Cool, Clear Water -- Mon., Mar.25

Bakeries, a general mercantile and cool, clear water. After breakfast we headed north to New Braunfels, Texas. Naegelin's Bakery was our destination to eat our "breakfast dessert." So many choices for us German ladies who had a bakery in our family in Germany. We know good pastry. With our treats bagged up, we headed to Landa Park.

I took Mom and Jan to see Comal Spring, headwaters of the Comal River. While we were there, a man came to the spring with three plastic gallon bottles to fill them for free, direct from the fast-flowing water coming out of the ground. We walked to the car and found six empty water bottles to fill. The spring water is very good, almost sweet.

So many ducks and geese were out and about. When my sister got out of the car with the bag of pastries, two geese immediately approached her, honking and insisting we feed them. We didn't. Because of all the geese at our first stop, we drove to a different location in Landa Park with a view of the river, that was in the sun, where we could eat our rolls in peace. A table in the sun was important because it was cold outside! When we left the 5er at 9:00 a.m., the temperature was 44 with wind chill of 35 degrees. Most of the day we wore our heavy coats.

As we ate our pastries, geese, ducks and a nutria came to visit us.

Male wood duck

Nutria

Muscovy duck

Nutria

Jan and Mom at Landa Park.

From Landa Park we drove through Hinman Island Park along the Comal River and made another stop at Naegelin's bakery. Mom and Jan wanted more pastries because the first ones they ate were so good. A quick drive through old town New Braunfels and we cruised past the Sophienburg Museum which chronicles the beginning of New Braunfels.

Gruene was a place Bob and I had driven through on a crazy-busy market day so we hadn't stopped due to the crowds. Today we headed to Gruene (pronounced green), easily found parking, and walked through town. The Gruene General Store held our attention for almost an hour. Mom and Jan bought gifts for family and friends in Oregon. Plus we goofed around, read signs in the store and had a regular giggle fest.

Antique store

Historic marker -- Gruene General Store

Gruene General Store

Old license plates adorn the floor

Gruene General Store has an old-time feel.

Many signs to read.

We be stylin' Minnie Pearl style.

Jams, jellies, relishes, salsas, butters, syrups.

Across the street from the General Store is the famous Gruene's Dance Hall. John Travolta's angel movie "Michael" was filmed here.

Beautiful display of cacti.

For our lunch choice we were headed to Oma's Secret Garden, but it wasn't open today. We found Gruene River Grill instead. I think we were meant to stumble back off the main street and eat here. We found exactly what we wanted: a cup of homemade tortilla soup and a shredded oriental salad. Plus we had a view of the river flowing by a couple of stories down.

Shredded Oriental Salad

Gruene River Grill decor.

Mom & Jan inside Gruene River Grill.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

While Mom is here, she wanted to go on a glass bottom boat tour. What better place than Texas with its fresh water springs...cool (72 degrees), clear water? In San Marcos we drove around the old downtown to see the courthouse and historic buildings, then went to Aquarena Springs, headwaters of the San Marcos River, at the Texas Rivers Center. After buying our boat tour tickets, we had 1/2 hour to look around. We went in the museum to read up on aquifers, springs, swamps, lakes and reservoir. Then we headed out to the boat.

Aquarena Springs glass bottom boat tour.

On the tour the boat floats effortlessly over many kinds of seaweed. The Balcones Fault is visible in the underwater canyon as are hundreds of springs bubbling up from the sand below. The force of the water flowing out of the springs is so strong, no aquatic plants can take root. We saw turtles, bass, sunfish and tetras.

The newly built/restored Wetlands Walk was quite relaxing. We watched turtles sunning themselves, tilapia darting away from us in a frenzy of activity, great egret preening itself and a great blue heron hunting.

Turtle camo

Another turtle.

Great blue heron stalking prey.

Great egret with breeding plumage.

Our tour day is complete. Now all we have to do is drive an hour back to San Antonio. Was today a holiday? Traffic was very light.

Enchiladas verdes plates from Taqueria Guadalajara across the street from the RV park had just the right food at just the right time. The enchiladas came with seasoned rice and refried beans.

We ate our food while we watched a movie Mom had brought it with her from home. "Queen of Versailles" is a documentary that shows the extravagances of some people with money. They were in the process of building their 90,000 sf dream mansion when the real estate bubble burst in 2008. They lived so extravagantly.

After the move, we sent Mom and Jan on their way. I am falling asleep at the computer, so I better get some sleep. Tomorrow's a big day in Corpus Christi/Padre Island. Oh boy. We get to stick our toes in the Gulf water!

Good night!

Wine, Dinner, Dancing, Walking, Pinochle -- Sat., Jan. 12

We had an invitation for dinner and dancing on Friday night. Bob's boss, Michael, asked us to go out with him and Mary. Originally, we were going to meet them at the restaurant at 7:00 p.m. You know how things change. Friday Bob called to ask me to be ready earlier and he was rather mysterious about it.

I went about my afternoon, doing laundry. Next thing I know Bob is in the laundry room at 4:20 p.m. telling me I have to be ready to go by 5:00 p.m. because a LIMO is picking us up. From the RV park? Seriously? I have 40 minutes to get ready?

