Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park

Today was quite a learning experience.  We went to the 8:30 coffee and donut thing at the clubhouse this morning. This is Tropic Winds version of the 4 o’clock social hour at the Escapee parks we have been in.  It is just a time to meet new people and learn what is going on in the park.  After that we grabbed the camera and our picnic lunch and we were off to the other end of the Valley.

Along the trail

Texas Olive tree in bloom

I’m not exactly sure what I thought the Rio Grande Valley was, but what I saw was definitely not what I expected.  Our destination was Camping World in Mission; all the way on the west end of the Valley.  It is about 40 miles from Harlingen.  We took US 83 which is a 4-lane, limited access, divided highway.  There are several small towns between Harlingen and Mission.  I thought we would see wide open spaces between these towns as we progressed from one to the next.  That certainly was not the case.  It was like one gigantic city 40 miles in length.  There was no distinction from one town to the next except for the town name which appeared on the water towers.  Incredible!! And we haven’t seen so much traffic since we got off I-10; maybe not since Montgomery.

Largest prickly pear cactus I've ever seen

We found our way to Camping World and managed to find a sack full of treasures to bring home.  Gene finally got one of his Christmas presents—2009 Trailer Life Campground Directory.  He has been asking for it at every Camping World we’ve been near since Nashville.

Javelina

From there we drove south a few miles to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park.  South Texas is famous for its birds and this park is a favorite among birders.  Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley is the headquarters for the World Birding Center.  Private cars are not allowed inside the park.  We rode the tram to the far side of the 2-mile loop road and got off at a trail which took us down to the Rio Grande River.  We had just missed the next tram by the time we got back to the trailhead, so we decided to walk along the road. Since there are very few cars (just park service, border patrol, and tram) it is a great place to walk or bicycle and today there were several folks out getting a bit of exercise.  We saw two things we had never seen before—green jays and javelinas.  Texas olive trees are in bloom.  We’d never seen one of those either.

Looking across the Rio Grande to Mexico

By the time we got back to the car, it was after 4—rush hour on the highway.  Boy, I don’t miss that.