Our drive from Greenville to McKinney only took around an hour, but with coffee stops, shopping, roadworks everywhere, and wrong directions, we finally made it to the Lighthouse RV park.
The only thing worth reporting is that Brian struck up a conversation with a youngster who lives in the park with his family. Xavier is 9 years old, and Brian promised him all our leftover gear that we have to ditch when we take the RV back - BBQ, towels, leftover food and things we had bought for the trip. He also gave Xavien a kangaroo pin which he loved. Now Xavien had a mate -Braiden who also wanted a pin. Brian told them if they could name the capital of Australia, they could have the second pin. Google came up with the name really quickly as both boys whipped out their phones, but their pronunciations left a little to be desired.
We spent a restful final night in the RV before handing over all the excess gear to Xavien and his Mom, then drove to the El Monte depot to say goodbye to our trusty ride. Brian and Rod shared a high five to celebrate no prangs, no tickets and very few anxious moments on the trip which in total was 3025 miles - about 5000 km !
El Monte RV Rentals arranged a shuttle transfer to Dallas, where we booked into the Omni Hotel - very swanky, where the beds are full size, comfortable and stationary, and there is no walking to the shower block.
I think we can settle in without too many problems for a couple of days and explore Dallas.
Monday, 12 May 2014
Thursday, 8 May 2014
Hot Springs and on to Greenville
Arkansas is definitely the greenest state that we have seen on this trip. Mile after mile of rolling hills covered in beautiful green grass. Even the verges of the highways are a picture, with grass beautifully trimmed for the entire length of the motorway. They must have a small army of workers with gang mowers to be able to keep it so well manicured. We have seen a few mowing crews as we travel around.
The RV park at Hot Springs was really well done, and quite new. Catherine's Landing is situated on one of the many lakes in the district, and we were lucky enough to get a lakeside site for the night. We backed in, hooked up our water, electricity and sewer and sat down to have a well earned break for a few hours. It was a very peaceful spot, and we just veged. (Is that a word?).
Although it really didn't get cold, there was a fire pit right next to the RV site, so we rounded up some wood - firstly from a dead tree right nearby, and then from another camp site which had obviously had wood left behind from someone's previous visit. With the help of three tissues and a spent tissue box plus some twigs from the dead tree, Helen managed to get a fire going easily - carrying on a family tradition of pyromania stretching way back to her father Paddy and through her brother Shane. (Remind us to tell you sometime about the fire on the banks of the river at Captains Flat one Back to the Flat weekend).
We made a couple of calls to Australia courtesy of Skype and the excellent wi-fi in the park, and after a good BBQ meal, we settled in nicely for the evening.
Morning brought with it a reasonably thick cover of cloud - the first clouds we have really seen since a little rain in New York three weeks ago. We set off for Greenville Texas, a stones throw from our final destination at Mckinney, just outside Dallas where we have to hand back the motorhome.
The first part of the trip was uneventful, but at a roadside stop for coffee, the girl on the checkout advised us of approaching storms. We turned on the radio to get a weather forecast, and were assured that there may be a few showers about. They were right - four inches of showers by the time we arrived at Greenville, with a promise of more to come. As we arrived at the park to check in to the last site available - there is a Winnebago Motorhome Rally here over the next few days - the heavens opened again.
As I write this, we are sitting in the motorhome waiting for the rain to abate. There is lightning about, and we have't even hooked up to the utilities yet. It is too wet to get out and do it. We did manage to get the esky from under the RV and fill it with beer, wine and ice though. Priorities people - got to get them just right. Not sure how we are going to cook the chicken we bought for dinner - we had planned to BBQ it, but the rain may have a say in that. We might just have to settle for some Coronas and lime.
Cheers.
The RV park at Hot Springs was really well done, and quite new. Catherine's Landing is situated on one of the many lakes in the district, and we were lucky enough to get a lakeside site for the night. We backed in, hooked up our water, electricity and sewer and sat down to have a well earned break for a few hours. It was a very peaceful spot, and we just veged. (Is that a word?).
Although it really didn't get cold, there was a fire pit right next to the RV site, so we rounded up some wood - firstly from a dead tree right nearby, and then from another camp site which had obviously had wood left behind from someone's previous visit. With the help of three tissues and a spent tissue box plus some twigs from the dead tree, Helen managed to get a fire going easily - carrying on a family tradition of pyromania stretching way back to her father Paddy and through her brother Shane. (Remind us to tell you sometime about the fire on the banks of the river at Captains Flat one Back to the Flat weekend).
We made a couple of calls to Australia courtesy of Skype and the excellent wi-fi in the park, and after a good BBQ meal, we settled in nicely for the evening.
Morning brought with it a reasonably thick cover of cloud - the first clouds we have really seen since a little rain in New York three weeks ago. We set off for Greenville Texas, a stones throw from our final destination at Mckinney, just outside Dallas where we have to hand back the motorhome.
