Mar 3rd to 6th - Rockport & San Benito TX

Mar 3rd - Tues - to Rockport TX
The RV park in Beaumont had a continental breakfast for campers so we joined Billy & Lauri before we all headed out. There were make-it-yourself waffles in the shape of Texas, bagels & cream cheese, cereal, fruit, orange juice & coffee. Nice way to start the day.
We didn’t have a definite destination in mind so I browsed through books and finally made a reservation for a couple of nights at a PA park (Circle W) in Rockport. It is not a great park with mostly long term residents but it will do for 2 nights. We unloaded the bikes and rode around the park before sitting and enjoying the sun for a while. It was windy and cooled down the minute the sun went behind trees so we moved inside, had dinner and relaxed with TV and a book for me.
The highway goes right through Houston which is a very large city. There were as many as 7 lanes of traffic so we were again very happy to have Wanda doing an excellent job of navigation. We later drove past many huge, flat, planted fields that we finally figured out were cotton.

Mar 4th - Wed - Rockport TX
Terry got in a cleaning and organizing mood this morning and attacked the storage box in his truck. He ended up with some space so he moved his heavy fishing tackle box from the front storage of the 5th wheel into the truck. Then we decided that we could move a few items and also move the heavy generator from the same storage compartment into the truck. Since fishing poles were going under the bed, I finally persuaded Terry to toss some slacks that we have been packing around the whole time and have never been worn. Now we have to find a Goodwill to get rid of the clothes.
I made a nice big breakfast (for lunch!) and then we took a drive. We made a loop down to Corpus Christi, drove past some lovely big homes on the water, went across to Padre Island, drove north on Mustang Island, drove on the beach, took a free 5 minute or less ferry ride back to Aransas Pass and then north back to the park.
We had seen a sign advertising T-bone steak for $3.99/lb so had to stop and get some for dinner. It was pretty windy to barbeque but Terry moved the barbeque around and cooked a nice dinner.

Mar 5th - Thurs - to San Benito TX
Another “just over 3 hour” drive today to the southern tip of Texas. There is one section with no service stations for 60 miles that is very “nothing”. Also lots more cotton fields, quite a few cattle and very flat.
The lady in the RV park office had just left for lunch when we arrived so I made a sandwich for us while we waited for her to return and check us in. Sunny & hot but lots of wind. We requested a parking spot that Terry thought might shelter the door side from the wind - helps only a bit. After setting up and visiting with the next door neighbors (Glen & Bonnie), we went for a drive in nearby Harlingen which is quite a large city. Happened upon a Big Lots store where Terry finally found a kettle to melt wax for our buddy burners. I have used my double boiler in the past but I am tired of cleaning it afterwards.
After dinner we went to the clubhouse to play Card Bingo which we had first played in Mexico Beach. Terry & I each started with 10 quarters (use 1 each game) and then he pulled out a dollar to buy more quarters. He was going to change more than a dollar but I suggested he wait since one of us was going to win and sure enough, after using the 4 quarters, Terry won a game and then won another one so we ended up with 2 more dollars than we started with. Good thing since the laundry is piling up!

Mar 6th - Fri - San Benito
Had to wait for washers to free up but got the laundry done this morning after visiting with Glen & Bonnie again. Very warm but still windy so we went driving again. Stopped at an info center to get a local map and other brochures, found a St Vincent de Paul to drop off the clothes and it turned out to be closed and drove a short way down the freeway to San Benito which was an uninspiring small town. We turned at a road to turn around to get back to the freeway and there just happened to be a clothing donation box on the corner of a service station. Got diesel at $1.94 and then discovered we could have paid $1.89.
We sat and chatted with Glen & Bonnie again. I was going to make hamburgers for an early dinner until I discovered that I didn’t have any hamburger in the freezer. Glen & Bonnie were going out for dinner so we joined them to go to a barbeque place.
Then they were very brave and accepted an invitation for coffee and pictures. They left about a half hour ago after their eyes crossed from all the pictures!! They are from northern Louisiana and have the lovely drawl to prove it.