Port Aransas, Texas

Port Aransas Fun Facts:

• Port Aransas is the only established town on Mustang Island and inhabits 5 miles of the 18 mile long barrier island. 
• Port Aransas is another big birding destination.
• The island was first called Wild Horse Island, then Mustang because of the wild horses called "Mestenos", brought to the island by the Spaniards in the 1800's.  
• The first know human occupants of the island were the Karankawas Indians
• Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca was probably the first European to meet the Karankawas in 1528.
• Jean La Fitte and his band of buccaneers spend a lot of time on Mustand Island in the 1820's.
• Citizens began calling their town Port Aransas about 1910.
• The storm of 1919 virtually wiped out the town except for a few structures.

Leaving "The Valley"  we ran into our first border checkpoint.  

 The only way to Port Aransas from Aransas Pass is by ferry.  Its free, at least 5+ ferries running at one time, and its less than a 10  minute boat ride once boarded.  Everything goes on board, busses, RV's you name it.

The island is still recovering from hurricane Harvey which hit in Sept 2017.  You can still see a lot of damage while driving around.

In Aransas Pass you drive your vehicle on the beach.  Just park and swim.

 They have the longest jetty we have ever seen.

Don't know what this is passing by, but its motorized and floating. 

 We stayed at Aransas Pass in Southern Oaks RV Resort, reviews are in a prior post from early June for this park.  Obviously this is a resort we return to.

Walking in the park we saw this harmless grass snake. Didn't know that at the time, either way we don't touch snakes.

We are now heading North East.

Down To "The Valley"

Rio Grande Valley Fun Facts:

• In Texas the southern most area of Texas along the Rio Grande is know as "The Valley".
• The Rio Grande is the 4th longest river in North America.  It flows thru 2 US States and 4 Mexican States.
• The Valley is the 3rd largest producer of citrus fruit in the US and the most important area for vegetable production in Texas.
• HEB is the Texas Supermarket of choice.  They are everywhere!
• When slavery was abolished in Mexico in 1828 slaves from Texas crossed the Rio Grande to seek their freedom.  Today it is the the Mexican's seeking a better life in the US crossing the Rio Grande.

Lots of open land on the way down to The Valley.  Make sure you have fuel for those 60 mile stretches of nothing.

This will be our home for the visit down here.

The first thing we saw when going to our site: Texas size rabbits, biggest we ever saw. Size of a small dog.

Tom found this little fella, who spent his day under the RV to escape the heat.

Bird sanctuary's are very popular down here.  This was in the park we stayed at, maintained by private guests of the park.

South Padre Island was the highlight of our trip to The Valley.  Great beach, parking and even showers.  All free, try that one in NJ.

Collateral damage, Pam tried body surfing.

 Port Isabel lighthouse on Laguna Madre.  It is the only lighthouse in Texas open to the public.

 The lighthouse caretakers quarters.

Town of Port Isabel

Laguna Madre

On the way back, bumped into this strange kids amusement park????

Tornado season has arrived, woke up to emergency alert at 3:30 in the morning.  Touch down 20 miles away.

Tom playing with the dogs while in the tornado shelter waiting for the threat to pass.

 

This is what 14 inches of rain does to the RV park.

Even in a heavy downpour the town floods.  Downtown Harlingen.

Marine Military Academy in Harlingen is home to the original working model of the famous Iwo Jima statue.

Lets not forget the shrimp, Texas best !!

Tropic Winds RV Resort

Harlingen, Texas

*** We give this park only 3 stars because of the rude office staff.  Sites were a mixture of sand and gravel with concrete pads and paved roads.  Had a nice club house, fitness room, pool and hot tub, pickle ball courts.  Bathrooms were clean, bird sanctuary was fantastic.  One problem with this park is that it floods when it rains heavy. Also there is almost always a strong wind, not awning friendly.    We will probably not return here, due to the fact that we did not feel welcome by office staff.  We were told that there is different , friendlier office staff in the winter, by people who know.