cowboy capital
[Ken 02/28/2016] Bandera, Texas, is thirteen miles down the road from Medina, where we "plugged in" for the month of February. It is the closest town with cell phone service. It is where you will find the closest grocery store. It is also the self-proclaimed Cowboy Capital of the World. [YeeHaw!]
| | You will get no argument from me. Yep - there are lots of cowboys here, y'all. And Deb and I fit in like socks on a rooster. The best part for us was the music ... especially in Cowboy Church. Seems like cowboys can sing and play the guitar as well as they can ride a horse. And the harmonies are as deep and natural as the blue berries on cedars! But then, there is something special about a posse of cowboys sitting around a campfire, too! We were lucky to have stumbled onto that, fer sure! |
ON EDIT: We have learned that justification for Bandera's claim to be the Cowboy Capital of the World is based on Bandera County being home to more rodeo national champions than any other city in the USA.
kayaking in texas
(or not...)
[Ken 02/21/2016] Our visit to Deer Creek Camp would not have been complete had we failed to make time to plop our kayaks in the intoxicating and meandering, crystal clear waters of the Medina River. On more than one occasion I had stood on its banks and pondered its winding, bending ways into the distant valley. The river forms a good portion of the northern boundary of the camp, so there was simply no excuse.
| | Texas does not require non-motorized boats to be registered, so all we had to do was get to the other side of the camp with our kayaks. That was no problem for the TrailHawk; we made our way and parked neatly on the banks. It was going to be a great day of paddling, we thought! But we would find the lure of the Medina to be deceptive. What we did not know is that it had not rained in several months and the river was wide but not deep. |
Our boats kept scraping bottom. From the shore where we put-in, all looked fine. But once we got around the first bend, either up- or down-stream, and a couple hundred yards from the Jeep, the river's promise of a fun day quickly waned.
It's really hard to paddle when you and your kayak are sitting on rocks! So after about two miles of paddle-a-bit, hike-a-bit, then paddle-a-bit more, we decided to call it a day. Our feet were more wet than our paddles! Hiking in the Medina River while dragging your kayak behind you is not as much fun as it sounds!
It's really hard to paddle when you and your kayak are sitting on rocks! So after about two miles of paddle-a-bit, hike-a-bit, then paddle-a-bit more, we decided to call it a day. Our feet were more wet than our paddles! Hiking in the Medina River while dragging your kayak behind you is not as much fun as it sounds!
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[Deb 02/18/2016] Here at Deer Creek Camp in Medina, Texas, we find a well-kept facility and friendly staff. They love the Lord and are passionate about their purpose. The goal is to touch as many young people with Christ's love as possible. The camp owners are affectionately nicknamed “Mama Bear” and “Papa Bear” and have a vision of purpose. Their knowledge of the Word and their hospitality are overwhelming. They apprec-iate the SOWERS ministry beyond words.
We are staying in their RV park called SOWERS HILL. Even though there is no cellular phone service and you have to hike down to the HIGH HOPES LODGE to look for WiFi service, it doesn't matter.
For entertainment, we are camped next to the Chicken Coop! There are seven hens and three roosters. Once the dawn's door is open to their abode, they enjoy surrounding our RV. One very vocal rooster stands outside our living room window and serenades us with his “song.”
All day long he crows.
We just chuckle.
For entertainment, we are camped next to the Chicken Coop! There are seven hens and three roosters. Once the dawn's door is open to their abode, they enjoy surrounding our RV. One very vocal rooster stands outside our living room window and serenades us with his “song.”
All day long he crows.
We just chuckle.
To attract native birds, we set out a campsite bird feeder. The chickens have found the ground below the feeder to be a great place to pick up seed scraps and also seek shade adjacent to the RV. They don't seem to mind the other birds (or people). They just wait below the feeder for the birds in the feeder to knock seed down to them.
The flock has free-range privilege and roams the camp all day. Faithfully, they return to their coop at the end of each day. We've been told that when the chickens sense danger of predators that they will quickly seek the safety of their “coop” home. They are quite funny to watch as they bird-waddle-run their way across the grounds! Chickens are definitely not "built" for running!
The flock has free-range privilege and roams the camp all day. Faithfully, they return to their coop at the end of each day. We've been told that when the chickens sense danger of predators that they will quickly seek the safety of their “coop” home. They are quite funny to watch as they bird-waddle-run their way across the grounds! Chickens are definitely not "built" for running!
They also like an Evening Greeting - “Good night girls!...” (the roosters don't seem to mind not being recognized). Looking inside the coop you will find them each perched up high on the rafters. After the door is latched I guess they hop into their individual cubbies.
Each morning the roosters faithfully let us know when they and "the girls" are ready to be let out to roam once again. When the door is opened, it is like a jail break with chickens running everywhere!
One day we came home and the vocal rooster and one of the hens were sitting inside the chassis of our motorhome underneath the slide-out! We never thought that our bird watching fun would include chickens!
God's creatures are amazing.
One day we came home and the vocal rooster and one of the hens were sitting inside the chassis of our motorhome underneath the slide-out! We never thought that our bird watching fun would include chickens!
God's creatures are amazing.
out of range!
FRIENDS AND FAMILY: We are at another one of those places this month where cell phones and Internet are foreign technology. This is an absolutely beautiful part of Texas; the rolling Hill Country west-north-west of San Antonio is fascinating even in the winter months! But with the nearest cell tower over seven miles away, we are not going to be able to offer very much communication for a little while.
[Ken 02/06/2016] Our SOWERs' team is at Deer Creek Camp near Medina, Texas, until the 28th. This is a gorgeous property (many of the cabins and lodges are made of stone and are trimmed-out in juniper and mesquite). The property is fully treed, except for the playing fields. The clear waters of the Medina River run along the northeast side of the acreage. The sage in bloom is like perfume. The chickens (and three roosters) run wild through the camp. GrandPa Ken would love the old West theme that is designed into every feature of this bustling camp.
