Wurstfest Volksmarch - Sun., Nov. 3

After the time change it felt decadent to sleep in until it was light out. This morning we drove 45 minutes north to New Braunfels for the Wurstfest Volksmarch sponsored by the New Braunfels Marsch und Wandergruppe. Bob and I opted to do the 5K walk so we could be to Peri & Jim's 5th wheel in San Marcos by noon. With our paid walk ($3) we each received a ticket to get into the Wurstfest in New Braunfels (a $10 value).

A gentleman in lederhosen to pose with.

Sponsoring club's banner.

The walk started at The Christmas Shoppe in New Braunfels and was an out-and-back walk. The day was absolutely gorgeous, about 72 degrees. Along the route we saw a few interesting sights, including ornamental grasses, mailboxes, yard decor, flowers, and deer.

One of the storefronts in The Christmas Shoppe courtyard.

Flowers covered the fence in front of two homes.

Bob said there must have been a sale on purple paint. The mailbox matches the house and there was a small house behind the big one, also painted purple.

Cool statue of kids playing with butterflies.

We came upon the Hoity Toit Beer Joint where "You can't get there from here without a six pack." The side of the building had a hand-painted mural about the Hoity Toit.

Hoity Toit mural

Briggs & Stratton dealer.

Another unique mailbox.

 The sun was shining through the ornamental grasses this morning and looked ethereal.

I call this "Cotton Candy Grass"

We walked up to a hilltop on Lakeview Blvd. where there were many beautiful estates. As we were walking up the hill, we could see evidence of the rainstorms. The shoulder on the side of the road had deep ruts and exposed rocks from the water that must have rushed down the hillside.

I think this estate is called "Tuscany."

Quite a few deer live in the neighborhood.

At an estate called "Deerwood Springs."

Deerwood Springs estate

A young buck at Deerwood Springs.

Continuing on Lakeview Blvd., here are a few more photos...

Yard ornament - an old well pump.

Pretty mailbox holder.

 A unique front yard fence.

Cacti growing on a rock.

Beautiful buck.

Same buck with a doe.

Soon after this, we reached the checkpoint/turnaround for the 5K walk and headed back to the start point. Also in The Christmas Shoppe complex, was this carousel.

Artwork at the top of the carousel shows scenes from around the world.

When we finished the Volksmarch, we headed up to San Marcos to see Jim and Peri. I will recount that in another blog.

Travel Bug out.

Walking in the Rain -- Sat., Feb. 9

6:00 a.m. Really? Bob said, "Do you want me to reset the alarm for 7?" "Yeah," I replied.

Our goal for the day was to do two 10K Volkswalks at the Del Webb Resort in northwest San Antonio. When we finally got up and got moving, a look outside foretold our weather for the day...low-hanging clouds and drizzle. The temperature was 50 degrees at 8:00 a.m.

We followed the ava.org instructions to Del Webb Resort. I should have Google mapped the route because we ended up going way farther than we needed to from our location at Travelers World RV Park. The short route was 22.7 miles.  The route we took was 32.4 miles. Not only that but we got lost on the way there because we didn't see Lone Star Parkway, so missed that turn. 

By the time we made it to Del Webb Resort, it was 9:40 a.m. Registration for the walk was in the Del Webb Resort Center. Wow is that place nice! They have a huge work-out room, billiard room with three pool tables, meeting rooms, and lobby area that looks like it would be a great place to relax on a rainy day. In the registration room was a table with refreshments that looked so good--coffeecake and brownies. My mouth was watering. (We should have had them when we saw them because when we finished our first 10K walk, the coffeecake and brownies were all gone.)

After signing in for the Randolph Roadrunners sponsored Volksmarch event, we were off on our first 10K walk by 9:51 a.m. Umbrella and camera out and ready for use, we decided to do the Alamo Ranch neighborhood walk first. 

Nice paved sidewalks along the walk.

We headed out the Del Webb Resort gate and passed their entry fountain. Most of this walk was on main thoroughfares throughout Alamo Ranch and other neighborhoods. Many new subdivisions are going up in this area.

 

"Working for the weekend."

