Texas Freedom Streamers RV Club

South Padre Island and Kingsville Rolling Rally on Sunday May 11, 2008: Six Gulf Stream RV’s pulled into Tropic Winds Resort in Harlingen, Texas. We had registration at the club house then we all ate lunch at the Lone Star Restaurant. After a relaxing lunch we went back to the club house for our officers meeting and then our members meeting. The meetings were followed by a spaghetti dinner at the club house. Birthdays and anniversaries were celebrated, and we relaxed and enjoyed the evening and fellowship.

Monday, May 12 we went to the Confederate Air Force Museum in Brownsville.

The museum is a living, flying, air museum with vintage aircraft and so much more! Memorabilia, equipment, uniforms, and artifacts of America’s history date from the 1920s. We then enjoyed lunch at the Vermillion restaurant in Brownsville and later went to the Gladys Porter Zoo which is an oasis nestled in the center of Brownsville, Texas. With 26 acres of lush tropical plants and some 1,500 animals, the Zoo is known for its successes in breeding endangered species of wildlife. Opened in 1971 as one of the first zoos in the country with no barred cages, most animal species are displayed in settings that closely resemble their own natural habitats. The park is divided into four zoogeographic areas: Africa, Herpetarium and Aquatic Wing, a free-flight aviary, Bear Grottos, and California Sea Lion exhibit. We drove back to Harlingen and ate dinner at the Seafarer Restaurant. We all kicked back in preparation for a busy day on Tuesday.

Tuesday, May 13 we left the campground for a tour in Matamoras, Mexico. We learned a lot about the history of Brownsville and South Padre Island area, visited a very old catholic church in Matamoras, and shopped in the plaza bargaining with all the merchants for their arts, crafts, gold and silver. We ate lunch at an elegant restaurant in Matamoras and dinner at Big John’s Restaurant back in Harlingen.

Wednesday, May 14 we visited the Iwo Jima Memorial and Museum where we saw a 30 minute film. This is the original sculpture used in casting the famous bronzed Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, depicting the raising of the U.S. flag over Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945, during World War II. It is over 100 feet high and weighs 130 tons. It was given to the Marine Military Academy in October of 1981. A WWII Museum located across the street from the statue displays many artifacts from that era and the more recent battles of Desert Storm. We then had lunch at Los Asados Mexican Restaurant on the Sunshine Strip. We visited the Rio Grand Valley Museum where South Texas history starts. We toured historic Harlingen buildings, stepped inside the Paso Real Stage Inn built during the Civil War, and marveled at the vintage medical equipment on display. The city’s first hospital is a 1920s structure. Then we went to Historic downtown Harlingen. We browsed for treasures in antique malls and thrift shops that featured funky and formal, retro and contemporary furnishings and collectibles. We enjoyed Texas original paintings, jewelry, and one-of-a-kind gifts. There was a 60 year old army surplus store and hobby shops specializing in comic books, regional music, and collectible toys. Downtown Harlingen also boasts several larger-than-life-size murals depicting aspects of the community’s history. We visited the tribute to Bill Haley and his Comet5s at the corner of Jackson & “A” Streets. This mural honors Harlingen’s most famous resident known as the “Grandfather of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and his Comets in July 1955 became the first Rock ‘n’ Roll Record to achieve number one status on the bestseller lists. The Bill Haley exhibit and nostalgic memorabilia inside the Main Street Grill was great and so were the famous milk shakes and banana splits at the old fashioned soda fountain. Dinner was later at the Longhorn Steak House.

Thursday, May 15 we were supposed to go to the Knapp Chevrolet Antique Car Museum, however, it was closed because they were in the process of moving it to the historic downtown area. Next time hopefully. Lunch was back at camp - burgers, chip, and drinks, dinner was also at the club house - brisket, potato salad, ranch beans, and watermelon. Woops!! The person in charge of cutting the watermelon stabbed himself in the leg with the knife. He bled a lot, but all was okay in the end.

