Boerne Cemetery Walk - Mon., July 13, 2015

Playing catch up...we did this walk on Monday, July 13.

This morning, Susan and I met at the Boerne, Texas Comfort Inn for the 10k Boerne Cemetery Volksmarch. Warm weather, humidity, and a long walk (6.2 miles) awaited us. We walked through a lot of neighborhoods on the way to the cemetery.

Giant hibiscus

Front yard fence in Texas: cacti and an arch to walk through

Another view of the cactus fence

Cool tree swing in a front yard

After walking through neighborhoods, we passed through the cemetery. Boerne was settled by Germans, so you see many German names on the headstones.

View through the cemetery

Many types of memorials

We continued onto the main street of Boerne and walked through part of town. This area is called "Hill Country Main Street Mile." Lots of cute shops and restaurants reside in an old, updated downtown.

We then turned off Main Street and headed along Cibolo Creek on the Cibolo Trail. High water flowed through here with the Memorial Day weekend floods, but nothing like Wimberley. Some trees had been flattened, but they were the exception rather than the rule.
 

Cibolo Trail  Heart of Boerne

We found the Loch Ness Monster!!

Cibolo Creek

We had one wildlife sighting in a church parking lot...

Texas spiny lizard

Texas spiny lizard

As we finished our walk, we started thinking about food. We remembered there was a Mexican restaurant, Centinela, close to the finish and gave it a try for breakfast. Both of us ordered pancakes, fried eggs and bacon. The food and service were excellent and the price couldn't be beat. Our comibined total was less than $10.

The day was young, so we went to the Boerne Starplex Theatre to see "Max," about a war dog and so much more. We both LOVED the movie.

Travel Bug out.

Baker's Dozen - Monday, July 13, 2015

I belong to the Randolph Roadrunner's Volkssmarch Club. In addition to earning credit (badges and pins) for my regular distance and event Volksmarch books, I am also working on my 50 states book, 51 state capitals book, and my Baker's Dozen book.

You may remember in 2013 I completed the Volksmarch Centurion book, 100 walks in one year. The Baker's Dozen book means I have to walk the 13 Randolph-Roadrunner-  sponsored walks in and around San Antonio. (The Randolph Roadrunner's are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the club.) Once those are completed and I turn in my stamped book, I have the option of choosing either a Baker's Dozen pin or patch.

Today, I finished my 13th walk. I chose the pin because I collect pins. The AVA (American Volkssport Association) pins at the top of the pin tree (that Louise, my mother-in-law made for me, are event pins. The pins in the fourth section of the tree are my distance pins. I am currently working on my 3,500k pin and my 350 events pin. I have been Volksmarching for 19 years.

Volksmarch pins

 The 13 walks are:

1. Junction, Texas
2. Boerne - Town
3. Boerne Cemetery
4. Boerne Nature Center
5. Friedrich Wilderness Park
6. Crownridge Natural Area
7. Leon Creek Greenbelt
8. DeZavala Neighborhood
9. Broadway Neighborhood
10. Old Schertz
11. Schertz-Cibolo
12. Palmetto State Park
13. Gonzales, Texas

My favorite walk of the 13 is Palmetto State Park; however, many of the trails in the park were washed out during the flooding from Memorial Day weekend this year. It's a good thing we did the walk in February!

Baker's Dozen was a lot easier than doing the Centurion Challenge in 2013! My friend, Susan, is doing the Centurion Challenge this year and she has over 90 walks already. Good job, Susan!

The City of Boerne, Texas - Sunday, May 31

Today we opted to do the Boerne city walk, thinking we wouldn't go anywhere near low spots where water might be high from all the rain. The day was overcast, but not much threat of rain. (I brought my umbrella, just in case.)

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church

It was Sunday morning and our route took us through the parking lot of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. Early service was letting out and we dodged cars in the lot. From the church, we took off into a neighborhood, then onto Main St. We saw some pretty flowers and interesting shops. None of the shops were open because it was about 9:45 on Sunday.

The following flowers were on a big bush (or small tree - it had a trunk). They are not hibiscus, but look similar.

Not hibiscus. Anyone know what this is?

I want to go back when this store is open!

Main Street, Boerne, Texas

Ye Kendall Inn looks like a nice place to stay

Sugar Belle's - mmmmmm.

Haven't been to Soda Pops Sugar Shack.

After we walked in the old part of downtown, we headed east into more neighborhoods. That's when we came upon a low-water crossing in the road with about 2-3" of water in it. Susan and I high-stepped through it and got our shoes and socks (and feet) wet. Darren and Bob detoured one street over and took a bridge across. Smart guys. LOL.

Mexican hat (Ratibida columnaris)

Old-fashioned European motorbike

Cibolo Creek was flowing high and fast. We've been here many times when very little water is spilling over this little dam. Today it was roaring through and making foam around the trees on the downriver side of the dam.

Boerne Dam on Cibolo Creek

Darren standing next to debris deposited by flood water.

