CDN/USA cost. We got a 12 month supply. Jane had an eye on a small storage cupboard on our last trip, since Frank and Genia drove their truck into Mexico we took advantage of their vehicle and bought the cupboard. We couldn't get that one but we got one that fit just as well.



The rest of the week was spent saying goodbye's and planning our trip home to ensure that we allowed enough time to visit with our new found 'Yankee' friends in Kentucky and Ohio on the way home. You will have to pardon our y'all accent when we get home until we learn to speak English again, LOL!













Good bye, Maurice & Lucille (Montreal), Ted & Connie (Ottawa). Ted and I went to the same High School in Ottawa (Fisher Park HS).









Don and Sara Jane from Ohio with their friends Bruce and Peggy.



















Dan and Evelyn from Lakefield Ont were late arrivals but
became good friends for a short time.







The hardest 'Good Bye' will be to our new 'Winter Texas Mobile Home' as well as 'The Rio Grande Valley' that has graciously made us feel so welcome.

MASS EXODUS

Get out of my way I'm going home. We are loosing our new found friends and neighbours daily, two left to day and a bunch more during the last week of March.

On March 6th we had our 1st 'Canadian Pot Luck Luncheon' and on the 8th the Park provided a 'Guest Appreciation Day' where they provided free food, drink and entertainment.

We did another visit to the Donna flea market, boy they are sure going to miss us, lol! On March 17th we loaded up on drugs/gifts on our final visit to Mexico. Cocktails (virgin) were provided while we waited for our drugs.

Last mail delivery from Canada, last Pizza night, last soup night and our final 'Bike to Breakfast' trip. The park is quiet, very little action at the courts (Tennis, shuffle board, horseshoes...). The pool is active, Jane has been 'Pool Volley-balling' and trying to get me involved, maybe I will join them next week....nuttin left to do!

We are starting our plans for our trip home too! We expect to leave on April 17th, spend a few days in San Antonio, a couple of days with friends in Kentucky, a couple of days with friends in Ohio and a few spare days to goof around. Our site at Alpine RV Park is not accessible until may 1st.

Our neighbours here have been very helpful on showing us what we have to do to 'Summerize' our Mobile Home and there is more to it than just locking up. We have a service to cut and water the grass, all our utilities are on 6 month 'Winter Texans' plans. We have to spray for various critters including, Mexican Beetles (look like huge cockroaches), ants (various) and termites. Most important is to seal all water drains to keep the water traps full of water so smell and critters don't come up from the septic system. A little different to Winterizing but just as important.
I think we are pretty well shopped out and running low on funds. Just informed that we need to go back to Mexico for 'Heartworm' pills for the dogs, very cheap in Mexico, very expensive in Ontario.
We received good news that my brother Tom is mending up better than expected from a serious fall at his home in Dec.
It has been a wonderful Winter experience!!! We are already planning for next November.

Signs of Slowing Down

We received our March schedule and many things are saying 'Last' this or 'Last that' for this Winter. Many empty spots are showing but again they seem to be filling up with new travelers. Just made friends with 2 new Canadian travelers (Peterborough & Newmarket).
Today was our 'Bike to Breakfast' trip, Jane did the round trip to a hand of applause by everyone. Next Friday is our close down picnic at the park we were at a few weeks ago. The days are remaining 'HOT' and I expect this is the start of their 'Summer', some flowers are popping up and the orange trees are starting to blossom. I trimmed our 4 fruit trees and maintenance took 4 trips to remove the brush, we bring it to the curb and they take it away. The senior that left here didn't have the strength to do much so everything was over grown, including the front shrubbery. We have picked out colours for a repaint, next year, inside and out. Jane brought one of our new friends to the dog park to give the dogs a good run. Polo and I stayed at home and trimmed the trees. Thursday was Pizza night in downtown ALAMO and last night was homemade soup nite here at the park. The soup is awesome and filling. Tonight will be a lite meal at home as the breakfast plates 'overfloweth'. There are many cocktail hours throughout the park, some alcoholic/some not. The park is not licensed but your allowed the have whatever you wish at your site. We got our truck back yesterday, it was in the hospital getting some body work done, glad to have it back. I used 'Google talk' to call my brother Tom in the hospital in Ottawa and it sounds like he is coming along nicely although it will be a long, slow recovery. Sister Jean had me on a 'messenger chat' line and I fooled her by calling her on the phone. The calls are free anywhere in Canada and the USA. I suppose I should use it more often but I'm not a phone type person. We sure have been enjoying our Winter down here, can't wait till Nov. to come, LOL! (Just kidding)

BUSY! BUSY! BUSY!

