We moved to the east side of the Rio Grande Valley on 2/9 and stayed in the small town of Rio Hondo at Twin Palms RV park. The town was formerly a very quiet spot, but is now booming and bustling with the installation of huge wind turbines and the required transmission towers. We visited Laguna Atascosa NWR, home of the endangered ocelot, and the very popular South Padre Island.
After Rio Hondo we moved to Port Aransas on Mustang Island across from Corpus Christi. Travel to the island is via highway and causeway arriving from the south. Leaving to the north is via a free ferry. Port Aransas was hit hard by hurricane Harvey in August 2017. Harvey was a Category 4 hurricane which tied for the honor of being the most destructive hurricane in history with damage estimated at 125 Billion dollars. Many of the damaged buildings are still being repaired. The Methodist Church we attended in the past was unusable and services were being held at the Baptist Church. Here are some pictures from the Rio Hondo and Aransas stops.
There are only about 50 Ocelots remaining in the US. Part of the refuge was closed to travel to protect newborn Ocelots.
We are in alligator country. Big Daddy, a 12’6” gator was sleeping, but this little fellow posed for us.
We are along tht Texas gulf coast. Donna is shown with the Atlantic Ocean in the background.
Offshore drilling rigs on reserve at Port Aransas.
Our camper and pickup on the Port Aransas ferry.
No posting is complete without a bird picture or 2. This is a Green Heron at South Padre Island birding center.
This is a Great Blue Heron with his catch of the day.