Ole'

Nope ... we're not on the Autobahn in Germany.  This 85mph highway (I-130) here in south central Texas is this nation's highest legal speed limit interstate.  Running roughly north/south in parallel with traffic choked I35 between Waco and San Antonio, this toll road was all but empty of traffic.  I've taken the highway several times because I think it's just plain safer than I35.  I think the old TrailBlazer would still do 85mph but not under my watch.  Both the car and driver are far more comfortable at 75mph. So if you're ever travelling north/south through Texas and have a few extra buck for the toll charge, enjoying driving without bumper to bumper traffic, give it a try.  You'll bypass most of Austin, all of San Marcos and New Braunfels, and enter San Antonio when you connect to west bound I-10.

Go baby ... go

Our day trip today was San Antonio.  Though not quite as big as Austin, it sure seems as if it is.  With a freeway system that resembles a bowl of spaghetti, getting around the sprawling city keeps your hands on the wheel and eyes not gawking around.  Therefore it's a nightmare for me.  I like to look around and see the sights but not a good thing to do here.  After a little shopping on the west side of town we decided to head downtown to the big city market.  With Mexican knick knacks of all descriptions and neat things like the pottery below, it's fun to see what other cultures make for us tourists.

Hand Painted Pottery R Us

Knick-Nack Patty-Wack ... Something for all

Located across the street from the market was a place we last visited when our kids flew down here about five years ago. Mi Tierra Cafe and Bakery (www.mitierracafe.com))... a combination Mariachi bar, restaurant, and bakery ... virtual wall-to-wall eye candy.  Bright colors, spinning shiny mobiles suspended from the tin covered ceiling, a Mariachi guitar player warming up with an old George Benson jazz tune, crystal white table clothes on Spanish style tables, and ... and a long glassed-in case filled with some of very special goodies.

My bride ready for some south-of-the-border goodies 

Here's what you're greeted with when you walk through the door.  How could you not like this place?

The place where smiles are born.

Colors, textures, nuts, fruits ... I could on and on.  Pralines of all types and colors.

Mexican bakeries know how to tempt you.

So another day trip is in the log.  Other than the intense traffic on the west side of San Antonio, it was another rewarding and beautiful clear day in Texas.

Still livin' the dream in Central Texas ... but not for long as we're hitting the road again soon.

Phil

Astro pairing

Okay astronomy buffs.  Look closely at this image I took tonight.

It's not the almost full moon I'm talking about but that little white speck about 4 inches to the left.

In a rare juxtaposition, the planet Jupiter can be clearly seen next to our moon in tonight's sky.  Better get out there quick as you won't see this close pairing again till 2016.

And here you thought we spent all our time in crummy diners.

Still livin' the dream on a clear night in Texas.

Phil

ps ... For you photo buffs ... I shot this with my Canon 5D and an 800mm catadioptric mirror lens.

Birthday at the Barbie

Betcha' thought we'd given up on dining out at new places. And ... at new places with friends from back home at that!  If you'll remember Judi and Charlie, our neighbors from South Haven were visiting their son in Austin for a few days so we managed to find a place south east of Austin called "The Salt Lick' (www.saltlickbbq.com) to meet and eat.  Rustic chic might best describe this well known ranch house style facility that was located next to a rather large vineyard and its adjacent tasting room.  More about the restaurant later.

Bill, June, Sharon and I arrived a little early, took a little tour of the place and took a table.  The eatery was almost empty but it was only 4 o'clock I thought, and after all it was a Tuesday, so maybe our little group was all they had going this evening.  The next thing I heard was a lady stepping up to the counter and pronouncing "our party of fifty is arriving".  So much for eating alone.  And that was just the beginning.  A pretty steady stream of patron continued to filter even as we were leaving.  I can only imagine what a warm weather weekend might be like.

Anyway ... Here's a few pictures of the place and as a special surprise it was Charlie's birthday.  Sharon had baked a little cake, plugged in far too few candles, we sang a stanza of Happy Birthday and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Here's some of that rustic chic I was talking about.

Lots of outdoor eating available but we chose to eat in.  40 degrees is a little cool for a picnic.