Friday, May 16 we left very early for South Padre Island. The Port Isabel Lighthouse was very interesting. It was built in 1853 and operated until 1905 and is now open to the public. It was used by both the Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War for observation. It’s now operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife. Some of our group climbed the spiral stairway (74 steps) to the top for a spectacular view across Laguna Madre to South Padre Island. We had lunch across the street from the Lighthouse at Marcello’s Italian Restaurant. Marcello’s is in the building that had been the Old Lighthouse Grocery. The building has withstood the storms and hurricanes that occasionally swept in from the Gulf of Mexico. Vicemte “Cjemte” Gonzales sold the Lighthouse Grocery to Manuela Stevenson in 1988. Retaining the original sound construction, she enhanced the outside with the decorative awnings and landscaped the small plot between the building and Queen Isabella Boulevard. Inside, imaginative décor transports clientele to a gentle Italian Mediterranean world of excellent cuisine, courteous service, and tempting libations. After lunch we enjoyed an Eco Boat Tour and Dolphin Watch. Great boat ride! The Port Isabel Historical Museum was next on our agenda. Built in 1899 by Charles Champion, it served as a post office, US Customs house, Railroad depot, general store, and restaurant. The family’s residence was upstairs. The round brick rainwater cistern at the rear of the building was the first water supply for the family. In 1906 the front exterior wall was painted with a mural of fish of all species found in the area. It was restored in 1996. The building now houses the Port Isabel Historical Museum with a variety of artifacts on exhibit. We finished with a walk on the beach at South Padre Island and then dinner at Pelican Station.

Saturday, May 17 we had breakfast at the club house and then left for Kingsville and Part 2 of our rally. Shortly after arriving at Seawind RV Resort in Kingsville, we left to go to Bob Neely’s Mint Conditioned Old Car Tour. It was much more than old cars; it was old tractors, an old fire engine, old everything in the home tour, and even another old home completely furnished with antiques. What a pleasant surprise. When we returned to the campground we enjoyed a delicious potluck dinner at the clubhouse. Later was cash bingo and other games.

Sunday, May 18 we had a light breakfast at the clubhouse and then left for Henry Bynums Trophy Room Tour. This was unbelievable. We enjoyed trophy animals of all kinds and great people who opened their home and “private museum” to our group.

We stopped at Subway for lunch and then went to the Kenedy Ranch Museum. Originally Kenedy and King were partners, as time went on the lands were separated and King Ranch and Kenedy Ranch were separate. At the campground we enjoyed free time and then beef and chicken fajita’s, ice cream, and bean bag baseball.

Monday, May 19 we left for the Historical King Ranch Museum and then the King Ranch Tour. It was very impressive to say the least. We then enjoyed some free time and rest and relaxation. Dinner was at a very quaint waterfront seafood restaurant.

Tuesday, May 20 we went to historical downtown Kingsville where we went to the John E. Conner Museum at Texas A & M University and then enjoyed free time. Some of us visited the King Ranch Saddle Shop, the Train Depot & Museum, the Henrietta Memorial Center, Harrel’s Kingsville Pharmacy (old fashioned soda fountain, thick hand dipped milk shakes and the best hamburgers in Kingsville), or the Sellers Market (home made crafts, Texas items, Wild Olive Restaurant). We met for a very exciting tour of the Naval Air Base. One of our group was suited up and made ready for flight! Back at the campground we enjoyed a BBQ chicken, potato salad, ranch beans, cookies and ice cream dinner.

Wednesday, May 21 we left for Lake Corpus Christi and a retirement party for Ron Riffel. We enjoyed a catered BBQ lunch and a cheese cake to die for. Thanks, Pam. We were supposed to have boat rides, but the captain had a sore leg caused by cutting watermelon.

Thursday, May 22 it was once again time for a farewell breakfast and our door prize drawing.

Our next rally will be at Hot Springs, Arkansas, and we have 10 rigs signed up for that one. If you want to attend this rally, it is still not too late. October 23 - 27, 2008. Call Hazel (210-213-9072).

 

Texas Freedom Streamers Upcoming 2008 Rallies:

October 23-27, 2008 - at Tyler, Texas where we will attend the Rose Parade

December 2008 - at Hot Springs, Arkansas