Aloe Vera

This is aloe vera in bloom.

When I told the owner I'd never seen it before she said this was a first for her too, and that many people had photographed it. The plant is about three feet tall.

  

Mystery Truck

I would never have guessed what this truck was made for.

On a recent trip to Mexico Joe Stackman pointed it out and told us what it was.

It's a portable X-ray truck, and not the kind that takes a film of your lungs.

It x-rays an entire truck looking for suspicious contents.

An arm comes out of the roof horizontally, another attaches vertically and the truck to be inspected drives through the resulting gate.

The traffic through the border, both ways, is far heavier than I'd thought it would be at this little tourist crossing.

Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday was not a day the Valley's reputation is built on.

It was dreary and cool, in the 50's with a light drizzle. Since the day was gloomy we opened all the shades to get as much light in as possible. The back window, behind the TV, is seldom uncovered.

The ladder has a clothes rack attached where we hang wet swim suits and towels.

Earl discovered another great feature that day.

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It's also a bird magnet!

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The windows have a mirrored tint, so the grackle has no idea that Earl is trying desperately to dig his way out with murder in mind.

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There are millions of grackles here in the Rio Grande Valley. Earl is sure the balance of nature wouldn't be overly affected if he got to kill just one.

Hi There, Norma!

Norma - even though we've never met, your son Joe Stackman tells me you read this blog.

Here's your boy getting his hair trimmed last week, with Freddie the Pug looking on.

Harvesting the Cane

This cane has been burnt and is ready to harvest. After the burning you can see it was planted in rows, but before it looks like one big mat o'cane

I'm sure the workers thought we were nuts but they waved back at us.

This was a Sunday, but like farmers everywhere they work when the crop is ready.

 There's a lot of cane grown here in the Valley. It has replaced citrus as the largest crop.

Fat Daddy's and The Donna Market

John with our friend Joe Stackman in the parking lot at Fat Daddy's, a BBQ joint.

Me with Joe's wife Barb. We met them down here last year and were happy to spend time with them in Door Co Wisconsin last summer. They are leaving in a few days for Big Bend, and we'll hook up again in March at a resort on Mustang Island.

We rode the bikes to Donna TX, a town just a few miles down the road with a really large Flea Market. The Donna Market is one of the many flea markets in the Valley. They're really popular here. This market is full of Northerners selling their crafts and other merchandise.

I'm looking for a banana tree to plant at Pomme de Terre Lake this summer. The plant salesman here didn't have any, but a guy on the side of the road had several. I hope I can get one just before I start north.

The ferry at Los Ebanos

The town of Los Ebanos has little to distinguish it. Only three miles south of  U S 83 it looks like a public service film about poverty. It has one unique feature, a hand drawn ferry dating to 1950. It is the only one of its kind crossing one of our borders.

The river has been forded here at least since the 1700's, by armies and cattle thieves, and bootleggers during prohibition.

 

 I figured the ferry was largely a tourist draw, rarely used but kept as a curiosity.

Wow - was I wrong. They did a steady business all the time we were there just as soon as the operators' lunch hour ended.

Note that the last sign just before the water line reads "Reduced Speed Ahead".

That's Mexico on the other side, and it looks a lot more prosperous over there. 

Lunch break over we begin to see action.

Maximum load three cars. I didn't think the Suburban would fit but they packed it on.

Hand over hand, they move quicker than you'd think.

If you look closely you'll see an American flag on the front of the overhang and a Mexican flag on the back. Thanks to my friend Barb for pointing it out.

International Ferry.......... brings to mind exotic far away places, huh?

Loading the ferry for the trip to Mexico. Notice how the ferry is anchored to the American side. The two men on either side are holding a chain wrapped around a pole. Safety standards may be a tiny bit lax here. The Americans standing on this side of the ferry are crossing to Mexico so they can take advantage of the duty-free liquor purchased on our side. Weird laws.

Just up the road, a picturesque old building with an interesting sign in the window.

Yes, it says "Pot   drinks". It also looks like someone lives there.

Los Ebanos translates as The Ebony Trees, and here's what one looks like.