As you walk in the door, you're greeted by this 15 foot circular  BBQ pit with all the good stuff smelling up the place.
Sausages hanging from above, ribs, brisket, turkey ... all is good and wonderful!

As I mentioned before, it was Charlie's birthday so with grandson Braydon, wife Judi, son Jason and a cast of almost in tune backup singers, we helped celebrate with song and merriment.

Not so old double nickel Charlie

Maybe a bit more on the food here.  I've now had a chance to try maybe a half a dozen famous BBQ places around these parts.  Most quite honestly make brisket about the same way and if you order it right, it will be juicy and tasty.  Order it without any fat in it and it will usually be dry with a lot less flavor.  This place was no different, however their sausage was better than most as was their ribs and turkey.  Plus it was a bit more tidy than most.  I'm not saying the other places were dirty but they most all could use a little 'sprucing' up.  Even with old beat up tables and benches, nostalgic pieces of old time stuff stuck on the walls, it's still worth the time to visit. Get there early ... I'm warning you!

As you might guess I ordered a combo plate to check out the whole package.  If you look at their website (above), you'll get a better idea on what they have to offer and their prices.  One other item of note is that even though this place has it's own vineyard, they do not serve any alcohol in the restaurant.  As it turns out the restaurant was built on land that was in the 'dry' part of the county (no alcohol sold or served) and the vineyard on the 'wet' part of the property.  The wine area is only the width of a sidewalk away from the dining area but ... rules are rules.  However this kind of unique aspect of the whole arrangement (at least for me) was that you can either bring your own booze (BYOB) or walk over to the wine area, buy a bottle and enjoy it with dinner!  Something we haven't experienced before.

As it turned out, no one left feeling hungry (big surprise), we finished off a bottle of Marietta Old Vine #55 and put a pretty good dent in the 12 pack of Shiner Bock beer we'd brought along.

But like I've said a hundred times before ... it's not the restaurant, it's not the food, it's the people you're with that makes dining out special.  Thanks again to Charlie, Judi and their family for taking time out of their very brief vacation schedule to pay us a visit.  We look forward to seeing them again in the Spring in South Haven.

Still livin' the dream in the land of BBQ.

Phil

Be prepared

RV folks learn how to take care of themselves while on the road.  A resourceful lot, we make every effort to think ahead and plan for the worse.

After six years on the road, I thought we pretty much had it all figured out ... but then I ran across this guy.  Now this is what I call planning for that rainy day.

A tow vehicle for that final trip

The severe weather we were suppose to have fizzled out and we only had about 2.5" inches of rain.  However another cold front came in and we're now looking at about a week of 40 degree days and 30 degree nights.  Though it's still better than snow, we could sure use a little more heat down here.

We're really excited as this week our South Haven summer neighbors, Charlie and Judi are coming to Austin to visit their son Jason.  While here, we're all planning on getting together for dinner and some good times.

Speaking of our extended family in South Haven ... We wish Mary a speedy recovery from recent surgery.  Her private nurse Hal, apparently has everything under control so before long he'll have her back on her feet, good as new.  Some of us are however wondering what Hal looks like in his nurses uniform.


Still livin' the dream in central Texas.

Phil

Animals pairing up?

We're just sitting here waiting for the monsoons to start.  The weatherman has warned us that torrential rains are barreling out of the Gulf and headed this way with at least 4 inches of rain due within 12 hours.  It's kind of a weird weather pattern with the moisture coming north from the Gulf and being pushed east from a system in northern Texas.  Austin's Lake Travis is already 16 inches below normal so the water will be appreciated but getting too much in a short period of time usually means flash floods in low areas.  Did we pick another winter we should have stayed in Michigan?

Though our camp is between the San Marcos River and the big yellow sign that warns 'when the water is high turn around, don't drown',  I think the locals say we'll need a lot more before we need to get too excited.

Anyway we'll hunker down and hope the rig doesn't leak.  And before long we'll be back on the trail of adventure and intrigue.

Still livin' the dream in a soon to be very wet, south central Texas.

Phil

Happy New Year

Thanks for traveling along with us.

May this New Year bring all the best to each of you.
We're certainly lookin' forward to a New Year and Livin' the Dream with you.

Happy New Year

Phil