Leaving the Texas Gulf Coast

18 04 2015
Farewell to South Padre Island

Farewell to South Padre Island

After 2 weeks on South Padre Island, we’ve just spent 3 days in Harlingen cleaning, resupplying and running last-minute errands before we begin the trip North.  The 2 weeks on South Padre were spent enjoying life in the “slower” lane and some of the venues we visited last year including Palm Street Pier listening to the music of Chuck and Earl.  We also found a new breakfast venue, Café on the Beach at the Palms Resort , a small outdoor café on the gulf side of the island.

The weather on the island was a bit stormier than normal with several late evening or overnight thunderstorms blowing through the area.  We watched as several of the last Winter Texans packed up and departed.  Many of the prime spots were quickly reoccupied by summer residents.  Some of these are locals from around the valley, Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen.  They spend weekends on the island while commuting back home to work during the week.

Our planned return routing takes us north through Dallas and then across to the Texas panhandle to Palo Duro Canyon.  Today we’re headed about 3 hours north to Goliad State Park , nearly due north of Harlingen and situated along a u-shaped bend in the San Antonio River.  With thunderstorms, hail and even some tornadoes beginning to pop-up during the last week around northern Texas and Oklahoma, we’ll have an ever vigilant eye toward the skies.  More from Goliad tomorrow…





Tropic Winds RV Resort

21 03 2013
Tropic Winds RV Resort

Tropic Winds RV Resort

After 2 weeks on the road, we’ve arrived in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Temperatures for the last few days have been in the 70’s and 80’s, with some gusty winds. Valley temps are supposed to be over 100 by the weekend. We’re parked at Tropic Winds RV Resort in Harlingen, TX. We’ll be here for a few days for some laundry, shopping and restocking. With over 500 spaces, laundry facilities, club houses, tennis courts and of course shuffle board courts, this age-qualified park caters to “Winter Texans”. Many have been here since late last year, and even more arrived in January after escaping the northern cold. But, the return migration is on. Ever since arriving in the Rio Grande region we’ve watched the “see-you-next-year” goodbyes and the early morning departures. In Lajitas there were over 50 sites vacated during our 3 day stay.

Tropic Winds RV Resort

Tropic Winds RV Resort

Like Broke Mill in Del Rio, the WiFi service is provided by Tengo Internet. However there is no service included in the site rate (except for an open hot spot in the main club room). We opted to use our Verizon broadband service. Full 3G and 4G access was available on both Verizon and T-Mobile. Each site is a back-in configuration with concrete patio, has full hookups and basic cable with over 70 channels. Tropic Winds is just north of Harlingen and while very convenient to highways and even the airport, a very quiet setting. In addition to the daily site fee ($34 when we were there) there is a $3 resort fee addition and a 10% Good Sam deduction.

We’re headed to South Padre Island next week, more from there…