Tues Mar 18 - Thur Mar 20, Goodbyes and chilling

Tues Mar 18 - Goodbyes and Guitar

Goodbyes are often sad and this was no exception. We have had a great week with friends Tina and Al, and although they had to go back to family and friends at home in Ontario, we are left with some great memories of a fabulous, no stress, easy-going week. Lots of laughs and a chance for Derek and I to see some of this areas great sights, some for the first time and others for a very welcome re-visit. After they left, for their long journey home, we sorted a few things out and caught up on a bit of tidying etc. Derek went and jammed with a couple of guys for a few hours and Janice relaxed and read her book. 
Wednesday and Thur Mar 19/20 - Catch up and Street party

Street Party on 'Shiner-Bock Way'

Chickens getting ready for chickenshit bingo

Derek shooting the s--t (bingo in the background)

Derek started work on the rig cleaning the roof and Janice started work on the blog and uploading photos etc. At 5pm we headed over to the Street Party in a row in the RV Resort affectionately known as 'Shiner Bock Way' ... The street party is an annual event here which serves as both a fun party day, and as a way for the 'Winter Texans' to have a 'knees-up' before heading back to their home states and provinces.

This chicken must be full of it!!

Yum...!! (and the food is good too!!)

Some folk are heading back as early as tomorrow. The food was good ol' Texas style sausages, dogs and 'brats' with beans, chili, sauerkraut and desserts,  a band playing country / rock-a-billy and dancing in the street. A good time for sure.

Yeee haaa Y'all!!

One of the weird things around here is Chickenshit bingo!! A chicken (or two) are put in the bingo cage and folks bet on the numbers (pay money and draw the numbers out of a hat) Then everyone waits and watches for the chicken to 'shit' on a number ... literally!!! And the pot goes to whoever has that number.  It is a riot. These chickens were extremely tame and happy, so no cruelty issues... Just good fun and a great deal of laughter. The s--t is cleaned up and another round with a different chicken (or chick) starts again.

One relaxed chicken - being spoiled!

After the party  Derek and I sat by our fire outside and reminisced about our visits with friends and made some plans for the remainder of our stay here. This week we are relaxing and catching up on blogs, cleaning, laundry etc and enjoy some of the warm weather. So Thursday was spent doing just that... more rig-cleaning, blogging, laundry etc etc and catching up on phone calls/skypes to family.
Still eating left overs and loving it!!!! Hopped to the store for some supplies and groceries.

Gary and Ann ..... awwwww!!!

The suspense is electric

Rock-on!!

Come on number 25!!!

The chicken handlers

Sunset over the RV resort .. Live Oak!

Mon Mar 17th - Sights and packing

Mon Mar 17th - Sights and packing

Travis Lake from Mansfield Dam Park

Our last day to spend with Al and Tina and they were interested in a walk, so we thought we would pack in walk with a few local sights. We headed to Mansfield Dam Park (top of the Mansfield Dam) for a walk around and saw how very bad the drought has been for water levels of Lake Travis. After enjoying some great views along the way we headed down to the bottom of the dam to the edge of the Lower Colorado River and walked across the bridge, seeing some rather large fish swimming around .. not sure what they were. White Bass?? Carp?? 
Then headed to the Oasis for a drink and some nachos ... excellent sunny day and the views were beautiful. 
In the early afternoon, Tina and I went to the department store Dillards in BeeCave  and has a pleasant hour or two pottering around, but didn't buy much.. prices weren't brilliant. Back at the resort we got ready and all headed out to the Steiner Ranch Steakhouse for dinner... It is an expensive place, but the steaks were fantastic. It was our last evening together. Hard to believe how fast the time went. Thanks Al and Tina for a great week and good times great memories and great food... we were left with brilliant left overs for the steakhouse... steak, mashed and mushrooms in a red wine reduction... YUMMM!!

Al, Tina and Cacti

Sat sittin' in the park

Picnic spot with top of dam in background

Favourite pic of Tina. By Lwr Colorado R

Drink and Nachos at the Oasis

Great friends... thanks for coming to see us!

Map of the USA  - According to Texans

No Tina... you can't take it home!

Sun Mar 16 - Rodeo/Dwight Yoakam

Sun Mar 16 - Rodeo/Dwight Yoakam

Lots of patriotic stuff to begin

You get the idea... fast!

Waiting for the gate to open

Roping finals

Lazy morning in preparation to go to the rodeo y'all. It was a windy day and rather cold, so after a quick trot through the rodeo grounds we decided to go straight into the Arena to wait for the Rodeo finals to begin. Due to some filming (they wanted seats to show as full) we got to see most of the rodeo finals from great seat near the front. The most impressive filming I have was through video and I am yet to be able to upload videos to my blog... looks easy but doesn't work...frustrating, but I will try again sometime and upload some if I can later. In the meantime I have added a few photo's and will include a link to the videos if I can figure it out. The Rodeo was a blast and we thoroughly enjoyed something that was a 'first' experience for all four of us.  The guys on the bucking horses and bulls (please don't misread that one) were being tossed around like rag dolls... I cannot imagine what shape their backs are in .. and brain shake.... wow!!

Ride 'em cowboy!!!

Dwight Yoakam.. hohum!

It was impressive how they moved it along.. no waiting between events. The much anticipated performance by Dwight Yoakam, I have to say in all honesty was a little disappointing. Nothing special. His 'modus-operandi' seemed to consist of ... "jump on stage ... blast out a few songs and go home... " I may be a little critical, but after the excitement of the Rodeo finals and knowing this was the closing big act for the week, I would have thought he would put on quite a show. Anyway, any disappointment in the music show was dissipated greatly by the Rodeo final itself. 

