The Rancho El Charco

After a miserably wet and cold day yesterday, it was so nice to wake up this morning to the sunshine and the warming temps which was just right for today’s adventure.

Retama offered a tour to the Rancho El Charco and we signed up.  So, around 2:30, we picked up Niles and Sue, our next door neighbors and headed to the clubhouse.  Once everyone was gathered, we caravanned to our destination which was only a few miles west of Mission in the town of La Joya.

We arrived at

Rancho El Charco, which is a privately owned section of land that has been kept in it’s natural state.  Once we were all gathered, we

loaded up our tour wagons and headed out!  We traveled down the old west

trails enjoying some of the

wildlife along the trail.  This is a female Black Buck which resembles an antelope.

Soon, we stopped for

a history lesson.  We learned that this land was part of the original Spanish Land Grant.  We also learned that you can eat many parts of the

cactus.  We sampled the fruit of the cactus, the prickly pear, which was served today

as jelly on a jalapeno potato chip.  Yummy!

From here we went on a short walk to check out some

old bison bones.

Back on our

wagons, we once again hit the

trail.  This time our wagon master took us past the

old windmill to the

Palapa where we stopped for a group picture.  This area of the property has been constructed for the purpose of parties and weddings.  There is a

beautiful alter that has been build under the palapa.  And, the palapa sits beside

this beautiful oasis.  This is man-made….not a natural to the area.  But, beautiful to enjoy.  We

walked across the wooded swinging bridge and

under the water fall and back around the small lake to where

our friends were waiting to continue our journey.

Next stop allowed us to meet a few of the locals…we met

this big tortoise.  Mark

wanted to keep him.

We also saw

a beautiful Peacock and

a rabbit who wasn’t willing to share dinner with his other friends.  And, then there was

the raccoon and the fox who were hanging out with a watchful eye high above our heads.  Next stop was to meet

the newest member of the neighborhood.  This baby javalina is just less than a day old.

It was now time to wind down the tour portion of the trip, but not before seeing what else, but a true

Texas icon.

As we reached our next stop,

the dinner bell was ringing.  And, tonight’s fare was what else, but…

Texas sized ribs, sausage cooked with peppers and onions, potato salad, and green salad.  And, yes….I saved my WW points for this!

During dinner, we were serenaded with

some great old time country and western music.  A few of us

stayed after dinner to listen while some of the others chose to take another walk down by the water.  But, by this time the Texas size mosquitoes were out and that left me inside.

But, as it was said by Willie Nelson,  it was soon time to Turn Out The Lights…The Party is Over.  And, all that was left of today’s adventure was

this beautiful sunset!