We're heading north! (kinda)

 After sitting in one spot for a whole month, we're suffering from a case of "hitch itch." That happens when a couple of full-time travelers are itching to hitch up the RV and head on down the road. Even though we have stayed longer, we think that one month is about the longest we prefer to stay in one spot. Our decision to leave was made easier by the record-breaking heat in south Texas. While the average temperature should be in the mid-70s during February, we have been in the 90s for the last week. We see forecast temperatures in the 100s for the upcoming week. It must be time to head north (kinda)! So we said good-bye to our Bentsen Grove friends and Denisa's Mother, and headed down the road. We are heading northwest this year, hugging the north side of the Mexico/Texas border. We've heard all the stories about the flood of immigrants crossing the border, but we still feel very safe. We are seeing plenty of border patrol vehicles on our road . .  .

and we even have an occasional border patrol helicopter fly overhead.

The border patrol blimps are outfitted with cameras to monitor the situation too. So we feel very well watched as we continue our border drive.

We have also passed through several of these border inspection stations. They have drug-sniffing dogs, and we're always asked how many people are on board. We must look very American, because we haven't been searched yet.

Our first stop was at Falcon Lake State Park. We're not camping here, so we found a parking place for the motor home and did some exploring on foot. We started the 2.6-mile loop trail that circles much of the park.

This is desert country, and we are seeing all types of prickly plants on this hike.

Our eyes feel a little scratchy, and we think it might have something to do with the fact that these Blackbrush Acacia are in full spring bloom. The bees and butterflies love these blossoms--but our eyes don't like them so much. Even though it's February, spring comes early in the desert of southern Texas.

We also made a stop in the park's butterfly garden, where Denisa feels like a monarch with wings.

We got a few pictures of the butterflies sipping nectar here in the garden.

The plants in this garden are especially planted to provide flowers that butterflies prefer and that bloom at different times during the year.

We were a little surprised to see crosses along this 25-mile-per-hour road within the state park. It was hard to imagine a car crash with so many fatalities at this low speed. Then we got closer to read the note beside the crosses. Two marine helicopters from Camp Pendleton, California, were in Texas supporting the Border Patrol in 2003. Two helicopters collided during a night mission, resulting in the deaths of these marines.

Falcon Lake is known for its premier bass and catfish fishing, but it's hard to launch a boat here. The drought has caused the lake to shrink considerably. Mark is standing on the boat dock, but we can't even see the lake from here. That wide sloped concrete ramp ends far from the water.

We had to hike another half-mile before we finally could see the present shore-line of Falcon Lake. From here we could see across the lake into Mexico.

Large signs near the lake warn boaters that crossing into Mexico could be dangerous. It would be an easy boat ride across Falcon Lake to get to Mexico--and for Mexicans to get to the United States.

We did all this hiking while temperatures were over 90 degrees and the sun was beating down on our heads. It's time to head north! Because of the low lake levels and the heat, we have to say that our favorite part of the state park stop was at the visitor's center. It was air-conditioned and was staffed by friendly volunteers. We had two different hikers on the trail today tell us to be sure to stop by the visitor center. The reputation of this friendly volunteer proceeds her! We took a picture of Jane, who was so friendly and offered her home-made chocolate cupcakes to weary hikers like us. While they also offered store-bought cookies, she knows that visitors prefer home-made, so she bakes something fresh almost every day! Thanks Jane!

We headed on down the road in the motor home to our overnight stop for tonight. This is the only Boondocker Welcome host for this trip. Cheryl let us park in her side driveway, and we paid her for the use of the 30-amp electrical hook-up that we desperately need for our air-conditioner.

Her house is just a few miles off highway 83, and very close to the town of Zapata. We tried to find something fun to do in Zapata, but we pretty well struck out. Even though we are only a mile from the Rio Grande River, every attempt to drive to the water was thwarted with "pavement ends" and closed gates in front of us.

Cheryl gave us advice on a good local restaurant, and we took her out for dinner. That gave us more time to talk to our host. Living just a mile from the Mexico border, she feels very safe. She doesn't see any illegals crossing the border. It might help that a very big National Guard facility is just a couple miles from her house. The Texas Governor has asked the National Guard to help defend the border, and this temporary tent town has become pretty permanent. Cheryl explained that you don't want to be on her road on a Friday afternoon. That's when one squadron will be leaving after completing their two-week stay, and another squadron will be arriving to start theirs. Another squadron will be at their half-way point of their two weeks. This temporary facility has been in place for about two years, and has the ability to house and feed two squadrons all the time in its own little city in the desert. We thank them for their service!

You notice that all those tent dorms have big pipes on the end. We hope that is pumping in air-conditioning so these soldiers can get a break from the hot weather here. Who knew it would be around 100 degrees in Zapata even in February!?! It looks like we need to continue heading north!