The first part of the trip was uneventful, but at a roadside stop for coffee, the girl on the checkout advised us of approaching storms. We turned on the radio to get a weather forecast, and were assured that there may be a few showers about. They were right - four inches of showers by the time we arrived at Greenville, with a promise of more to come. As we arrived at the park to check in to the last site available - there is a Winnebago Motorhome Rally here over the next few days - the heavens opened again.
As I write this, we are sitting in the motorhome waiting for the rain to abate. There is lightning about, and we have't even hooked up to the utilities yet. It is too wet to get out and do it. We did manage to get the esky from under the RV and fill it with beer, wine and ice though. Priorities people - got to get them just right. Not sure how we are going to cook the chicken we bought for dinner - we had planned to BBQ it, but the rain may have a say in that. We might just have to settle for some Coronas and lime.
Cheers.
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
Mighty Memphis - Home of the King and The Blues
Memphis promised to be a good spot, and it cetainly delivered. After a late check in at the Elvis Presley Bvd RV park we met and chatted to some lovely people on the site next to us. They had a very small retro type caravan, and were happy to show how you can fit a bed, kitchen, toilet and shower and a dining setting into a van no more than 12ft long. Amazing use of space.
The morning saw us up bright and early to visit Graceland, the home of Elvis. It is located just 900m from the RV park, so we walked up there early to beat the crowds. This is the third most visited place in the USA, with around 600,000 visitors a year.
We registered and paid our entry fee, and were whisked away in a shuttle bus across the road to the mansion. We had audio sets which we could turn off and on at any point to get a commentary on what we were seeing, and it was great to be able to get the information personally delivered at the right moment that you were actually seeing the exhibits.
The house itself has not been altered from the time of Elvis' death in 1977. The furnishings, carpets and appliances are all still as they were when the Presley's lived there. It must have been the height of fashion in the 70's with green shag pile carpet and jungle prints and gawdy animal print fabrics on the lounges, but anyone who lived through that era will remember these things as very trendy at the time. The kitchen could have been the one that we found when we moved into our house in French's Forest - it was dated then - twenty years ago. The outbuildings contained hundreds and hundreds of exhibits, including gold and platinum records, costumes, posters, trophies etc. It was extremely well done, and we spent a long time just browsing through the various exhibits, listening all the while to the commentary on the headsets, and Elvis music wherever we turned. The grounds are beautifully kept, and the graves of Elvis and his parents and grandmother are in the reflection grove adjacent to the house.
We also toured through the car museum and the plane which the Presley's used for transport, plus the jet. In all, we spent three or four hours here, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was well worth visiting.
From there, we were directed to catch a local bus into the main part of town - Beale Street - the home of the Blues. Beale Street is full of clubs, bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and more - all dedicated to the Blues. There were blues bands playing in most of the establishments, and the atmosphere of the place was great. We stopped in to BB King's restaurant and had us a good old Southern lunch of BBQ ribs, chicken, salmon etc. Of course the meals are big enough to feed a small army, but undeterred, we waded in. Extra nakins were called for to clean up those who had opted for the ribs. And what flavours they manage to pack into those sauces. Sticky sweet and spicy with smoky BBQ flavours - YUM.
We then rode the trolley car system upand down Main Street and along the river front. The Mississippi River at this point is WIDE. It is extremely busy, with a cargo port handling large ships and barges.
Our trip on public transport back to our RV site was most interesting. We caught a number 4 bus for part of the journey, and had to transfer to a number 42 bus for the rest of the trip. The driver of the number 4 bus was so helpful to us that we were amazed. Not only did he show us where to get off his bus, he actually parked his bus, making the other passengers on board wait, then got off and walked with us to show us the stop for our connecting bus. He was so helpful, and refused our offer of a tip. I can just see that kind of service happening in Australia - Not.
Our second bus trip was also a hoot. Our driver, Barbara, recognised us as Aussies, and made up some quiz questions about what we had done in Memphis. She laughed and joked with us all the way to our destination, and even let us off between stops so we didn't have to walk far. Brian promised to send her a Koala and a calendar with the Opera House on it, so she gave him her address to mail it. It was wonderful service, and it topped off what has been a really good visit to Memphis.
Memphis is a relatively poor town by all observations. The housing we saw while touring on local buses was quite low quality, but the people here are so friendly and happy, and they certainly cannot do enough to help vistors enjoy their great city. I should not really be surprised - it has been the same wherever we have been, and I guess that is just another reason why we love the US. The people are amazing.
Tomorrow we head off - we would love to spend more time here, but alas we are on a deadline. We will head for Hot Springs - just outside Little Rock, Arkansas, where there is a lovely RV park right on the lake where we have made a reservation. The drive is relatively easy - just over three hours, and that will leave us about five hours the following day to Dallas - a day before we have to hand back the Motorhome.
Our RV trip is rapidly drawing to a close. Sadly we cannot extend.