The rain and wind were particularly pesky on the hilltops along the walk. Earlier in the day, the precipitation remained a drizzle, but enough moisture that I kept my umbrella up most of the way. There was also 85% humidity which kept us feeling damp. I had on a T-shirt and fleece sweater, but Bob was wearing shorts and a T-shirt with his ubiquitous baseball cap. At least he had protection from the moisture, but no coat.

We passed a school, but spent most of this walk on Alamo Ranch Parkway for a long, straight distance. It went on and on. I didn't take a lot of photos because it all looked the same. Oh, except for the entrance into Alamo Ranch (one of our checkpoints on the walk) which was very nice.

A checkpoint for the walk. You can see how gray the day is.

After finishing up our first walk and checking in at the registration area where my Volksmarch books were stamped, it was time to make a decision about our second walk. We decided to do a 6K (3.1 mile) walk instead of  the 10K due to the weather. (Another reason we made this decision was that the last 4K of this walk duplicated the last part of our previous walk which wasn't very interesting.)

It ended up being a good decision to do the shorter walk because the drizzle turned to rain. We were happy that the 6k walk made use of trails through the woods at Del Webb rather than sticking to the streets. It made for a much quieter and less windy walk. I only took one photo on this walk of a funny yard decoration...they had three of these unique garden gnomes in their yard. We thought they were hilarious.

Looks like alien monsters have captured these gnomes!

All told, we started our walk day at 9:51 a.m., finished our 10K (6.2 miles) in one hour and fifty minutes. We started our 6K walk at 11:56 a.m. and we finished at 12:55 p.m. for a total of 16K (9.6 miles). Then we were off to find lunch.

We ended up at McAlister's Deli where Bob had a California Turkey Reuben with potato salad and I had a Spud Ole and chicken tortilla soup. We were hungry.

The rain was really coming down on our drive home. We're so happy we didn't complete a second 10K walk today. We'll save that for tomorrow.

Travel Bug out.


 

 

Mile by Mile -- Tues., Jan. 15

Happy Birthday, Louise

Bob's mom's birthday is today. She can really party it up as she lives in Las Vegas. Seriously though, Mom, we wish you many more healthy, satisfying and fun years. 

* * * * * * * * * *

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling." ~Margaret Lee Runbeck

 * * * * * * * * * *

"You know how it is.
Sometimes we plan a trip to one place,
but something takes us to another."
~Rumi

 * * * * * * * * * *
 

 "One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. 'Which road do I take?' she asked. 'Where do you want to go?' was his response. 'I don't know,' Alice answered. 'Then' said the cat, 'it doesn't matter.'" ~Lewis Carroll

* * * * * * * * * * 

 "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we will find it not." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

* * * * * * * * * *   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, 
But I have promises to keep, 
And miles to go before I sleep, 
And miles to go before I sleep. ~Robert Frost

Mile by mile, one step at a time, one foot in front of the other, rockin' down the highway, I can't drive 55, runnin' down a dream. Walking, hiking, driving, snowshoeing, skiing, bicycling, jogging, flying, riding the train, ambulance rescuing, boating: all are ways we are mobile and able to move from one place to another. Some modes are slow, others fast.

We can take our time and walk, savoring the sights, scents, sounds, colors, photographic material, flora and fauna found along the way. It is our choice where we make our turns on our path. Slow is my choice for making discoveries in the natural world. I study a bird or startle a deer, watch butterflies of all colors float from flower to flower, enjoy the silence of walking in new-fallen snow, ingrain into my brain the sound and splashes of waterfalls, ponder the beauty before me a la Ralph Waldo Emerson or Henry David Thoreau.
 
Fast transportation helps us make our way from one place to another quickly and efficiently. Faster modes of travel help: 

• in a time of crisis, 
• travel the globe, 
• when we have business meetings to attend, 
• get to work 
• when we need to move out of the way of a big storm, 
• any time getting from Point A to Point B is a high priority. 

Fast travel can be something we do every day or not, but it's a choice we have available to us.

My "mile by mile" this year is the American Volkssporting Association Centurion Challenge. I signed up to do 100 Internationaler Volkssportverband  (IVV) events in 2013. My goal is to do 100 10K (6.2 mile) walks; that is about two 10K walks per week (620 miles over the course of the year). I have completed 31 miles and will keep you updated on my progress.