Los Pinos - now them's Tacos

Brody stealing the show- he stole my hat- cheeky

Great music at the "pickin' party"

After we left the Rodeo we stopped in at Los Pinos for a bite to eat... it was great .. more left overs!!!!! We then headed back to the RV Resort and went on to the pavilion to see the remainder of the Freddy Powers Pickin' Party that is a tradition at the park every year on New years Day and again at the end of SXSW music festival. They had been going from 2pm and from all reports the music was incredible for most of the day. We saw a few acts and were highly impressed with what we saw. I wish I knew the name of the first band we saw .. fabulous. But I do know that one of the singers was a girl called Mary Sarah... she sang a couple of slow songs at the end... she is very 'country' but very good. A great end to another terrifically fun day. So good to share these days with Al and Tina.. friends indeed.

Young and older... all great!!

Mary Sarah

Sat Mar 15th - Back to Gruene and Salt Lick

Sat Mar 15th -  Back to Gruene and Salt Lick

Pete Anderson and band

Today was one of those days that are a gift out of nowhere. We knew it was supposed to be cool and maybe some rain so as a group we decided that an indoor free concert we had seen advertised at Gruene Music Hall would be a good option. So we piled into the truck and off we went. When we arrived it was a bit cloudy and threatening rain, but undaunted we managed to find parking. The first challenge complete we donned our macks and headed into the crowded street of the village. There happened to be a wonder craft fair on, so after a coffee at the Gruene coffee shop (THE best coffee EVER!!) we wandered around. The fair was great... unusual items and all local artisans... genuine, and not the 'same old, same old" jewelry and scarves!! There were wood products, jams, nuts, pottery and other wonderful items. After a couple of purchases we headed to the Music Hall (anyone interested in seeing the history etc of this hall go to Gruenehall.com ) It is a unique experience, but if you go, don't expect plush and orderly... it is like a huge honky-tonk type venue with wooden benches and lots of beer flowing.. even smoking allowed in the hall (for how long?.. who knows!!) But if you ever get the chance... don't miss this piece of Texas music history. The two performers we saw today were talented, but the second guy (Pete Anderson) and his band were great, foot-tapping fun. 

After a couple of iced waters (yes we actually did have that), we had one last walk through the town, including a quick snack at a german style beer garden.... (not Gruene's shining star!!!)  and a wander through the general store. It was time to figure out the next phase of our day, and considering the sun was shining and it was a lovely late afternoon, we figured the Salt Lick BBQ would be in order (we were all still a but hungry).

The Salt Lick is a Texas institution and has quite a unique story.. it is the most 'typical' Texas BBQ you will find in the Austin area... but if you go, go to the Driftwood location (  https://www.saltlickbbq.com/pages/Driftwood.html ) which is the original location... so cool, and you can BYOB. We forgot, but at only $12 for a bucket of six Shiner Bock beers, we were happy. The only problem (if you have read my previous posting) is that Saturday night is hugely busy there (remember they cook up 3000 lbs of brisket alone on a weekend night). Also a warm evening in March break added up to about 11/2 hour wait, if we wanted to eat inside.  We decided inside-eating was advisable considering the mosquitoes that were gathering to invade. But we were happy listening to the live music, drinking a beer and chatting to people around us. Once inside, the meal did not disappoint. Of course we were given enough food to feed a battalion and left-overs are on the horizon for tomorrow!!! Feeling like we would explode, we happily tested the springs on the truck and headed back to camp. Another terrific day and a gem of a surprise, considering the spontaneity of everything we did today.

 

Fri Mar 14 - San Antonio

Story of Gruene Hall

Fri Mar 14 - San Antonio 
Busy busy busy... off we go again.. reasonably early start for the drive to San Antonio. We stopped at Camping world in New Bruenfels on the way there to see if we could get a part for the BBQ.. no luck but a nice stop anyway. On to Gruene to see the old wooden music hall and a quick walk through town. We had forgotten how great this little village is... wanna come back soon. Free concert on Saturday!!!

Showing off Tickets to Leon Russell (Mar28)

Inside Gruene Hall

River Walk - crowds

Before the crowds arrive.

Mozies -Sliders, Dogs and Whiskey (on the sign)

Remember the Alamo... charge!!!!!

On to San Antonio. 
Nice sunny day and March Break equals crowds. Parking was a challenge and The Alamo was lined up for a block or so, and not being the type of people who like lining up, we decided to do the River Walk first... again crowds of people which made the stroll along the walk more like an elbow-fest.  But we enjoyed it nonetheless, and had a great lunch at an Irish pub, outside, while watching the crowds go by.

Good friends are special!!

We then took a buggy ride through town (thx guys). The driver (Jessie) and horse (Katie) were a great team and we learned a little more about some of the buildings and recent history of San Antonio. 

Lunch at the pub - Fish 'n chips anyone?

Thanks for the memories!!

Just plain silly in a buggy!!!

After a drink at the Menger Bar (one of the oldest West of the Mississippi and a favourite of Roosevelt) we headed back to camp.

I think Katie would plow straight into the van unless he stopped her!!

 Some heavy traffic on the way back, but thanks to Al's skilful driving, we made it back in good time and once again plowed into left-overs and a couple of drinks on the patio by our little red propane campfire. Lisa and Mike came over for a visit and we had a great evening.

Menger bar... note moose head!!

Menger Bar  - 1859

And back at camp......!!!