Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Day 56: And another beautiful day.....keep them coming!!!!

Outside after the morning rituals.........I was just really excited to see another beautiful day here in the RGV!!! Having my morning coffee on the patio......along with fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit which was sooooo sweet and juicy......I enjoyed visiting with many of the other people here in the "neighborhood" who were either walking or biking or running by TheHowserHouse. You know.......being here is soooooo different than being our stick and brick!!! How, you may ask? Well, like this morning......everyone speaks to you here, whether you know them or not. At home....I know all of my neighbors.....and I barely even see them, never mind speaking to each other. And this same little fact.......I hear expressed by sooooo many other rver's who are here. Friendliness prevails here.....and it is just super!!!

Carrying my French Roast coffee over to Pete's rv.......we discussed the day....and decided to make this a day with lunch at Gonzales' Hamburgers. Calling our friends from Wisconsin who are here for a few days, they decided to go with us......which we had hoped for!

And sooooo, the morning passed by and soon we were picking up Paul and Suzanne at their rv park.....and arriving there at Gonzales' we saw tons of cars/trucks/ and lots of people standing outside......were they standing in line???? Well........those outside were only waiting for their names to be called to get their orders up at the counter.

Inside....a different story......tons of people standing in line to place their orders at the counter. As I have mentioned in previous posts......this is a family owned and run small business......a business that is flourishing not because of paid commercial advertising, but because of "word of mouth" by sooooooo many people in this RGV. There must have been 75 or more inside, some sitting at long family style tables waiting on their orders......and many standing in line to order. We joined that line........Pete, Buzz, Paul, and this sagging hulk of Me while the ladies all searched and waited, like vultures I might add, to get six places at a table with chairs.

OK....we arrived around 12:50pm......and it was over an hour later before we received our hamburgers and onion rings!!! There are three family members who take the orders, fry the burgers, load them with the "works", fry the fries and onion rings, and package them for the customers.......and this takes time. But......you know, this hour plus didn't bother us as we chatted with others who were also waiting....and that is ALWAYS fun as we learn where others are from and their stories about rving and living down here.

As always.....the food was VERY good....and LOTS of it!!!! Those burgers are HUGE....and they are sooo juicy and fresh.......as the owner grinds up the freshly cut beef each morning.....and when he runs out of hamburger, he closes the cafe!!! AND......that is exactly what he did today, as at 2:15pm, he put up the closed sign on the door........as he must have run out of the hamburger with the HUGE crowds that were there today. Sooooo.......I URGE you to try to find this place.....take Salinas street exit off of Exp 83 and go south.....probably a mile or so.....watch for Silver Street on the right, and then turn right and go to where you see all of the cars and then follow you nose and the crowds! GO!!!! Put it on your list of places to eat in the RGV.....and enjoy this unique experience!!!!

Leaving there STUFFED........we went to Paul/Suzanne's Cedar Creek 5'er....and everyone had a great tour of their almost new...an 2008 model which they purchased new!!! It is a lovely 5th wheel RV......and seems to be just made for the two of them and their needs!!!

We soon returned to Llano Grande and went our separate ways.......and my way was to close my eyes for a few minutes in one of our easy chairs.....and I felt refreshed after that small power nap!

It was a super day.......soooooo much fun......such great friends.....and really wonderful food, albeit a wait to enjoy it, but that's OK, too! Soooooo.........for those of you who have never been to the RGV.......and for those of you who are retired, or close to retiring.......give it some serious thought about coming down here for a winter, or even for a few weeks. It is such a friendly place....where all of the locals greet you and WANT you to enjoy yourselves here. And.....this is a very inexpensive place to spend some time!

And, as always..........without a doubt tonight.........

LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!........And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!! (Remember: Life is TOO short to stay in one place)

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