Boerne Dam. (See the foam under the tree -
upper left?)

This water does not normally flow on the right side!

You can see water does not normally flow on this side
of the fence.

Boerne has beautiful art galleries with lovely sculptures.

Prickly pear - larger than life.

Anyone know what this flower is?

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpura)

Army officer by the U.S. Army memorial

After the Veterans Park memorials, we headed back to our start point at the Boerne Comfort Inn. From there it was a short drive to Taco Cabana for lunch.

After lunch Susan and Darrin had a prior commitment, so Bob and I went to see "Tomorrowland," George Clooney's newest movie.

Both of us liked "Tomorrowland." It takes place in the future and imagines a world that is rich in invention and creativity. Somewhere along the line things go awry in Tomorrowland and a teen-aged girl visits George Clooney to find answers about a pin that, when she touches it, transports her to a futuristic society.

Some very evil people come calling, intent upon killing George and the teen-ager. They're not from the government and they're not there to help. The movie has an interesting concept and I didn't fall asleep in it. I give it a B.

Another good day in San Antonio. Travel Bug out.

Dinner Out and Parties - Fri. & Sat., March 27 & 28, 2015

Wednesday through Saturday, I worked 40 hours. Friday after work, I took Bob to dinner at Wing Daddy's Sauce House. Our first impression was not good. First off, it was too loud. Secondly, there was too much going on. TVs everywhere, which is good if you're there to watch sports (we weren't). Third it was very crowded. We ate and headed back to the 5th wheel.

After work Saturday, we went to Random for Randall's "Get the Heck Out" Party. Randall is moving back to Oregon to be with his girlfriend, Marissa. We are thrilled. She is wonderful.

Randall worked at Random for almost two years doing many different jobs - night security, operations, ordering, stocking, bar back, prep, bartender, cleaning, opening, closing, and some construction. As Randall says, "He knows where all the bodies are buried." After his almost two years there, he will be missed.

Will Owen Gage Trio played for Randall's party. One song we thought was very apropos was "Leaving on a Jet Plane." It was a beautiful evening and Randall was honored appropriately.

Randall at his GTHO party at Random

Kids enjoying the Kangaroo Jumper at Random

A beautiful evening at Random

Long lines for beer!

Father (Bob) and son (Randall)

We had a wonderful spring evening at Random. We left Random at 9:00 p.m. and headed to our second party of the evening at the RV park.

Bob Emberton was having his annual birthday bash which started around 5:00 p.m. By the time we arrived everyone was in full-on party mode. The liquor was flowing freely. Some people had left but the hearty party-ers were there. We had our Redd's Apple Ale and some shared Fireball whiskey, chatted for a while, and then headed home.

Susan and Bob (Photo courtesy of Bob Emberton)

Wow, two parties in one evening. Wheeee! Travel Bug tipsy and out.

Random Beer Garden Field Trip - Fri., Mar. 13, 2015

On Friday after work, Travelers World Carefree RV Resort chartered a bus for a field trip to Random Beer Garden in Boerne, Texas. Twenty-eight people piled onto the bus. Our 45-minute drive to Random was uneventful...there wasn't any rush-hour traffic (probably because it's Spring Break).

On the bus to Random Beer Garden

The evening was lovely, about 72 degrees. When we arrived at Random, I made the announcement that it takes a while to get food from the food trucks, so it would be best to order early, especially if they were hungry.

We all brought folding chairs and set them up in a big circle around two fire pits. We also grabbed a couple of empty picnic tables so we could eat our dinners in comfort, i.e., not balancing the plates in our laps. Although some chose to eat in their own chairs.

Z's Wood-fired Pizzas and Sugar Belle's Cupcakes (and beer)

Will Own Gage Trio playing live music

Animated conversations

Fran and Tom's dinner time

Making new friends - Nanc, Kathy, Rich

 The food trucks at Random tonight were:

Z's Wood-fired Pizza

Firehouse Fare

Hippie Mommas - "Comfort Food with Attitude"

Plus, Shana from Sugar Belle's Cake Shop was on hand with a selection of her cupcakes: Italian Cream, Turtle, Vanilla with Vanilla Frosting, Chocolate with Vanilla Frosting, and Vanilla with Chocolate Frosting.

Photo courtesy of Random

 Random has 80 craft brews on tap. Free samples available on request.

What a selection!

Now that's a campfire!

"Look at that campfire, will you?" (Sue and Brandon)

Sue sharing fried pickles with Margaret

We had a wonderful evening out under the old pecan trees listening to music and getting to know each other better. The fire pits made the temperature just right as the night wore on.

Larry, Jan and Margaret

Don, Sheila, Jerald, and Bob

Randall and Bob

After food, drink, music and conversation, the evening was coming to a close. Everyone started packing up and heading to the bus. No one had to worry about drinking and driving!

Our bus driver delivered us safely back to Travelers World RV Resort at 11:00 p.m.

Dick, Sue, Gloria, Terry disembarking from bus.

Let's do this again!