In search of fleas...

One of the most well attended gatherings in the area is the flea market in Donna Texas. Thrice a week, this shabby little village just east of here, is mecca for vendors of all products from fancy belt buckles and whips to silver jewelery and hubcaps. It's probably a disease that some medical journal could explain, but whatever draws people to these affairs is quite potent. Or maybe just everyone around here is bored ... but whatever the reason, they come and they buy. And it really doesn't matter if you're in need of anything, just people watching is worth the trip.

Tent after tent, booth after booth the vendors are a seasoned lot. Many, I suppose make a living at this but it's got to be a meager one. Surrounding the market is a ring of trailers, fifth wheels, and motor homes where some of the vendors live. Most of the rigs have seen many a market day and were pretty rough. Sewer hoses disappear along muddy causeways between the rigs; going where, is anybodies guess. Apparently electrical service is also present but it must have been installed while the inspector was out to lunch.

Amongst all the different rigs was a motor home of some distinction. The Barth coaches date back to their introduction in 1963 and served as platforms for not only custom built motor homes but other specialized vehicles for the government and industy. The quality and fit and finish of these coaches is mirrored in several of todays units. Sporadically built into the 90's, they now enjoy an almost cult status. I didn't get a chance to look this one over much but it was a first for me. So if you are into coach watching (if you are you can get medical help) keep an eye out for one of these old gems.


Some say you can judge a man's personality by his face. You know...laugh lines and the like. So with that sage piece of backyard psychology I often seek out those who have happy faces and ask if I can take a picture or two. Most cases they obilge and I'm getting to think that the old saying really works. I watched from afar this guy selling trinkets of one sort or another. Looking over his black framed half-eyes, the twinkle in his eyes, the way he engaged his customers told me this guy was a good candidate. After several customers were taken care of I stepped up and he spoke first asking if I had been taking his picture. Well I couldn't really deny it as the shutter is a little noisey and I said "yes" and asked if I could take more. He removed his glasses, as I don't think he wanted to be photgraphed in them, and gave me the okay. We talked a little as I shot and based on that short conversation, I confirmed he fit the mold ... he was an interesting character who was perfectly happy selling his trinkets. I thanked him and stepped aside so as he could ply his trade. Another neat human being.


The market is sort of like a living organism. It grows... it shrinks... it changes with the weather ... it rearranges itself each time you go there. Vendors swap booths. Some leave ... new ones arrive. New products are added. You return the next week to locate that hat you wanted to buy and you spend a half hour trying to locate the seller in his new location. Maybe that's what is making these markets so successful. Nothing changes but everthing is changed. Anyway it fun and we look forward to finding our next one.

As we were about to leave we saw a small crowd gathered in a semi-circle intently watching something interesting. Positioned just behind a country band made up of some real 'good ole' boys' picking a little Ferlin Husky tune, was a poorly dressed clown. I could see he had his old van parked nearby and there was a racoon on the roof scampering around. Interesting, I thought. There was also a rather rambunctious rooster perched on a stand startling passerbys if they got too close.

The clown was working the crowd with jokes and pranks and an invitation to take a seat and have your picture taken. No big deal I thought and working for a $1.oo a Polaroid picture was no way to get rich and besides, who amongst the retirees would really want a picture taken with a clown. As I eased my way closer to the front I saw an old women who was wearing an outragous hat with orange hair sticking out the top. At least 80, this old dear was now the main attraction and I could see what she was really there for. For $5.00 you could sit down and get your picture taken, not with the clown but with a 5 ft alligator on your lap. It quickly sinks in that this side-show has some serious uniqueness to it. She gingerly sat down and the clown removed her weird hat replacing it with a camouflage jungle hat. He then placed a large yellow tarp over her lap the grabbed this gator' from a nearby table. The old reptile wasn't too happy at being moved and began whipping his large tail around. Luckily the old girl wasn't slapped by it as he menuvered around to place it on her lap. The gator's mouth wasn't taped nor were the long, clawed feet; the only restraint was a dog harness around its neck and front legs. Weighing in at probably 60 pounds, this leathery reptile, though seemingly calmed down now, was placed on the old girls lap. The clown, now moved to her rear placed an opposum on her head and his assistant snapped the $5 dollar photo. From my vantage point about five feet away, there was no way I'd have they toothy flesh eater anywhere near me or my grandmother even. The jaws of this critter could have grandma's head for lunch before old sparky the clown could have recited one of his tired old one-liners. But, as it turned out, grandma escaped unharmed; (and un-crapped on thanks to the tarp and hat) no doubt pleased with her new photograph and accomplishment. A good lesson for us youngsters... you only go round' once so grab all the gator' you can. But I really think the crowd owed her a bit of graditude for having the guts to do this in the first place. We didn't stick around to see who the next customer was but it sure the hell wasn't me.

So neither fleas nor alligators got close to me but it was another great outing and another tale to tell.

We want to again thank Mo, Di and Molly (small brown weiner dog) for their hospitality and all the time they spent showing us around this interesting part of the county. Without their encouragment to visit here we would not have ventured here and as a result, became even closer friends. And we have vowed to learn a little Spanish before we come here again however. When in Rome..

So tomorrow we end this chapter of our journey. In the morning we head towards the city of Galveston Texas. With an overnight stop in Victoria, we should be to our next destination near the gulf coast just north of Galveston and south of Houston. We're looking forward to some time near the gulf and to enjoy some fresh seafood, visit the Houston Space Center, and soak up some of the local culture. Tag along if you'd like as we're still ... livin' the dream.