Cheers,
The morning saw us up bright and early to visit Graceland, the home of Elvis. It is located just 900m from the RV park, so we walked up there early to beat the crowds. This is the third most visited place in the USA, with around 600,000 visitors a year.
We registered and paid our entry fee, and were whisked away in a shuttle bus across the road to the mansion. We had audio sets which we could turn off and on at any point to get a commentary on what we were seeing, and it was great to be able to get the information personally delivered at the right moment that you were actually seeing the exhibits.
The house itself has not been altered from the time of Elvis' death in 1977. The furnishings, carpets and appliances are all still as they were when the Presley's lived there. It must have been the height of fashion in the 70's with green shag pile carpet and jungle prints and gawdy animal print fabrics on the lounges, but anyone who lived through that era will remember these things as very trendy at the time. The kitchen could have been the one that we found when we moved into our house in French's Forest - it was dated then - twenty years ago. The outbuildings contained hundreds and hundreds of exhibits, including gold and platinum records, costumes, posters, trophies etc. It was extremely well done, and we spent a long time just browsing through the various exhibits, listening all the while to the commentary on the headsets, and Elvis music wherever we turned. The grounds are beautifully kept, and the graves of Elvis and his parents and grandmother are in the reflection grove adjacent to the house.
We also toured through the car museum and the plane which the Presley's used for transport, plus the jet. In all, we spent three or four hours here, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was well worth visiting.
From there, we were directed to catch a local bus into the main part of town - Beale Street - the home of the Blues. Beale Street is full of clubs, bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and more - all dedicated to the Blues. There were blues bands playing in most of the establishments, and the atmosphere of the place was great. We stopped in to BB King's restaurant and had us a good old Southern lunch of BBQ ribs, chicken, salmon etc. Of course the meals are big enough to feed a small army, but undeterred, we waded in. Extra nakins were called for to clean up those who had opted for the ribs. And what flavours they manage to pack into those sauces. Sticky sweet and spicy with smoky BBQ flavours - YUM.
We then rode the trolley car system upand down Main Street and along the river front. The Mississippi River at this point is WIDE. It is extremely busy, with a cargo port handling large ships and barges.
Our trip on public transport back to our RV site was most interesting. We caught a number 4 bus for part of the journey, and had to transfer to a number 42 bus for the rest of the trip. The driver of the number 4 bus was so helpful to us that we were amazed. Not only did he show us where to get off his bus, he actually parked his bus, making the other passengers on board wait, then got off and walked with us to show us the stop for our connecting bus. He was so helpful, and refused our offer of a tip. I can just see that kind of service happening in Australia - Not.
Our second bus trip was also a hoot. Our driver, Barbara, recognised us as Aussies, and made up some quiz questions about what we had done in Memphis. She laughed and joked with us all the way to our destination, and even let us off between stops so we didn't have to walk far. Brian promised to send her a Koala and a calendar with the Opera House on it, so she gave him her address to mail it. It was wonderful service, and it topped off what has been a really good visit to Memphis.
Memphis is a relatively poor town by all observations. The housing we saw while touring on local buses was quite low quality, but the people here are so friendly and happy, and they certainly cannot do enough to help vistors enjoy their great city. I should not really be surprised - it has been the same wherever we have been, and I guess that is just another reason why we love the US. The people are amazing.
Tomorrow we head off - we would love to spend more time here, but alas we are on a deadline. We will head for Hot Springs - just outside Little Rock, Arkansas, where there is a lovely RV park right on the lake where we have made a reservation. The drive is relatively easy - just over three hours, and that will leave us about five hours the following day to Dallas - a day before we have to hand back the Motorhome.
Our RV trip is rapidly drawing to a close. Sadly we cannot extend.
Cheers,
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
More New Orleans
Our second day in New Orlens started with another cab ride into town. This time our cab driver was Egyptian - educated in New York and driving cabs in New Orleans! Said he had to get out of New York after 9/11 because everyone looked at him and thought he was a terrorist, and he couldn't get work. He told us about how hard it is putting his daughter through a private school so that she can make something of hereself here in the US. Seems like things are the same the world over.
After a great breakfast at Dots Diner just down the street from our RV park, we again toured through the streets of The French Quarter in town, window shopping, gazing and gawking. There were again lots of street performers to watch and listen to, but the clubs were much quieter than the night before. Still plenty of people, and even one being carted off in an ambulance, looking very much the worse for his night on the town, The streets are still busy, but much more subdued.
We caught the tram along the river front to the French markets - a huge market complex selling things like are sold the world over in markets, but with a distinct Cajun twist. The food smelled (and tased) delicious. Trinkets were purchased by a few of the party for sharing when we get home.
We booked onto the paddle steamer Natchez for a river cruise in the evening, with a good buffet dinner served. The cruise was entertaining and informative, and we enjoyed the sights and the history of the river port as described by the narrator. Even almost ten years on, Hurricane Katrina is never far away in peoples thoughts as the city is dicsussed. It certainly did a lot of damage, but it also has now brought a sense of renewal in some of the older areas, so perhaps some good has come from the bad.
