On to San Marcos..almost

A little tough leaving the Dallas area for several reasons. Sharon's sister and her husband live nearby and we'll miss seeing them. Their hospitality and generosity were as usual, outstanding. Their beautiful home (also occupied by a monster 3 lb dog who has a penchant for licking ears) was a welcome sight compared to our slightly cramped quarters.

As you can see John and Linda's house was well decorated for the holidays. However I think it still needs about 12 inches of snow to really get into the spirit.

Just prior to leaving the Dallas area our daughter Leigh and her family flew in to spend a week with us. Their trip would be split up as they would spend a couple of days with us at an apartment at the RV park then follow us down to the San Marcos area for the remainder of the trip. Since this Texas experience was new to all of us, we had many decisions to make as to where to go, what to see, and most importantly... where to eat. It was so good to have them join us as we've not been away from family for this long... ever. Unfortunately the weather was not too cooperative as a cold, rainy system swept through northern Texas and for the first couple of days and it was not unlike Michigan weather.

Also before leaving the Dallas area we decided to attend a real Texas rodeo so we headed for the Ft. Worth Stockyards to see the Friday night show. We got there a little early to do a little shopping and to see the cattle drive they run through the small town where the stockyards are located.

Everyone knows you can't go to a rodeo unless you look like a cowboy so it was off to the shops in search of hats and boots. All the girls got cowgirl hats and Austin and Allison got boots as well.

I abstained from altering my appearance wanting to stand out as a true tourist. Besides they were all out of chaps in my size.

When the Texans have a cattle drive they don't parade a couple of old Guernsey cows down the street they do it like everything else here... in a big way. They brought out their Longhorns and what a sight they are. I thought I'd go out into the street to get a better photo of these beasts but the herding cowboys said to stay on the curb. After sizing up those horns that are over 5 ft wide and those sharp ends, I quickly agreed.

The stockyard area is a great place to visit even though it is a true tourist trap. Lots of interesting people from all parts of the world visit this place so you get a lot of Texas history blended with a wide variety of junk for the tourist.













One of the neat things they have done here is to memorialize famous western heroes of the past by putting large stars into the concrete sidewalks throughout the area. Many I had heard of and many I had not but it was fun reading them as you walked along. Not exactly the Hollywood walk of Fame but a good Texas version anyway.

The rodeo arena has some historic importance as it was the sight of the first indoor rodeo the world had ever see. Around 1917 they staged the first show and it's been going ever since.





As you enter the arena grounds you see the gynormous (new word I learned from my granddaughter Allison) facade with old wooden doors across the front.



I stopped our gang for a quick photo to give you some appreciation for the size and looks of the place.


You don't have to actually go inside the place to know that it's a place where horses and cattle hang out. On the damp dark night we were there, the air was already heavy and hung low allowing us and even greater sensory experience than we had hoped for.

The arena, though imposing on the outside, probably held less than 5 thousand people and was lined with bleacher seating and an inside tier of box seats. We opted for the boxes so as to get everyone a close as possible to the action.

The show started with some patriotic fanfare and a young women singing the national anthem. Considering the venue, her talent was appropriate. The lights were already dim and a cloud of fog appeared across the dirt floor. With Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" roaring from every speaker, a phoenix like rider appeared from the mist on a white horse, American flag in hand, and began riding around the arena. She was a pretty little filly all dressed up in cowgirl stuff but could she ride that horse. At first a slow trot then as the lyrics 'born to be an American... echoed throughout the building, she picked up speed .. faster and faster around she went with the flag whipping behind her. It was such a sight. Americana at it finest.

The first event was bull riding. Or some might say, stupid guys trying to ride angry animals for some sort of ego trip. We've all seen rodeos on TV but live...that's another story. These guys are thrown about like a chicken in pit bull's mouth. They get tossed in the air and land in positions that defy traditional anatomy. They get stepped on and kicked in areas that will alter their ability to have a fun Saturday night date for months to come.

Calf roping was a bummer for the girls. They didn't like the rough treatment of the animals. They probably wouldn't have liked living on the range with Laura Ingalls either.

A real cowboy will always wear his hat in such events. However some of the young, smarter ones have taken to wearing a helmet. Not quite so snappy as a Stetson but most will be able to count and complete a sentence or two after the rodeo season.




The normally full arena was nearly empty this night; apparently due to the weather but we shared our fun with a busload of Japanese businessmen who came in early and left early. Apparently calf roping is a poor second to Sumo wrestling.










All in all it was a well spent evening but we did work up an appetite. We checked around several places and discovered that several were a little pricey (like Riscky's) so we finally headed uptown to the Star Cafe for hamburgers, chicken fried steak, and a hot dog. Again...Americana at its finest.

So up early the next morning and off to San Marcos....but wait...

Almost to Austin (on very busy I35) and I notice I have lost most of the electrical systems on the coach. No tach, no air horn, no 120 volts to run the frig... egads the sky is falling and I'm in the middle of an Austin rush hour in three solid lanes of traffic and wondering if everything will quit and I'll back up traffic all the way to Nome Alaska.

So the batteries are losing their charge and I'm just losing it so I figure I better find a place to pull over and call for a little advice. I reach a guy a Camper World in San Marcos who advises me to chat with the Monaco dealership across the street. He calms me down about 120 heart beats per minute and says I'll probably make it okay to my San Marcos camp. I did, and now have an appointment Wednesday to see the nice man who will fix my problems... I hope. The joys of camping and RV ownership are not without peril. But it's all part of the experience and......

We're still livin' the dream.