Texas Hill Country Rally Reports

Coffee (after a reboot of the fancy coffee machine) and sweeties this morning (yes, we're snacking again!)  And of course, here's Ned with his Ned Book, I mean Ned with his Net Book.

Rally started out this morning with coffee, pigs in a blanket? and cinnamon rolls provided by the owner (Robert) at the Barn.  It was great to sit around there and enjoy every ones company and try to decide what to do today.

Several of us drove into Bulverde to get some groceries.  After lunch we drove over to a local winery, Fawncrest Vineyard to check out the vineyard and do a little wine tasting.  This is a very small winery but with some very good wines.  The owner was a pilot at one time, did ocean sail racing, and had some great stories to tell so he fit in very well with this group.  It was an interesting afternoon.

We arrived back at the campground in time to welcome Larry and Betty from Bryan, TX.  After greeting them we drove down to Gruene (pronounced Green) for an early dinner at the Gristmill.  The food was very good and the weather was nice enough to be seated outside.  This area is the historic area of New Braunfels and will be a place to check out more at a later date. 

Thanks for the report and photos.  Gruene is an interesting place.

Saturday kicked off with the traditional Omelet in a Bag Feast, held in the very nice clubhouse that the RV Resort folks have placed at our disposal (free!).

Picture one is the Omelet Bar ready for the hungry hordes. hoardshords, Bunch.

Picture two is of a couple of starving guys trying to get the cook to boil the bags faster!

Picture three -- Finally! The Feast!

After a morning of conversation, cleaning up, and, in some cases, napping, Lorna led us on an educational and cultural tour of the area.

First the The Heritage Museum of the Hill Country, http://www.heritage-museum.info/, and http://talbot.mrp.txstate.edu/currents/fullstory.jsp?sid=335, where we learned all about the dinosaurs which roamed this area (and left their footprints) 65 to 100 million years ago as well as saw relics of the Homo Sapiens who settled the area sometime more recently. Picture 4.

Next up, Canyon Lake, the major recreational lake in the area.  At the dam, which is several hundred feet high and appears to be more than 1/2 mile across, we were treated to an example of what the proper Texas lady wears when she's on a Saturday excursion with her Daddy. (Picture 5).  Note especially the sunglasses and boots!

Rumor has it that we then went on to a well deserved ice cream break.  Unfortunately, there's no incriminating photographic evidence.....

Then toward home on Lorna's favorite scenic drive featuring a 9 foot wide, 24,000 pound weight limit bridge over a beautiful little stream bordered by large Cypress trees. Sorry, no pics.  Just imagine.....

We wrapped up the day in the usual fashion....(Picture 6).

George and Ruth Drake and friend Ed True left early in the morning and we missed their company throughout the day.  Safe Travels!

More later.....

Don

Thank you for the photos and the descriptions.  I really missed you guys.  I love to be a tourist.  Maybe next time!

Betty

Sounds like you are still having a good time.  We made it to the RGV.

Betty and I want to thank everyone for the hospitality we received while at the Rally this weekend.  I'm just sorry we couldn't have stayed longer.  You're a great bunch of folks and after just a couple days we feel like we've found life long friends!!!!!  We're really looking forward to being able to travel more and meet more of the folks that belong to the whole Framly. 

Lorna is a fantastic organizer and best of all, she has the ability to keep Ned in line!!!!  ;D I think.  We want to thank both of you for hosting.

 

I second all Larry said!

We're sorry you folks had to leave so early, but we did enjoy your company while you were here.  Y'all come back.

I agree with Ned about you leaving early and sure hope Y'all can come back at another time or join us for other Forum rallies.

Sounds like a successful rally and a good time was had by all attendees.  Wish we could have been there.

Today we said good by to Larry and Betty this morning because they had company coming to their place in Bryan this afternoon.  It was great to meet them and get to know them.  Several of us went off in different directions this morning.  Shortly after noon Jackson and Liz Pearce arrived to spend the afternoon with us.  About mid-afternoon we enjoyed a potluck dinner at the club house and spent the rest of the afternoon visiting.  Jackson and Liz left late afternoon so they could arrive back at D'Hanis before dark.  We really enjoyed their visit and glad they could join us.  Later Mary Ann, Jane and I enjoyed a game of Mexican Train making up some of our own rules   The guys did their own thing for the evening.

Big basket of peanuts, big bowl of trail mix, peanut butter filled pretzel chunks, drinks all around......Yep, that's the real Mexican Train!

I just had to watch the opening game of the 2009 MLB season!!!! Braves over the Phils 4-1.  Derek Lowe pitched 8 innings of 2 hit ball for the Braves.  The reliever, Gonzales, made the bottom of the 9th exciting as he tried to give it all back!  Braves hit 3 homers in the first 2 innings, including one by their rookie centerfielder in his first ML at bat.  Go Braves!

Picture 2 is just for proof that Lorna was at yesterday's potluck and not always behind the camera.....;D

Don

Jane and I had a really   nice time - the gathering was intimate which allowed us to get to know everybody to a degree usually not possible with such an event.  Thanks so much to Ned and Lorna for the idea and for their organizational activities.  Thanks to Don and Mary Ann (and Ned and Lorna) for being our chauffeurs - it was a real treat not driving.

John and Jane departed our rally yesterday.  We were glad that you could attend and happy that you enjoyed the rally.  It was wonderful to get to know everyone.  The Nesbitts and Reiters spent the day visiting, running errands and catching up on computer reading or work. 

Today the four of us drove to Fredericksburg with intentions of going to the National Museum of the Pacific War.  However, we could see that they were building a large addition and informed that it should open by December 7th of this year.  So we decided to tour it at another time.  We did enjoy having lunch at one of the many restaurants in town and have ice cream at the local ice cream shop.  On the way to Fredericksburg we stopped at the Wild Seed Farm where we made a couple of purchases.  After the cold and windy day yesterday it was a beautiful day for our adventures today.  Don took a couple of pictures and hopefully he will post them.

I would like to thank everyone that attended the Texas Hill Country Rally for making it a big success and a wonderful time.  It was great to meet some new members of the Framily and hope they will attend some of our other rallies.

As requested by the Rally Boss, here are a couple of the pictures from yesterday.

First the Rally Remainders (are we now an official Mini-Rally?) enjoying coffee and sweet rolls provided by our campground hosts.

Second and third are pictures of my favorite blossoms at Wildseed Farms.  http://www.wildseedfarms.com/

There are no pictures of the alleged ice cream fest.  Maybe it didn't happen.  Ergo, maybe no calories.

Thanks again to Lorna and Ned for being the perfect hosts for a great Rally!

Don and Mary Ann

We sure enjoyed our selves.  It was G R E A T to meet some of our RV Framily friends and get to know them better.  We look forward to meeting again and to meeting others too.  Anytime geography and time works out so that we can participate in other rallys, we will. 

Ned & Lorna; thanks for doing the organization.  And thanks to everyone for taking photos and participating.

Sounds like it was a great rally and a large time was had by all. Wish we could have been there, but we are stuck here in
Houston. The Doctor said on Monday we could be for six months. Maybe more or maybe less.
If anyone is headed this way give us a shout. We are free most days except Mondays.

Dave

Wow - that Passion Flower Vine is gorgeous.  What an unusual flower.  Thanks for sharing it.

Also thanks for sharing the other photos and telling us about your "OFFICIAL" minirally!

ArdraF

ArdraF--

Glad you enjoyed the passion Flower Vine bloom.  There are a few more pictures here http://mmgandddgtravels.blogspot.com/.

Imagine if you will a 15 foot wall of this vine blanketed with hundreds of these 4-5" blossoms!

Don