Zapata, Texas

It is warmer now!! We are in Zapata, TX, which is located on the border west of Brownsville. This is a destination for fishermen from Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota and other Midwest states. The town is located next to Falcon Lake, which is a large expanse of the Rio Grande.

Earlier in the week we stayed three nights at Amistad Lake near Del Rio but it was so cold and windy that we didn’t experience the lake or the area. We stayed at San Pedro Flats campground and only paid $2 per night so that was nice. But we still had to use buckets for our water and could not shower since we were still winterized. We did go into Del Rio one day but it was so cold that we shopped, ate Mexican food, and came home.

It is much nicer here in Zapata. We are staying at the New Harbor Lodge and RV Park. It is not a beautiful park but the people are very friendly. When we got here we flushed out our tanks and got rid of the RV antifreeze and took long hot showers. Oh, the joy of full hookups!! We have meet some very nice people from South Dakota (Betty and Marty) and last night the four of us went to see a performance by the Alaska String Band – a family of 5 (mom, dad, and three kids) who play almost all of the string instruments and sing. They were very talented and we all enjoyed the performance.

When we arrived on Thursday, we met some brand new full timers from Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. In fact, one of the guys went to Emporia State when Dean was a student there. They left for Falcon Lake State Park and tomorrow we are going to join them for a few days.

The Alaska String Band out of Juneau.

Falcon Lake: fisherman's paradise

New Harbor Lodge and RV Park.

Big Bend, Boquillas Canyon and Rio Grande CG

After two days of staying in the RV we finally ventured out and saw some more sites of this beautiful national park. On Friday we drove over to Boquillas Canyon and did a short hike. The Mexicans come across the river here and place trinkets and walking sticks on the ground for sale. Their signs say that buying these items will be a donation to the school at Boquillas, Mexico. This town is across the river from our campground, has no electricity, and is located a long way from any town in Mexico. Of course, the national park service has signs posted if you buy anything from the Mexicans the item you purchased will be confiscated and you may be prosecuted. It is a pity that these hardworking Mexicans cannot sell their products. On this hike, we were serenaded by Victor, the singing Mexican. He has a tip jar on our side of the river and he sings on the Mexican side at the entrance to the canyon.

Back at camp we did the Rio Grande nature hike adjacent to the camp. We have taken pictures of coyotes, javelina, and roadrunners around our camp.

On Saturday, we drove to Chisos Basin, which is in the mountainous center of the park. There is a campground there but the road in not recommended for trailers or vehicles over 25 feet. We hiked the Window View trail and the Basin Loop trail (which had a lot of snow on it). The Window is the areas big highlight – a cut in the mountains with a fantastic view to the west. Our next stop was the Hot Springs. After a short hike, past many historic buildings along the Rio Grande river, there is a hot pool (105 degrees). We soaked about 20 minutes and then returned to our campground for showers at the store and one load of laundry. The washers and dryers are so cheap I returned on Sunday to do another load.

Sunday was Dean’s birthday. Last year we spent his birthday at Ajo with the boondockers. This year we are spending it here in Big Bend. And it is a beautiful day. Tomorrow we leave for Amistad National Park outside of Del Rio.

Friendly coyote at Rio Grande Campground

The Window View at Chisos Mountains and the campground

Dean walking the Basin Loop Trail at the Chisos Basin area (in snow).

Hot Springs with the Rio Grande river in background

Dean in warm hat on Nature hike with Rio Grande Campground in trees.

The little town o Boquillas, Mexico across the Rio Grande from our CG.

Entrance to Boquillas Canyon

Victor, the singing Mexican

Trinkets and walking sticks for sale by Mexicans.

Big Bend National Park

Here we are in Big Bend National Park and we haven’t been this cold since Yellowstone in 2000 (before the catalytic heater). It is warm inside the rig, but outside the temp is 22 degrees with a wind chill of minus 7 and overnight lows in the teens.

Monday was our first full day at Rio Grande Village and we did a walk around the area. The campground at Rio Grande ($14 per night or $7 with senior pass) is very beautiful and has a ‘no generator’ and a ‘generator area’. Of course, we are staying in the no generator area and hoping that the sun will shine and that our solar will be enough to power everything. There is a store, laundry, showers, RV private park ($32/night), amphitheater, picnic area, and visitor’s center. We sat outside in shorts and enjoyed the nice weather knowing that things were going to change soon.