In my mileage-oriented post today, I also think of all the miles traveled by RVers all over the world. Following the blogs of people in Costa Rica, England, Canada and the U.S. is fascinating. Some are full-time, some are holiday RVers, but we all have that wanderlust. What makes us want to keep moving? Why don't we feel a need for sticks and bricks houses?  Not everyone "gets" our lifestyle. To each their own.
 
We have our own perceptions of what our lives look like. We must follow our own calling, do what feels right for us. Some have family obligations that keep them rooted in place; others have financial limitations, or fears to overcome. Not everyone is cut out to be a nomad, gypsy, wanderer. But I'm glad I'm one.

Here's a poem I wrote in high school, still as true today as it was then.

Where I'll Be Found

The fronded tree at the water's

side,

The river flowing deep and 

wide,

The moon's soft shadows on the 

ground,

In this place is where I'll be

found.

I love the natural wooded 

scene

Where everything is so 

serene.

My mind is filled with 

happiness

I know I'll never like it 

less.

It was created for you and

me

To go and enjoy every 

tree

All the animals, plants and

rocks

Nature doesn't have any

locks.

Susan V.

Copyright 1969

Welcome to Bob and Jo of How to Love Where You Are and Eat Where the Locals Eat. Whew, that's a mouthful. Please feel free to browse and enjoy. Perhaps we'll meet on down the road.

Travel Bug out wandering.

We Picked Up a Hitchhiker... -- Sat., Dec. 29

...An unintended hitchhiker, but a hitchhiker nevertheless. As we were driving along a freeway access road, whoosh, a bird flew directly in front of the car. Oh, no! Bob was driving and I had visions of a dead bird on our grille.

When we reached the Camping World parking lot we headed into the store to find out about returning our outside surge protector. When we headed back out to the car, Bob said, "Look," as he pointed just above the front bumper. There, sitting on a little ledge between the bumper and the inside grille, was a beautiful young mockingbird, the state bird of Texas. It was alive.

We tried to shoo it away with our hands, but it jumped up higher behind the front grille. I tried to coax it out with a long pole that I stuck between the inside radiator grille and the outside decorative grille. Finally, we gave up and decided to let the bird stay there. It was protected from 70 mph freeway speeds behind part of the front of the car (no holes there to let air blast through).

Our destination was Pecan Park Campground in San Marcos, TX to meet friends Peri and Jim of Tales from the Camping House. By the time we arrived at their site, the bird was gone. We figure it must have jumped out at one of our stops along the way. Just as well. I don't know what we would have done with a mockingbird living in our car.

At Jim and Peri's 5er we sat chatting before we made our way to Lockhart, Texas, in Caldwell County, the Barbecue Capital of Texas. 

Caldwell County Courthouse

Our destination in Lockhart was one of the four barbecue markets (AKA restaurants).  Peri and Jim chose Kreuz (pronounced "Krites") Market for lunch today. 

Jim, Peri, Bob, Susan in front of Kreuz Market before lunch.

The way you order at Kreuz was a new experience for us. First you stand in line to place your meat order from the "pit" area. The "pit" is the room where all the barbecuing, cutting and weighing is done. (Zowie! Is that room smokey!) Choices of meat ranged from shoulder clod to ribs to turkey to chicken to brisket to pork to sausage. Each type of meat had its own per-pound pricing which was paid for in the pit room.

A whole room full of barbecue pits. You can see glowing wood on the bottom right.

Cutting our turkey breast to order.

This particular barbecue place does not put barbecue sauce on the meat, saying they're not trying to hide anything. Don't ask for barbecue sauce because it offends them. The meat is moist and tender. You can pull it apart and eat it with your hands. Once you have your meat, you make your way into the dining room where you get in line again to purchase your sides, drinks and desserts. I found a table for the four of us while the others went to buy their sides/drinks. We had a great meal and were pretty full at the end of it. 

From the restaurant, Jim drove us around the town of Lockhart where he showed us Smitty's Market, Black's Barbecue and Chisholm Trail Barbecue restaurants...all had lines out the door. We also drove past Caldwell County Historical Museum (formerly a jail) which is a great example of the Norman castellated style of architecture. (In other words it is built like a castle.)

