Tip 'o Texas Revisited

A month or so ago, we went to what we thought would be the "Tip 'o Texas", but discovered the blacktop highway simply ended at the beach on the Gulf of Mexico. The "Tip 'o Texas" was three or four miles further South down the beach where the Rio Grande River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. At that time, however, we were with friends in a two-wheel drive sedan and it didn't seem wise to drive on the beach in that car, so we turned around and came back . . . vowing to return to the "Tip 'o Texas"!

Today with my brother, Ron, Carole, and a neighbor couple, Harold & Sandy Crabtree, from Colorado, we decided to make the pilgrimage back to the "Tip 'o Texas". This time, however, I drove the Blazer . . . with four-wheel drive. We drove out the Boca Chica highway East of Brownsville to the end . . . where the blacktop stops at the sands of the Gulf of Mexico.




At the Gulf, I shifted into four-wheel drive, drove out onto the beach and turned South. In that area, there are no roads, trails, buildings, or structures of any kind . . . it is simply uninhabited country! Along the way we passed several surf fishermen, some families sunning themselves, and some kids playing in the surf and sand. After three or four miles, we arrived at the Rio Grande . . . the "Tip 'o Texas" where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Texas on the North side of the river, Mexico on the South side of the river.

It was all sand and water. Carole & I stopped to pose at the "Tip 'o Texas" with the Rio Grande in the background. On the other side were Mexican surf fishermen just like on the US side. On both sides of the river were fishermen, families, little kids playing in the surf and sand . . . all driving Fords, Chevys, or Dodge trucks on both sides of the border. The Mexicans were probably all using Shakespere rods and reels too!


















That's a Mexican lighthouse in the background on the other side of the river . . . beyond the "Tip 'o Texas" . . . and the pelicans were sure having a feeding frenzy in the International waters between the US and Mexico.




On the way back, we passed a surf fisherman who was just landing a big redfish, so we stopped to take a picture of his catch. He sure was proud of it!




Then after we left the "Tip 'o Texas", we drove to South Padre Island for a seafood dinner. After dinner when we headed back home, we were treated to a gorgeous sunset over the causeway to South Padre Island.



What a beautiful way to end a trip to the "Tip o' Texas".