Another really entertaining cab ride home - this time by another Pakistani, who landed in New Orleans following his wife's family who had moved here twenty years ago. He was a really funny guy. He entertained us with tales of his four children, all doing well except one who is a "mess up".
With New Orleans sorted, we headed for Memphis the following morning. A later start meant that we would spend most of the day trvavelling, but our schedule does not really allow too much time to sit and ponder. We need to keep moving. It is now Monday, and the RV needs to be returned to Fort Worth on Saturday morning. There is still Memphis to visit, where we anticipate spending two nights, and then a long drive to Dallas/Fort Worth to finish off. We have heard of a good stopover point near Little Rock, Arkansas called Hot Springs, where there are springs (dah!) and lakes, so we may get in a little R & R before we finish this leg of the trip. Lets hope so.
Cheers.
After a great breakfast at Dots Diner just down the street from our RV park, we again toured through the streets of The French Quarter in town, window shopping, gazing and gawking. There were again lots of street performers to watch and listen to, but the clubs were much quieter than the night before. Still plenty of people, and even one being carted off in an ambulance, looking very much the worse for his night on the town, The streets are still busy, but much more subdued.
We caught the tram along the river front to the French markets - a huge market complex selling things like are sold the world over in markets, but with a distinct Cajun twist. The food smelled (and tased) delicious. Trinkets were purchased by a few of the party for sharing when we get home.
We booked onto the paddle steamer Natchez for a river cruise in the evening, with a good buffet dinner served. The cruise was entertaining and informative, and we enjoyed the sights and the history of the river port as described by the narrator. Even almost ten years on, Hurricane Katrina is never far away in peoples thoughts as the city is dicsussed. It certainly did a lot of damage, but it also has now brought a sense of renewal in some of the older areas, so perhaps some good has come from the bad.
Another really entertaining cab ride home - this time by another Pakistani, who landed in New Orleans following his wife's family who had moved here twenty years ago. He was a really funny guy. He entertained us with tales of his four children, all doing well except one who is a "mess up".
With New Orleans sorted, we headed for Memphis the following morning. A later start meant that we would spend most of the day trvavelling, but our schedule does not really allow too much time to sit and ponder. We need to keep moving. It is now Monday, and the RV needs to be returned to Fort Worth on Saturday morning. There is still Memphis to visit, where we anticipate spending two nights, and then a long drive to Dallas/Fort Worth to finish off. We have heard of a good stopover point near Little Rock, Arkansas called Hot Springs, where there are springs (dah!) and lakes, so we may get in a little R & R before we finish this leg of the trip. Lets hope so.
Cheers.
Sunday, 4 May 2014
Eastwards and New Orleans
Neither Galveston nor Austin were graced with our presence. Common sense prevailed, and we pushed on towards New Orleans, not wanting to lose a day - we have discovered that the GPS system tells porkies - it does a great job of getting us around, but it tends to underestimate the time needed fortravelling between cities.
We spent most of the day driving to Beaumont, Texas. This is a town of about 100,000 people half way between San Antonio and New Orleans. It is not particularly famous for anything we know of, but there were huge shopping centres, and the town had a nice comfortable feel to it. We pulled into an RV park that was on the surface rather nice - the people were friendly, and it certainly was the cheapest one we have stayed in - for good reason. We were parked immediately next to the amenties block - handy you say - yes, but the amenities were so poor that the girls would not use them, so they might as well have been on the moon. They were really old and tired, and the girls said they could smell mould. Didn't put the boys off at all.
Our neighbour in the park kindly gave us a bag of Craw Bobs her husband had caught. I think they ended up in the freezer, untouched to this point.
We got an early start the following morning so we could be in New Orleans for all of Saturday afternoon and night. WRONG. Of all days, with the destination we were so looking forward to there were delays. LONG delays. The I-10 motorway was closed for some reason just out of Lafayette, and police directed all traffic to take a 20 mile detour to another major road - the 190. That was bad enough, but about half way along the 190 - between Lafayette and Baton Rouge there is a very long bridge built over swampland. It runs for miles, and about halfway along the bridge, a motorhome pulling a car behind broke down. Stopped completely. Kaput. The traffic jam that it created was enormous. Not sure how far back in the traffic we were, but it took an hour to cover about 2 miles before we cleared it. The traffic jam plus the detour meant that the normally 2 - 2.5 hour trip from Lafayette to New Orleans took 4.5 hours, and we didn't arrive until after 4pm.
Once we arrived and booked in, we wasted no time however, and Brian booked us on the free shuttle bus into the French Quarter - the old part of town where it all happens. We just had enough time to get ready and we were whisked off in a 12 seater bus into town. The driver gave us a running commentary about everything and nothing all the way. We understood some (truthfully very little) of it, but we were very impressed by the beautiful and stately homes of the South's heyday as we travelled the narrow streets along the levee.