From Lockhart, we drove 13 miles back to Pecan Park. We nestled into Jim and Peri's 5th wheel (with fireplace heater!) where we taught them how to play pinochle. Bob and I were impressed with how quickly they learned the game. (It can be a bit tricky in bidding and strategy.) As the games progressed, we had some really horrible hands, so we did a lot of re-dealing. 

During the afternoon, we snacked on chips, hummus, pretzel chips, praline nuts, smoked turkey, mixed nuts and pepper jack cheese. When the Alamo Bowl game came on TV, we moved the table into the living room to play cards and watch football. Jim and Peri wanted Texas to win. Bob and I wanted Oregon State to win. It looked good for Oregon State through the whole game until the very end. Boo!

Anyway we had a very fun day and capped it off with pumpkin pie and whipped cream. We didn't get home until around 11:00 p.m. 

Jim and Peri are invited to San Antonio to do a 10K Volksmarch with us on Saturday, Jan. 5. Actually, we plan to do two 10K Volksmarches that day, so Jim and Peri can meet us after we finish the first one. Then we are inviting them to our 5er to play pinochle and Sequence. We'll see if there are any good games on TV that day. 

(Note: I skipped blogging on Friday because it was typical chore day--vacuuming, shopping, laundry. Now you know.)

Today was a quiet day for me. I made pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon applesauce, fried eggs and turkey bacon for breakfast. Bob went to Gold's Gym to play basketball and relax in their indoor hot tub. I researched the cabins on site at our RV park for my Mom's and sister's visit in late March. I am also looking into booking their airfare. That's about it.

Travel Bug out.

Volksmarching for Beginners -- Thurs., Sep. 13

In answer to an inquiry in my blog regarding volksmarching (see Volkssporting and Walking Boerne and Uh-Oh), I offer the following. In my opinion, this "sport" is easy, fun, and helps you to learn many things about an area you wouldn't learn "just passin' through." Exercise is an added benefit!

You’ve got to start somewhere. “Somewhere” could be Indiana, Vermont, Oregon, Texas, Saskatchewan, Vienna, Canberra, anywhere.  Volkssporting is international in scope.

Volksmarches, or volkswalks, are walks you do at your own pace, and many times you can choose between a 5K (3.1 mi.) or 10K (6.2 mi.) walk. If you get tired, find a bench and relax, or if there's a restaurant nearby, head on in for light refreshment, then continue your walk when you're rested.

Walks are: year round events (called YREs), seasonal events, and events sponsored by a local club on a certain day (or days). Joining AVA is $25 per year. You can do the walks for free without joining (AVA does ask you to sign a waiver form and their registration book or start card), or if you join, the walks cost $3.00 and you earn badges and pins. Your choice.

Anyone can do a volkswalk. To find walks in the United States, go to American Volksport Association (for Canada, go to The Canadian Volkssport Federation). On the left column (in the U.S. version) you will see a link to "Locate Walking Events." Click on that link. (Canadian version, click on the "Walks" button.) On the next page, click on "Find Walking Events." When the "Search Events" screen comes up, enter the state you wish to walk in and hit enter. A list for all walks in that state will populate. To narrow your search, also fill in a city for that state and you will get a list with entries only for that city. Click on the entry line for the walk you're interested in and the "Event Details" will come up with a description of the walk.

Notes on AVA.org's website walk list page:

1. If the date shows 9/22/13-9/22/13, it is a sponsored event by a local club on that date.
2. If the date shows 1/1/13-12/31/13, it is a YRE.

When a list of walks comes up on the “Search Events” page, click on the entry line for the walk you're interested in and another page will come up with a description of the walk. On the “Event Details” page you will find:

1. For a sponsored event, a start location and directions to the starting point are given. You will find a start and end time. On event day at the start location, you pick up a map; a checkpoint along the way may have a snack, then you end where you started.
2. For a YRE or seasonal event, the instructions will give you a start point, i.e. Comfort Inn, grocery store, etc., Go to the start point and ask for the "walk box." You will find the registration book for you to sign, a place on the page to check "free" or "for credit," then sign the book, which is signing their waiver.
3. A walk rating is given. The rating is one to five: one being easiest, five being hardest.
4. Also noted on the website walk page: are dogs allowed, can wheelchairs or strollers navigate the walk, are there restrooms available along the route, and what can you expect to see on the walk: neighborhoods, architecture, antique stores, historic markers, colleges, cemeteries, rivers, parks, forts, mansions, hotels, seawalls, museums, visitor centers, gardens.

