Enchanted Rock State Park

The weather was gorgeous a few days ago--sunny, not a cloud in the sky, high temp around 70.  We decided to take advantage of the great weather and drove out to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, 17 miles north of Kerrville, Texas.  It spans 1,643 acres with a pink granite dome that rises approximately 425 feet.  The Summit Trail is .39 miles long and goes to the top of the rock.  It takes about 45 minutes to climb to the top.

Almost there!

 

On the Summit Trail

Almost to the top

Look how far we've gone!

At the top!

Hope the rock doesn't roll onto me!

When we reached the bottom of the rock we decided we had enough energy to walk on the Echo Canyon Trail.  This trail is only .17 miles long but it took us longer to walk it because we had to climb over and off of large rocks that were in the creek in the canyon.  We were hoping to find the trail to a small lake but we took a wrong turn and wound up climbing a difficult steep slope.  We had to use trees roots to help us up!  We gave up looking for the lake because it was 3:30 and I was worried it would get dark before we got back to the car, especially since we were getting tired and walking slower than before.





Oh-oh! My foot got jammed in the rocks!

 

Big step up!

Respite from climbing in the canyon

Even in the wilderness, a port a potty

50 steps to climb to the parking lot! Ugh!

Texas Part 2

We had a real change of weather recently.  After 4 days of rain the sun FINALLY came out again so we decided to go for a walk.  We went to Leon Creek Greenway which is a paved walk/bike path that's almost 4 miles long.  We were all ready for a long walk! After a mile and a half we came to the creek bed which is usually dry but after 4-5" of rain the path was about 1 1/2' under water so we had to turn around.  So much for the long walk!

 

Beautiful Sunshine!

 

Leon Creek Greenway Map

Paved Path

The path is at least 1 1/2' underwater

View of the creek

 

After a couple of days of sunshine-y weather a cold front blew through and temperatures dipped to below freezing at night and the highs stayed in the 40's.  We used our holding tank heaters for the first time to make sure they didn't freeze.  Never fear! This is South Texas where the weather changes on a dime.  In 4 days the high will be back up to 71!!

Texas!

We spent about a month in Kerrville, Texas at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort, about an hour's drive from San Antonio.  While it is a very pretty RV park, it does not have a lot of trees--and I love trees!  While there we drove into Fredericksburg, Texas and did some Christmas shopping and wine tasting.

During that month we flew to Baltimore, Maryland for an 8-day visit with our son, daughter-in-law, and baby grandson.  I'm glad we visited then because we got to see the beautiful color of the leaves!  We enjoyed our visit with you. Thank you for your hospitality. See you in San Antonio for Christmas!

We moved to Texas 281 RV Park on HWY 281 and 46 on November 17.  We are about 20 minutes from Loop 1604.  It is an older RV park with some permanent residents but it is very quiet, the location is convenient, and I love the trees!  The weather has been gorgeous--sunny with pleasant temperatures in the low 70's.  Sometime this week a cold front should be bringing rain and highs around 60.  Brrr!

We spent a very enjoyable Thanksgiving afternoon in San Antonio with our son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters.  What a feast they prepared!  Dinner was delicious with a Rudy's BBQ smoked turkey, sweet potatoes, cornbread and sausage dressing, creamed corn, cranbrosia, and dinner rolls followed by dessert during the Dallas Cowboys game and a game of Mexican Train Dominos.  Thank you for a great day.

Mm-mm!

For our first Christmas in our tiny home we decided to put up a real Christmas tree.  Since we don't want to haul Christmas decoration around the country, we only put lights and ribbon on the tree.  I also made some new pillow covers and a banner from fabric.  Christmas shopping is all done and the gifts are wrapped.  I even had time to make a Christmas outdoor planter! I LOVE being retired!

Found the perfect tree!

Changeable pillow covers.  A set for every season!

We have been spending our time walking and occasionally riding bikes at McAlister Park.  It has many paved, tree lined paths.  Lovely, quiet place to spend time especially during the week when kids are in school and most people are working.

When we're hanging around the RV we enjoy sitting outside under the trees and enjoying an adult beverage while playing dominos. 

Selfie!

Don't think too hard--I'll probably win!

All set up and ready for Christmas!

View behind our loungers

Hot Springs, Arkansas Part 2

Bathhouse Row is at the base of Hot Springs Mountain.  Several walking trails of various lengths go around and up the mountain.  We walked up some stairs from Bathhouse Row to the Promenade which is a wide 1/2 mile walkway which circles behind Bathhouse Row.  In its heyday the Promenade was a place bathhouse patrons could stroll for exercise.

The Promenade

We walked on the Tower Trail which goes to the top of the mountain where there is a 216 ft observation tower and museum. On the way up we saw smoldering fires which were part of a National Park Service controlled burn.  We saw a few trees with turning leaves, but we were a few weeks too early for the brilliant color.



Smoky!

On the trail














Crossing the road near the top

The Tower

 

 

 


Hot Springs Greenway Trail is a paved bike/walking path that is 4.2 miles long and runs along Hot Springs Creek and a former railroad line.  In many places the railroad embankment was incorporated into the path.  We biked it several times.

Also in Hot Springs is Lake Ouachita State Park.  The drive to the park and the park were scenic.  The lake's beach is covered in slate, which is a type of rock formed from clay by high heat and pressure.  It resembled sheets of tile.

We spent a whole afternoon walking around Garvin Woodland Gardens, a 210 acre botanical garden managed by the University of Arkansas.  There was so much to see there that we could easily have spent 2 afternoons there!

 

We left Hot Springs for Texas on October 23.  It was a beautiful sunny morning when we hit the road.

On to Texas for the holidays!