We arrived in town around 6pm, and decided to wander the streets. They were full of other tourists of course, as well as clairvoyants (they must have known we were coming), artists and street performers. We slowly made our way to the famed Bourbon Street. By this time, it was starting to jump. We had arrived for Saturday Night in downtown New Orleans right in the middle of their Jazz Festival. How's that for timing.
The scenes in Bourbon street were chaotic. Everyone trying to make a buck from the tourists. Our shuttle driver had told us that numbers may be down in town due to the Bruce Springsteen concert happening at the fairgrounds, but we saw no evidence to support this theory. There were people everywhere, and the noise from the clubs and bars was almost deafening.
We managed to find a small bar/park/cafe and took a seat near the stage where a three piece Jazz Band (is there any other type in NO?) was playing, and enjoyed the great music and a couple of appetite enhancers before seeking food. Southern Food.
We settled on a restaurant which served authentic cajun and creole dishes, and the meal was excellent. We dined on the first floor verandah of the restaurant overlooking the street, so we missed nothing. One of the most amazing things we encountered was a wedding. The whole wedding party came out of the venue followed by a big band (Tuba and all), and they all marched around the block with colourful parasols twirling, then returned to the venue to continue the celebrations.
After dinner we strolled the street, and found a club called Bandstand where the most amazing cover band belted out classic after classic. We managed to spend a good hour or more rocking to the great music before deciding that we would head further onwards. More sights, more sounds, more fun.
It was a great night - just what we thought it would be like - and just what we needed. We had lots of laughs, and will remember Bourbon Street fondly as one of the great experiences in the USA. We loved it.
The cab driver who took us back to the RV park was Pakistani, and Brian sat in the front seat and interrogated him all the way. To be fair, he was a really nice guy who was most informative and spoke great English - he was easier to understand than may of the locals.
Tomorrow is another day, and we have the full day and another night here in New Orleans. I am sure we will find a way of filling in the time.
Cheers.
We spent most of the day driving to Beaumont, Texas. This is a town of about 100,000 people half way between San Antonio and New Orleans. It is not particularly famous for anything we know of, but there were huge shopping centres, and the town had a nice comfortable feel to it. We pulled into an RV park that was on the surface rather nice - the people were friendly, and it certainly was the cheapest one we have stayed in - for good reason. We were parked immediately next to the amenties block - handy you say - yes, but the amenities were so poor that the girls would not use them, so they might as well have been on the moon. They were really old and tired, and the girls said they could smell mould. Didn't put the boys off at all.
Our neighbour in the park kindly gave us a bag of Craw Bobs her husband had caught. I think they ended up in the freezer, untouched to this point.
We got an early start the following morning so we could be in New Orleans for all of Saturday afternoon and night. WRONG. Of all days, with the destination we were so looking forward to there were delays. LONG delays. The I-10 motorway was closed for some reason just out of Lafayette, and police directed all traffic to take a 20 mile detour to another major road - the 190. That was bad enough, but about half way along the 190 - between Lafayette and Baton Rouge there is a very long bridge built over swampland. It runs for miles, and about halfway along the bridge, a motorhome pulling a car behind broke down. Stopped completely. Kaput. The traffic jam that it created was enormous. Not sure how far back in the traffic we were, but it took an hour to cover about 2 miles before we cleared it. The traffic jam plus the detour meant that the normally 2 - 2.5 hour trip from Lafayette to New Orleans took 4.5 hours, and we didn't arrive until after 4pm.
Once we arrived and booked in, we wasted no time however, and Brian booked us on the free shuttle bus into the French Quarter - the old part of town where it all happens. We just had enough time to get ready and we were whisked off in a 12 seater bus into town. The driver gave us a running commentary about everything and nothing all the way. We understood some (truthfully very little) of it, but we were very impressed by the beautiful and stately homes of the South's heyday as we travelled the narrow streets along the levee.
We arrived in town around 6pm, and decided to wander the streets. They were full of other tourists of course, as well as clairvoyants (they must have known we were coming), artists and street performers. We slowly made our way to the famed Bourbon Street. By this time, it was starting to jump. We had arrived for Saturday Night in downtown New Orleans right in the middle of their Jazz Festival. How's that for timing.
The scenes in Bourbon street were chaotic. Everyone trying to make a buck from the tourists. Our shuttle driver had told us that numbers may be down in town due to the Bruce Springsteen concert happening at the fairgrounds, but we saw no evidence to support this theory. There were people everywhere, and the noise from the clubs and bars was almost deafening.
We managed to find a small bar/park/cafe and took a seat near the stage where a three piece Jazz Band (is there any other type in NO?) was playing, and enjoyed the great music and a couple of appetite enhancers before seeking food. Southern Food.
We settled on a restaurant which served authentic cajun and creole dishes, and the meal was excellent. We dined on the first floor verandah of the restaurant overlooking the street, so we missed nothing. One of the most amazing things we encountered was a wedding. The whole wedding party came out of the venue followed by a big band (Tuba and all), and they all marched around the block with colourful parasols twirling, then returned to the venue to continue the celebrations.
