Wrapping It Up at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort

January 30, 2011 Buckhorn Lake RV Resort.

Today we made preparations to move on to Corpus Christi in the morning. We are on our way to visit our daughter and son in law. He was recently assigned to Corpus Christi to continue his flight training and learn to pilot the P3 for the Navy.
Today was absolutely beautiful and warm reaching the upper 70's. However about mid week the temperatures will be plummeting to the teens at night and 30's and 40's for highs! So, we will be getting out of here just in time!

We really enjoyed meeting some of the folks staying at Buckhorn. We met Mike and Leslie after one of our blog readers sent us an e-mail to let us know these fine folks were here. They are full timers out of New Mexico. We spent a few days and evenings hanging out and together we checked out a local Bar-B-Que restaurant: Bills-Bar-B-Que. It was very good and I would recommend it for informal dining.

Mike, Leslie and Joyce (raccoon eyes)

We met Paul and Mary after Mary discovered our blog one morning and realized we were three sites from them. She promptly introduced herself and her husband. We are glad they did. They are a very nice couple. As couples we are about the same age. It's unusual to find full timers our age. We had some interesting and spirited conversations. Unfortunately we didn't get to spend much time with them as they had out of state relatives that came to visit. They have a blog: Bullwinkle's Travels, that we will be sure to follow.

Paul and Mary standing with Bullwinkle.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort. The weather cooperated with cold nights and mornings but generally pleasant afternoons. The park was beautifully maintained and they had events or social gatherings almost every evening. Friday's Margarita night was conducted at the small bar and grill below. This was literally across the street from our site.

Except for the first night of our arrival, the park was relatively empty with perhaps 1/3 to 1/2 capacity.

Entrance of Buckhorn Lake RV Resort.

The Red Barn used for social activities.

We didn't do a lot of sightseeing in the Hill Country this time around. It's much more enjoyable to be out driving when the spring flowers and bluebonnets are in bloom. Instead, we enjoyed just hanging out in the park riding the bike and participating in the social events, dinners, karaoke and gatherings at other rigs. We did manage to get some sun and we both have "raccoon eyes" from wearing our sunglasses.

I did get the oil changed and the tires rotated on the Jeep while we were here. Life on the road can't always be about sightseeing. We still have domestic chores and responsibilities like everyone else that require our attention. Sometimes all we want to do is just stay home, decompress and socialize with friends, neighbors and those of like minds!

Luckenbach Texas and Fredericksburg Texas

January 24, 2011. Buckhorn Lake RV Resort.
Today we awoke to the awful news that law enforcement officers in St. Petersburg (Pinellas County Florida) had been shot and taken to the hospital. The two officers from the St. Petersburg Police Department were assisting a Pinellas County Deputy Sheriff and a Federal Marshal in executing an arrest warrant when the fugitive who was hidden in the attic shot at the officers hitting 3 of them. We learned later in the evening that the two St. Pete. officers had died and the Federal Marshall was wounded. 
Names of Two Fallen St. Petersburg Officers Released

Our hearts and prayers are with the fallen officers and their families. As you know, I retired from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office so this kind of news hits home.

Prior to learning of the awful news, we took a ride out to Luckenbach, Texas.  Made famous by the song,  Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love) by Waylon Jennings.
Luckenbach sits along both sides of ranch road 1376 approximately 17 miles south of Fredricksburg, Texas. It is about an hour drive north of San Antonio and an hour west of Austin. You should stop and ask directions! Luckenbach is not easy to find. You better hurry! It might disappear before you get there.

Tree outside the Luckenbach Post Office

There's not much at all in famed Luckenbach save a small souvenir store and bar formerly a Post Office and a dance hall along with a few homes.

It is hardly more than a bend in the road. A couple of shabby old buildings stand beneath a grove of spreading oaks. The whole town covers less than ten acres. A sign as you enter town says: "population 3". The Luckenbach post office stands at the center. It includes a general store and saloon. Out back, folks sit on benches under the oak trees sipping Lone Star Beer and listening to country music. A cowboy strums his guita

The post office ceased operation in 1971 and became the souvenir shop.

Former Post Office

Now a Souvenir Shop

The only other significant structure is the dance hall. It is a genuine old-fashioned Texas dance hall. Local bands play western music on most weekends. Folks from all around the area come to dance and party.

