Pics: 1) Patrick and me in front of TX capitol, 2) all of us at the concert/bar/bowli) ng ally, 3) at the creek, 4) on the Hayes' boat, 5) Patrick and girls in front of San Antonio's Alamo, 6) view in Big Bend upon arrival
On Friday Patrick took all of us a lunch at a TexMex restaurant which was quite good. Afterward we went to one of Patrick’s favorite places to swim. It was a bit of a hike down there over a lot of limestone. Patrick says he can’t stand that in Austin all the ground is limestone and there is no real dirt. Once we made it down to the river, we walked beside it for a while and then found a place to put our stuff so we could swim. The area reminded me of Asheville a lot as there were many people there smoking (both cigarettes and pot), many with dreads, many with tattoes and body piercing and they gave off an overall air of “whatever” attitude. They seemed friendly enough, though it was a bit crowded for my taste. Patrick’s favorite part of the creek is a rope swing hanging from a high tree. I did the swing three times, and it was fun. However, on Patrick’s 2nd time he tried to
backflip off the rope and his right ankle got caught up in the bottom of the rope which was split into 2 narrower strands. Luckily, the majority of his body was already in the water when the rope virtually hung him by his foot. Everyone watching gasped in fear, but somehow he managed to just lean up and untangle his foot. However, it was hurting him quite a bit directly after and it left a red burn looking mark like an ankle bracelet and it swelled a bit. That did not, however, deter him from doing it another 2 or 3 times. Men - never learn a thing.Anyway, it was quite a lovely afternoon and after hiking back to the car, we went home, showered, and got ready to go to a bar/restaurant/karaoke/dance & music hall. We shared some food while we waited for a band called “The Blue Hit” to come on - one of Patrick’s favorites. Unfortunately, they were the last band to perform so we had to wait a while, but the atmosphere was nice and when the band arrived we got to meet them because Patrick knows them. They were really good, though by the time they were on, I was so tired that I was being lulled to sleep by their foly sounds.Theresa especially enjoyed the band and Patrick gave us one of their cds to remember by. The next morning (well, more like early afternoon) we left for Canyon Lake, TX where Patrick’s parents have a river-side house. It is only about an hour away, but the area is quite rural and quaint. The traffic for the last half hour was terrible because everyone was driving to the area to “float the horsehoe” which means tube down the section of the Guadalupe River that makes a horseshoe shape and therefore drops you off close to where you enter the river.
Patrick’s parents’ house was really beautiful - it had a Tuscan influence with beautiful Mexican tile floors, floor to ceiling windows, an outdoor stone floored dining area with a stone fireplace that helps keep away the bugs at night. There was also an outdoor hot tub and a guest house connected by a porch area. I knew as soon as I saw it that Mr. and Mrs. Hayes must have designed it themselves, and Patrick’s mom confirmed my suspicion. Their original house was totally demolished from a flood 8 years ago and so when they rebuilt they took the parts they loved from the original designs and added new touches to mae it more functional and beautiful. They are also right on the Guadalupe River and thus you can enter into the horseshoe right in their bacyard instead of waiting in the lines just a few hundred yards down river. After we arrived and they fixed us lunch, Mr. Hayes took all of us out on their large sail boat. The lake was only 10 minutes away and the sea foam green color of the water, with small hills rising up along the edges reminded me of some lakes I saw in Austria - of course, the water was not nearly as cold! Lol I got a tad seasick upon sailing out, but I was pretty okay by the time we stopped and all got off to swim in the beautiful water. Carmen and I spend most of the trip up on the front of the boat, laying out in the sun. It was either Patrick or Carmen who asked me if I felt like a rich lady, up there with by big white sunhat and glasses. I laughed and said, in fact, I did feel rather privileged.
After swimming a bit we got back on the boat and returned to dock. Patrick’s mom was working on dinner when we got back but said we had time to float the horseshoe. The water was quite a shock after the perfect temperature of the lake water. It was, well, downright frigid and I think we provided other river-floaters much amusement with our shrieking. Enrique wanted to stay behind and read, so it was just the 3 of us girls and Patrick. The pace was very slow for the first part of the horseshoe and we got to watch all the others floating around, drinking & eating out of floating coolers, and some rope swingers at a nearby house. They invited us to come up and try out the rope swing, but one look at me glaring at his ankle and Patrick said “no thanks” to the invitation.
After we got to the bend though, the water picked up and there were a couple mild “rapids” to use the word lightly. Carmen really enjoyed that part and when we were done was ready to do it all over again. Lol
Once we walked back to Patrick’s parents’ house, we sat in the hot tub to warm up and then got ready for dinner. Patrick’s cousin Shan was also joining us for dinner, as he’d been out on the river with his friends for the day. We ate a wonderful meal of beef ribs marinated in some really yummy sauce, spring roles, veggie curry, mango sauce, and rice. For dessert Mrs. Hayes made a
Once we walked back to Patrick’s parents’ house, we sat in the hot tub to warm up and then got ready for dinner. Patrick’s cousin Shan was also joining us for dinner, as he’d been out on the river with his friends for the day. We ate a wonderful meal of beef ribs marinated in some really yummy sauce, spring roles, veggie curry, mango sauce, and rice. For dessert Mrs. Hayes made a
delicious bunt cake. W. e ate outside with a fire to keep the bugs away and everyone ate well and talked a lot. It was so kind of Patrick’s parents to go through so much trouble especially since they had to leave at 4 am to catch a flight to Charlotte of all places! They were going to fly there and then rent a car to drive up to Durham where Patrick’s grandmother lives, then after visiting with her there, driving over to Asheville to see other family. It seems like everyone has family in good ol’ NC.
