S is for San Antonio

San Antonio, New Braunfels, Guerne, Texas:

We were up early to travel an hour into San Antonio to do the Caminada de Fiesta volkswalk (10K non-competitive walk) around Ft. Sam Houston. Upon our arrival at Ft. Sam Houston, we checked in at the U.S. Army Medical Museum where we started the walk, literally. The first part of the walk was through the museum. We didn’t take time to read all the displays because we were on a mission to do the 6.2 miles in two hours. The most interesting thing we DID spend time on was a hospital train car used to get medical facilities closer to the battlefield. Our walk took us through the train car.

The rest of the walk went past the Gift Chapel, through the Ft. Sam Houston Museum, past barracks, officers’ residences, family housing and through a park on base. The day was gorgeous, clear, and about 75 degrees.

U.S. Army Base Ft. Sam Houston

Housing on base

Me stretching

View from walk--golf course.

Walk route markers into park.

We think this is a hospital on base.

 After our six-mile walk on the base, we headed downtown to see The Alamo and Riverwalk. It’s Fiesta time in San Antonio, not to mention Saturday, so throngs of people were downtown. Bob bought Chinese lunch to go which we ate in the car so we wouldn’t be tempted by the expensive restaurants along Riverwalk. We walked through The Alamo and its grounds.

Part of downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Line to get in the "Shrine" at The Alamo.

The Alamo (podium out front part of Fiesta)

On the grounds of the Alamo

Bob and "unknowns" outside Alamo Museum.

From the Alamo, we walked to and through a mall to get to Riverwalk. 

Dancing senoritas were on one of the fiesta stages as we walked by. 

We were amazed by all the restaurants lining the Riverwalk. Lots of riverboat tours went by. So much activity! We walked approximately two miles while downtown. 

The Mall

Riverboat tour

Restaurants and shops line the river.

Lots of different bridges.

Beautiful tile murals.

My handsome honey!

Awww...too cute.

Cool building in downtown.

Total walking today: 8-9 miles.

We had chores to do so we headed north on I-35 to Camping World in New Braunfels. Bob bought a new skylight for the 5er, butyl tape and some sealant.

Walmart was next on the list, but we got sidetracked looking at old town New Braunfels. While there, we found Naegeli’s Bakery, the oldest bakery in Texas. We drove past. Bob said, “Let me know if we’re missing anything.” I couldn’t help myself and said, “We missed the bakery.” Around the block we went and joined the line of people waiting to buy streusel, bread, cookies, cream puffs, eclairs, lebkuchen…is your mouth watering yet? Ours were. Bob settled on peach strudel and a cream-filled doughnut. I opted for a butterfly roll covered in chopped walnuts and a cinnamon roll without frosting. Glad we didn’t miss that!

We made it to Walmart and completed our shopping. On the way back we “had” to go past the bakery again (darn it!). Second round for me was a chocolate-topped cream puff and an apple strudel. Bob ordered an éclair and a muffin. (You'll be hearing about some hikes and bike rides to make up for all that!)

For shits and giggles, we drove past Schlitterbahn water park (the best water park in Texas according to locals--couldn't see much of it from the car) and continued out to the town of Gruene (pronounced "green"). 

Gruene, Texas is on the banks of the Guadalupe River. A pleasant, historic town where the big attractions are the Saturday Market, old town, art galleries, restaurants and swimming/tubing in the Guadalupe River on a warm day. The town was packed, traffic backed up in all directions. A police officer was directing traffic at the main intersection.

After Gruene, we drove to Hwy 306 to try a new route back to the 5er. We cut time off our trip home using Hwy 306 to Blanco.

Bob got up on top of the 5er with the new skylight and found the outer skylight was securely sealed to the inner skylight, so we could not re-use the inner skylight. Tomorrow we return to Camping World for the inner skylight.

The rest of the afternoon we relaxed and read our books. Bob finished “Angel’s Weep” by Wilbur Smith.

I read a big chunk of “Catching Fire,” the second book of “The Hunger Games” trilogy.