Birthday Celebration, Friends, Pedernales Falls State Park

April 13, 2011 Cottonwood Creek RV Park.
Well...I've crept up on the half century mark! Joyce wanted to do something special for me and wanted to have a party in the park.  I'm not big on being the center of attention, so we agreed we would just have a "Mexican Potluck Fiesta".  So with Joyce and our friend Betty organizing the fiesta, it all came together and we had a great time with our friends here at the park.

 Joyce bought a cake for me that we were able to share with everyone. 

Actually, the fiesta was held a few days after my birthday. On my birthday, we went with a group of friends to The Shade Tree Saloon and Grill for lunch. 

 It's a local "biker" bar with live music in the evenings.

Our neighbors and good friends, Dale and Betty said goodbye and headed home on April 11. Dale was eager to get back to his farm in Nebraska. Maybe someday we will pay them a visit on the farm.

Yesterday, we took a trip out to Pedernales Falls State Park. We had been to the park last year and enjoyed the falls. Unfortunately the drought has affected the flow in the Pedernales River.

Our new friends from the campground, Paul and Paula traveled with us to the park. They also have a Carriage RV, a new 2011 Cameo that they purchased just a few weeks ago to begin their full time RV adventure.

 After paying the $5 per person entrance fee, we hiked on down to the Twin Falls.  The hike for the Twin Falls is located in the park's campground between sites 19 and 21.

It was a nice hike through the trees with some rocky steep areas.

 It was a bit disappointing as we could only located one of the "Twin Falls". No doubt due to the dry conditions.

 After the short hike to Twin Falls we got back to the Jeep and drove to the main attraction in the park, the Pedernales Falls.

 Again, evidence of the drought was everywhere.  You really need to compare the pictures from last year.

Even though it wasn't as pretty or dramatic as last year, we still enjoyed visiting the park and enjoying the company of our friends, Paul and Paula.

After we left the park, we went for a late lunch at The Nutty Brown Cafe outside of Dripping Springs. We got home after 5:00 full and tired from being out in the sun. We sat with some neighbors and enjoyed the rest of the evening till the cool evening temps forced us inside.