Luckenbach Dance Hall

After the very short tour of Luckenbach, we drove to Fredericksburg to do some sightseeing which of course includes shopping and lunch.

Main Street Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia. Old-time German residents often referred to Fredericksburg as Fritztown, a nickname that is still used in some businesses. The town is also notable as the home of Texas German, a dialect spoken by the first generations of German settlers who initially refused to learn English. Fredericksburg shares many cultural characteristics with New Braunfels, which had been established by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels the previous year. Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz. It is the sister city of Montabaur, Germany

Admiral Nimitz Museum

We had lunch at one of the local German restaurants. I forgot the name but, it really wasn't worth remembering. We enjoyed walking around in the bright sunshine just leisurely taking in the views of the historic buildings.  

While waiting for Joyce to come out of a shop, I helped a shop owner replace some bulbs on the porch of their business as she was vertically challenged. She rewarded me with some fantastic fudge. I got a sugar rush and then the dreaded crash. 

On the way home we stopped in downtown Kerrville and washed the Jeep which helped me to regain some energy. 

While relaxing in the sun on our patio, a couple from down the road stopped by. They are also bloggers and had just coincidently discovered our blog this morning. Their blog is: Bullwinkle's Travels. Seeing the pictures in our blog they realized we were a few sites from theirs. It was great to talk with them for a while as the sun was setting. However, once that sun went down it got cold which broke up the party! We hope to see them again while we are here. 

Buckhorn Lake RV Resort, Kerrville, Texas

January 22, 2011 Buckhorn Lake RV Resort.

We actually got up later than we expected at 8:30. We hadn't set an alarm and we had entered the Central Time Zone yesterday. Our bodies thought it was 7:30. We were pretty much set to take off having left the rig hitched to the truck. However, it was cold outside having dipped into the 30's overnight. Thankfully the sun was out and shining brightly. After walking the dogs and making our final preparations we pulled out of Comanche Land RV Park just before 10. There was a Shell truck station at the intersection for Interstate 10 so we stopped to fuel up. Yesterday I got close to 12 mpg towing with a tailwind. We got on the interstate just after 10 a.m. headed for Buckhorn Lake RV Resort in Kerrville, Texas.

Maggie and Rico sleeping in the back of the truck.

View Larger Map

Out on the interstate, the rig was getting buffeted by strong cross winds. Whoever thinks Texas is flat has never driven on Interstate 10 through west Texas. We hit some pretty long grades. That coupled with the wind was grossly affecting my fuel mileage. We stopped for lunch and more fuel in Sonora Texas. Based on my overhead reading of 9.8 mpg, I'm betting I got barely 9 mpg. I'll have to manually calculate the mileage later.

After about 4.5 hours and 250 miles we arrived at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort. We decided to splurge and took an "executive site" with a water view on a corner lot.

Site 6094B

 Our first impression of this campground is very good. They let us pick our site from those available after checking them out in their golf cart. We will be staying at least a week with a weekly rate of $275 plus electric. This is certainly more than we've ever paid before. However, it's so nice to have a concrete slab and a level site with grass and a view! This resort may be a budget buster, so hopefully we can enjoy it and have some good weather. We have a western exposure on our door side so at least we will have warm sun if it shines.

Our back window view.

We had spent several weeks in the Texas Hill Country last year in March and April. We like the area but wanted to see more of it.

The "Red Barn" and Outdoor Patio across the street.

Since we are headed to Corpus Christi to see our daughter and son in law we decided to stop in Kerrville for at least a week to maybe check out some of the things we missed last year.

View out front.

We paid $14 for fresh made pizza in the "Red Barn" tonight. An event put on by the resort. The pizza wasn't bad and it was in the barn that is right across the street from our site. The resort has a calendar literally filled each day with available activities, potlucks, prepared meals, trips and socials. From what we've seen the resort is very well maintained as the grounds and buildings are spotless.

In the pictures below, Rico wanted the pillow but after whining, couldn't get Maggie to move off.

So, Rico laid down behind her and laid his head on her. Before long, Maggie got up and went into her crate...mission accomplished!

Stay tuned as we explore the area.