From Lanny & Donna:
Besides Bentsen being under water (see photos below), I called Santa Ana & they are too. That puts all the riverside parks under question, since neither Bentsen or Santa Ana have any clue when their trails will be cleaned up & reopened, suggest you call any of ‘em before going.
Notably absent are any of the “south of the border” destinations, including Los Ebanos Ferry. Neither Donna or I feel it is prudent to go into Mexico at this time, given the gangster mayhem & kidnappings. Individuals, of course, can do as their consciences dictate.
Will be spending Labor Day weekend in Steamboat Springs with Paul & Toni. Our expected return to our lovely Sandpipers is about Christmas time. Call or e-mail anytime if you want to chew the fat about bike rides.
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Notably absent are any of the “south of the border” destinations, including Los Ebanos Ferry. Neither Donna or I feel it is prudent to go into Mexico at this time, given the gangster mayhem & kidnappings. Individuals, of course, can do as their consciences dictate.
Will be spending Labor Day weekend in Steamboat Springs with Paul & Toni. Our expected return to our lovely Sandpipers is about Christmas time. Call or e-mail anytime if you want to chew the fat about bike rides.
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2010/2011 BIKE RIDE SCHEDULES
NOVEMBER 2010
11-2: Mission Bike Trail. 14 mi round trip ride on paved bike/hike path.
11-9: South Padre Island. 12 mi round trip. Meet at SPI convention center, travel in secure bike lanes down the ocean front side of the island, thru Isla Blanca park, & up the bay front side.
11-16: McAllen Bike trail (Trenton/ Col Rowe). 8 mi round trip. Landscaped, secure off street bike trail. Suggested parking at WalMart (Trenton & McColl) due to car break-ins at bike trail parking lot).
11-23: Delta Lake County Park. 6 mile ride, with frequent bird sightings (fee area).
11-30: Estero Llano Grande State park, Weslaco. 4 mi ride on Gravel trails. Good bird & alligator sightings (fee area).
DECEMBER 2010
12-7: NABA Butterfly Gardens, Mission. Begin at Bentsen State Park parking lot, 3 mile round trip. Optional walk thru the butterfly park (fee area).
12-14: Anzulduas County park, Mission. 8 mile round trip in park & on road to lunch spot.
12-21: Edinburg City Park & Scenic wetlands site. 4 mi bike/hike trail ride with optional entrance to scenic wetlands wildlife center (fee area).
12:28: Santa Ana National Wildlife park, Alamo. 7 mile ride in river habitat park (fee area).
JANUARY 2011
1-4: Bentsen State Park, Mission. 7 mile ride thru World Birding Ctr headquarters (fee area).
1-11: Port Isabel . 5 mi ride. See shrimp fleet, waterfront, fancy homes & historic hotel.
1-18: Mission Bike trail. 14 mi ride on paved bike/hike trail.
1-25: Laguna Atascosa NWR, north of Port Isabel. 14 mile loop of waterfront & meadows (fee area). Brown bag lunch required.
FEBRUARY 2011
2-1: Resaca De La Palma State Park, Olmito (Brownsville). 6 mi ride thru river habitat park, newest of Valley state parks (fee area).
2-8: Bentsen State Park, Mission. 7 mile ride thru World Birding Center headquarters (fee area).
2-15: Anzualduas County park, Mission. 8 mile ride in park & on road to lunch spot.
2-22: No scheduled ride due to SPR Olympics.
MARCH 2011
3-1: No scheduled ride due to SPR Olympics.
3-8: McAllen Bike trail (Trenton/Col Rowe). 8 mile ride thru landscaped, off-road hike/bike trail.
3-15: South Padre Island. Meet at SPI convention center. Ride the surf side, bay side & thru Isla Blanca county park.
3-22: Santa Ana NWR, Alamo. 7 mi ride in river habitat, partially shaded park (fee area).
3-29: NABA Butterfly Gardens, Mission. Begin at Bentsen State park parking lot, 3 mile round trip. Optional walk thru butterfly park (fee area)
APRIL 2011
4-5: Resaca De La Palma State park, Olmito ( Brownsville). 6 mi ride thru river habitat, mostly shaded (fee area).
