May 17, 2014 (26th Day)

Up at 6:40 am. Another sunny day. This is what we were hoping for when we explore San Antonio. Instead of of fixing our own breakfast we decided to have it at KOA Corral. Cheap meal, but good enough to satisfy our appetites, and no dish washing involved.

We left the campground, went down to the heart of San Antonio.  Along the way we saw many 'Spurs' signs/banners.  Drove past the Spurs basketball arena. It was not easy to find a parking spot for our camper van, so we decided to try park/pay station. Oh, it was so much easier to park. Cost $10-good for 12 hours.

From the park/pay station we biked straight to the Alamo.  Locked our bikes, went to the visitor's center that is across from the Alamo. Picked up a map, then walked across to the Alamo.  As we were leaving the center there were tourists on Segway. Saves a lot of time of walking but we bet it was fun but not cheap!

Ok, The Alamo... It is smaller than we imagined it to be.
Free admission without audio tours. Toured the property and went to the back where there were soldiers-people dressed up like the old days, etc.

Young boy who wants to be a soldier

The Layout of the Alamo

Taking selfies. We see a lot of that everywhere :-)

That includes our selfies :-)

The Alamo is on the right

After the tour we walked down the steps to Riverwalk. What a beautiful riverwalk.  There were taxi and tour boats. Lots of restaurants. Of course, lots of trees, plants and flowers. Saw yellow crowned night heron that was by the water.  Less than a mile down we saw a yellow crowned night heron with sticks in its beak and we knew there are nests nearby, so we watched it and it flew up to the branch then up to the nest.  Found several nests and they are right where the riverwalk is..  Really neat!  

Yellow-crowned night heron

Drink good for 4 people

Completed the loop walk.  Then we biked to historic Mexican market, walked around.  There were so many booths, lots of food vendors. 

We decided to dine at Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery.   It was very crowded and we had to register for a table and we waited 15 minutes before they called us. We decided to order one dish and split it, so we got Deluxe Mexican platter. It was very good.

Our lunch

We biked back to the town to look for some old churches. At one church there was a Bike Fest going on.  Lots of homeless people hanging around the church. We continued biking for a while before going back to the parking lot.

San Fernando Cathedral

Here lies the remains of Crockett, Bowie, Travis and other Alamo heroes.

Here is where it got "interesting" for Erwin! In all the years growing up and as an adult, I would constantly hear about and read about the Alamo. It has/had been "just something that happened long ago!" However when Erwin was there "in person" seeing the actual place where it happened and the GRAVES where the Heroes are buried, it "Hit him like a ton of bricks" that this had actually happened and was not a bit of science fiction and became "real" to him and he got goose bumps and felt pride for those gallant men that gave their lives for Freedom there! He came away with a new-found sense of dignity and pride for our ancestors and defenders.

The altar

After we were through visiting San Antonio we went to San Juan Mission National Park

Left San Antonio on I-10, definitely not a meandering road, but we were tired and hot and wanted to find a campground before it gets dark. Top of the Hill off I-10 Exit 533, very nice campground. Got site# 60 

Neat Texas site sign

Sunset from Top of the Hill campground

Edith wanted a simple and quick dish so she fixed Shrimp Scampi by Barefoot Contessa, but she added snap peas to it. It was surprisingly delicious. Erwin did the laundry while the supper was being prepared. It took 3 loads of laundry to wash/dry, but we are good for about 10 days.

May 16, 2014 (25th Day)

It was around 6:40 am when we opened the door and saw that the sky was crispy blue with not one cloud in sight.  It was a bit chilly, but it sure felt good.

After showering we fixed hash browns and eggs for breakfast.  Cleaned up the van a bit, got trash thrown out. Checked out of the campground at 9 am.  Got propane filled up. Lots of heads turned when they saw our camper van ;-)

On way to San Marcos for sightseeing before heading down to San Antonio.  While exploring San Marcos Erwin wanted to stop at Shipley's Donuts to get their donuts because he wanted to see how good they are.  Not so great, he said.

Beautiful homes in San Marcos area. There was a road construction on Hunter Road (80) then to Gruene, TX.  Sightsee the old town for several hours. Sheri Rush recommended that we eat at the Gristmill restaurant, but we were not that hungry. Took picture of water tower and the restaurant.  Went inside and they have so many diming rooms - indoors and outdoor.  Even have a room with view of Guadalupe River. Fantastic place. We will definitely want to eat there next time we are in town again.

Went in many stores around the town. Interesting stuff.  Some things we would love to buy and take home, but no space in our van.

As we were ready to leave Edith wanted to go back to the store to take pictures of birds feasting on bird suet. She saw few lifers (birds she had never seen before)

Got gas at Valero ($3.29) in New Braunfels, TX

We drove down to New Braunfels, TX, got on I-35, not a meandering road to us, but we were running out of time to visit two more towns.

