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. 

Spending Time with a Family Friend

April 17, 2010.

Again we awoke to a large puddle outside the rig as we have for the last several days. I got out early and pushed the water down the driveway to drain out into the street. We said goodbye to our neighbors, Clancy and Linda also full time Rvers that started their journey the same time as us in October of 2009. They have a beautiful Carriage Carri-Lite with a full wall slide.

Later in the morning, the rain clouds moved off and the sun came out! Slowly things began to dry. A friend of the family, Barb, lives in Fredericksburg and she came to our park to visit. After catching up and walking the dogs around the park, we decided to go to a local Mexican restaurant in Kerrville, Mamacitas.

The restaurant was beautiful with this gorgeous candelabra at the entrance.

The dining rooms were also beautiful. The restaurant made it’s own fresh tortillas and had a ice cream shop attached. The food was excellent and we all did a good job of cleaning our plates!

By the time we got back home, the temperature had really dipped and the breeze and picked up. We called it a day and said our good-byes. We hope to run into Barb again sometime down the road!

Yesterday, April 16, we were holed up in the rig between rain showers. Joyce took these photos through the window of an enterprising squirrel going after the sunflower seeds in her bird feeder.

Streeeeeetch

Success

I got a call that the Goodyear Tires I had ordered for our fifth wheel were waiting for us at A&A Tire Service.  I spoke with the assistant manager, Mike and made arrangements to be at the shop Monday morning. We will stop there after we leave Guadalupe River RV Resort and then continue west on I-10.  That’s the plan!

The Texas National Carriage Travel Club Rally Wraps Up

April 15, 2010.

The Texas National Carriage Travel Club rally officially ended Thursday evening. As I'm writing this blog update, Carriage rigs are moving out of the park. We however, will be here at Guadalupe River RV Resort till Monday. I'll share some photos I took of rigs leaving the park.

The weather over the last few days has been terrible with rain each day throughout the day. Our site here at Guadalupe River RV Resort floods and we have a 3 inch pond outside our steps when it rains. I purchased a floor squeegee from Home Depot to push the ponding water down the driveway.  It works till it rains again! The river has risen several feet since we've been here from all the rain.

At the rally there were a number of “first timers” like Joyce and I of mixed ages including many from our generation.  However, it’s apparent at least at this rally that the majority of the participants are at least a generation older than us. I’m still processing my opinions of the rally however, I’ll share what I’m currently thinking. 

To be honest, I wasn’t impressed with the seminars that I attended. Naturally, the brand name professional seminars were geared toward selling something. Others such as Senior Safety, just did not appeal to us. A lot of time was dedicated to playing organized games. I’m not a game person, but Joyce did come in second in a Skip-Bo tournament.

Along with a host of tournament games, the agenda included seminars on:

• Fuel Saving and Engine Performance (sales pitch for filters and mufflers)
• Plug it Right (Sales pitch for stabilizers and other items)
• Mor/Ryde Systems (Sales pitch for upgrades)
• A Safari style ranch tour (additional $40)
• Armchair Exercises (huh?)
• Tech Talk (computers, televisions, satellite cubes, antenna reception, etc.)
• Bigfoot Levelers (Sales pitch for the leveling system)
• Senior Personal Safety (local law enforcement canned presentation)

I had expected seminar topics related to practical hints and tips for the RV lifestyle specific to Carriage products such as:

• Towing
• Carriage RV repairs and maintenance
• Travel Destinations
• Cooking 
• Tires
• Workamping
• Solar Power
• Generators
• Scheduling Factory Service at Carriage protocols etc.
• Presentations by Carriage representatives.

The apparent lack of Carriage Inc. participation in a National Rally is particularly shocking to me. (I'm not aware if they even donated anything). We had over 100 Carriage RVs at this rally and yet to my knowledge,no-one from Carriage Inc., ever addressed the rally participants or made themselves available. I don’t think anyone from Carriage Inc. even came to the rally.