Tuesday was a fairly nice day in Big Bend. We drove 125 miles rt over to Costolon Historic area and the Santa Elena Canyon, which is in the Southwest corner of the park. First we stopped at the visitor’s center at Panther Junction where I purchased my senior pass – I don’t feel 62! Then we took the Russ Maxwell Scenic Drive to Costolon, where the La Harmonica store (dating back to 1921), some old buildings, and Cottonwood campground are located. This campground is a no generator campground and very isolated. Eight miles further SW is the entrance to the Santa Elena canyon. Dean and I took the 1.6 mile hike into the canyon. The views were fabulous as you can see from the pictures below. It is hard to imagine that Mexico is right there across the water, so close that I could throw a rock from the USA to Mexico. On the way back we stopped at Sotol Vista for beautiful views of the Chihuahuan desert, Homer Wilson Ranch, and Sam Neil ranch. When we got back to Rio Grande village we took a long hot pay shower ($1.50/5 minutes). It was wonderful!

Wednesday we stayed in the rig. It was just too cold to get out and do anything. We are sure glad we drained everything and put RV antifreeze into all tanks and lines. I walked Chica and walked over to pay for 5 more nights (are we crazy?). The rest of the day I stayed in the rig where it was very comfortable. The campground is pretty deserted.

Today we are hanging out in the rig because it is still so cold. Forecast for tomorrow is in the 40’s so we will get out of the rig and try the hot springs and some hikes.

Boomerville, Quartzsite, Arizona

What a wonderful time we had in Boomerville this year. We arrived on January 13 and stayed two weeks. Dean and I were the fourth rig arriving. It was really neat to be one of the first arrivals: we could meet people as they arrived. When we left on Thursday, January 27, there were 119 rigs.

We loved being with our friends Chuck and Jan during the holidays and Boomerville. Going to the casino, Algodonas, Blythe bluegrass festival, playing cards, hiking, and sitting around and just talking. We will miss them on our long journey East but we will see them next year.

Of course, we also loved being with all our old friends at Boomerville and meeting new friends. We enjoyed the potlucks, Pace’s movies, daily hikes, shopping in Quartzsite, Happy hours, chili cookoff, newbies skit, and other activities. And the weather was marvelous!

The first night on our big adventure we stayed at the SKP park in Casa Grande. We went to the social hour, were introduced, and got some good information on Big Bend.

The second night on the road was at a visitor’s center in Lordsburg. A little noisy with highway traffic and trains but it was free.

The third night on the road was at the Vista Park in Sierra Blanca, TX. We were planning on driving through El Paso on Sunday but we had a tailwind so we took advantage and went through on Saturday. Sierra Blanca’s claim to fame is the location of where the Transatlantic trains meet in 1881. The town is pretty dissolute but the campground was $10 with Passport America and we had full hookups. We are now at Big Bend where it is suppose to be in the teens during the night so we winterized: no water in rig and lots of antifreeze. We have no phone service and internet is at the store. But it is gorgeous and we love it! More to come about Big Bend later.

January 13 at Boomervile

Dean and Bruce at the Big Tent

The group at Happy Hour

Newbies skit our last night there.

Mittry Lake New Years and Ogliby Rd East of Yuma

New Year's Eve we participated in the "Z" circle with the Boomers. This was a chance to visit in small numbers and get to know some new Boomers. In the picture to the right we are in Jan and Chuck's rig along with Margie and Tom Mahoney and Laurie Brown and Odel King. After the "Z" we went to the campfire and brought in the New Year. This was the first time Dean and I had stayed up that late in a long time. And it was lots of fun.

On New Year's Day we had another of the infamous Boomer potlucks. Mark and Judy fixed a trashcan turkey and it was delicious. Actually everything was delicious. And the weather was OK if you stayed out of the wind and in the sun.

The Moores and us left on Monday, Jan. 3, for Ogilby Rd. We are camped on the desert East of Yuma and the weather has finally gotten warm enough that we can sit outside. Yeah!

Yesterday the four of us hiked to a mountain close by. Chuck and Jan had hiked it many times but it was a first for Dean and I. We scrambled up one side and down the other. I was so glad that I bought walking sticks. It was quite the hike!

We will be staying 5 more days here and then heading for Boomerville. On Monday we are going to Algodones, Mexico. Wednesday, we will repeat our winning streak at the casino with the free play and Walmart shopping before we head North to Quartzsite. The rest of the time we spend leisurely reading, playing on the computer, and taking walks with Chica. Life is really, really good!!!!