The Golf Cart / Rat Rod

We'd talked about getting a golf cart for the RV park here.

We discussed it for a couple of years actually, with John strongly in favor

(DUH ----It's got a motor!)

and me not so much. The little exercise I get consists of walking the dog and carrying dirty clothes to the 

laundry about 100 yards away.

Well.......

After the knee replacement I couldn't carry the clothes and could barely negotiate the little hill.

We finally agreed a golf cart would be a practical thing to own.

We went down to the local golf cart dealer to check out the selection of pre-owned vehicles.

We didn't need much of a cart; just something for the laundry and driving to the dock.

Something strictly plain Jane.

Utilitarian.

No frills at all.

The dealer showed us what must be the bottom of the golf cart barrel.

He assured us that the cart ran great; he'd replaced the blah de blah

and tuned the do de do.

The price was not what I expected. Hundreds more than I thought it would be.

After all, we were used to the prices in south Texas where golf carts are everywhere.

There are more golf carts in Llano Grande than bicycles and you can get a nice one for a very good price.

You can see what we had to deal with.

It looked like this for a week.

Never leave well enough alone.....

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We got our hands on some rattle cans and the next thing we knew...

I was on the 'net looking for decals.

We may have more money in decals than paint.

Above-- a chrome skull and cross bones valve stem cap 

with red jeweled eyes ....oooooooh!

Below-- Pretty self explanatory..

If they didn't want a beer opener they shouldn't put cup holders there.

This is our first gas powered golf cart and we are really liking it.

After all, you can really tweek a gasser!

La Borde House

Following 83 Highway northwest from Mercedes you'll reach Rio Grande City, 

home of the La Borde House Hotel.

The La Borde House was built in 1899 by Francoise La Borde, and used as a home for the family and a way-station for travelers. One block south on the Rio Grande was a landing for river boats that carried goods and passengers.

The house boasted a tunnel that traveled to the river, and rumors are varied as to the purpose.

 The house became a hotel, then a boarding house and a hotel again. 

It fell in to disrepair but was resurrected in the early 1980s and is now on the National Register of Historic Homes.

At the end of the porch you can see half of a double door.

Keep that in mind as we'll return.

The rooms have been furnished in period furniture and wallpaper.

The floor lamp seems a bit tacky though.

The rooms have footed tubs and pedestal sinks, and the commodes are in a their own little room.

A beautiful marble topped dresser.

Most of the rooms have fireplaces.

This is the room that Lady Bird Johnson reportedly stayed in during a visit.

The lovingly restored furniture is in all the rooms and here a fainting couch waits

in the hall.

This shows the second story in back, above the courtyard.

We plan to spend a night at the hotel this winter, and the double doors open to the room I want to sleep in.

Called The Red Room it was the former lodging of a woman who "entertained" gentlemen callers.

It's also ............haunted.

Yes, the entire hotel is supposed to be a hot bed of paranormal activity.

Visitors report cold areas of rooms and unexplained noises - visions of bodies floating by and children laughing or calling their mothers.

The Red Room is reputed to be the busiest spot due to the suicide of the woman who plied her trade there.

Who knows?

Maybe something will go bump in the dark.