GPS instructed us to go on the route which is actually a pedistrian bridge that is in historic Milltown, so Edith got out and walked around a bit to take pictures.

Finally saw a gas station that sells E85 for $2.99, but we just got gas a while ago

Now in New Braunfels downtown. Cruising along the street

Back to I-35 S to San Antonio, exit 175 to Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch -Africa Safari Texas Style, but we stopped at Walmart to get a loaf of bread plus other items.  Made sandwiches, then hit the road.

Entered the town of Garden Ridge, took picture of the water tower.

Entered Natural Bridge wilflife Safari, paid $17 per person plus a bag of feed. 6 miles to drive around at 5 mph. Fed some animals

It was fun.  Erwin spotted a roadrunner with a lizard in its beak, running across the road and into the trees. 

Left the safari at 4:30 pm.

On way to San Antonio KOA. We were TIRED AND HUNGRY!

OY! Traffic jam on I-35, so we stayed on the feeder

GPS screwed up again telling us to get on/off I-35 and feeder several times. 

Finally arrived San Antonio KOA off Gremble Road, about 5 miles from downtown.

Nice campground, very spacious, friendly staff. They serve breakfast at reasonable prices. Got site H-3 for $33.10.  

After settling in Erwin explored the back woods while Edith was fixing vegetable stir-fry over rice pilaf.  There is a nice bike trail, so we decided we were going to bike after supper.

Biked for about an hour and half. Saw brown rabbit, few egrets, cardinals, lots of songbirds.  Erwin heard an owl, but could not see where it was, so he called and the owl called it back, but Erwin still could not identify its location.  While biking back to the campground the sun was setting in over the golf course.

May 15, 2014 (24th Day)

Cluck Cluck!! Another beautiful day for us

Sunny and 55 degrees

Before we were ready to leave for Dripping Springs, TX we met with and said good-bye to Tommy and Sheri Rush.  

Tommy, Sheri and Erwin

Tommy (Erwin's 2nd cousin) and Erwin

We chose to get on FM 967 to go to Dripping Springs. While on that route we saw the battered, but operable windmill with vines climbing up the structure.

Beautiful iron gate

There were 2 wineries and lots of grapevines.  We stopped at Salt Lick Winery, but it was too early for us to go in for samples, so we just looked around.

In Dripping Springs, TX we went to Crepe Crazy cafe that is owned by a deaf couple. Grand opening was on May 8, 2014.  Met Vladimir the co-owner of the cafe, his wife was out of town.  Erwin asked Vladimir which crepe he should order. He suggested Norwegian salmon crepes. Edith had strawberry crepes.  There was a good crowd of diners, met two interpreters.  Vladimir, on his break from the kitchen, came over, sat down and chatted with us. He told us stories about immigrating from Russia.

Vladimir greeting us 

Crepe Crazy's menu

Vladimir, Erwin and Edith

After our breakfast at Crepe Crazy we detoured to Driftwood Winery on Elder Hill Road. To sample their wines you need to pay $10 for 6 samples and you get to keep the wine glass. However, we decided not to try their samples because they did not have blush wines, just sparking ones.

Back to Ranch Road 12, rolling and twisting roads, very pretty. 

We stopped at visitor's center in Wimberly town at 12:45 pm.  Got some information on what to see and do while in the town. One of the suggestions was to drive to Woodcreek area from RM 12, beautiful pond, lily pads and nice homes.

Also, another suggestion was to go to La Toya trail then to Mt. Baldy to walk up 205 steps to the top, but there were shrubs and bushes around.  Not exactly a clear view of 360 degrees, but we got to see the whole area. There were lots and lots of dragonflies up there! They won't stay still, so it was hard to capture a great shot.

We stopped by and visited Wimberly Glassblowing. There was a glassblowing demonstration going on. It took them 20 minutes to make a beautiful vase, but as soon as someone cut the base from the rod it fell to the floor shattering into hundreds of broken pieces. They shrugged their shoulders and proceeded to make another one. This time they were successful.  It was very interesting to watch them work, we stayed about an hour while most visitors only stayed about 5 minutes becsuse it was hot in the room!  Nine employees, but only five glassblowers.  Edith wanted the pendants for our kitchen, but ouch the price! ($1,599)

Went to Dick's Classic Garage. Erwin did not want to go inside, said it is Edith's thing not his, so she went in by herself. The admission was $8. From 1920's to late 1960's vehicles, all of them in tip top shape.. She took lots of pictures of the hood ornaments and grilles, as well as some tires, etc.  It took her about 45 minutes to walk around. 

We decided that we were going to retire for the night in San Marcos

Good night!