4-12: Bentsen State Park, Mission. 7 mile ride thru World Birding Center headquarters (fee area).
FURTHER RIDES TBD.
NOVEMBER 2010
11-2: Mission Bike Trail. 14 mi round trip ride on paved bike/hike path.
11-9: South Padre Island. 12 mi round trip. Meet at SPI convention center, travel in secure bike lanes down the ocean front side of the island, thru Isla Blanca park, & up the bay front side.
11-16: McAllen Bike trail (Trenton/ Col Rowe). 8 mi round trip. Landscaped, secure off street bike trail. Suggested parking at WalMart (Trenton & McColl) due to car break-ins at bike trail parking lot).
11-23: Delta Lake County Park. 6 mile ride, with frequent bird sightings (fee area).
11-30: Estero Llano Grande State park, Weslaco. 4 mi ride on Gravel trails. Good bird & alligator sightings (fee area).
DECEMBER 2010
12-7: NABA Butterfly Gardens, Mission. Begin at Bentsen State Park parking lot, 3 mile round trip. Optional walk thru the butterfly park (fee area).
12-14: Anzulduas County park, Mission. 8 mile round trip in park & on road to lunch spot.
12-21: Edinburg City Park & Scenic wetlands site. 4 mi bike/hike trail ride with optional entrance to scenic wetlands wildlife center (fee area).
12:28: Santa Ana National Wildlife park, Alamo. 7 mile ride in river habitat park (fee area).
JANUARY 2011
1-4: Bentsen State Park, Mission. 7 mile ride thru World Birding Ctr headquarters (fee area).
1-11: Port Isabel . 5 mi ride. See shrimp fleet, waterfront, fancy homes & historic hotel.
1-18: Mission Bike trail. 14 mi ride on paved bike/hike trail.
1-25: Laguna Atascosa NWR, north of Port Isabel. 14 mile loop of waterfront & meadows (fee area). Brown bag lunch required.
FEBRUARY 2011
2-1: Resaca De La Palma State Park, Olmito (Brownsville). 6 mi ride thru river habitat park, newest of Valley state parks (fee area).
2-8: Bentsen State Park, Mission. 7 mile ride thru World Birding Center headquarters (fee area).
2-15: Anzualduas County park, Mission. 8 mile ride in park & on road to lunch spot.
2-22: No scheduled ride due to SPR Olympics.
MARCH 2011
3-1: No scheduled ride due to SPR Olympics.
3-8: McAllen Bike trail (Trenton/Col Rowe). 8 mile ride thru landscaped, off-road hike/bike trail.
3-15: South Padre Island. Meet at SPI convention center. Ride the surf side, bay side & thru Isla Blanca county park.
3-22: Santa Ana NWR, Alamo. 7 mi ride in river habitat, partially shaded park (fee area).
3-29: NABA Butterfly Gardens, Mission. Begin at Bentsen State park parking lot, 3 mile round trip. Optional walk thru butterfly park (fee area)
APRIL 2011
4-5: Resaca De La Palma State park, Olmito ( Brownsville). 6 mi ride thru river habitat, mostly shaded (fee area).
4-12: Bentsen State Park, Mission. 7 mile ride thru World Birding Center headquarters (fee area).
FURTHER RIDES TBD.
HASTA LA VISTA & SAFE TRAVELS TO THOSE WHO MUST LEAVE!
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Following update from:
Javier de Leon
NRS - Park Biologist
Bentsen - RGV State Park
Mission, TX
956-584-9156
Hello everyone,
Many past and present Bentsen volunteers have expressed concern about how
Bentsen has fared after the Rio Grande River overflowed its banks this summer.
Hurricane Alex dropped vast amounts of rain in Northeast Mexico in late June.
Because of this rain, Bentsen and many other areas along the river became
flooded as water was released from overfilled reservoirs the US and Mexico for
the first time in 40 years. The Rio Grande River, which is usually about 300 ft
wide at Bentsen, swelled to a width of almost two miles(!). Since the night of
July 12th, the entire park south of the flood levee with the exception of the
park’s Nature Center, manager’s residence, and most of the maintenance yard has
been under 4 – 12 ft. of water.
Thanks to the help local game wardens, we were able to travel within the flooded
park. We were surprised to see so many familiar areas of the park under water.