Much was made by the officers about the club’s participation at the Tampa RV Show with Lazy Days and the fact that a number of Carriage fifth wheels were sold as a result of the Carriage Travel Club (CTC) members helping at the show.  Yet, Carriage Corporation seems to have minimal involvement with the CTC. It seems to me (with my limited experience) that the club benefits Carriage Inc, with apparently little or no cost or participation from its namesake. 

Understandably, the rally can’t please everyone. But from a practical/ informational and helpful stand-point, the rally was not what I expected.

The dinners and gatherings were dedicated to presenting awards, introducing officers, discussing club business to include taking control of the club management from a commercial organization and announcing future club and national rallies and pending national club elections.

Because of the foul weather, (it rained throughout the event) the opportunity to socialize outdoors at our own rigs was very limited. The meals allowed for socializing.

Overall, I’m glad that we had the opportunity to experience a National Carriage Travel Club Rally. We will continue to maintain our membership, to see what direction the club takes. I would like to experience however, some of the local chapter gatherings/ campouts in the future. 


All of the participants and members were very friendly/inviting and the organizers undoubtably worked hard to make the rally successful.

2nd Rally Day and Tires.."they ain't purty"

April 13, 2010.

The day started off cloudy and threatening rain. We got some drizzle type rain throughout the day. I was out the door by 7:30 taking Maggie and Rico out for a long walk around the park.

After walking the dogs, I headed over to the pavilion to check out the continental breakfast provided by the Texas Travel Club Rally. I grabbed a couple of pastries, one each for Joyce and I and took them back to our rig. A large group from the rally were preparing for their excursion to a local ranch. Joyce was just getting out of bed when I got back! There wasn’t anything on the rally agenda that I wanted to attend today and there wasn't much scheduled due to the ranch excursion.

Since we’ve been here at the rally, I’ve been cruising the rows of Carriage fifth wheels admiring them and paying particular attention to their tires. You see, my Cameo has Duro Tires and in fact the standard OEM tire on Cameo’s is the Duro Tires load range E rated for 3520 lbs. each at 80 p.s.i. The two axles on my Cameo are 7K lbs. each. So in theory the two Duro Tires (per axle) are only rated at a combined 40 lbs above the axle rating. Moreover, the Duro Tires are ST tires which means they are only speed rated for 65 mph. I’ve been babying the tires since I’ve had the rig making sure the tire pressure is at their max 80 p.s.i. before every move and driving at a speed of no more than 60 mph. 

I’ve read several posts on a couple of Carriage forums that some folks have experienced catastrophic failures, blow-outs and tread separation on the Duro Tires. Couple that with the knowledge that these tires are at their limit on a trailer that including the pin weight potentially weighs as much as 15000 lbs. (I gotta get it weighed.) These concerns have made me very uncomfortable with the Duro tires feeling that I’m riding on borrowed time. 

Subsequently in studying the tires on the Carriage fifth wheels here at the rally, I’m convinced that the majority are running the Goodyear G614 RST LT 235/85R16  which are load range G rated LT tires rated for a max load of 3750 lbs. per tire and are speed rated to at least 75 mph. (Not that I would tow at that speed, but it’s nice to have that extra margin of safety.)  I did still see some original equipment Duro Tires on a few new (less than a year old) Cameos like mine. 

I did see one set of H rated Goodyear G114 LHT 17.5 inch tires on a new Carriage Royals. I had considered these tires and wheels however, it would require changing my wheels along with the tires at a cost approaching $3k for 5. However, after conducting my informal study here in at the rally, I’m convinced that the H rated tire, would possible be over-kill (if there is such a thing) for my rig.  The Goodyear G114 LHT is rated at over 4800 lbs. per tire. The other concern is that this is a 125 p.s.i. tire. 