Volkssporting is worldwide, so time spent surfing the Web will help locate walks in other countries.

I have been a member for years and have done sponsored as well as year-round events. Sponsored events can be to showcase a special place or festival, i.e., country fairs, flowers, state parks, waterfalls, history, covered bridges, etc.).

Once you get the hang of it, it's easy. If you have questions, please shoot me a question in the "Comments" section.

NOTE: Volkssporting events may also include bike riding, boating or ice skating.

Have fun! Let me know where you go and how you like it.

Lost a Day and Travel Porn -- Wed., Sep. 12

What happened to Monday and Tuesday? They're gone. Wednesday is almost gone! 

Here's what happened. Remember on Sunday when I said Bob was sick. He was very sick. Monday came and he went to work, although he had to take a couple of nap breaks in his truck and didn't eat very much. He still wasn't 100%. I was doing great. 

On Monday, I caught up on reading blogs, read my latest book, "Bad Luck & Trouble" by Lee Childs, picked up the mail and watched Major Crimes and Perception on TV.

Flash forward to 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. I woke up feeling sick to my stomach. Yep, apparently I now had the stomach flu that Bob was just getting over. Horrible stuff. I won't subject you to the details. Suffice it to say, I spent my time sleeping or in the bathroom. I hardly moved for 24 hours. Lost three pounds.

Today I got up and was feeling slightly better, but still slept until 10:00 a.m. I had a few remnants of "Hurricane Susan" this morning but have been able to stay up the rest of today. In two days I have eaten: 2 cups of applesauce and 1-1/2 bowls of Cheerios. I have been drinking water, but probably not enough. It feels like the worst of it is over.

Today Bob is back to 100%, so by tomorrow I should be too. Yay!

As soon as I'm over this nasty "bug," I want to go to the San Antonio Zoo. My plan was to go tomorrow or Friday; however, upon checking the weather, tomorrow has a 40% chance of thunderstorms and Friday the thunderstorm prediction goes up to 70%. As if to underscore an upcoming storm prediction, the wind is whipping the trees into a frenzy outside the 5er. Interesting. We usually don't get such strong winds in our back corner. I'm happy the awning is not out. The Rig is shaking from the wind. Could be an interesting couple of days.

Now on to "Travel Porn"...that is what we call our books, brochures and internet dealing with travel. I love to learn about new places to go, what to see in an area, and where to walk and hike. Here, then, is our favorite "Travel Porn:"

1. Maps--especially state and city maps.
2. Reader's Digest: "See the USA the Easy Way: 136 Loop Tours to 1200 Great Places." This book has loop tours listed by state with interesting sights to see along each loop.
3. "National Geographic's Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways:" 200 U.S. scenic drives
4. National Geographic: "Guide to Small Town Escapes."
5. National Geographic: "America's Hidden Corners: Places off the Beaten Path."
6. Reader's Digest: "On the Road USA: Pleasures and Treasures to Enjoy...Within Easy Reach of the Interstate Exits (North-South Routes)"
7. Reader's Digest: "On the Road USA: Pleasures and Treasures to Enjoy...Within Easy Reach of the Interstate Exits (East-West Routes)"
8. National Geographic: "Complete National Parks of the United States." Has 400+ parks, monuments, battlefields, historic sites, scenic trails, recreation areas and seashores.
9. Reader's Digest: "Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to More than 1,000 Scenic & Interesting Places Still Uncrowded and Inviting"
10. tripadvisor.com
11. AAA Tourbooks
12. rvparkreviews.com
13. AVA.org: American Volksporting Association. Good for looking up 5K and 10K walks wherever you are. Volksporting is worldwide.
14. www.milebymile.com/united-states.php: Driving trips for any state.
15. Brochures from local Visitor Centers.

 What other sources do you use when you travel or when you're planning a trip?

Travel Bug out.