Although buildings within the park will need lots of maintenance after this
flood, Bentsen’s habitat – especially the few remaining bits of floodplain
forest – will benefit from this deep watering.
We would like to offer everyone an opportunity to see pictures of the interior
of the park. Attached are a few pictures of the park’s main features (Ebony
Grove, Pavilion, Information Kiosk at the Rio Grande Trailhead -Picture 152 is
the 20 MPH sign near the Hawk Tower). We haven't shown too many people pictures
of these flooded structures. More pictures can be viewed at Bentsen’s Facebook
page. You do not have to be a member of Facebook to see the pictures. To see
Bentsen’s page without signing in to Facebook, go to google.com and enter:
Bentsen State Park Facebook. The first link that pops up should be our page.
As far as when we will open to the public, it is still not known. We are
currently “playing it by ear” – watching the water levels slowly recede and
anticipating how much maintenance will have to be done within the park before we
officially open to the public. We hope to see many of you in the fall and
winter months. For now, what we can say for sure is that we look forward to
many hours in the park setting up new feeders in the feeding stations, clearing
trails, and planning our yearly Christmas program and other family events.
Make sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates as flood waters begin
to recede, and as we being work to get our park back in operation.
A very big thank you to everyone for your hard work and dedication here at
Bentsen!
+++++++++++
Following update from:
Javier de Leon
NRS - Park Biologist
Bentsen - RGV State Park
Mission, TX
956-584-9156
Hello everyone,
Many past and present Bentsen volunteers have expressed concern about how
Bentsen has fared after the Rio Grande River overflowed its banks this summer.
Hurricane Alex dropped vast amounts of rain in Northeast Mexico in late June.
Because of this rain, Bentsen and many other areas along the river became
flooded as water was released from overfilled reservoirs the US and Mexico for
the first time in 40 years. The Rio Grande River, which is usually about 300 ft
wide at Bentsen, swelled to a width of almost two miles(!). Since the night of
July 12th, the entire park south of the flood levee with the exception of the
park’s Nature Center, manager’s residence, and most of the maintenance yard has
been under 4 – 12 ft. of water.
Thanks to the help local game wardens, we were able to travel within the flooded
park. We were surprised to see so many familiar areas of the park under water.
Although buildings within the park will need lots of maintenance after this
flood, Bentsen’s habitat – especially the few remaining bits of floodplain
forest – will benefit from this deep watering.
We would like to offer everyone an opportunity to see pictures of the interior
of the park. Attached are a few pictures of the park’s main features (Ebony
Grove, Pavilion, Information Kiosk at the Rio Grande Trailhead -Picture 152 is
the 20 MPH sign near the Hawk Tower). We haven't shown too many people pictures
of these flooded structures. More pictures can be viewed at Bentsen’s Facebook
page. You do not have to be a member of Facebook to see the pictures. To see
Bentsen’s page without signing in to Facebook, go to google.com and enter:
Bentsen State Park Facebook. The first link that pops up should be our page.
As far as when we will open to the public, it is still not known. We are
currently “playing it by ear” – watching the water levels slowly recede and
anticipating how much maintenance will have to be done within the park before we
officially open to the public. We hope to see many of you in the fall and
winter months. For now, what we can say for sure is that we look forward to
many hours in the park setting up new feeders in the feeding stations, clearing
trails, and planning our yearly Christmas program and other family events.
Make sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates as flood waters begin
to recede, and as we being work to get our park back in operation.
A very big thank you to everyone for your hard work and dedication here at
Bentsen!
+++++++++++
++++++++++
Pictures of Bentsen on 7-21-10.
Pictures of Bentsen on 7-21-10.
Great for the eco system, “inconvenient” for bike rides…
Lanny
Lanny
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3 comments:
Also, one of your favorite after-biking-lunch-spots, Pepe's, was still under water the last time I checked. Went to Progreso yesterday and FM1015 is finally open. It was still flooded as of a couple of weeks ago.
Sue #336 (guess this will have to show up as anonymous as I can't get signed in_
I can't get over the extent of the flooding. Many of those pics are of familiar territory.
Splish Splash
I was BIKING a bath
...
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