Texas 2017 - Spring Trip

We departed home on Thursday, March 16^th for our annual trip to Texas.  We were on a family mission for a good part of the trip.  After spending the night in Forrest City, AR we headed for Austin, TX and McKinney Falls State Park.  We arrived on Friday, March 17^th around 6pm so we didn’t have a chance to get out and explore the park.  On Saturday morning we hiked to the camp store and then on to the Upper Falls.  Later in the day Susan’s nephew and wife along with their 16month old son joined us for a cookout.  We spent the afternoon visiting and playing with the little one.  The big music fest, South by Southwest was occurring in Austin and Susan’s nephew won tickets to the Garth Brooks concert so they had to leave to get their son home for the babysitter.

Bluebonnets

  Susan's nephew Steve with Callen

McKinney Falls - Upper Falls

On Sunday morning we drove down to San Antonio, and stayed at the Riverwalk RV Park.  After getting everything set-up, we took Uber down to the Pearl Brewery Complex and had lunch in the Boiler House Restaurant.  We met another of Susan’s nephews and his wife at the new Emma Hotel, which was built in the old Pearl Brew House.  Susan’s nephew had arranged a private tour of the hotel with the architect of record and now the hotels historian.  Susan’s father had been the assistant brew master and then head brew master for 36 years until he passed away of a heart attack on the golf course at the age of 53.  One of the suites was named after him and we got a chance to walk through the suite.  Much of the old brewery equipment from the original brewery can be found throughout the many re-modeled buildings on the Pearl Brewery site.  There are seventeen restaurants and a culinary school, apartment buildings and shops.  The complex can be also reached by the water taxi from downtown San Antonio.

Pearl Brewery Complex

Old stairs and elevator to the upper level of the brewhouse

The matador picure used to hang in my father-in-laws office.  It is now proudly hung just inside the Men's Restroom in the hotel lobby.

One of the suites named after Susan's father

The stein room where Susan and her twin would do their homework after school

Looking out from the stein room to the door to my father-in-laws office, now the bridal changing room

Early Monday morning we headed for Galveston Island State Park.  This marks the third straight trip to Galveston Island S.P.  Susan’s twin sister made several trips over from her home in La Marque, TX and we either went out to dinner or grilled at our campsite.  The weather was beautiful all four days and we had an amazing sunrise each morning.  Long walks on the beach and sitting in our chairs catching the rays took up most of the days.  On Wednesday we met Susan’s older sister, her husband and Susan’s twin for lunch.  It was a great time to catch up on Susan’s family.

 Susan's twin sister Sally with Maggie Mae

 Blue Heron at sunrise

 Anyone recognize the foot print, something eating off the log

Susan's twin sister Sally and older sister Bobbe

Portuguese Man O War

Shells, Shells, & more Shells

Small crab moving across the sand

Turtle crossing the road.  The turtle withdrew into his shell.

On Thursday, we had GetMe (like Uber) pick us up and take us down to the Strand.  We spent the day shopping and found a place Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar where we had lunch.  The Gumbo and the Shrimp Po-boy were the best I have ever had.  We bought chocolate and salt water taffy to take home, and had some homemade ice cream before heading back to our campsite.  We grilled out Tuesday thru Thursday nights and enjoyed the weather.

The Strand in downtown Galavestion

 Little Daddy's Gumbo Bar

 Historic buildings that survived the 1900 hurricane

Entrance to the Galveston version of Mardi Gras

On Friday morning we headed to Richardson, TX, just outside Dallas to visit my mother.  She had moved into a new assisted living place the week before.  They had a piano player for a 1 hour show and many of the residents were already seated when we walked in.  Mom had a table so we joined her, accompanied by our yellow lab, Sarah.  We settle in for a wonderful hour of old songs.  Following the show Sarah immediately became the hit if the day as numerous people stopped to pet her and say how much they enjoyed having her there.

We visited with my mom and she went to dinner and Susan and I grabbed a Uber to get dinner and then return for another visit.  The assisted living place was kind enough to allow us to camp in the parking lot.  We had the lot to ourselves.  In the morning we said our goodbyes and headed for Memphis, TN to visit Susan’s brother. 

 I-40 bridge over the Mississippi River

Memphis Skyline

We camped in the driveway.  Susan’s sister-in-law prepared an amazing dinner and around 10pm it was time to get some sleep as we had a long drive home.  We forgot to take pictures while we were at Susan's brothers.  We had breakfast and left around 8:30 a.m. for the drive home.  We arrived back in Carmel, IN  around 5:30 p.m. and unloaded the camper.

They say things happen in three’s and I tend to agree.  On the way down as we passed through Texarkana, TX the temperature hit 81 and we turned on the A/C.  Guess what there was no A/C.  The vent would have to suffice.  I need to get the truck in and have this checked.  Hopefully it is nothing more than a fuse.  The first night of camping Susan turned on the hot water heater.  After dinner she went to do the dishes and discovered there was no hot water.  In the dark, even with a flashlight, I did see anything.  The next morning I opened the panel and discovered the cut-off melted and the four wires in the wire bundle melted.  The gas tube must have been partially blocked.  I contacted Attwood and they provided me a list of repair places in Indianapolis.  I posted this with a photo on Wander the West.  The third issue was my pulling in my brother-in-laws driveway on the circular drive with low hanging pine branches, and not pulling in at the clear drive to the garage.  Needless to say my brother-in law and Susan were trying to hold branches back from the truck and the camper.  My right rear wheel became stuck off the driveway.  Even in 4-wheel drive, I was unable to move forward.  I decided to back out very slowly and ended up backing into a tree, bending the cargo carrier, no damage to the truck or camper.  The camper had some pin strips and a very small dent at the driver’s side of the cab over.  I will have to figure out a way to straighten out the cargo carrier.

All in all we had a great time and great weather,  We missed some very damaging storms with golf ball and softball size hail that hit Texas and Arkansas on Saturday and Sunday.