The Potluck

L-64F (18C) cloudy, breezy
H-76F (24C)

We had two new neighbours when we arrived home from Lost Maples yesterday. That meant we could sleep with the windows open and I wouldn't have the light shining in my eyes. I had a good sleep although I had more crazy dreams and I didn't even eat anything before going to bed.

I was up around 7 a.m. today since I had to make my potluck dish and have it simmer in the crockpot for the day. I did take the time to go for my walk even though it again was cloudy and a bit more breezy than it has been.

Scene from the island



After breakfast, I made my Calico Beans and got them in the crockpot then back to the computer. We got sun on and off and Gordon went out for a while to take photos.

I met our neighbour this morning, he's from Tottenham, Ontario and they've just spent the winter in Mercedes, TX. They're here till Monday and want to do some sightseeing so I told him about the Lost Maples State Natural Area.

This afternoon was spent reading, napping and having a shower to get ready for tonight's festivities.

We arrived at Jim and Ellie's around 4:30 p.m. and took our potluck stuff over to the red barn. I think someone counted 36 people. We had new people that arrived since we were there on Thursday. Speedy & Sherri, jb and Brenda, Fred and Jo, and Rollie and Gina were all new. Fred and Jo aren't staying at the park either.

Here are some of the tables at the potluck

Sherri, Speedy, Rollie, Gina



Fred, JB, Brenda, Jo
Our table - Donnie, Karen, Mark, Dortha, Ellie, Jim, Gordon (and me taking the photo)


Here's the requested photo of me meeting jb.

And here's a photo of Jo and Boo Boo.

We absolutely stuffed ourselves and I actually drank some white wine without it making me feel awful. After the potluck we went to Rollie and Gina's and sat outside. We got a tour of their HDT and their fifth wheel. Very, very nice.

Walmart and Lost Maples State Natural Area

L-61 (16C)
H-81 (27C)

I tried to sleep with the windows open last night but two of our neighbours had gone yesterday and they had been blocking the light pole. The light would have been shining right in our eyes so windows closed, fan on.

This morning was cloudy again but fairly warm with a little breeze so I set out for the island. I still didn't see any deer but I was later this morning. I slept in till 8.

Waterfall in the Guadalupe River as seen from the island

After breakfast and getting the vacuuming done, I set out for Walmart to get the items needed to make my Calico Beans for tomorrow's potluck. Of course while I was there I managed to buy much more than that. I tell myself I'm stocking up on stuff I can't buy at home. While there I met Jesse and Ginger. I didn't think I'd get by today at Walmart without seeing someone I knew.

We finally got the Starchoice dish set up today. We hadn't bothered since there was cable here but it's only 12 channels and usually it's not too clear. We weren't able to get a very good signal but it works better than what we had.

Around 2 p.m. we started out for Lost Maples State Natural Area. It's a little over an hour's drive from here with some very pretty scenery along the way. We drove through their campground and liked it very much, then on to the trails. We took the shortest one since it was already past 3 p.m. but it was a beautiful trail, lots of rocks that the path went along and over and pretty scenery again. Maple Trail was a loop trail so on the way back we had to cross about three streams over slippery rocks. I slipped on one and one foot ended up in the water but all was well. We really enjoyed the park. I wouldn't mind camping there one day.

A view of the hills on our drive to Lost Maples


On our way to the Lost Maples State Natural Area



The campground at the State Natural Area

On the Maple Trail

Scenery along the trail


More trail photos




Pretty purple flowering bush

Me sitting on a bench in the park


We continue along the trail


Here we had to cross some water

The man that follows me

We took a different route home and it was quite scenic as well. We arrived home just before 6 p.m. A very fun filled afternoon!

A couple of views on our way home

Looking Around and Meeting Up with RV-Dreamers

L-60F (16C)

H-84F (29C)

This morning started off cloudy but warm for my walk around the island. Gordon had just come back and had seen some deer but didn't get very good photos. I didn't see any. He must have scared them away.

A trail on the island

After breakfast we got ready and went into town. I needed to go to GNC so Gordon dropped me off then went and looked at the Louise Hays Park and then to the Tourist Information Center where he found lots of information on the area and some things to take photos of. I stopped at Albertson's just to be different and we then went and had lunch at Taco Casa. As I ate both tomatoes and cheese, we'll see how that fares out. We stopped at the dam off Guadaloupe Rd and took a few photos.

The falls at the dam

We came home and unloaded the groceries, did some computer time and had a short nap and a shower to get ready to go to Buckhorn Lake RV Resort to meet up with the rv-dreamers. They were getting together and Keith and Donna's tonight for appetizers. I made nachos to take along so Gordon would have something he could eat.

We arrived at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort shortly before 5 p.m. and comandeered Dortha's microwave to make my nachos. We gathered at Kevin and Donna's for our appetizers. There were a few people there that I hadn't met before but I've read most of their blogs. Here are some of the folks.

