2025-8-13 Dinner at The 11th Street Cowboy Bar in Bandera TX

 This was a very busy day and we weren't done yet. We were off to the 11th Street Cowboy Bar in Bandera. 

Every Wednesday they have an event where you bring your own meat, whatever kind you want. You buy a "set-up" from them which includes a huge baked potato with all the trimmings, a garden salad, a roll, and the plastic silverware. 

First we poked our heads into the main bar because Carolyn wanted to take some photos.

Then we went down to the next entrance which leads to the open area where the cooking and dancing occurs.

We made reservations the day before and came early as the later evening looked like a storm. So that's why things look a little empty here.

You can see why we were a little concerned about getting rained out.

First we found our reserved table which was right near the secondary stage. The band usually sets up on a big stage which is open to the elements but they decided to play it safe too.

They set up several huge charcoal grills and fire them up early. The look on my face is from the heat! They also have all the different seasonings that are popular as well as the tools to do the cooking. You cook your own.

This was right after we put our steaks on the grill. The guy to my right was cooking appetizers for his group first. Then he put the steaks on. Others also had pork chops, sausage, or chicken. No burgers as they would have fallen through the bars. Can you see the steak on the top left? It's called a tomahawk and was about 2 1/2 inches thick as well as huge.

Carolyn posed......I cooked! She also took pictures.

As you can see, we actually needed a second plate for the steaks! It was all delicious.

The band was very good and played a wide variety of music.

We figured we were very lucky our table was under cover as the sky kept getting blacker.

There was also a bar where you could order drinks in here. People bring their kids and the atmosphere is family oriented in case you wondered.

We had a great time. The food was wonderful. The band very good. If you are ever in Bandera on a Wednesday evening, you won't want to miss this. I have been there with two other groups and it's a fun time. And......we managed to get through the evening with only a few sprinkles although we could hear thunder when the band took a break.

2025-8-13 Garner State Park TX

 Garner is the most popular of all of the Texas State Parks. RV sites are snapped up quickly almost all year round. Day passes are also very popular. We decided on taking a chance to get in since it was Thursday. It was also the first week that Texas kids go back to school. 

You can tell how busy it is on weekends especially when you see that they have three rows of sites to park your RV in while you head inside the building to check in. You would think that we were still back in the scary covid days because they only let one or two people from a single site into the room with rangers for check-in at a time.

They are doing construction on the main road leading in from the ranger station. They have a manned stop light just into the area past the ranger station. You sit there until it turns green before proceeding on. There is one at the other end of the construction area too. It does a pretty good job of keeping the traffic in check while they are doing the work on the road. Once you make it down the road into the area where the store and dance pavilion are located, you can see the sweet shop with the miniature golf area behind it.

Lots of things going on in the park so lots of signs telling you where things are located.

The Civilian Conservation Corps did many amazing things around the country back in the 1930s and we are still benefiting from those projects today.

Summer dances have been held on the huge patio area of the dance pavilion since the 1940s. Generations of families have been coming for the Juke box dance since it opened and the parking lots and gates close as early as 8:30pm

There is lots to do at Garner at any time. The river flows through it. In addition to RV and tent sites in several different areas, they also have both screened shelters and cabins.

There are picnic tables along the river under the shady trees for those who come for the day to picnic, swim, or fish.

Hiking is also popular.

We saw a few of these turkey buzzards waiting to get a tasty nibble.

Garner is a great place to visit or camp at any time of the year.

2025-8-13 Headed to Leakey TX on one of the Three Twisted Sisters Roads

We left Medina and turned on to Ranch Road 337.

From Medina, we got on Ranch Road 337. Carolyn had heard of this road.

Ranch Road 337, along with Ranch Road 335, and Ranch Road 337 are known far and wide even beyond the Texas Hill Country as the Three Twisted Sisters loved by motorcyclist for all their twists and turns. My husband and son ride them whenever they can often choosing to stay for a couple of nights in Leakey and ride about 250 miles over them each day.

Ranch Road 337 starts out relatively straight meandering past ranches small and large. 

Then it gets more hilly and twisty.

These roads are fun to ride but are not to be taken lightly. Common sense is definitely needed.

The stretch we were on to start was not the most twisty and hilly of the three. We reached the town of Leakey (pronounced lakee).

One of the motorcyclists favorite places to stop is the Hog Pen.

It's an open air kind of place with lots of picnic tables on the property.

More centrally located in Leakey is the Bear's Den.

Up front is a gas station. Pumps are located on the left just outside the picture.

Definitely part of the charm is the unique decor along with the variety of things for sale inside the building. There are many similar front parts of vehicles on the wall along with the groceries and many souvenir items on display for sale.

 

Back behind the service station/store area is the restaurant. When we spent some time at Garner State Park in the past, this was the place to come to get Internet access.

The employees are very gracious and welcoming whether you are there to use the Internet, have a drink to quench your thirst or buy lunch which looked darn good.

Lots of interesting decor along with a couch, chairs, and giant TV in the center of the room.

It turns out the owner who was not there while we visited is a Louisianna LSU fan bigtime. This whole are was decorated with LSU memorabilia.

Since it was still early and it was a Thursday, we decided to head on down the road a piece to Garner State Park.