JANUARY 18, 2023 www.wintertexantimes.com 24 WINTER TEXAN TIMES We Love Our Winter Texans! Thank you for making us your home away from home • Nightly, 7 Day Plus Rates Available • Fully Equipped Kitchens • Free Wi-Fi • Outdoor Pool • Small Pet Welcome (with fee) • Guest Laundry Service Walking Distance to the La PlazaMall and several restaurants. For Reservations 956-668-7829 www.mcallen-studio6.com 700 Savannah Ave. McAllen, TX Lock In Your Rates For This Winter - Now! Winter Texan 7 Day Plus Special! $327.67 Queen Bed • $375.97 2 Full Size Beds PLEASE MENTION AD FOR SPECIAL! SPECIAL! 7 Day Plus It was 3:50 p.m. We were 24 hours late, as Justin and Debbie, Linda, and I, the last two vehicles of the “Baja Winter RV Caravan,” stopped at the campground gate in Los Barriles, Baja, Mexico. Justin, and his wife Debbie, the Caravan Tail Gunners, had stayed with us while we had our broken trailer springs repaired in a desert workshop outside of La Paz. At the campground gate, Kathie from our RV Caravan group was waiting. “Supper is ready; follow me. It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, and the caravan wants to hear about your adventure.” After supper, I began the story… We located a mechanic. He explained – “It’s the Baja roads; they keep me in business.” They quickly put the axel roughly in the right place with blocks and chains. All I had to do was a slow “U” turn across four lanes of traffic, then make my way down the road leading to their workshop. Their workshop was a wall, sand pit, derelict trucks, and giant cactus, with turkey vultures waiting for the next carcass to arrive. In minutes the trailer had the wheels off and was sitting on blocks while still connected to the truck. The mechanic told me while he lay under the trailer, “You should go for supper; call me for the estimate at 7 p.m., and you can sleep safely in the trailer overnight.” “It’s OK,” said Justin. “We can trust him, and we’ll all fit in my car.” Justin and Debbie’s tent camping equipment took half the back seat. They also had a dog, and we had two. “Imagine this – Four adults and three dogs sharing three seats of a Suzuki Samurai.” Justin told us he knew a steak restaurant that would allow dogs. “We will pay,” I said. So, we squeezed into the Suzuki. Justin’s driving technique is foot hard down on the gas, or brake pedal, with passengers, flung about against their safety belts. Oh! What safety belts. To our surprise, we reached the restaurant safely and had an enjoyable meal. We phoned the mechanic, and I agreed to the repair price. It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere Back at the trailer, two suspicious-looking men were sitting beside a fire. Justin and I approached them. The two men were playing Mexican rock music and drinking beer. They told us they were sons of the mechanic sent as our security for the night. I talked with them using Google Translate for a while until they tried to sell me a black pearl of immense value. Linda tried to sleep but failed. “Mexican Rock music,” she said, “being played below your pillow, should be classified as torture under the Geneva Convention.” The trailer was ready by lunchtime the next day. Again, we thanked the mechanic and paid his bill with a generous tip. “We must go now!” Said Justin. “We have an appointment with Kathie at 5 O’clock at your campsite.” That’s how we became the last two vehicles of the caravan to arrive at our destination – 24 hours late. Any feedback, ideas, funny anecdotes – email Malcolm at MalcolmWTT0@gmail. com or news@wintertexantimes.com. On The Lighter Side by Malcolm Callister is raised. The items being sold are perfect gifts for family and friends. Items being sold include American Doll clothes, embroidered towels, cell phone purses, banks made from the old mailboxes on campus, scrubbies, quilts, wood items, and so much more that have been made by volunteers or donated. There are several wood items that were made by volunteers using mesquite from trees that were on the property. One item is a beautiful chess board. On my recent visit, there were volunteers working on landscaping, painting a building, construction in another building, and holding down the fort at the reception desk. Then there were the ladies in the sewing room and the hall where they were putting together items to be sold at the craft fair. Ladies were working on hemming and embroidering. There were ladies doing the knots on quilts. Others were measuring and cutting squares. And still others were using their sewing machines to put squares together or edging on the quilts. All these people work for a unified purpose, to help support the mission of the Rio Grande Bible Ministries and to serve those that come through their doors every day. Students come from all over to go to school at the RGBM. Most of those that come only speak SpanRGBM From pg. 1 Drinks and Tales at 5 O’clock somewhere Knots being added to a quilt that will be sold at the craft show.
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