Howdy Folks,

So scary, many of our new friends are starting to make plans to return home. Our good friends Vic and Pat will be returning to Kentucky next week, they will cause a void in our lives and be missed by many others in the Park. They, like us, decided to buy a place and return in the Fall.

Since my last offering, when it was freezing, now it's very HOT in the 90's, we prefer the 90's.

We have been taking advantage of tours to local historical sites and current events. A tour through the 'Border Patrol' facility was an enlightenment of how big an operation it really is and the serious need of border protection. The 'Cartel' in Mexico seems to be more powerful than the Mexican Government in money, men and power. Illegal entry of poor Mexicans doesn't seem to be the major problem. Just recently an American agent was killed at a 'Cartel' road block. More and more visitors and locals are avoiding entry into Mexico to do their shopping.

Alamo, Texas is known as 'Two Summers' and cater to us 'Winter Texans' in a big way. The Town and the Chamber of Commerce sponsored an outside Winter Texan Appreciation Day BBQ/Entertainment party. We, Jane and I, even won a 10lb bag of oranges, as well as being fed and entertained for 4 hours.

We went on a 'Trolly Tour' through Rio Grande City and had lunch in a completely restored historical hotel, La Borge House circa 1887. I made a Photo presentation on my Picasa Site, (picasaweb.google.com/mcnpaul) hope you had a chance to view it.

We have been maintaining our Friday morning 'Bicycle to Breakfast' trips. Jane has graduated from a 'Car' member to a 'Biker' member, congratulations Babe. Last night a group called 'The Texas Grandma's' sponsored a fund raising dinner to support local underprivileged children and there are many along the Rio Grande Valley. They 'The Grandmas' put on a great meal and we all felt that we were able to give back something to the local communities that actually welcomes us "Winter Texans' who come and invade their territory.

Until next time....keep the rubber side on the road!

New owners

Yes, it's true, our money finally arrived, certified and paid. Just have to transfer and received title. This was one hassle that I would not want to live through again. Of course we did not plan on buying this year so that caught us off guard and unprepared, receiving bad advice, Amex screwing things up and the RV Park not accepting our Amex Card all worked out to confusion and chaos. Those involve turned out to be very helpful, sympathetic and patient.

The weather has not been terrific, we had a deep freeze and many plants, shrubs and trees where damaged. Some public landscaped parks where wiped out. We had every towel/blanket out on our plants and shrubs and still got some damage. Gave me the incentive to do some overdue thinning of the front garden.

I was able to hook up a google phone so much of my calling to CDN banks was free. Much of my time during the past couple of weeks was trying to settle this financial mess. I spent some time getting quotes for truck repairs and going back and forth to Farmers Mutual in Lindsay, that project is still a work in progress.

We took a tour of the original pump house that irrigated the Rio Grande Valley, that helped to bring in the new settlers to farm, the rest is history. Hidalgo County is surrounded with history and the County is dedicated to recondition the few remaining 'original' buildings. I sent out a notice to view pics on Picaso, let me know if you didn't see them and I'll send you a link.

The old shed has been torn down, debris removed and the newer shed has been moved to it's new home. Next year we will build a raised deck under the awning.

Jane fell off her bicycle 4 times and we finally bought her a 3 wheel trike B4 she hurt herself.

We made a visit to Victoria Palms RV Resort in Donna, Tx (10 miles) where most of our neighbours from our Lindsay RV Park go for the Winter. We had a bonus of having another Park neighbour visiting from Florida where they have a Park trailer.

Another visit to our favourite flea market found us coming home with a large salt lamp and more magnetic necklaces and pocket bullets, no more arthritis but a sore back from all this extra weight, LOL!

