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Texas 2009

Monday, February 2nd

Kathy got up very early and met us at 5:30 AM and took us to the Humphrey terminal where our flight left on schedule at 7:30 AM and arrived in Harlingen 15 minutes early. We picked up our luggage, checked out our rental car and drove to our nearby motel, La Quinta. A Denny's on the grounds provided soup, salad, & fruit for lunch. Then we all took a short nap because we'd gotten up so early. In the afternoon, we drove east about 40 miles to South Padre Island (SPI) where we stopped at the Visitor's Center, had a DQ snack, drove 10 miles north to the end of the island, and had fish & mexican food for supper on the way home. Tomorrow we plan to attend the Texan Snowbird Extravaganza on South Padre Island at the Convention Center and visit the injured turtle hospital. More then. Good night. Dad.

See bridge down ahead from mainland over to South Padre Island. 

New hotel on SPI. 

Dunes at the end of the road going north beyond lies North Padre Island, about 100 miles up the road on the mainland. 

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Tuesday, February 3rd

Up at 6. Kath chatted me telling about free breakfast at Denny's (we won't forget to pay for coffee & gratuities). By 7 the line was about 30 people long. So we ate complementary continental breakfast at hotel. Then we headed for South Padre Island where we attended the Texas Snowbird Extravaganza at the convention center. Booths with travel & medical stuff plus several entertainers. On our way looking for a lunch place, we stopped at a sea turtle hospital where we heard a very interesting talk. Then had a good lunch at Blackbeard's then went out and walked a mile or so down the beach. By then it was time for a snack at an Italian ice cream store. After that we drove around the campgrounds & parks on the south end of the island. Returning home, had supper at Denny's and ready for bed. Tomorrow plan a flea market in Donna and a zoo in Brownsville. 'Night. Dad.

Jim & Diane view booths at Texas Snowbird Extravaganza. 

Free entertainment at Texas Snowbird Extravaganza. 

Harmonicats, more free entertainment at Texas Snowbird Extravaganza. 

... Ross, more free entertainment at Texas Snowbird Extravaganza. 

Turtles missing flippers in sea turtle hospital. 

Boardwalk to the ocean. 

Carribean. 

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Wednesday, February 4th
Up at 6. Weather's on a warming trend. Monday was windy with a high of 72. Yesterday was not windy with a high of 76. Today's suppose to get up to 78. (Overnight lows are mid 40s.) Think I'm beginning to thaw out. Had another good breakfast at our hotel's continental breakfast bar. When headin' out this morning, we drove west about 25 miles to Donna, Texas, to a flea market. Had everything there. Was there 'bout 3 hours. We then drove 50 miles east to Brownsville to the Gladys Porter Zoo. Very nice zoo with lots of animals. Large for a small town like Brownsville. Took lots of pictures that'll be up soon. Upon arriving back in Harlingen, we located a Luby's cafeteria and had a good supper. Luby's (located all over Texas) is a place that Theresa & I used to look for when we were in Texas about 8 years ago. Tomorrow's plan is to go to Mexico to buy vanilla. 'Night. Dad.

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Thursday, February 5th

Up at 6 again. Middle day of the trip. It's off to Mexico today. Will probably park in U.S. and walk in. Drove to Progreso, TX, was uneventful - saw lots of interesting agriculture in progress. Walked into Mexico. Had lunch at Arturo's - same very nice restaurant as last year - told 'em we'd be back next year. Bought a bottle of vanilla & a vanilla bean for Kath so that she can make excellent Creme Brulee. After walking back across into the U.S., we sat down on a bench to rest and watch the U.S. customs inspection of cars returning to U.S. Jim said he had a classmate, Dennie Saase, that lived nearby in Pharr, TX, but didn't know where. So he said we'd sit there till he saw him walking back across the border. Wouldn't you know, but about 2 hours later, Dennie walked by and Jim and him had a great talk. We then drove to Dennie's home in Pharr and ended up looking at winter homes for Jim & Diane to buy. They saw at least 2 that they were interested in. Plans for tomorrow are to go to the Rodeo in Los Fresnos. 'Night. Dad.

Friday, February 6th
Up at 6 again. Noticed that temp is suppose to be up to 45 today back home. Must be warming up in preparation for our return. Yeah!!! Today was a strange day. When we headed out, we realized that the rodeo that we had planned on going to didn't start till 8 in the evening. So we went to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Harlingen. Very touching statue. Then nearby we found the Harlingen Arts & History Museum with several buildings full of very old relics like victrolas, buggies, etc. Lousy lunch followed. Then we headed for Brownsville where Jim wanted to see the port. After locating a Brownsville Visitors Center, we found out the port was closed down, ever since 9/11. So we found a paper about the rodeo and found out it included a (Cameron) County Fair, a livestock show, and an Arts & Crafts Show. So we drove to Los Fresnos and spent the afternoon watching goat judging. Home early. No plans for tomorrow. 'Night. Dad.

Saturday, February 7th

Up at 6 again. To make my web site reports even more interesting, I'm adding lots of links so you can see what we saw. Headed off toward SPI this morning but stopped on the mainland side in Port Isabel where we climbed a lighthouse and had a wonderful seafood luncheon at Pirate's Landing. The drove on over to SPI where we went on a dolphin watching cruise. Had a great time - both captain & helper were very competent. Then off to supper in a gulf side bar & restaurant where we had another excellent seafood supper, entertained by a guitar player singing "dirty" songs, albeit quite humorous.

Sunday, February 8th

Up at 6 again. Weather cooler & cloudy with occasional sprinkles. This morning we headed west toward Pharr, but had to stop at a Flea Market enroute. And would you believe we didn't buy a thing. We also stopped on the way at a model airplane show. But it was so windy that they canceled it at noon. We then drove on to Pharr where Jim & Diane again looked at that trailer they like. We also stopped to see Jim's classmate, Denny Saase. Then we drove 50 miles east from there to Los Fresnos to the rodeo. Ate at IHOP on returning home. Jim & Diane left to go to a movie for the evening. I stayed home. Ready to get home tomorrow. (Kath - could you turn up my heat tomorrow (Monday) morning to 72 - thanks.) (And Dan - are you planning on meeting us at the Humphrey terminal? I think we arrive at 2:30 PM on Sun Country flight 438 - thanks.) 'Night. Dad.

This model was powered with a real jet engine and could fly 200 mph real speed - not scale speed.

Monday, February 9th

Up at 6. Complementary continental breakfast at the hotel's breakfast bar. Drove to airport. Turned in car rental. Went through security. Sat around awhile. And left Harlingen on schedule at 11:30 AM. MSP arrival was 1/2 hour late due to traffic. Home in fine shape. Thanks to Jim & Diane for a wonderful time. And thanks to Dan & Kath for taking & getting us. More next trip. Dad.

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