[A/S] Advice for TX camping

["Jerry Heald <jerryheald1999@xxxxxxxxx>" <jerryheald1999@xxxxxxxxx>]

Barbara,
We had a wonderful time camping at Cottonwood campground in Big 
Bend. While walking along the river, we encountered an enterprising 
Mexican with a rowboat offering transportation to Mexico for $1.00 
per person. We went and had a pleasant stroll through the tiny 
Mexican village of Santa Elana. Saw the fossil collection at the 
schoolhouse and had a nice lunch on the front porch of a family home 
converted into a restaurant before returning. Unfortunately I have 
heard this harmless river crossing was shut down by US officials as 
a "kneejerk" reaction to 9-11. Maybe things have relaxed again by 
now.

There are campgrounds available on both North and South Padre 
Islands such as 
http://www.nps.gov/pais/pphtml/print.html (N. Padre)
http://www.rv-america.com/tx/tx-south.htm (S. Padre)
However, if you can forgo services, then pulling your rig right out 
on the beach is a very pleasant way to enjoy the sound of the surf 
on the Gulf side or the birds on the inlet side of the island. We 
drove about a mile north of the town on South Padre and camped on 
the Gulf side for a few wonderful days.
Jerry