Number 3 and counting

It seems like only yesterday, but tomorrow (Jan 1st) marks the beginning of our third month on the road. Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Lots of great people, neat places, some really crummy roads, some great food, some lousy fuel prices but in the whole scheme of things we wouldn't trade this for anything. We miss our family and friends but cell phones and email help us keep close.

Today was another walk down memory lane for me as we visited the Aquarena in San Marcos. When I first visited as a sprightly 7 year old in 1952, it was a privately owned attraction that featured mermaids, underwater ballet and characters of all types on an underwater stage built in the San Marcos river. Back then we entered a submarine like structure with large, verticle windows on one side that allowed us to see the actors perform on their underwater stage. That show was stopped some 2o years ago but the old structure is still there.

This artisan fed river begins from several large gashes in the river bed floor some 25 feet below the surface of the crystal clear water. A small fleet of glass bottom boats were available to tour the river allowing most of the passengers to see natures underwater beauty for the first time. The covered boats were about 25 ft long, electric motor driven with benches facing inward to allow the passengers on both sides to look down through the glass bottom.

















The photo on the top shows one of the boats return to the dock. In the background is a building that was used originally as a hotel that supported the attraction, then as a mental institution and now as museum. The property has gone through quite a number of changes since I was last here. The attraction lost its luster as more sophisticated theme parks were built in the area in the 60's and 70's. Money was pumped into the attraction by adding overhead trams to view the river from above but could not keep the property profitable. Eventually the property was sold to Texas State University and is now administered as a marine biology center with the glass bottom boat tours the only vestige of the attraction I once knew. Much of the property is now in pretty rough shape, with vegetation overgrowth and a lack of building maintenance prevalent. Despite all this, the visit was worthwhile. With the passage of time, my curiosity over the years has increased and I could now better appreciate what I was seeing.

The boat captain, a young TSU student, was quite knowledgeable about all the things we were seeing as we moved along the river but, understandably not too up on what was going on when I was here last.

If you look carefully again at the top photo you will see a thin bright blue line that runs just below the old hotel in the background. This concrete wall is the actual beginning of the river. Nothing is upstream, other that an underground aquifer that is about the size of Delaware some 3000 feet underground. This aquifer forces the water underground to this point and forces itself out large crevasses on the river bottom. We were told that when research divers go down to these aqua vents the current is best described as like sticking your head out the window of a moving car doing 50 mph. Sport divers are allowed to dive here but only after a weekend training class. They say they have quite a waiting list to get in.

The photo on the bottom shows some of our boat mates looking down into the clear water.

Our camp is about 5 miles downstream from the attraction and I was wondering why there were not any trout in the clear waters. One of the things I didn't think of was that we were told the water temperature is a constant 72 degrees at the headwaters so it probably warms up from there; not too good for trout I would think.

So I think this now ends my nostalgia stops for this leg of the trip. I've visited all the places that have been held in my memory since childhood and the only other ones left are Louisville Kentucky and Philadelphia Pennsylvania...I'll get to those next year, maybe. My dear wife has been very accommodating in allowing me this trip down memory lane. We've had some great fun and now know you can, go back.... but just be aware that all things change.

We left Aquarena and headed for Austin about 40 miles to the north. We did a little shopping, I got a haircut, brought some groceries and headed home to spend a quiet New Year's eve. Tomorrow we'll begin packing for our next leg of the trip taking us to Alamo Texas, down in the southern tip of Texas about 250 miles from here and just ahead of a cold front. It should be about 20 degrees warmer there. Stay tuned....


Some of the things we've learned on the journey: Texas State Police use pickup trucks. A few roads in Arkansas are almost too steep. The plowed farm fields of Indiana are really beautiful. A small town in Texas called Gruene (Green) uses the slogan "Gently Resisting Change Since 1872" (I think I've worked with some people from there before). Lincoln's casket is encased in concrete to prevent theft. Some Texas wine is pretty good. Oklahoma casino owners need to visit the Chippewa Indians in Michigan to see how to do it right. Digging for diamonds could be habit forming. Two of the best things about owning an RV is you sleep in your own bed every night and you don't have to pack and unpack. Living in a 10'x40' mobile box with your mate of 41 years is a lot better than many think. There are more small dogs in RV parks than RV's. Riding around the Indy 500 track, even in a bus, can give you goose bumps. Ice tea that comes already sweetened is bad. If we didn't have the Internet we would probably be lost. Good neighbors and family who look after your house when you're gone is a blessing. Beef brisket (from Black's Barbecue in Lockhart TX) is now one of our favorite foods. Nostalgia trips are good for you. RV repair centers let you park overnight for free; however I they somehow squeeze in a few bucks in the bill to cover the stay. I still don't like country music. Seems like people in small out-of-way towns are friendlier. Trying to cash a check, when you're from out of state, is next to impossible. You can really miss seeing your grand kids. Coney Island hot dogs do not exist in Texas. Beef ribs are not as good as pork ribs.

Happy New Year to One and All.............Phil & Sharon