Avion Trip Across Texas

Feb. 21 - Mar. 6, 2001

At 2,823 miles, this has been our longest trip in our Avion travel trailer to date.
(Click for our ordeals of getting underway.)

We had planned for our first night to be in El Paso but our late departure (see ordeals above) dictated stopping short at Caballo Lake State Park, NM.

While we were near Mesilla, we decided to see the local sights. In addition to this bar, we visited the Gadsden Museum. Saw what was reported to be the original painting of the Gadsden Purchase with the replica at the Smithsonian. Now that is a switch.

Headed for Big Bend National Park via back roads and encountered a 15% grade road sign. No big deal in just a car, but my Explorer was complaining about having to pull the Avion up it and the temperature gage reported a new high. Shifted into 4WD Low Range to get things under control. Stopped here at Big Bend RV Park just outside the National Park for the night. We were awakened before dawn by clanking and banging of pots and pans. Turned out this was the day of the semiannual chili contest being held in this RV Park (what luck) and everyone was getting an early start cooking their favorite recipes.

Pulled over for a rest and to let the car engine and brakes cool a bit. We saw 3 coyotes and several roadrunners on our drive into the Park.

Prickly Pear Cactus with Rio Grande in background and mountains of Mexico on the left.

Carol with Texas BlueBonnets and a Yucca about to bloom.

Cottonwood Campground was the only bit of green around.

We enjoyed the tranquillity of camping here even without services. Mountains of Mexico in background.

We went to Mexico via a Mexican and his rowboat for a dollar each. The crossing was accomplished without the presence of any paperwork, passports, police or political agencies of any sort. Everything was very mellow and I have about come to the conclusion that people are good and what is bad in the world are political agencies, police and too much paperwork.

We walked around the village of Santa Elena and had a pleasant lunch with a couple of beers before returning. The village consists of about 30 families and is situated just south of Big Bend National Park, one of the more remote and less visited Parks in the system.

Heading for South Padre Island for a planned 3 days of lounging at the beach. Arriving about 10PM to find that the RV park that the Frommer guide book reported to be on the Island was actually on the mainland instead. Turned out to be sort of a luxury RV park with security guards at the gate and most spaces backed up to canals leading out to the Gulf. Many of our neighbors had boats tied up at their docks. All had large RVs with perfect lawns and extensive landscaping. We thought that was all very nice but coming from Albuquerque, we really wanted to be right on the front beach.

We were up early in search of an RV park on the beach. Turns out that Texas is very laid back and accommodating about their beaches. RV parks are really not needed. If you want to have your RV on the beach, just drive it out on the beach and pick your own spot. Here, we have just returned from a walk on the beach and have our shell collection on the window ledge and life seems very good.

We had traveled more or less alongside our Albuquerque river, the Rio Grande, all the way to where it meets the Gulf, only about 3 miles south of where we are parked.

A nice lunch on the beach in the Avion.

All too soon, it was time to leave South Padre Island. We took the ferry and headed toward Houston to meet Brian and Autumn.

Brian entertained us with tickets to a rodeo at the Houston Astrodome. We heard performers, Martina McBride and Lee Ann Womack (country western of course!) He picked a nice restaurant for dinner and we enjoyed Autumn's company.

After leaving Brian & Autumn in Houston, we drove up to Kate's house in Dallas.

Kate joined us for a drive up to Plano, TX to visit Art Heald and his family, Jake and Josh.

We had a great tour of Texas sights and family members, then it was time to head home.