Spring in Texas and Arkansas: 4 Chapters

Our first ever TC rally site

Chapter 1

One of the really fun things about traveling is to associate with others who have the same style of RV that you do.  For Daisy and me that means truck campers.  So when we saw that the first annual Texas truck camper rally was to be held while we were in winter quarters, we signed up.  This was Daisy’s first RV rally, and we spent 4 days with RV/TC enthusiasts.  The last days of February found us on the road to a state park 20 miles west of Austin, about 340 miles away from our winter home.  We arrived to find out that we were 1 of 30 truck campers and a few TC wantabees who attended.

This is our first campout with just truck campers on every site.

Princess Craft RV out of Austin sponsored this event that included RV tech talks, campfires, dancing, a BBQ dinner, a pancake breakfast, open house tours, and on-site repair venues.  This was one of the smallest RV rallies that I have ever been to, and I liked it.  Because of the small scale, you got a chance to know everybody and hear their stories.  One of the advantages was visiting those who had been TCing for years and had done modifications to enhance their camping vehicle experience.

Location is in the Texas Hill country west of  Austin.

RV tech from Princess Craft hosting a cold morning gathering

There were TCs with popups and no slides as well as single, dual, and triple hard-side slide models.  This gathering had no children in attendance, and the ages ran from the 20s to 80s. The majority were retired folks who had owned other larger motorhomes and trailers.  Also in attendance were one motorcycle camper complete with a towed tent trailer and one tent camping family who had an interest in getting a truck camper.

We had no sooner arrived and backed into our site than we had visitors.  To be more specific, we had the visitors after we opened up the two slides on our Eagle Cap.  There were several large and small no-slide units around us and one single slide.  Our arrival and deployment brought out the curious, and being shy people, we had no difficulty with this show and tell. 

Yes we are still in our honeymoon year.  Does it show!

Our unit in the early morning light

The highlight for me was a chili cook-off that I participated in. The rules for this cook-off were that there would be no rules, so I made a non-traditional chili using chicken, white beans, and cream.  I had none left in my crockpot at the end.  

Each contestant cooked a pot for judging and sharing.

How you present your Texas Chili is an art form.

Soup's on!

The second panel of judges making the definitive decisions.

Three of us tied for the top place. I got third in a taste off.

But wait! This wasn’t the best event while we were there.  Maybe it was the BBQ brisket and pot of pinto beans with corn bread that was served one evening. Nope, it had to have been the dancing under the stars to a western band on a cool evening.  But then, how about having an RV tech fix a couple of issues for us at no charge at our site.

Beef brisket on the home made corrugated sheeting grill

Pinto beans were on the side.

Mesquite and pecan coals were created here and then moved to the grill.

The end result is that we had a great time at the rally visiting with others and getting travel and gadget ideas.  The editors of Truck Camper Magazine (an online publication) attended the rally, and our pictures and comments on our likes and dislikes about a newly introduced model appeared in articles in the magazine. 

As a result of this outing, Daisy and I are planning on regularly attending truck camper rallies in other parts of the country.  This was not only fun, it was educational to boot.

For the Truck Camper Magazine articles, click on the URLs below:

Article about the TC review

Article about the rally

Chapter 2

As the rally ended, we looked at our map and decided we were not ready to go back to the Rio Grande Valley yet.  Our friends Roy and Judi were workamping at the Peach Country RV park near where we attended the TC rally, so Daisy and I decided to visit them on our way home.

Willie and the boys (this time Roy, Judi and Chip) made a song about this place.

We left the rally for a short 65-mile journey west toward an old German settlement of Fredricksburg, Texas.  This town is located in the Texas hill country and was founded back in 1864.  The area is unique for its fusion of Spanish and Central European (German, Swiss, Austrian, Polish, and Czech) influences in food, beer, wine, architecture, and music.  This part of the hill country is also called peach country due to 40% of the Texas peach crop being produced in this area.  (We were too early to get any peaches so I guess we might be forced to go back when they are in season!) Another bit of trivia about this area is that the Texas hill country is the second largest wine producing area in the United States and the second most visited wine region in the United States, after only the Napa Valley.  That means 21 wineries, with culturally mixed culinary delights, all in the vicinity of 1,400 acres of prime peach orchards. Wine, food, beer, and history—all in one area.  We only explored for 3 days and 3 nights, but we will be going back soon.