After dinner we strolled the street, and found a club called Bandstand where the most amazing cover band belted out classic after classic. We managed to spend a good hour or more rocking to the great music before deciding that we would head further onwards. More sights, more sounds, more fun.
It was a great night - just what we thought it would be like - and just what we needed. We had lots of laughs, and will remember Bourbon Street fondly as one of the great experiences in the USA. We loved it.
The cab driver who took us back to the RV park was Pakistani, and Brian sat in the front seat and interrogated him all the way. To be fair, he was a really nice guy who was most informative and spoke great English - he was easier to understand than may of the locals.
Tomorrow is another day, and we have the full day and another night here in New Orleans. I am sure we will find a way of filling in the time.
Cheers.
Friday, 2 May 2014
Onwards to San Antonio
The morning was spent in Fredeicksburg - as the name implies a very German orientated tourist town just over an hour out of San Antonio. The shops here are a pardise for those seeking touristy goods, glassware and the like. The town is very orderly and clean - obviously there is a focus on the tourist trade, with cafes, restauants and bars lining the Main Street. Lots of window shopping, but no major purchases here.
The trip to San Antonio was uneventful. The roads are excellent, and the city of San Antonio is well served by major freeways - a whole nest of them near the city centre. Our GPS system managed to untangle the network, and we made it to the San Antonio KOA and set up camp.
This is the nicest campground that we have been in so far. It is full of mature trees which shade the sites from the harsh Texan sun, and is quite close to walkways along the creek. We managed to spot some owls in one of the trees in the park, and watched as the mother owl taught her three babies to fly from one tree to the other. We think it may have been the first flight for them, as they were more than a little wobbly, and the landings on the branches often resulted in upside down and clumsy manoeuvres.
After a restful night we headed into the downtown area of San Antonio on the number 24 bus. Yes - we caught public transport. For $1.20 each we got a half hour bus ride right into the tourist area. And what a tourist area it is. San Antonio has the number one tourist attraction in Texas - a beautifully constructed River Walk - kilometres of the original river where the banks have been reinfoced with concrete making what appears to be channels and these banks have concrete walkways along their entire length, allowing shops, restaurants, malls and all manor of buildings to be built right up to the walkway. The river is home to hundreds of ducks which co-exist with the thousands of tourists who flock here, and there are punts which circulate on the river, taking passengers on a scenic tour of the river area. It is truly amazing, and we spent many hours wandering and sightseeing. A lovely lunch beside the river was also part of the day.
We also visited The Alamo - the scene of one of the USA's most historic battles when the Texan troops were outnumbered and overrun by the Mexican raiders in 1836. Like our Anzac Day, it commemorates a heavy defeat but honours the courage and tenacity of the soldiers against massive odds. It obviously means more to Americans than to us, but we can certainly identify with the emotion and spirit.
We also visited the Tower of the Americas - a 750ft tall observation tower built for the 1968 Worlds Fair held here. We took the elevator to the top and enjoyed full 360 degree views of this city of almost 2 million.
The bus ride home was more interesting than the one in the morning - we were on the commuter bus, and the time spent waiting at the bus stop was fascinating, as people watching became the main game. We broke our trip to stop at a supermarket for provisions, and caught the next bus back to the RV park. Getting around here is really easy, and the local people are so friendly and helpful. They all love our accent, though we keep telling them we don't have an accent - they do !
We spent a few hours chatting in the evening with our neighbours who live in Lafayette, Louisiana - just a couple of hundred miles away. It is amazing how similar we are in our outlooks even though we were brought up and live on different sides of the planet.
Tomorrow is Friday, and we will move on in the morning - not sure where to yet. Galveston was high on the list, but there does not appear to be much there, and Austin has been suggested. The main thing is that we have to keep moving or we will run out of time to see the things we really want to see ahead - New Orleans and Memphis.
Cheers,.
The trip to San Antonio was uneventful. The roads are excellent, and the city of San Antonio is well served by major freeways - a whole nest of them near the city centre. Our GPS system managed to untangle the network, and we made it to the San Antonio KOA and set up camp.
This is the nicest campground that we have been in so far. It is full of mature trees which shade the sites from the harsh Texan sun, and is quite close to walkways along the creek. We managed to spot some owls in one of the trees in the park, and watched as the mother owl taught her three babies to fly from one tree to the other. We think it may have been the first flight for them, as they were more than a little wobbly, and the landings on the branches often resulted in upside down and clumsy manoeuvres.
After a restful night we headed into the downtown area of San Antonio on the number 24 bus. Yes - we caught public transport. For $1.20 each we got a half hour bus ride right into the tourist area. And what a tourist area it is. San Antonio has the number one tourist attraction in Texas - a beautifully constructed River Walk - kilometres of the original river where the banks have been reinfoced with concrete making what appears to be channels and these banks have concrete walkways along their entire length, allowing shops, restaurants, malls and all manor of buildings to be built right up to the walkway. The river is home to hundreds of ducks which co-exist with the thousands of tourists who flock here, and there are punts which circulate on the river, taking passengers on a scenic tour of the river area. It is truly amazing, and we spent many hours wandering and sightseeing. A lovely lunch beside the river was also part of the day.