So after careful consideration, I decided to upgrade my tires to the Goodyear G614 RST which is a high pressure tire with a max pressure of 110 lbs. I already learned my current wheels will support the pressure rating. I called a local tire service store about a mile from the rv park, A & A Tire Service for a price on the tires. I was quoted a price of  $325 per tire including mounting and balancing. The assistant manager, Mike agreed to allow me to order the tires over the internet from Trailer Tire and Wheel Supermarket and have the tires shipped to them for installation.  So I contacted Trailer Tire and Wheel Supermarket and ordered 5 tires at a price of $255 each including shipping for a total of $1275.  I'll still have to pay for the mounting and balancing etc. The tires are expected to arrive later this week at which time I’m to be contacted by A & A Tire Service upon their arrival.

So stand by for the tire saga as it continues.

Later in the afternoon, Joyce and I took a ride around Kerrville, Tx not wanting to venture too far due to the iffy weather.  After getting back we attended the ice cream social put on by the Carriage Travel Club before calling it a night. We’ve met a lot of interesting people at the rally to include a number of folks that, like us are just getting started in the full time RV lifestyle.

1st Day of Texas National Carriage Rally

April 12, 2010.
The rally was officially underway. We awoke at 7:00 to attend breakfast. The weather was overcast but mild.

After walking Maggie and Rico, we walked over to the pavilion where the majority of the activities to include the meals takes place.

As the morning went on we attended a few seminars to include a presentation by Mor/ryde. I also attended a presentation on stabilizers for the landing legs of the fifth wheel. Even with our Bigfoot Levelers, we still experience some side to side movement in the front of our rig especially when the front is lifted high to make the coach level. The stabilizers are designed to eliminate the sway. I had seen the system before and heard good things about it. I decided to purchase the system and the installation which would be done on our site. I'll post some pictures after the installation later this week.


Below is a picture of our pull-through site, #81.

We also attended a meeting for the "First Timers", folks like us who are new to the Carriage Travel Club. The meeting was with the officers of the club whom are in the midst of reorganizing and taking over management of the club from a commercial management company. It appears it will take some time for the club to get back the status it once enjoyed before the commerical management company took over 3 years ago. Male "First Timers" are identified at the rally with a tin sheriff's badge, kinda ironic for me, a retired sheriff's deputy. However, I have no idea what the badge has to do with being a "First Timer"!

After relaxing outside with our neighbors who have a beautiful Carriage Carri-Lite. We went back to the pavilion for the catered dinner, formal opening ceremonies and local entertainment. The entertainment was too "generationally dated" for us.

We left a little early and walked the park with Maggie and Rico taking pictures of the rows of Carriage fifth wheels.

This '96 Carriage Conestoga has been beautifully restored and is pulled by a '96 Dodge.

My favorite here at the park is this 2010 Carriage Royals.

Travel Day to Guadalupe River Rv Resort

April 11, 2010.

We woke to a foggy misty day with very moderate temps. Today was travel day from Cottonwood Creek RV Park to Guadalupe River RV Resort so that we could register and attend the Texas National Carriage Rally next week.

View Larger Map

We decided to go to breakfast in Blanco before hitting the road in the hope that the fog would burn off. We went to a greasy spoon and had a quick breakfast. We were hitched and ready to hit the road by 11:00. We said our goodbyes to our neighbors and the park owners, Sherry and Les.  They were great hosts and we would come back to their park Cottonwood Creek RV Park if we come back to the area.

We made the 80 mile trip without incident traveling through the Texas Hill Country and arriving at Guadalupe River RV Resort.

We were greeted by organizers of the Carriage Rally just inside the gate. Joyce got us checked in at the desk. We are paying the rally rate of $28 a day and we plan to stay for 8 days.

We were escorted to our pull-through site and got ourselves set-up. It's kinda neat being surrounded by Carriage fifth wheels. The weather remained overcast and foggy with a mist.  I'll post pictures of the site when the weather clears.

April 10, 2010.

The weather was beautiful this day and we attended the Dripping Springs Founder Days. It was the usual mix of vendors.

However, there was some outstanding Bar-B-Q at this event. They had a contest for the best Bar-B-Q.

After spending the early afternoon at the festival, we called it a day and spent the evening with our new neighbors hanging out by the rig. We shared wine and snacks till it got dark and we called it a night.