La Gloria

We decided to drive back to San Antonio and head for the River Walk. We wondered if the new section of the river was open to the boats and whether we could travel up and back. Traffic was light, and we easily found a good parking spot just off St. Mary's Drive and walked back one block and entered the River Walk area. We quickly found a boat with only one other family on it and asked our questions, purchased tickets and headed north to the new extension. This part had been open for over a year, but we had not found the time to visit it. Under each bridge you pass is located some art work which was interesting. The huge fish hung on the I-35 bridge were fun and are lit from within at night. The boat drove into a lock, and we were quickly raised nine feet and then left the lock to travel onward. The natural flow of the river produces the necessary water with no pumps necessary unless it is a period of drought. The river is landscaped and has walking and biking paths which were being used as we traveled along. We stopped at the northern terminus and got off. Our boat turned around, and we waved as we left to explore the old Pearl Brewery, which is now home to restaurants and organizations like the Culinary Institute of America. This is the third location for this institute. Their main home is in Hyde Park, New York and the other in Napa Valley, California.

Right on the edge of the river is located La Gloria, a restaurant that specializes in interior Mexican street food. As you enter the building, you are given a menu or can read the menu board and decide what to order. You are then given a number, and the food once cooked is brought to your table. We decided to eat outside where it was quieter and found a table over looking the river. Shortly we were brought our lunch of tapas, fish tacos, and mole. Dos Equis beer finished the treat. The food was spicy but good and the atmosphere delightful.

We then explored a farmers market, which was closing up, and some stores before wandering back to the river and our return trip. While waiting for the boat to arrive, we met a couple from Fort Worth who were having a weekend vacation. We visited all the way back. Another entry on our Christmas list, I think. We will miss being able to visit San Antonio but plan to return in the future. Happy travels.

Rian finally arrives

Yesterday Rian, a cabinet maker, finally arrived with the trim for the repaired slide and our table. Not all went quite as expected. We wanted him to make us a drop leaf, gate legged table, cherry in color that would match our interior. Imagine our surprise when he appeared with a table that had only one leaf and no functioning gate leg. Instead, he had devised a leg that you insert into the table leaf. It was not at all what we had in mind, and finally we sent it back with him to at least get the second leaf generated and attached. The second problem was the color, which was a light cherry color, not at all the color of our decor, which he had stained to begin with when he made our floor cabinets across the slide.

Rian put up the trim which included crown molding and had troubles, since the frame is metal and only the surfaces are wood and thin plywood at that. His nail gun really did not do the job, and some of the trim will have to be remade and installed, as it is quite sloppy. The problem is that we are leaving Kerrville on Wednesday, and there is not enough time to get all of this fixed correctly. I guess when we return, Rian will have some repair work to complete. This renovation project has taken many months longer than we ever anticipated, thanks to Rian's delays, but someday it will get done. We may be quite old, though.

Other renovation projects remain to be completed like removing the television from over the front area and installing a new flat television behind our fireplace. Oh, the plans we have. I hope we live long enough. Enough whining! At least it is livable, although Foxy is not a happy camper, and when Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Amen to that. Happy travels.

Prognosis is rain

I woke up to more gentle rain. We need the moisture, and so this is good. Max finally got up and really did not seem to want to go outside but did. I think that rain interferes with his sniffing, so we are not quite finished with his morning oblations. Currently the rain has stopped, so maybe we can get back with the program.

I do wonder how Ike and Jewell are making out in the Carolinas and also Harper, Ashley and Tom are doing there as well. Hopefully the hurricane misses the East Coast and heads back out into the Atlantic Ocean. There is nothing wonderful about those winds and rain generated by such a storm. Happy travels.

Raindrops

Tonight we had a wonderful gentle rain. Since it has not rained much here, if at all, in quite a while, it was delightful to hear the patter of the rain on the roof of the motor home. It sounded so good that I had to go outside and sit under the awning to enjoy. I think I learned to like these soothing sounds when I first had a tent trailer that was put together from a kit that allowed our small family and three boys to go camping. What wonderful afternoons we had when the boys would quiet down for a rest/nap, and we would read out loud stories like Tolkin's Hobbit or Trilogy of the Rings. Best of all was the chance of an afternoon rainstorm and the rain on the canvas roof. What a magnificent sound and so restful. Happy travels.

Tamale Warehouse

Today we got treated to lunch at the Tamale Warehouse here in Kerrville by good friends Ron and Paula. We were going to another Mexican restaurant when both Foxy and Paula read about this one in the local paper. It features New Mexican cuisine with the chiles from Hatch, New Mexico, and very tasty. We even sampled green and red tamales. Conversation went non-stop, and the time flew. I do recommend if you like New Mexican cuisine and need a chile fix, this is worth trying. It was not too spicy, so if you really like it hot, picante, then you might be a bit disappointed. I do not feel the need to break out in beads of sweat by eating very hot food. I prefer tasty.

After lunch Ron and Paula gave us a ride to Ronnie Bock's RV dealership, where our car had been getting attention so that we could tow this car behind our motor home. With the base plate attached to the front of our car, we quickly drove home and plan to make sure it all connects correctly tomorrow. Once we finish our motor home update on the inside, maybe tomorrow, we will then be ready to depart. It has been quite a long time since we have actively traveled with the motor home, so some shake down may be necessary. Thanks, Ron and Paula, for a wonderful lunch and your continuing friendship. Happy travels.

Fish Grill

Yesterday while in San Antonio we decided to have lunch at a fish grill in the southeast shopping center at the intersection of 281 and the outer loop. As we walked in, Foxy wondered out loud, "What do you suppose they serve in there?" There was a bit of a pause and out came the answer, "Fish, maybe?" I can't help myself. By now Foxy is used to me and did not hit or murder me, although she has every right.

We had poor boys with fried oysters, salads, and shared some french fries. It was all washed down with Shiner Bock beer. No dinner for us that night. We love to eat a good lunch and then skip dinner or graze on leftovers or other snacks.

After a bit of more shopping we headed back to Kerrville. At one point we got a call from the business manager where we bought our Malibu. She had to redo some of the paperwork, and would we come in and sign the new papers. Our monthly payment would even go down a bit. When we arrived at the dealer's, we signed the paperwork and decided to shorten the time of the loan since the payments would only go up some. How nice of this person to work out the best possible deal for us. That is Kerrville for you. Happy travels.

September is here

How did it get to be September so quickly? This year we do not have to work the Labor Day party at Guadalupe. Too many people, the bands seems too loud to me and go on forever, and too many drink too much. I think I got too many too's in that last sentence. So it should be a quiet day for us as we get the finishing touches done here to leave on the ninth.

Yesterday we made a quick trip to San Antonio as we had some presents to get for new family arrivals. Two of my sister's boys are having or will have babies. One boy has already arrived, and another will do the same soon. My sis and her husband love being grandparents, as do we.

One daughter and family have arrived in Costa Rica and will live there for the next eight months as they get intensive Spanish language training. The other daughter and her family have arrived back in this country from Brazil, where they spent two weeks setting up an exchange program for her college clarinet students. Horizons are broadening here for both families. Traveling seems to be in the families' blood. Happy travels.