We also visited The Alamo - the scene of one of the USA's most historic battles when the Texan troops were outnumbered and overrun by the Mexican raiders in 1836. Like our Anzac Day, it commemorates a heavy defeat but honours the courage and tenacity of the soldiers against massive odds. It obviously means more to Americans than to us, but we can certainly identify with the emotion and spirit.
We also visited the Tower of the Americas - a 750ft tall observation tower built for the 1968 Worlds Fair held here. We took the elevator to the top and enjoyed full 360 degree views of this city of almost 2 million.
The bus ride home was more interesting than the one in the morning - we were on the commuter bus, and the time spent waiting at the bus stop was fascinating, as people watching became the main game. We broke our trip to stop at a supermarket for provisions, and caught the next bus back to the RV park. Getting around here is really easy, and the local people are so friendly and helpful. They all love our accent, though we keep telling them we don't have an accent - they do !
We spent a few hours chatting in the evening with our neighbours who live in Lafayette, Louisiana - just a couple of hundred miles away. It is amazing how similar we are in our outlooks even though we were brought up and live on different sides of the planet.
Tomorrow is Friday, and we will move on in the morning - not sure where to yet. Galveston was high on the list, but there does not appear to be much there, and Austin has been suggested. The main thing is that we have to keep moving or we will run out of time to see the things we really want to see ahead - New Orleans and Memphis.
Cheers,.
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
San Anglo and Fredericksburg
If yesterday was a little ho hum because of all the travelling, then today was the complete opposite.
We intended to go into nearby San Angelo for breakfast and a quick look around before leaving by mididay and travel to San Antonio. How wrong we were.
The old guy at the Visitors Centre where we made enquiries about a good place for breakfast, directed us to the older part of the town. San Angelo is now almost 100,000 people, and like most towns, with the introduction of new shopping malls, the commercial focus has shifted to other sections of the town. We fouund ourselves right in the older part.
Cafe's or diners seemed few and far between. A nice girl with a guitar told us that there was a good cafe here somewhere but she didn't know exactly where. She said when she goes there she just drives around until she finds it! So we set off in search. The first thing we found was the General Store.
The General Store was huge, and had every variety of goods imaginable beautifully displayed - except breakfast. We did spend quite a while there checking out the displays and chatting with the staff who were delighted to give us some detail of the history of the building (which was formerly a garage and tire shop) - note the American spelling. They directed us to a cafe up one block and to the right two blocks.
We set off in search of breakfast, but we did not make it to the cafe they directed us to. Instead, we found the elusive cafe the girl with the guitar had told us about - Stangoes.
One step inside Stangoes told us this was what we were after - a re-created (or perhaps even original) American Soda Shop from the 1950 - 60's era, with Juke box, loads of old posters all around the walls, pin ball machines, laminex tables and all sorts of interesting memorabilia. The menu was restricted, but we didn't care. We ordered, and while waiting for the food we explored every corner of the shop, and Brian put a quarter in the Juke box - one with 45's, which were placed by robotic arm on the turntable - you know the ones you havn't seen for thirty or more years - and played some old music.
Breakfast was good, and having purchased some trinkets, we headed off in search of who knows what - and we found it.
Now before I go on, you need to understand that cowboy boots are HUGE in Texas. I mean HUGE. Everyone wears them with everything.
We stumbled upon Leddy's boot store and factory. Leddy's is 93 yeas old, and is one of the most famous cowboy boot producers in the world, producing only 10 pairs of hand made, custom fitted boots per week, and we stumbled in all the way from Australia not knowing anything about them.
That soon changed, as we were greeted like long lost cousins by the owner of the business Beverley and her sister - the grand daughters of the founder. Beverley delighted in showing us not only the store, but took us on a tour of the boot factory, explaining each process that the boots go through to manufacture, and the different types of leather available and their respective qualities. We met the staff at their work stations, one of whom is the toe shaper who has been at his bench for 36 years. The tour was fascinating, and we were privileged to have been treated to such an experience. We loved the boots, but were not prepared to wait the 15 months from order to delivery or pay the price of $2,750 and upwards. Brian presented Beverley with a kangaroo badge, and we received a boot pin each.
We had photos taken, and after hugs all around we left Beverley and her team to produce more stunning boots. We then found the next great store - J Wilde. And there we met Joyce - (The J Wilde) who owned the place. It was fascinating - colourful displays of clothing, light fittings, quilts, rugs, ornaments and more. A truly beautiful shop. Now Joyce was interested in chatting to us and introducing us to her close neighbours who run the restaurant next door - Miss Hatty's Restaurant and Cat House - named for its former role as the towns upmarket brothel. We met the owner and her staff, and after checking out Joyce's other store (which only opens on Thursdays and Fridays, but which she opened especially for us) we returned to Hatty's for a cup of coffee and home made apple pie - mmm delicious.