Mark and Dortha

Keith and Donna


Bob and Molly - we first met them last year in Mesa, AZ

Ellie, Jim and I

Arlene, Donna, Lynnette and half of Donna AKA nonna on chat


We stayed a couple of hours and then left before sunset so Gordon could take some sunset photos. Mark had told us about a shot to take a short ways from their RV park. Here it is.

Hmmmmm......

We then drove a ways out of town and took a few photos. There are a couple of roads that have pretty drives but it was brutal for Gordon driving into the sun.

Sunset

It was still pretty warm when we got home so we turned on the air.......

Travel Day to Kerrville in Texas Hill Country

I got up at 7 a.m. today since it was a travel day. It was 47F (8C), bright and sunny. I walked the part of the River Trail again and then back thru the trail that goes along the bridge. I was hoping that being out that early I might see some deer but it wasn't to happen.

One last trail photo from Goliad State Park.

We got our work done and pulled out at 10:20 a.m. It was already 75F (24C) and soon moved to 77F (25C). Our high for today was about 81F (27C). We took the bypass around San Antonio but it was still quite busy especially as we neared I-10 but the trip was uneventful.

We had a bout of construction. We don't have Pilot Cars at construction areas at home so I always find this interesting. The pilot car goes ahead of the public to the other side then turns around and does the same for cars in the opposite direction.

Our first views of the Texas hills


Approaching Kerrville

We arrived at By the River RV Park shortly before 1 p.m. Gordon was tired so we decided to take a pull through site instead of a back in so it was $141 for the week. The campground runs along the Guadaloupe River and is actually on a fork of the river. There is also an island that is part of the campground and the bridge is very close to us so I know where I'll be doing my morning walks. After we got set up we went for a walk over on the island and saw a few deer but they were too fast to get a photo. At least we know they're here.

Our site



This is the Guadaloupe River Fork that runs between the campground and the island

Me standing in a huge cypress tree


Interesting tree

Looking across at our site from the island - we're in between the two RVs that back on the river fork

A little falls in the fork

The campground is very dry so our site is quite dusty but we're pleased with it and the island is a bonus. It does feel strange to look out our window and see another RV beside us but the sites aren't right on top of each other although closer than we normally like.

After dinner and before sunset, we took a drive into town to locate the Superwalmart, HEB and the Mall so now I should be able to find them on my own!

Our Last Day at Goliad State Park

It was bright and sunny this morning with very little wind but still 41F (5C). I put on entirely too many layers of clothes so on the way back from my walk I was shedding them!

The paved trail I took this morning

The is the back of the Mission that faces the road

Lots of prickly pear cactus

Yucca

The boardwalk that's part of the paved path going toward the town of Goliad


I've enjoyed being here at Goliad. It's nice to have full hook ups in a State Park for a change and the water pressure here is phenomenal. I was able to blast the bugs off the nose of the RV yesterday just with the water pressure! It's also nice to have trails to walk on. That's the only thing I miss when we're at Port Lavaca. The streets are pretty boring after a while.

I keep going back to Glenn & Sylvia's site to try to capture a good photo of the woodpeckers. That wasn't working so I took my chair over and sat there. It took 20 minutes for the female to show up and another 5 or so for the male. Anyway, here's his photo and we've confirmed that it's a Golden-fronted Woodpecker.


Fluffy clouds
Our site from a different angle


Today was a gorgeous day for sitting outside so I took advantage of that and read for a couple of hours, then inside for a nap. We reached a high of 78F (26C) with a light breeze that came up this afternoon.

February Expenses & Grocery Shopping in Victoria

This was a pretty good month so I don't have many comments. Our campground fees were higher as we were staying in State Parks which one would think should be cheaper. If we had still been at Port Lavaca, we would have come in well under $2000 for the month.


It was 35F (2C) this morning when I got up at about 7:30. It was bright and sunny however with little wind so I bundled up and away I went along the River Trail. I didn't see much but it was a lovely walk.

More trail photos



A tree of buzzards


Glenn, Sylvia, Bandit and Snowflake came over to say goodbye around 9:30 a.m. as they were heading to San Antonio today. I took their photo standing beside their rig.

Then I got the hose out and washed the undercarriage of the RV to get the salt off it from being at Goose Island and Mustang Island, I also hosed down the body. Now I have to redo the windows but I can do them anywhere. Most RV parks don't allow washing of rigs so I had to get it done before we left Goliad.

Female cardinal posed for me


Gordon went out and got propane as we ran out of one tank last night. Then he decided he wanted to go in to Victoria (70 mile round trip) so I got the grocery list and the water bottles and we went in and had lunch at Taco Bell and then to Walmart for groceries. I hadn't done much shopping since we left Rockport so had quite an order today. On our way back we filled up with diesel as it was 1.99.9 in Victoria compared to 2.19.9 here in Goliad.

The HEB Grocery Store (Texas chain) has their own brand of corn chips shaped like Texas!

On our way back from Victoria, we stopped to take a photo of this Texas Longhorn

Even with our frigid night we managed to get up to 76F (24C) today. It's only supposed to get down to 40F (4C) tonight so we'll see and then warm up over the next few days even though we'll be moving about 170 miles north on Wednesday. We'll actually be north of San Antonio.