The doggie park

Logan playing with Molly and Pika. Both are herding dogs and they nip Logan on the back legs and he get very upset.

The doggie park extends straight ahead then there is an fenced agility area with equipment. Then it extends the same distance behind where I'm standing taking the picture. It is just wonderful to have the kind of room for the dogs to chase each other and fetch balls.

Doggie park time is also a social time for us too.

Another native flower.

Pepe's on the River 2

Will, what do you think of that nice group of young ladies.?

This was our last fling at Pepe's and I couldn't believe the crowd. of course, it was Sunday. Had to set up a table on the entrance porch for us

Then there was the overflow in the back. If you didn't want to eat, drink, dance or listen to the music...you can hit golf balls across the Rio Grande. Bet there are a million balls in the river.

Pepe's on the River

This lady was really making her silver belt shimmy. Notice the cowboy boots on the left. You really need them to do the Texas Two-step.

This "older generation" really knows how to dance up a storm.

I think this gentleman on the left is the best dressed...I'm suggesting Greg look into finding a similar outfit , what do you think?

Flowers of Texas

The owners of the park have planted only native plants...All the flowers are coming out and it is beautiful. I don't know the name of the flowers but just enjoy.

Also this is an aerial shot of the RV Part. The parking lot and buildings at the bottom of the picture is the Bentsen International Birding Park. We bike around the RV Park...you can see the line of the trees at the left and back of the plowed field..a dirt road on the right It is 3 1/2 miles. At the top of the picture...the bike trail goes on into Mission. Also the dike road is dirt but OK for biking. Water is pumped into the canal for irrigation, it is not the Rio Grande.

You can see how large the park is and just about everyone has a bike and that is the mode of transportation. Also the trash containers are under the tree and the far right in the park. So, either they drive their car or use the bike to make the trash runs.

Hawaii from the air

Lynne, Greg and I took a helicopter trip over Kauai. I just have to share a couple of the pictures. It was a special treat. We did learn one thing...at the end of the flight. The best time to go is in the afternoon when the sun is at a better angle. So if you have the chance to go...you have been advised. The reflection on the canopy really dulled some of the pictures. Notice the shadow of the cliffs on the beach..no shadow...better picture.

I can't remember the name of the water fall ...sorry...and the beach scene is one of the the areas were the film Six days seven nights was filmed Where Harrison and Anne were being chased by the bad guys.

This waterfall is where I think both Fantasy Island and Jurassic Park were filmed. The landscape is stunning. The only access is by helicopter.

Relative in Mission

Well, would you believe it, I found a long lost relative in Mission, TX.

I have been researching the Smyth side of the family and was in contact with a second cousin in Oklahoma City, Steven Smythe, He has a family web site and he put me in contact with Glen (Hoot) Smyth in Mission. We connected via email and finally got together. He has lived in Mission several years..even when Lynne and Carlos were here. He was born and raised in Southern Oklahoma and is 84 years old. I hope I'm in as good condition as he when I get to 84. Maybe that is a good gene I'll have. Greg said there was a family resembleance...the nose. What can I say.

It was exciting to talk to him. He "knew" several of the relatives that I had only "heard" the names. I think the Smyth group in Oklahoma were a riot. Or maybe I shouldn't go that far.:-))

I was fortunate to visit a cousin in Tulsa this trip and had dinner with her and her husband. Sadly she passed away several days ago. She had hoped to live until her 60th wedding anniversary. I think you should never miss an opportunity to reach and get to know everyone you can.

Just a side note on researching family names...as you noticed.. Steven spells his last name with an e. So, you just never know who might be related. Some decide to change the spelling and sometimes it is misread and passed on in error.

Bentsen bird park

We get to bike through the bird park and hear all the birds. They have other animals too. havalinas..bobcats...armadillos...snakes...butterflies, big wolly tarantulas.

I missed the bobcat but that was ok. We had Logan and I just knew he would look like dinner to the bobcat.

Missing the snakes was ok with Greg too. We had two rattlers in the park and were warned to watch the dogs.

The javalina were petty calm. Logan got really excited but they just moved out in a normal walk. The butterflies are few now but in October they are abundant. There is also a seperate butterfly park. I couldn't get close enough to the birds to get a good picture. BUT, it is amazing how many people go to the park daily and carry these BIG camera. We had a "art in the park" day and people were able to display they 'art' and most were pictures of wildlife. Very good pictures.

