Thursday, February 19, 2015

• Cool, calm, clear, temp: 48, high 73. Should be a nice day.
• Very busy day with lots of pictures. Yippee!
• First off, Thursday, we always join about 25 other guys from Paradise Park and drive to Taco Fiesta for breakfast.
• Late morning Jim & I loaded our bikes on Phil's bike rack and drove to Mission Nature Trail head, South of Mission near the Rio Grande.
• Biked on a trail through Retama Village with some very interesting Mexican style homes, complete with shelters for 40 foot motor-homes.
• From there, we bike about 5 miles to the World Birding Center Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley state park.
• After water, a snack, & local sightseeing, we headed back toward our destination, but rode on a waterway levee most of the way back.
• So all-in-all, we biked about 10 miles. 
• After reloading our bikes on Phil's bike rack, we drove along a stretch of the Rio Grande river levee near Chimney park, ending up at the Riverside Club.
• The club served food and had 2 large halls for old time dancing. In one of the halls, Phil saw a friend from Iowa, Barefoot Becky who played the accordion and was the band master of ceremonies.
• Had a short nap after driving home.
• Went over to Phil's last evening to watch the movie, Jersey Boys. I had seen it before, but it's still a fun movie to watch.
• And sorry I'm so late in getting this published, but I was pooped after that big day.

Phil & Jim on a levee near a bridge

The waterway for irrigation

We didn't have enough time to visit this center - perhaps next time

Phil & Jim near the park entrance - notice that you see Jim's teeth smiling - a first

Barefoot Becky's band on stage

Sunday, January 11, 2015

• Warmer this morning, clear (there is a moon!), calm, temp: 41, high: 54.
• At lunchtime, we biked over to the Armando's Tacos Restaurant on the other side of Cage at Hall Acres.
• Mid afternoon, we attended a Sweet Adelines concert at the Hall.
• Weather this afternoon finally broke and became very nice. Clear, blue sky. No wind. Biked my 2 1/4 miles.
• Late afternoon, we went to an Ice Cream Social at the Hall.
• This evening at the Hall, we saw the movie Jersey Boys. It's a great movie even though I had seen it before.
• Today's pictures were taken last evening at Pharr South and are of the Bingo hall where we usually go for supper at 5 PM and Bingo at 7 PM. Their suppers are great and they have the best homemade ice cream bars served at Bingo break. I don't play Bingo, but read. And I don't miss the break.

Shows Bingo machine & caller. Jim, Diane, Candy are in center (Dan was ill)

Large hall. Perhaps 100 playng Bingo. Earlier in the week, it seated about 300 theater style at a Jam.