We were reluctant to leave town, but many hours late - after 3pm, we finally tore ourselves away from San Angelo and headed further East. I dont know if everyone who visits this wonderful town are treated like royalty as we were, but if this is southern hospitality, then give us more.
We had a wonderful day. Of course it was too late to make it to San Antonio, so we headed for Fredericksburg which had been touted as a very nice place - and at first glance the town promises to live up to it. It is basically a German town with an Amish influence. We found a great supermarket and had a great dinner in the Brewery - just the ticket for weary travellers. It was after 8:30pm when we finally made it to the RV park - got the owner to open up and book us in, and we hit the hay with smiles on our faces. What a great day. Can't wait for tomorrow.
We intended to go into nearby San Angelo for breakfast and a quick look around before leaving by mididay and travel to San Antonio. How wrong we were.
The old guy at the Visitors Centre where we made enquiries about a good place for breakfast, directed us to the older part of the town. San Angelo is now almost 100,000 people, and like most towns, with the introduction of new shopping malls, the commercial focus has shifted to other sections of the town. We fouund ourselves right in the older part.
Cafe's or diners seemed few and far between. A nice girl with a guitar told us that there was a good cafe here somewhere but she didn't know exactly where. She said when she goes there she just drives around until she finds it! So we set off in search. The first thing we found was the General Store.
The General Store was huge, and had every variety of goods imaginable beautifully displayed - except breakfast. We did spend quite a while there checking out the displays and chatting with the staff who were delighted to give us some detail of the history of the building (which was formerly a garage and tire shop) - note the American spelling. They directed us to a cafe up one block and to the right two blocks.
We set off in search of breakfast, but we did not make it to the cafe they directed us to. Instead, we found the elusive cafe the girl with the guitar had told us about - Stangoes.
One step inside Stangoes told us this was what we were after - a re-created (or perhaps even original) American Soda Shop from the 1950 - 60's era, with Juke box, loads of old posters all around the walls, pin ball machines, laminex tables and all sorts of interesting memorabilia. The menu was restricted, but we didn't care. We ordered, and while waiting for the food we explored every corner of the shop, and Brian put a quarter in the Juke box - one with 45's, which were placed by robotic arm on the turntable - you know the ones you havn't seen for thirty or more years - and played some old music.
Breakfast was good, and having purchased some trinkets, we headed off in search of who knows what - and we found it.
Now before I go on, you need to understand that cowboy boots are HUGE in Texas. I mean HUGE. Everyone wears them with everything.
We stumbled upon Leddy's boot store and factory. Leddy's is 93 yeas old, and is one of the most famous cowboy boot producers in the world, producing only 10 pairs of hand made, custom fitted boots per week, and we stumbled in all the way from Australia not knowing anything about them.
That soon changed, as we were greeted like long lost cousins by the owner of the business Beverley and her sister - the grand daughters of the founder. Beverley delighted in showing us not only the store, but took us on a tour of the boot factory, explaining each process that the boots go through to manufacture, and the different types of leather available and their respective qualities. We met the staff at their work stations, one of whom is the toe shaper who has been at his bench for 36 years. The tour was fascinating, and we were privileged to have been treated to such an experience. We loved the boots, but were not prepared to wait the 15 months from order to delivery or pay the price of $2,750 and upwards. Brian presented Beverley with a kangaroo badge, and we received a boot pin each.
We had photos taken, and after hugs all around we left Beverley and her team to produce more stunning boots. We then found the next great store - J Wilde. And there we met Joyce - (The J Wilde) who owned the place. It was fascinating - colourful displays of clothing, light fittings, quilts, rugs, ornaments and more. A truly beautiful shop. Now Joyce was interested in chatting to us and introducing us to her close neighbours who run the restaurant next door - Miss Hatty's Restaurant and Cat House - named for its former role as the towns upmarket brothel. We met the owner and her staff, and after checking out Joyce's other store (which only opens on Thursdays and Fridays, but which she opened especially for us) we returned to Hatty's for a cup of coffee and home made apple pie - mmm delicious.
We were reluctant to leave town, but many hours late - after 3pm, we finally tore ourselves away from San Angelo and headed further East. I dont know if everyone who visits this wonderful town are treated like royalty as we were, but if this is southern hospitality, then give us more.
We had a wonderful day. Of course it was too late to make it to San Antonio, so we headed for Fredericksburg which had been touted as a very nice place - and at first glance the town promises to live up to it. It is basically a German town with an Amish influence. We found a great supermarket and had a great dinner in the Brewery - just the ticket for weary travellers. It was after 8:30pm when we finally made it to the RV park - got the owner to open up and book us in, and we hit the hay with smiles on our faces. What a great day. Can't wait for tomorrow.
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