From Texas to home

Near Rockport there was a 1000 year old oak tree, which was a walking or bicycle destination.  You can see how it is propped up on the right side.  The oak trees on the coast sure don’t look like what we think of as an oak tree, being wind swept and salt incrusted, I think.  But this one was worth the homage paid it. 

 

 

The Alamo was a destination on the way home.  We spent about a week in San Antonio walking the river walk, and exploring the Alamo.  The fishes were in a small waterway inside the Alamo, which was once their open sewer I suppose.  The whole presentation of the place was quite impressive, the history before and after the famous battle well documented, and enshrined well.  Only so little of the original structure survives, and it is well protected by the historical society of San Antonio so as not to be in shadow, or defaced in any way.  There was no graffiti in the whole city.  Not one blotch.  Amazing the pride taken in the city and how it is enforced is beyond me. 

 

While in San Antonio we stayed in a campground southeast of the city.  The manager was a very dynamic woman who loved her job, and made our stay very enjoyable.  She had been flooded out completely twice in the last 10 years or so, but was rebuilding little by little.  The grounds were not beautiful, the rigs parked in a circle and only about 15 spaces.  But what was lacking in grounds was well made up for by her hospitality.  We arrived the week before Rodeo and stock show week, so she had her own “Cowboy breakfast” at her house, where David sits enjoying the patio, below.  Traditionally San Antonio puts on the cowboy breakfast at 4:00am, but she was more reasonable and fed us all morning.  So much energy, put us to shame. 

 

The picture on the right is a tree which grows out of the wall of the River Walk.  The river walk puts the canals of Venice to shame.  The tour boats are delightful, the water clean and the sights and history amazing.  It must be experienced to appreciate it.  We loved San Antonio.

                                                                                       

Then we moved on to Fredericksburg: an old world town in the middle of cowboy country, and the home of LBJ, Admiral Nimitz, and a lot of unusual history.  We visited LBJ’s Texas White House.  The pictures below show where we were as a nation on the right and how far we have come.  They were in the LBJ museum at his home.  His private plane, Air Force One Half, is parked there, and was for his commute from San Antonio where he left Air Force One.  I was amazed at how small the house was, and how expansive the ranch property is. 

We had planned to stay at a campground north of Abilene TX when we left San Antonio.  When I called for reservations, the owner advised us to stay as far south as possible, and head west, as the roads were icy and snowy, and she wasn’t at the campground, and she didn’t advise us to try and get there either.  So we headed for Big Bend, and spent the night in below zero cold.  I thought we went south to stay warm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The next day we made it to Las Vegas NM, and the sight on the left is the KOA campground there.  We had no idea where the roads were in the park.  The next morning the 4 other camper-families were betting on how far we would get before getting stuck in the middle of the campground.  David drove it right out without a problem.  Who know what was in the way and got run over, but we hit the road, and exit 460 is the last one in NM.  Blue Colorado skies greeted us, and the closer we got the warmer it became.  Home looked good.

We were at home for a few weeks, then on to the next venture.  We attended the Gypsy Journal Rally in Yuma AZ for 5 days in the Yuma Co Fairgrounds.  The first day there the wind blew desert dust in thick clouds.  Ugh!!!!  I am still wiping up grit.  It was an enjoyable rally, about 150 rigs there I think.  Good classes, some familiar faces and old friends, but it was good to head north.  The resort in Hurricane UT is a pleasant surprise.  Such breathtaking scenery getting here !!!! and next door to Zion National Park.  We will be home soon, depending on weather.  All the problems on the new coach got fixed while we were home, so we are travelling in comfort and style.  David does let me drive rarely, and I equally enjoy watching the scenery with my slippers between me and the windshield.   

My view as the mile tick away.  The cat has become my lap mate more often now, and we are on familiar trails, so my navigation skills are rarely necessary.  Life is good!!!!!!