Week 2, Rio Grande City, TX

 Our goal on Monday was to finish work on the ramp we built last week and other work around the entrance door

We routed the edges of the railings to remove rough spots

and added the final handrails.

When we filled around the concrete base, the ramp was complete.

Then we began repairing the siding around the door and moving electrical wires.

Then we cut 2x4s for door trim

and installed it.

Finally we built  a weather shield over the door and reinstalled the screen door, and the work here is complete.

On Tuesday, we started work on a new house where the facia boards were rotted and we were asked to replace the damaged areas.

First we removed rotted 1x4s and scraped the paint from the 2x8s underneath.

We installed new 1x4s and this side is ready to paint.

Another area over the front door was replaced.

It was so hot, our boss made us quit work early on the house so we all went back to camp.

Some of us were not ready to quit for the day so we tried to clear some overgrown plants along the driveway.

 

Earlier, the other group began building a ramp for a 90+ year old missionary to Mexico.

This ramp is shorter but more difficult  as

the earth is very hard for digging the support posts.

Next morning, the painters began their work on the areas

that had already been repaired,

while the others replaced more 2x8s and 1x4s

on the rear of the dwelling.

Siding had previously been repaired so we scraped and painted those areas.

The front is now finished

and final painting in the rear

makes this job complete.

Just across the street.....

is a water culvert which looks innocent enough

but a closer look reveals the access portal to the Rio Grande River less than a mile away.  We are told this is a major access point for those eluding the authorities and we saw many Border Patrol, Local Police and Sheriff cars in this area every day.  We are also told this area is very safe because they don't tend to linger here to be observed.  

That's it for this week.  One more week to go in Rio Grande City.

Weekend trip to Roma, TX and to Salineno Preserve

 

 On Friday, we drove northwest to Roma, Texas to visit the semi restored town.

We went to the overlook over the Rio Grande River and looked over to Mexico

and to the left to the International crossing.

Then we headed further west to the Salineno Preserve

where volunteers have set up feeding stations for bird watching.

Black Throated Sparrow

Female Cardinal

"Pretty bird"

Another "Pretty Bird"

Green Jay

Local vegetation

This bird is "fishing" in the Rio Grande.  While we can't be sure due to the distance, we think this is the Bald Eagle we have seen here before.