Riverside Dreamer Boat Cruise on the Rio Grande River

Today we took a Bus Trip offered by Winter Ranch. We stepped on the bus with a bunch of friends from the Hawkeye Camping Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at 8:30 AM. Our bus driver, Jack Hulsey, drove us over to Mission, Texas where the Riverside Club is. The Riverside Club is a popular place to eat and dance on the weekends. The owner also bought a boat called The Riverside Dreamer that he captains and he gives tours of the an area of the Rio Grande River.

It was a gorgeous day for a boat ride with beautiful blue skies and a slight breeze. We headed down river first and the Captain gave us a lot of interesting facts about the things we saw along the river especially the areas where the flood of 2010 destroyed many buildings along the river and also changed the course of the river.

Waiting for the Boat Trip

Our Ride

 

On the Boat

USA Places that were destroyed in 2011

Nice Places on the Mexico Side

This was the only part of the Mexican side 
that had not been repaired

Me enjoying the ride

An Egret

Anzalduas Dam

We took the boat down to the Anzalduas Dam and then we headed up river past the Riverside Club and almost to the Rio Bensten Palm State Park. We were lucky enough today to get a few pictures of birds and a great one of an Osprey who was sitting on a dead tree in the water. We also saw another osprey, white pelicans, a little blue heron, an egret and vultures circling over a field.

Can you see the cannon on the Mexican side of the river.

A campground on the USA side

 

Peregrine Falcon

When we finished the boat tour, we all headed into the Riverside Club and had lunch. Mickey was the only one at our table who ordered something other than the tenderloin that the Riverside Club is famous for. He ordered shrimp, his favorite almost every time we go out. I took a picture of the tenderloin. It is not only huge, it is also meaty. We have found our favorite tenderloin place in Texas! I could only eat the outside and I took the part on the 5" bun home to have for another meal. Lee managed to eat all of his. I don't know how!!

Wilbur and Lee

Love the tenderloins - they are our favorite in Texas!

Ol' D's Soda Shop, Harlingen, Texas

We took one of the Winter Ranch bus tours tonight and headed for Harlingen, Texas and the Ol'D's Soda Shop. The owner of Ol'D's used to work at Pepe's before the place was ruined in a flood in 2010. He then bought the place in Harlingen. He and his mother sing together as "Double Decker" and then he has other musicians also. Double Decker is really a good group. We enjoyed listening to them. Then they introduced Bobby Doo Wop and he just really got the crowd howling. Then later Bobby came back as Elvis. He was awesome - really sounded like him and had some good moves. Everyone on the bus really enjoyed it and all of us want to go back again.

We ordered the buffet special since it was faster, however, the next time we go, we're going to get the burgers. They looked really good and everyone who had them thought they were great. JD, our Activity Director, ordered a Double Decker and had to remove a lot of its parts in order to get it in his mouth! They also have a Triple Burger! Lee ordered a milk shake and I took a few bites of it and it was good too.

We really enjoyed the music and the atmosphere of the place. Double Decker was fun to listen to and the owner can really do a jig. He did one to Play Me That Mountain Music. He was great.

Bobby Doo Wop was really good. He flirted with our friend, Donna, all night and she encouraged him so it got funnier and funnier. He ended up giving her a teddy bear as Elvis late in the show as he sang Teddy Bear to her.

Bobby Du Wop

Let's Go To The Hop

Me with Bobby

Miriam and Al

Bobby Singing to Donna Again!

Donna Gives Bobby The Treatment!

Elvis is in the Building

Al, Richard and Lee howling at Donna and Elvis!

Nora looks on as Char gives Elvis a Tip!

Guess who got a teddy bear from Elvis!

Elvis