Incredible Zapata, Texas
We still have a few more days of our stay here in Zapata, Texas at the Four Seasons RV Park and it will be sad to see our short stay coming to an end. This has been an incredible stop in our wandering RV life style. I have mentioned the fishing which is and has been spectacular and hopefully in the next couple of days I get a chance to set the hook on a few more nice Bass, Crappie, or Catfish.
What I haven't had a chance to mention is the friendliness of the people we have met and the help we have had with a few minor problems we encountered. Our first friends made was our immediate neighbors, Jerry and Carole who have already left to return to their home in North Texas. Coming over next to introduce themselves were Jim and Nancy from behind us. To the left side of us was an elderly gentlemen named Bob who came out as I was backing in and expressed much gratitude that I would be supplying much needed shade for his patio. He was only here for a couple days and has since left. Just beyond Bob is a delightful young retired couple traveling almost full-time in a pick-up camper type unit who are here to fish. We compare notes every day about the fishing and the technique for catching them. They are fun to visit with. Jerry, before he left told a friend of his, Dale, that if he was going out fishing alone he could ask me to go with, as I would be good company. Guess what----minutes later I was gathering my gear as Dale came by to ask me if I would like to join him. I did, and we had a great day on the water fishing for Crappie. Kathleen and I have since had a chance to get to know Dale better and his charming wife Lynn as well. We are joining them for breakfast in the morning and then Dale and I will be going out fishing----this time I think for Bass. Oh, and did I mention that Dale has one of the nicest Bass Boats on the Lake with a 200 HP motor. Dale and his wife have been coming here for several years and have a permanent mobile home site for their 6 month stay before returning to their home in Colorado. Dale has already offered me the use of his golf cart trailer so I can haul my little boat to different parts of this lake when we return for our stay next winter. I will for sure take him up on that.
Yesterday on return from fishing in my little boat for some reason one of the aluminum brackets that hold my trolling motor mount in place broke. Without this repaired I would be done with the fishing. I set out this morning to find someone who could weld/repair aluminum and even though this town is about 4,000 in size, I had a devil of a time. On one of my final stops at what appeared to be a back yard mechanics little shop I met Trejo, a retired mechanic who fixes things in his back yard for friends. He assured me that the last two people in town who could weld and repair aluminum had died, however, he and his wife were going shopping in Laredo (50 miles to the North) and he knew of a fellow there who could repair it. He offered to take it with, get it fixed and call me on his return. He did just that, and I am now back in business. Cost $10.00. In the course of our conversation he asked about my boat and expressed concern that I would venture out in such a small craft and before I departed he was offering me the use of his boat any time I wanted it. I thanked him and said next winter when I come back here I would take him up on that but only if he would go fishing with me. That brought a huge smile to a deeply tanned face and a few Spanish words I did not understand. His firm handshake said, 'we are friends for whatever is left of our lives'. Several other couples have stopped by to welcome us as they are out and about on their evening walks. Jim and Barb who have a permanent winter site some blocks away stopped by and brought me a sample of the baits he has been using to catch huge crappie. We have an invite to stop up and visit them if time permits before we leave. I wish I could remember all the names of others but will just look forward to getting to know them better next winter.
Our stay here so far has been incredible and I see no reason for that to change in the few days we have left. Much to soon we will be heading North, but the minute we are rolling in that direction we will have a lot to look forward to.
Gosh, this retired lifestyle of ours is fantastic!
P.S. put your cursor over the pictures to read the caption.