The next day Patrick took the 4 of us into San Antonio where we went to the Alamo and then to the River Walk. I really wanted to go on a boat cruise down the river walk as Patrick’s mom had recommended it, but the rest of them didn’t really care to, so Patrick went the area with me on the boat while the other’s walked about observing the shops along the river. It really is a very beautiful design and San Antonio would not be the same without their lovely River Walk. The guide on our boat was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of interesting facts about the area and the buildings along the river. For example, San Antonio is the home of the oldest cathedral in the US (from the 1730s I believe) and it is so decked out in the Italian style with so much gold that even a simple retouching last year cost 5.8 million dollars.
The next day Patrick took the 4 of us into San Antonio where we went to the Alamo and then to the River Walk. I really wanted to go on a boat cruise down the river walk as Patrick’s mom had recommended it, but the rest of them didn’t really care to, so Patrick went the area with me on the boat while the other’s walked about observing the shops along the river. It really is a very beautiful design and San Antonio would not be the same without their lovely River Walk. The guide on our boat was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of interesting facts about the area and the buildings along the river. For example, San Antonio is the home of the oldest cathedral in the US (from the 1730s I believe) and it is so decked out in the Italian style with so much gold that even a simple retouching last year cost 5.8 million dollars.
Also, San Antonio has the 2nd highest space needle type tower in the US (2nd to Las Vegas) - which is strange - I thought Seattle’s was taller. When we got off the half hour boat ride Carmen, Enrique, and Theresa found us immediately and we all left San Antonio so we’d have time to get groceries and do laundry and pack so we could leave early on Monday morning for Big Bend National Park. Also in San Antonio I bought Patriick an ice cream that I’d owed him since Europe when he graciously postponed his departure from Saltzburg in order to leave later with me and explore the Sound of Music mountain with me (pronounced Oontesburg, but I forgot how it is spelled). I must include this in my blog so in future I have record that my debts are paid. ;)
This morning we left for Big Bend about 9:30 or so, which was later than I wanted, but we have made good time. I am typing this in the car on our drive, though I assume I’ll not have internet again until I get to El Paso on Wednesday evening. Oh, and yes, since I’m writing, Enrique is driving. He’s finally getting use to this “HUGE” car as he puts it (lol) and to the “cruise control” option. When we said goodbye to Patrick we thanked him profusely and gave him mint chocolate chip spice ice cream as a insignificant “thank you” gift. We felt bad that we couldn’t do more for him, as he was so very kind - always trying to buy our meals for us and giving us that CD.
Along our drive we were stopped by border patrol and had to pull over so Carmen, Enrique, and Theresa could get their passports out of the trunk. They asked where they were from as we unpacked the strategically packed trunk to get to their suitcases. They asked if I was a US citizen and I said yes and they didn’t even ask for my ID! Jeez. But anywa3y, they were very nice and wished us a safe and enjoyable trip. We’ve seen very few cars and towns sicne then (except for border patrol vehicles) but the views have been spectacular. A mix of corn fields and flatlands, with some small hills has now transformed into into spectacular vistas in a rocky and small shrubbery landscape. They mountains are so oddly shaped - with plateau’s and random jagged rock formations on top. We are now less than an hour from Big Bend, so I better wrap this up, but I will end by saying that it is spectacular to see terrain so very different.
This morning we left for Big Bend about 9:30 or so, which was later than I wanted, but we have made good time. I am typing this in the car on our drive, though I assume I’ll not have internet again until I get to El Paso on Wednesday evening. Oh, and yes, since I’m writing, Enrique is driving. He’s finally getting use to this “HUGE” car as he puts it (lol) and to the “cruise control” option. When we said goodbye to Patrick we thanked him profusely and gave him mint chocolate chip spice ice cream as a insignificant “thank you” gift. We felt bad that we couldn’t do more for him, as he was so very kind - always trying to buy our meals for us and giving us that CD.
Along our drive we were stopped by border patrol and had to pull over so Carmen, Enrique, and Theresa could get their passports out of the trunk. They asked where they were from as we unpacked the strategically packed trunk to get to their suitcases. They asked if I was a US citizen and I said yes and they didn’t even ask for my ID! Jeez. But anywa3y, they were very nice and wished us a safe and enjoyable trip. We’ve seen very few cars and towns sicne then (except for border patrol vehicles) but the views have been spectacular. A mix of corn fields and flatlands, with some small hills has now transformed into into spectacular vistas in a rocky and small shrubbery landscape. They mountains are so oddly shaped - with plateau’s and random jagged rock formations on top. We are now less than an hour from Big Bend, so I better wrap this up, but I will end by saying that it is spectacular to see terrain so very different.
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