He finished folding the laundry and I zipped back to the 5th wheel to change my clothes and put on a little make-up. I was ready by 5:00 p.m.! Whew.

So, there we were, standing in front of the RV park office and we saw the limousine drive by...a very long, black stretch limo. The limo must have been at least 30' long. About five minutes later, the limo came back, having missed the RV park on the first pass. He pulled into the RV park and we got in the car. The RV park manager was walking by and said, "Very nice." I don't know if they get many limos in the park.

The limo then took us an hour on the other side of San Antonio to Michael & Mary's place. They live out in the country where we saw deer in yards. We were invited in, had a quick glass of wine, and a tour of the house. They have a very lovely house and deck with pool overlooking the hills.

From there, the limo took us to dinner at A Tempo, a beautiful restaurant in Olmos Park. Beverly, a blues and sultry singer, whom they enjoy following, was singing there last night. We sat on the outdoor patio for dinner and Michael ordered two bottles of wine for all of us to share. (We were joined by another couple, Catherine and Jim, as well.) Mary and I ordered Chicken Tagine, Bob had Redfish Veronique, Catherine and Jim had mussels (which were quite yummy--they shared), and Michael had calamari steaks and crab-stuffed mushrooms. After dinner, all of us got up and danced in the aisles of the patio to Beverly's soothing, velvety voice.

The evening was perfect. All of us had a great time. We were there until Beverly quit for the night at 10:00 p.m. Four of us hopped back in the limo and we reversed the drive, dropping Michael and Mary off at their house, then we were dropped off at the RV park.

Bob and I stayed up until around 2:00 a.m. At 8:00 a.m. the alarm went off and we were up and at 'em for a jam-packed Saturday. I had my fanny pack all decked out with my Volkswalk record books, camera, cell phone, Kleenex and left it on the counter in the 5er. We had already driven about 15 minutes when I realized I didn't have it. Withdrawal. No camera today. Luckily, at sponsored Volkswalk events they have extra insert sheets for the record books, because apparently I am not the only one who forgets their books. Photos today are courtesy of Peri D. and her smartphone.

At 10:00 a.m. we met Jim and Peri at Texas Rivers Center in San Marcos, Texas for a 10K Volkswalk. The temperature was about 70 degrees and very humid. Luckily it was cloudy with a little breeze, otherwise the humidity would have been oppressive.

Texas Rivers Center, Texas State University

Aquarena Springs Lake.

Starting out fresh.

Our walk took us through the Spring Lake Preserve (here is a link to pictures from last year's Volkswalk in the Preserve--note the picture of the analemmatic sundial) where we saw an analemmatic sundial (a description of the sundial), a sickly looking xeriscape (dry landscaping) garden, and a viewpoint of the hill country. That was just the first quarter of the walk. [Note: I'm sorry for the very confusing paragraph above. It is easier for you to click the links to see and learn about the sundial than for me to try to describe it.]

From Peri--analemmatic sundial.

Viewpoint.

We progressed through a beautiful neighborhood, back to the Texas Rivers Center, then into downtown San Marcos.
 

Two hours and 15 minutes later, we were all hungry so Jim and Peri recommended Grins Restaurant in San Marcos. Great lunch, including peach cobbler for dessert. 

Grins at Grins Restaurant.

Jim and Peri had a Groupon for the Glass Bottom Boat Tour at Aquarena Springs and they graciously invited us to go with them on the tour. What a fascinating boat ride. We saw a spotted gar, bluegills, sunfish, shiners, Mexican tetras, largemouth bass, Texas River Cooters (turtles), red-eared sliders (turtles), cormorants (actually saw one eat a fish), snowy egret, some small grebes, flowering Cobomba (aquatic vegetation) and Rio Grande cichlids (a tilapia-like fish). The water is so clear. 

The glass bottom boats.

Jim and Susan interested in what guide is saying.

Texas River Cooters on log.

Aquatic vegetation and fish.

View of boat from roof of visitor center.

The springs can be seen bubbling or flowing underwater.  It's amazing how powerfully the water comes out of the ground!

The history of Aquarena Springs goes back around 12,000 years when native peoples frequented or lived in the area because of the availability of fresh water. Fast forward 12,000 years to 1946-1996 when Aquarena Springs was a major tourist attraction with glass bottom boat tours, Submarine Underwater Theater, and Ralph the swimming pig. 

In 1996, Texas State University purchased the property and changed the focus from amusement park to preservation and education. Now visitors are taught about the springs flowing from the Edwards Aquifer. I love springs anyway, so taking the tour, looking at the visitor center and doing the walk today all reinforced my love of nature.

After the glass bottom boat tour, we headed over to Jim and Peri's 5er where we played pinochle. Bob and Jim beat the socks off Peri and I. Then we played Sequence. It was very intense. You could have heard a pin drop we were so engrossed in the game. Peri made some snacks, we enjoyed a glass of apple wine that they had purchased at an abbey in Colorado and called it a night. 

We had two wonderful events in a row including last night and today. I feel like we've already done a weekend's worth of activities, but we still have Sunday left! Tomorrow, another Volkswalk.

Once again, thank you to Peri for the use of her photos from her smartphone.

Travel Bug out.