Bentsen Palm Village

This was our home park for a month and half. It was the best park we have found. We really missed the beach we had in South Padre Island...but as always there are trade offs. So we have signed up for next year. This place is so in demand that it was sold out on 2/15/07 when it opened it up for reservations. We were able to lock in December only. However last week, there was a cancellation and and we were able to extend thru February 2009.

There is a 5 mile bike path (all pretty much flat) plus the Bentsen Bird Park. A former RV park. Also lots of Canadians.. mostly from Ontario. I bet 80% of the occupants are from Canada. And as we live so close to the border we fit right in. :-)) Greg rode with a bike group into Mexico and toured a school and enjoyed a lunch Mexican style. I didn't go as it was very hot and I just don't do hot.

Greg also went in a kayak on the Rio Grande. He said it was very tiring as the wind made it difficult to get anywhere.

we have once a week breakfast...margarita nights with lots of food...a wonderful doggie park for Logan, being close to the airport and grocery stores... I get to do crafts and line dance... They also have a very strong Wifi ., special fuctions on special days...in summary: it has been a very enjoyable stay.

flight to Houston

On the way up to Houston there were several fires in the valley...here is how they look from 1500ft.

On the return trip we flew down the coast...in the picture you can see the inter-coastal channel and the little fishing shacks lining them.

Saw several oil platforms but they were too far away for a good picture. We had wonderful weather for both day flights. Some how we missed the winds.

We are preparing to pack it up and head for home.

Puppies in Houston

While we were in Houston for Easter with Lynne, we passed a tent where a couple had several schnauzer puppies for sale. We just had to stop and let Logan see them. Greg thought we should have all of them (yea...$650 each)...don' think so...

But they were aborable and thought Logan was just the best playmate.

Easter

We are in Houston with Lynne for Easter.

We flew up in the cheetah, about 3 hours flight time. We stopped in Beeville, Tx to refuel and have lunch. It was a very bumpy trip. We had to climb to 5500 to finally have a smooth ride.

There were several wild fires in the valley and we could smell the smoke for miles. What a difference flying in Texas compared to Washington. Texas is flat, flat...just have to watch out for tall towers and other planes. We had two Navy planes fly by out of the base at Kingsville.



It is cooler here in Houston and very enjoyable.

We are having Easter dinner with Melinda and Lou (Lynne's friends from when they lived in San Antonio) and their daughter,Clara, and family. Clara and Daniela were classmates.



We return to McAllen on Monday, weather permitting.

Back on line

It has been a long and difficult winter. We make it to Lynne's for Thanksgiving in Houston and then flew to Hawaii for Christmas. Unfortunately, Dec 1, my 23 year old granddaughter, Daniela (Lynne's daughter) died in a car accident in San Antonio,Tx.





Lynne joined us in Hawaii Dec. 13th as scheduled. We had a memorial for Daniela and spread her ashes at Anini Beach on the island of Kauai. Lynne had another memorial in Houston on January 13th so the Capano's in Florida could have time to make arrangements.





We returned to Houston in January and Greg had to return to Bellingham to clean out the office and put the space up for lease. We then continued on to the Rio Grande Valley (Mission, TX) to the Bentsen Palm Village RV Park. It is a beautiful park with big spaces, bike trails, doggie park (for Logan) and located next to a State Birding Park.





This has been much different from staying at South Padre Island. It is much hotter...and I mean hotter. We just had a record high of 103. We have been running the air conditioner during the day. After the sun goes down it cools of and is comfortable.





We are having to really watch Logan and the heat....he got overheated one day. We had gone on a bike ride early in the morning. It was cool and cloudy. We were gone longer than expected and it started to really heat up. Logan just sat down and refused to get up. Fortunately we were near another RV park and a wonderful gentlemen stopped and asked if we needed help and after seeing Logan, he said..."You stay here, I'll go get my truck and take you home"





He piled our bikes in the back and drove us home. We were about 5 miles from our park. We were very fortunately that he was so helpful. I baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies and gave him a dozen.

That was on Wednesday and on Thursday we had the record 103. It has been in the high 90's since then. I've do the pool in the afternoon, it is standing room only.





We had a great St Patrick's day hamburger feast tonight. About 170 attended. The park is starting to empty out. The majority of the people are from Canada and Midwest. We met only one from Washington and one from Oregon.





We will be departing on April 1. But plan to spend Easter with Lynne.

I'll post more pictures.