2021-11-20 Choke Canyon State Park Rally

 Our November Texas Ramblin' Roses Rally was scheduled for Choke Canyon State Park. Now, in Texas, that means you better be on the Texas State Park website at 8 AM exactly 5 months to the day before the 1st day you want to reserve if you want to get a site. The host deliberately scheduled the rally for Sunday through Thursday to make it slightly easier to get a site but you still have to be quick in reserving. That is one of the main reasons we don't have many of our rallies at Texas State Parks. They also tie up all your reservation money immediately so there is that too.

I've never been to Choke Canyon State Park so wasn't totally sure what to expect. It's only about two hours or less south of San Antonio and check in time is about two so that means it wasn't necessary to get on the road until later in the morning. My friend Mary Jane had to cancel at the last minute because she wasn't feeling well. So Harley and I headed down the road alone. I had a nice site about midway in the camping area.

I was actually right next to the birding blind. It didn't look like anyone was doing much to take care of it like filling feeders, etc. It was nice with benches and even a picnic table set up nearby. It definitely wasn't busy while I was there.

There were plenty of birds in the park. A whole flock of wild turkeys paraded around frequently.

The park has trees but it is still rather an arid area.

I'm not sure whether these were feral hogs or javelinas (peccaries) but I am leaning more to the javelinas. Feral hogs create a lot of destruction for ranchers and farmers while javelinas are herbivores and only about half the size of feral hogs. The deer followed right along behind the javelinas.

We took a little drive around the park to check out other areas. Although there are alligators, we didn't see any.

We did, however, frequently see the javelinas and deer meandering around the campground.

Mary brought her electric assist trike and very generously let everyone give it a try. It was really fun and that trike can move right along.

We also had a number of new or new to someone rigs so president Jimmie christened them.

It was a fun rally meeting up with longtime and new friends. The weather was great until departure day when it cooled off quite a bit. Until next time.

2021-10-20 A Look at Blanco TX

 I had a post about Blanco in September but it was really mostly about the Blanco State Park. It's a nice small park but one of the big draws is it's close proximity to Blanco. You can walk to the downtown area.

As with most Texas towns, the town square is anchored by the courthouse. You might want to check to see if they still have the free Hill Country Passport boooks which work just like a National Park Passport books.

One side of the square is anchored by Cranberries Antiques.

City Hall is on another side of the square.

And right next store is the City Council Chambers.

There are several other stores along this side as well. Lots of Fall and Halloween decorations.

This store has lots of outside decor items for sale but the inside items are more along the lines of clothes and jewelry.

Across the street is the Old 300 BBQ place.

It's very popular. The food was good but not inexpensive. I missed a picture of the Redbud Cafe which is the anchor on another side of the courthouse. It has great sandwiches and also has music on the weekends. There is a forth side of the square but I didn't get a photo there. I know it would be well worth another look. I think there is another restaurant and possibly a textile store there. It is always nicely decorated but there is no parking right in front.

There is also a hat shop.

Give Blanco a look the next time you head up Hwy 281 from San Antonio.

2021-10-18 Glen Rose Texas

While a large group of women that stayed another day were busy watching the Dallas Cowboys football game on Frankie's outside TV, I decided to see a little more of Glen Rose. Right across the road from the Oakdale RV Park is the City of Glen Rose Big Rocks Park. This is a nice place to walk or hike. 

It's right along a river and there is a dam with a way to cross the Paluxy river.

And then there is a whole field of very large rocks.

After checking out the park, I headed a few blocks down the road to the town center. As is the case with many Texas towns, the courthouse anchors the town square.

These are the Barnard's, the first family of Glen Rose. The main street is named after them.

Charles and his brother George operated a trading post on the Brazos River. They did a lot of trading with the Comanche Indians and treated them fairly. One of their barters included the freeing of captive Juana Cavasos, the daughter of a wealthy south Texas family. Charles and Juana were married in 1848. Sometime later, after most of the Indians were relocated to reservations, they bought land and established Barnard's Mill which was later renamed Glen Rose. In 1870 they moved back to the Brazos River site but Glen Rose survived.

There is a museum which I will check out on my next trip to the area.

Many of the stores were not open since it was Sunday.

Somerville County history......

Lots of Halloween and Fall decor.

Two places that were open were "Step Back in Time" and "Pie Peddlers".

Step Back in Time had counters of candy to tempt.

Lots of items to look at on the old fashioned shelves.

And an old fashioned lunch and soda counter. They had different kinds of sandwiches which were made in a kitchen at the back of the store as well as........

Lots of ice cream and fountain type items.

Right next store was "Pie Peddlers". One of the other women gave their pies a try on an earlier day and reported that they were very good. I can vouch for the ice cream at "Step Back in Time".

2021-10-17 Glen Rose TX Texas Ramblin' Roses Rally

 We have had several rallies at the Oakdale RV Park in Glen Rose Texas. The original family campground was opened in 1925 as a campground and motor court built around the largest swimming pool in Texas at that time (300,000 gallons). It was owned by the city for many years. It is now privately owned and one of the only private RV parks in the country listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are 120 RV spaces with full hookups, 20 tent sites with electric, 20 cabins, two bunkhouses and a 95 year old dance hall which is now an event center or rally room in our case.

Friday morning, Tricia Harvey taught us the ASL alphabet. It was fun and gave us all a better understanding of the deaf and their special language.

Friday afternoon, Olivia Dyer taught quite a few women a new craft. It involved a pizza pan, some rough rope, and a glue gun.

The finished product looked great. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of a completed product but everyone thought it was pretty neat. Someone put press and seal plastic wrap over hers and used it to serve appetizers. Another woman was going to put some decorations on hers and use it for a wall hanging. The weather was nice so we were able to enjoy sitting outside.

 

Saturday morning Olivia gave a Newcomers Orientation. We had 7 new members at this rally.

Next up were rig christenings...sort of like christening a ship for anyone's new or new to them rig. Members usually tell us a little about their rig, share the name of the rig if they have given it one, and offer tours if they are comfortable with that. Our president Jimmie uses a large watergun for her christenings. There were quite a few christenings this rally but I only got a couple of photos.

Friday night about 43 of us descended on a local Mexican restaurant. Mary Ann coordinated with them in advance and they managed to get enough tables set up on the outdoor patio for us.

Sunday, Harley managed to head out the door without his leash which he never does. He was smart enough to wait for me though. He just wanted to make sure he got to visit with everyone too.

While visiting, we often share some of our new toys as well as methods of doing things. 

We managed to find time to discuss possible upcoming rallies.

Saturday was our potluck dinner. There was a big crowd and a ton of food. No one ever goes hungry at a potluck.

Puzzles and games are always popular at rallies. Farkle has been especially popular at the last several rallies. 

I should have mentioned that there was coffee every morning at the rally hall. Sunday, there were donuts and kolatches as a treat since many leave Sunday. This time quite a few of us stayed until Monday and some even longer. There was a huge crowd sitting outside Sunday afternoon watching the Dallas Cowboys game. Not being a huge football fan, I took the opportunity to do a little more sightseeing in Glen Rose.

See more of Glen Rose in the next post!