Some Views of the Park--Lake Pointe RV Resort

I'm pretty happy with the site I picked out.  There is shade quite a bit of the time which is important since the temps are in the mid 90s or higher.  It was pretty nice sitting out under the trees this morning with my coffee because there was a little breeze.  We went for a walk all over the park first thing while it was cool.

I had my coffee and kindle after we got back and the Traveling Longdogs were enjoying their play area.  Fortunately, they are fastinated by the deer and don't bark at them.  It's usually a staring contest on both sides.

This spot has more of a lake view but there is a 3 foot drop right behind him.  I think the park is about half full right now but there isn't anybody home at quite of few of them.  I expect they will show up for the weekend.

But it's not like nobody is around.  I saw one buck with about 9 points on his rack.  They are very tame.  I think that must be some kind of a salt or food block; I've seen several around the park.  I guess you can buy feed at the office too (or bring your own in if you like).  I've heard that dog food is actually more nutritious for them than deer corn.  They won't be getting any of the Traveling Longdogs special food though.

Are you following me lady???  There is a number of paths between the resort developed area and the lake.

The "town" closest to the park is Hancock and there are several restaurants, coffee shops, Dollar Store, etc.  The closest real town is Sattler which is five miles away.  They have real grocery store which used to be a Super S but is now a Lowe's Market.  Prices weren't too bad and they have about anything you could want.  There is also a great Ace Hardware store which is really well stocked.  They even carry quite a few RV items.  I found several items that I haven't been able to find elsewhere.  I also saw an RV repair place, VFW (open to the public sign), several restaurants and a bakery, a feedstore, and numerous other business places that make it a worthwhile trip.  

On the Road Again, So Happy to be On the Road Again

Picked up the RV from storage yesterday afternoon, loaded up this morning and hit the road.  We didn't go far but the Traveling Longdogs and I are so happy to be out in the RV.  I called on a whim last week to see if La Pointe RV Resort might have any openings--didn't expect to get a yes because the COE campgrounds are all full.  The trick is that they don't take reservations here.  It's a membership park but they don't take reservations from members either.  They honor Passport America and Escapees as well as a couple of others.  Sooooo, I called again yesterday to see if they still had openings, got another yes, and went to pick up the RV.  I came early in the week because I figured most people would come later.  School started in Texas this week.   Here we are tooling down the road to Canyon Lake.

Even though school is on, the toobers are still doing business.  It will be hot here for quite a while.  And, no, those are not rainclouds.  There is no rain around here and we could use it.

Sometimes it's "toobs" sometimes it's "tubes" but then you are liable to get "haus" instead of "house".  Anyway, the toobs are the round donut floats that were originally from tires but are now usually plastic inflatables.

Okay, I'm here and this is the only picture you are getting tonight.  I took it out the back window of the 5th wheel.  Nice, huh?  See the deer?  I've seen at least 10 or 15 including a mother with two fawns and several guys with racks.  Of course, these deer aren't a whole lot bigger than my youngest son's mastiffs.

Things are all set up or stowed away depending on the item and I'm off to bed now.  I'll be back with more pictures.

A Date with Bussey's Flea Market in San Antonio

We decided to check out the Flea Market today.  It's been awhile since we wandered through and the temperature is down under a 100 degrees so today sounded like a good day to do that.  Technically Bussey's Flea Market is in Schertz not San Antonio but Schertz is right on the northeast corner of San Antonio.

You'll see the the flea market sign right off of IH-35 as you head north to Austin.

When you get even closer, you'll see the Texas size armadillo.  See, they are claiming San Antonio too.

The Flea Market itself is free but they do charge you $1.00 for parking.  Pretty cheap for an afternoon's entertainment and you never know what you will find.

There is some shade as most of the flea market has covers over the walkway.  It was actually a bit more crowded than it looks here.

This booth has all kinds of frou-frou to pick through.

But you never know what you will find.

Incense anyone?  How about some Mexican pottery?

You can grab a bite to eat from this cantina or one of the other booths selling sodas or ice cream.

These vendors put up their own canopies.  Military items on the left, lampshades and homemade craft items on the right.  How about some Legos by the pound?

There's lots more to see.  The garage style booths are at the front and more permanent booths fill up the rest of the area.  There's a tool and hardware store.  Also a rug store.  How about some antiques?  Maybe some kitchenware.  Come and while away an afternoon.