On Feb. 1st we took a trip over to Mexico via Progreso, where we parked the vehicle and walk over the bridge. We picked up some blankets and medication. Most Winter Texans go there for medications, dentistry and eyewear, plus the usual booze and smokes. Military personnel are very visible for our protection from their banditos. There are not to many safe crossings anymore. Last week was a bad disturbance by Brownsville, Tx which was unusual.

On Feb. 2nd we went to San Padre Island, the holiday place to be while in Texas but is $$$ expensive. It was a Snow Bird convention oriented towards Canadians and was a good show with all Canadian talent including Ronnie Profit, Rich Little and Rita O'Neil were cancelled. Unfortunately it was a terrible cold and overcast day so we had to use our imagination on the 'Fun of a Resort Island', temp never got over +1F. The Interstate hwy was closed that evening from freezing rain. It got as low as 25F overnight and many trees, shrubs and plants were lost from the frost.

On Feb. 3rd was the final shipment of our new leather living-room furniture and 50" TV so now we don't go anywhere, LOL! The Fri. Bike to Breakfast trip (Fri 4th) was cancelled as the roads were still to slippery. Sat. 5th I trimmed our shrubs and plants of the frost damage even though we covered everything with every available blanket and towel. I just did the same tonight (Feb. 9th), expecting 28F as a low.

Monday the 7th we made contact with a local Vet, Marco Polo needed medication for his hip displachia, the Vet we chose more than met our expectations.

Yesterday we finally paid for this home with a certified cheque so everyone is happy and a major monkey is off my back.

Till next time, stay warm and fuzzy

My OH! My, where is the time flying too! Last week we had cool wet weather and this week has been sunny and warmer. I finally dismantled the old shed and now have to figure out how to push the newer shed back to where the older one was, use the diesel , man power or maybe both? I have a mexican crew lined up to take the scrap to the dump. Once everything is in its place we will design our deck and private dog park from there. Last Monday we went on a boat cruise down the Rio Grande River and saw all the damage that was done last Spring when a hurricane in Mexico cause serious flooding. The water rose 18' and stayed there for 33 days and then it receded to a lower shore line level and stayed there for another 30 days. The water level is still above normal. Jane is still with her stained glass and I'm enjoying my Fri. bike rides to some local restaurants for breakfast. Instead of 'Soup' night this week they had 'Baked Potato' night instead. For $4.00 you got a huge baked potato, chopped beef stew, creamed broccoli, grated cheddar cheese, sour cream, butter, orange sherbet and a cookie too! WOW! What a meal. We also look forward to 'Peter Piper Pizza night' on Wednesdays, last wed. I won one of the door prizes, a cute little stuffer Garfield.

We visited the local flea market and ordered a vinyl skirt that goes around the front of the 5th wheel making it into a small storage room, about 5' x 8', enough to hold the bicycles, lawn mower and small BBQ, etc. It keeps the place tidy looking when we set up back in Ontario.

This Monday we are going on another tour to see some local land marks and historical sites, so that should be interesting too!

Stay safe friends!

View of the park from our roof

We are pretty well settled in. We received a partial shipment of new furniture on Tuesday, some more next Thursday and the balance on Feb. 3rd. I have started to demolish one of the two sheds (only allowed one) but we are not under pressure to do so, just get it done. Jane has already started on the 'job jar list' but I think the 'priorities' will keep me busy until next year. Yesterday was 'Peter Piper Pizza' night, which we enjoyed and tonight was 'Homemade soup night' which we missed. I love my soup too, but missed it tonight as I spent the afternoon in Pharr, Tx doing some shopping and had a late lunch. Jane is still experiencing migraines and today was no exception. In addition to walking the dogs twice a day we have been getting at least one bicycle run in a day. Tomorrow AM is our bicycle breakfast run and tomorrows trip is about 4 miles, one of the longer runs. Jane is coming but will be going by car, she is not very apt with the bike yet. We have signed up for a few local tours to some Historical land marks which I will share with you latter. The Weather is remaining hot (80's) and humid (85's) but hey, that's why we are here, to enjoy the Winter.