But no connectivity. <SIGH>
When you hear the wind blow, dear, hear the wind blow, just right, we can catch a WiFi signal, so we might be able to post in short bursts, from-time-to-time. But cell phone service is "zero bars" all of the time. We promise to do some catching up when we get back on-the-road at the end of the month!
Oh ... and YES! ... the stars at night ARE big and bright ...
Have a great February!
But no connectivity. <SIGH>
When you hear the wind blow, dear, hear the wind blow, just right, we can catch a WiFi signal, so we might be able to post in short bursts, from-time-to-time. But cell phone service is "zero bars" all of the time. We promise to do some catching up when we get back on-the-road at the end of the month!
Oh ... and YES! ... the stars at night ARE big and bright ...
Have a great February!
always smiling ... margaret crow
“You look just like your daddy!” Margaret greeted us on the driveway as we pulled up.
[Ken 02/04/2016] We were blessed last night by the opportunity to drive up to Austin to visit my cousin, Margaret Crow. Margaret is the daughter of Ed and Dora Rodgers (there are some great stories about Ed and Dora!). My dad, and his older brother and sister, George and Mary Alice, were welcomed into Ed’s family and raised by Great Grandpa [William] Rodgers after the passing of dad’s mother (to tuberculosis) and father (to alcoholism – and likely a broken heart). I was thinking that I had not seen Margaret in fifty years, or so, but she reminded me that she sat next to us at Uncle George’s funeral [about] 17 years ago.
Margaret lives on two-and-a-half acres at the southern limits of Austin. She showed us her home and lots of great pictures of her children, Nathan and Shannon, and their two families. We sat in her living room; she relayed lots of stories which had been passed on to her by her father about growing up in their expanded West Virginia home with dad, George, and Mary Alice. She lives alone, with two dogs and two cats. Some of the things in the Austin house remain the way that Gary left them.
We had a chance to go out for dinner and trade stories. Margaret really loves teaching. And she loves the kids that she has taught over the years. She still tutors fourth graders 19 hours a week. Margaret shares that she tries to build a bond with each student. You can see in her heart how much she enjoys and cares about helping these young kids. I admire that. Even today, she still runs into some of her past students, now adults, in her day-to-day life. It is fun to hear stories of how those “kids” still remember her so many years later.
From the small world department, Margaret has good friends who [also] RV with SOWERs. When we looked them up in the directory, they were listed right next to our names! We are going to have to meet them someday – Margaret says that they are a real hoot!
We are very glad that Margaret invited us up to her home. And dinner was very nice, too. It was a fun and special night of stories.
[Ken 02/04/2016] We were blessed last night by the opportunity to drive up to Austin to visit my cousin, Margaret Crow. Margaret is the daughter of Ed and Dora Rodgers (there are some great stories about Ed and Dora!). My dad, and his older brother and sister, George and Mary Alice, were welcomed into Ed’s family and raised by Great Grandpa [William] Rodgers after the passing of dad’s mother (to tuberculosis) and father (to alcoholism – and likely a broken heart). I was thinking that I had not seen Margaret in fifty years, or so, but she reminded me that she sat next to us at Uncle George’s funeral [about] 17 years ago.
Margaret lives on two-and-a-half acres at the southern limits of Austin. She showed us her home and lots of great pictures of her children, Nathan and Shannon, and their two families. We sat in her living room; she relayed lots of stories which had been passed on to her by her father about growing up in their expanded West Virginia home with dad, George, and Mary Alice. She lives alone, with two dogs and two cats. Some of the things in the Austin house remain the way that Gary left them.
We had a chance to go out for dinner and trade stories. Margaret really loves teaching. And she loves the kids that she has taught over the years. She still tutors fourth graders 19 hours a week. Margaret shares that she tries to build a bond with each student. You can see in her heart how much she enjoys and cares about helping these young kids. I admire that. Even today, she still runs into some of her past students, now adults, in her day-to-day life. It is fun to hear stories of how those “kids” still remember her so many years later.
From the small world department, Margaret has good friends who [also] RV with SOWERs. When we looked them up in the directory, they were listed right next to our names! We are going to have to meet them someday – Margaret says that they are a real hoot!
We are very glad that Margaret invited us up to her home. And dinner was very nice, too. It was a fun and special night of stories.
time for service!
[Ken 02/01/2016] We're starting the month of February near Live Oak, Texas (a bedroom community for San Antonio) at the Cummins' South Plains service center. They had an appointment slot available that fit into our crazy schedule, so we snatched it up. They are gonna do an inspection on the engine and change oil, belts, etc. (everything that it needs). They are also going to make sure that the turbo whistle is the right pitch for us (we really like to stay in tune with the rest of the traffic, you know!).
We are staying at a nearby La Quinta Inn while Faith is in the shop. Though we have a larger room with a king-size bed, we filled the space with tools and bikes and boxes and clothes from Faith (but not the kayaks!). Room 134 now looks like a storage locker, LOL! Sure do miss the great bed that we have in the motorhome -- can't wait to get back on the road so we can sleep in it again!
ON EDIT: The Cummins' service inspection revealed a gasket leak between the third and fourth cylinders on the exhaust manifold. Kudos to Eddie and Robert: Robert did a great job on the service and repair, and also took time to explain some features of the Cummins that I was unfamiliar with. Eddie is a champion for patiently bull-dogging the Extended Warranty folks to get full reimbursement (except for $69 in "Shop Materials") for us! We sure are happy that we have an Extended Warranty! The folks at South Plains got all this work done for us in just a couple days! WooHoo!
