2021-09-29 Blanco and Blanco State Park TX

After I left the rally at Rockport, I headed northwest to Blanco State Park. As long as I was already out in the RV, I wanted to take advantage of it. I've driven past Blanco for years and even drove through it back when I had the 5th wheel. At the time, the branches over the road and the sites were a little too low to chance it with the 5th wheel. The park is small and very popular so hard to get reservations. I was able to get three nights in the middle of the week.

This park has been around a long time. It was established in 1933. The work done by the CCC in the main pavilion, stone dams, bridges, and picnic tables along the river is beautiful.

This is the dam. You can swim above the dam. Lots of people visit during the day to do just that. There is a day use area all along the river after you enter the park. To get to the camping area you have to cross a road that sits inches above the water. In case of the river flooding, everyone camping would either have to stay as the campground is higher than the river but I think they also have at least one emergency exit road.

The campground is in the area south of the river.

It's a beautiful area with lots of trees and shade.....and you can easily walk into town. It's only about 6 blocks from the entrance.

The river does flood on occasion. The last big flood created quite a bit of havoc in 2015.

The park has two camping circles. The smaller one has about 8 full hookup 50 amp sites. The other circle is larger. The sites on the outside of the circle have 30 amp water and electric. The sites on the inner side of the circle are 30 amp full hookup sites. All have covered wood picnic tables like you can see in this photo. The sites on the outside of the loop also have tent pads.

The camping area also has shelters with wood louvers on three sides to block the wind. They are fully screened and have a picnic table inside as well as outside. They also have electric.

Harley and I took a walk all along the river.  There are picnic tables on both sides. There is one really long one built of stone by the CCC which I didn't get a picture to put here. It is as long as 4 picnic tables end to end.

The scenery is beautiful with lots of open space.

This was my site on the outside of the 30 amp loop. No one on my door side.

And no one on my back side.

 

It was a nice big site.

I also took a drive up to Pedernales Falls State Park which is east of Johnson City. If you love hiking, this is a good park for you. It has lots of trails. Some sites have shade, some are sunny. It's a drive and a long walk down a hill to the water so it isn't my favorite park. During the week, there were a number of open sites.

Speaking of open sites, most of us Texas campers were thrilled with a new Texas parks rule which says that if you do not show up or call by noon the day after your reservation starts, your reservation is cancelled and the site is put back out for reserving. Since we have to pay in advance, you lose your money but the state makes money by renting again and, the best part, someone else gets the chance to go camping. It's a great solution especially since it appears that a lot of the new campers reserve spots at several parks and then just go to one without bothering to cancel the other. After seeing empty sites at Blanco that were marked reserved but never used and never appeared back on the website, it appears that a great new rule is not being enforced by park staff. I even asked a ranger at Pedernales Falls State Park about it and he said they didn't usually bother. Both the state parks system and campers are losing out here by inaction on local park staff.

2021-09-27 Rockport Texas

 On Monday, everyone but Jimmie, Pat, and I were headed out. Jimmie had some fishing plans and Pat and I decided to spend some time checking out things in Rockport.

We parked and walked around the downtown area. This shop had all these cute decorations out front.

There were several interesting murals.

We went into several shops with lots of interesting decor. This horse is all made from driftwood.

A chair to relax in if you need a rest......

The Rockport harbor has lots of boats at the docks. Sure could easily live aboard this one.

The Texas Maritime Museum is an interesting place to visit.

The Art Gallery building didn't survive the last hurricane but the beautiful statues outside endured. The Gallery is now in another building downtown but the statues are still in a park area right by the harbor.

The harbor is home to working boats and pleasure boats.

The Big Blue Crab did not survive the last hurricane. It used to be part of a restaurant before it was adopted by the city and located near the Blue Water Swimming Beach. It took some time but this new crab has taken up where the old Blue one used to be.

Now I really am off to Blanco State Park tomorrow morning. It is a small but very busy park and this is the first time I have been able to get reservations even in the middle of the week. Making reservations 5 months in advance just doesn't work for me unless it is for a rally.

2021-9-25 TRR Rockport Rally

What a great day! I'm on my way to a Texas Ramblin' Roses Rally in Rockport Texas. Actually I'm the host which is reason enough to go early and arrive at Wilderness Oaks RV Resort a couple of days before the rally, not that I needed a reason. Ran into several spots of construction along the back roads but nothing that held me up for long.

Wilderness Oaks always treats us really well. It's a great park with a very nice rally room and kitchen and the staff is wonderful. I always tell those ladies new to backing their RV into a spot to please try it here. The guys that take you to your site are so good at directing that they can make anyone feel like a pro and give them confidence on their future trips.

The weather was great the whole time we were there. It did rain pretty hard one night but Harley isn't at all bothered by thunder and lightning. He can't really hear it these days but none of my dachshunds ever paid any attention to thunder and lightning....lucky me. A few ladies were up with their furkids that night. Days were comfortable so we were able to site outside a lot which makes everyone feel more comfortable these days.

Several of the women wanted to go to see the famous "Big Tree" at Goose Island State Park so off we went.

No, this is not the big tree. You are allowed to climb on these and get up close and friendly.

This is the "Big Tree". It has a fence around it and several of the branches have some poles for support.

The "Big Tree" has survived quite a few hurricanes and other disasters. It is actually outside the part of the park that charges entrance fees or a pass.

This butterfly was very busy on this flower.

I had my Texas State Park Pass with me so we took a drive through the park. These pelicans always hang out by the fish cleaning stand looking for handouts.

Back at the RV park.....

These ladies went sightseeing one day and stopped at Walmart for a few items including........

One of the fun things we do at rallies is "christen" any new or new to owner rigs just like a ship. Jimmie used to use water balloons but has switched over to a water gun. This cute little Casita of Mary's is not new by any means but who can tell with a Casita? 

Everyone gets a chance to tell about their rig and most of them have names. 

Carolyn has this little utility trailer all fixed up inside. It even has A/C. RVW women drive or tow from the smallest to the biggest.

Pat had a Class C the last rally but she decided it just wasn't big enough for her and her standard size poodle Rusty. She picked her new to her rig on Friday and drove it down to Rockport on Wednesday. With the direction of the park hosts, she backed it into the slot in one try.

We had lunch out at Paradise Key one day. They have a big outside covered patio so it was a good choice. 

Not a bad view either.

Not the greatest pictures but.......sorry ladies.

Two of our members surprised us by showing up Saturday. I say surprised because they just got home to Houston from a 7 week Rolling Rally in the Pacific Northwest. They upsized their rig last year. This one has a bathroom and counter where they can cook in bad weather.

They really prefer to cook out of their outdoor kitchen which has all the necessities including a fridge, microwave, and stove.

They pulled into the spot right next to me.

Many of our members like to play games especially in the evening. The Farkle game got so rambunctious and loud one evening that I thought somebody might complain......especially when one of the park hosts stopped by. He laughed and said he didn't come by for that. Fortunately the closest RVs belonged to seasonals who were not around, lol. Barb was the winner one night and she snagged a traveling trophy we have for other purposes and said she was keeping it until the next rally. Everyone adds something to the trophy. I think it is finally going to get a skirt and wig.

Hmmm, I spotted this by a tree when Harley and I were out taking a walk. Relax, he's not dangerous. The rally was over and just a few of us were left. Yes, I stayed longer too. Tuesday morning I was on my way to Blanco State Park.