AUSTIN TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

Left Dallas after spending a superb night with great friends who have been so very kind. Leaving temperature of 10oC, thunder, rain and chilly weather behind, we drove to Austin where blue skies, 25oC and the big yellow star in the sky was shining.
We stayed at a beautiful State Park, Mckinney Falls, hiked the three trails and caught the sun, some of us more than others! Roy now resembles a glowing red ball.

Turtles at McKinney Falls

We moved 90 miles south to San Antonio, staying at a KOA close to the centre with the local bus stop over the road.
With our $2-40 correct change we waited for the bus into San Antonio. Roy asked the man stood with us if that was right, showing him his handful of change. They wont take that - he says. Roy was only trying to pay with a Canadian toony coin! The bus arrives at that minute and we didn't have another dollar in change, the driver was not concerned what we threw in the chute!
We spent a couple of hours at the Alamo, did you know it was where Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie (of Bowie knife fame) and about 186 valiant men sacrificed their lives fighting for Texas Independence? No? Well I didn't either. I remember singing the Davy Crockett song when young and my brothers having the Davy Crockett hats.

The Alamo and Roy on the left

 

Alamo Ani

We were entertained by a High School Band from Illinois who seemed on a high speed tour of the States.

Alamo and Emily Morgan building

 

Wandered round the romantic San Antonio River, a man made River Walk in the centre of the city, set below the bustle of the city roads, where shops, cafes and tropical foliage line the paths - a beautiful oasis. A pleasant day!

River Walk with riverboats

Ani on bridge

  

River Walk with Roy on the bridge

2013 - BACK TO THE GYPSY LIFE OF U.S.A.

Tuesday 19 March
After a delayed flight of 3 hours (hail storm in Atlanta and a faulty fuel pump on plane) and an hour's rush to connect in Atlanta with our Dallas flight, we made it! 
Gaynor, bless her, was waiting for us, shame one of our cases was not!

After checking with the office, we were told it was on the next flight in, no it wasn't! Back to the office, given a tracking number and told they would ring us and deliver it - when they found it!
Back to Gaynor's for the night, where I struggled to sleep, trying to remember everything I had put in the pink case.

Next morning, I did a list and was near to tears, you don't realise the value of your belongings. Memo to self - always make a list of case contents!
 I know in the grand scheme of things they are only possessions and can be replaced. (But can I live without my Nordic poles!)

Success! by 8pm the next day it had been delivered to Gaynor's house and we picked it up Thursday morning as we had hit the bottle by then!
 Seems the case label was missing and Customs had looked inside it in Atlanta, which may account for it not making the plane. I told Roy those sockets would cause trouble!

We are now happily camped at Lake View Campground, Lewisville Lake until Saturday. Sun is shining, its 20oC and apart from my camera USB lead not working, life is good. 
After the initial panic and Roy's usual philosophical viewpoint of - give it a rest and it may work, I was quite proud of myself, remembering that I can take out the memory card and put it in the laptop to transfer photos. Memo to Roy - things are wearing out i.e. camera/laptop. Soon be time to spend some more pennies dear. 
 Oh dear! Why is that man of mine always so right? - USB cable now working.

Northern Mockingbird

Noisy Grackles everywhere on this site

Waiting for dinner to cook

pretty blossom