And what do the longdogs do while we are at the flea market....well, they nap of course but you'll find it hard to catch them at it.

Pimping Up the Motorcycle

Okay, now that I have your attention.....not much has been going on around here this past week.  DH likes to putter around with his motorcycles when he's bored.  So this week he built a custom backrest for his Kawasaki.

Getting the curve just right and fastening the backrest.

Checking out the pad from one of his many, many, many bags.  All these bags and racks and backrests have to work together you know just in case he sets off on that round the world tour, or maybe around the U.S., or even around Texas.

Here it is all painted up.  See what I mean about all the bags??

We wouldn't want it to be too subtle.....so let's add some decals.

Whatever turns your wheels......in my case, it is the RV going on the road!

Unwelcome Nighttime Intruders

Usually nights around home are pretty quiet, too quiet sometimes, okay, boring even....  Every once in a while something happens to upset that pattern.  DH and I were watching TV.  Normally that means that at least two of the Traveling Longdogs are on my lap, sometimes all three.  Gretchen has been spending a lot of the evenings since our last trip outside keeping an eye on her yard.  Even the boys have been out.  Of course, that could be because the days have been in the 100's for quite some time now.

It was getting later, about 10:30PM.  And then this horrible racket started.  First I thought it was the neighbors dogs behind us going crazy.  That occasionally happens but not enough to drive us nuts.  Oh, no!  It was my dogs making the racket!   How embarrassing!  I realized that all three of them were outside so I flew out and called them.  Nothing.....   Called them again....  I could see them down at the back of the yard along the fence by the bushes.  Called again....  Finally, I saw Willy take a few steps towards me before he turned around.   Knowing there was no way I could corral all three of them, I headed back in the house for the "Treat Jar".  Okay, I know, blatant bribery.   I stood on the patio and shook it.  Shook it again harder while calling them.  Finally, Willy headed toward me then Harley succumbed to the lure of the treats.  They followed me into the house and I quickly shut the inside door so they couldn't escape back through the doggy door.   Want to see what was causing all the commotion?

That just left Gretchen.  She  is a determined yard protector but she usually doesn't bark that much.  She just stands guard to make sure nothing is going on that shouldn't be going on.  She didn't know what to make of this intruder.  I mean, the squirrels run.  It's a game with them.  She is very careful not to catch them.  But this guy just sat there.  Dave finally went down and got her.

I sure hope this little guy picks someone else's fence to hang out on.

Hotter Than Heck

Well, it's a tad warm here in Texas but then it is summer and will be for another 6 weeks or so.  I'd still rather be warm than cold so I guess that is just fine.  This morning was actually not bad at all, a little breeze and it didn't hit a hundred until after noon and the humidity is only 38%.  The grass is a little brittle in the back yard; it could definitely use a nice rain.  That probably won't happen so I hauled the hose around and watered the crepe myrtles and small oak tree last night and this morning.  The dogs are enjoying their backyard and being able to dash in and out the doggy door whenever they feel like it.  But then they don't get those walks like they do when they are traveling in the RV.  It's a trade-off I guess.  If you have been keeping up with my friends traveling in Alaska, you will know that they are already seeing signs of autumn.  Don't worry ladies, it will still be plenty warm enough to wear your shorts when you hit the bottom of the lower 48 in September.

Last Night on the Road--Gulf Coast RV Resort, Beaumont TX

We had an uneventful and pleasant trip from New Orleans to Beaumont.  One thing I wanted to mention was about the roads in Louisiana.  At least in the south part of the state, they are rough even on I-10 and I-12 (the cut-off if you don't circle down through New Orleans).  Last year when we stayed on I-10 through New Orleans, I thought we were going to be shaken to pieces on the concrete panels.  This year, a big improvement, the road was much, much smoother.  We headed back to the Gulf Coast RV Resort, another Passport America park.

Although not as fancy as Ponchartrain Landing in New Orleans, it is still very nice.  They have a great playground...

individual restrooms with shower...

a nice pool, office and small store, a small library, and the best part, a free serve yourself breakfast with waffles, cereal, bagels, juice, and coffee.  (No, the kids were not with us--this is a picture from our last visit).

And then home, to deal with replacing the tire, piled up mail, laundry, unloading and cleaning the RV, and 100 degree heat.  Steve flies home in the morning.  Ah, I'd rather be on the road.