Store front in Fredericksburg, TX.  Kinda fitting!

We also visited a tiny town called Luckenbach, Texas. This is a secret corner the state that most country western fans have heard of. Roy and Judi went with us to find this cultural gem.  
Luckenbach is located in a cowboy community with hitching posts for horses just outside the bar.  It is like a trip back in time.

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." This does not include the colorful, free roaming roosters.  The old Luckenbach post office stands at the center, and it includes a general store and saloon in the back. Out back, folks can sit on benches under the oak trees sipping beer and listening to country music. When we entered the saloon, there were 2 musicians taking turns strumming acoustical guitars.  One in particular had a small ponytail and did a passable Willie Nelson.  A tip jar adorned his table.  We enjoyed Texas beer while soaking up the atmosphere and contributed to his jar when we departed.  The only other significant structure in town is the dance hall. It is a genuine old-fashioned Texas dance hall and local bands play western music on most weekends.

King of the roost

YIPPIE!  Ride 'em cowgirl!

Local performers sing for tips and drinks in the bar.

Local Black Wolf beer...appropriate I think.

Where but Texas can you find an armadillo guitar player?

We visited 4 of the 21 wineries in the area.

Many wineries are new.

Fredericksburg area has a dozen plus wineries.

This area is also noted for its peach orchards.

Roy and Judi were just 3 units down from us.

Traveling, meeting, eating and drinking with friends on the road.  Life is good.

Chapter 3

Before we left Texas for Arkansas we visited a few close friends that I knew from the open road.  They both had new additions in their lives.

Fran: A new truck and home for the winter.

Barry and Janet: A new car with the colors they adore.

Hard core Yankee fans

And we had to make another beach trip.

South Padre Island...no snow drifts here...sand yes...

Life is good for me,

and my partner.

At the beach we unexpectedly ran into our resort next door neighbors...Nolan and Ricky from Canada.

Beer, beauty, and beach. Can't beat that.

We also checked out a restaurant south of the border that was new to Daisy.

Mexican sign greets us border visitors.

Nuevo Progresso from Garcia's

Green chilies and warm tomato salsa

Spicy cornmeal-dipped mushrooms with ranchero sauce.

Shrimp-stuffed avocado

I know it seems like all we do is sample new and exquisitely prepared food and beverages.  But we also take it upon ourselves to learn new skills and abilities. Take for instance fly fishing...

Jeff and Kay, our fly-fishing mentors, at Bass Pro

Here we are on a field trip to learn about the ins and outs of fly-fishing equipment from some pros. It was so exhausting that we had to restore our energy with some nutritional sustenance.

Shrimp-stuffed trout fillets

Baked potato with bacon wrapped steak and bourbon mushroom sauce

We have met many great people here who are retired and enjoying this phase of life.

However, shortly after we returned to the Rio Grande Valley, my golfing buddy Bob died peacefully in his sleep.  We had just played the day before.  Within a week, another lovely friend who lives here year round was diagnosed with liver cancer.  Daisy and I offered to help her as needed, so we decided to make a quick trip to Arkansas to open up the house, do some needed yard work, hang some pictures, and return to Texas. 

Chapter 4

The panoramic view from our deck at sunrise, still looking wintry in early April.

The house was almost we left it, just a little more dusty inside and still a bit cluttered in the garage.  

When it was dry and warm, we focused outside, power washing the house and deck, trimming and felling trees, and weeding.  We did a lot in two weeks, yet still had time to visit our local friends.

I have had this chainsaw for 31 years. It can cut the little stuff,

and the bigger stuff.

Dropping this larger crowned tree opened a view to the west from the deck.

We added satellite TV. Can you see the Arkansas "home fix"  pop can on the LMB? A downhome approach to get the right satellites to load.

Little white cottage with the red door is our spring to fall base.

Country girl weeding the Vinca from the river rock at street side

I placed these boulders with a backhoe in 04.

Drought and insects killed half this tree I planted in 05, so I trimmed it.

 When the weather was a bit cool and damp, we worked in the house, cleaning and redecorating the interior with most of the furnishings from Daisy’s condo in VA. 

This is our neighbor Jim. He and Val watch our house when we are on the road.

Fellow winter Texans Rick and Darlene can always find time to eat, here in AR or in TX.

Daisy and I finally got to hang the Lewis and Clark quilt that Carol made for me.

The master bath with Forest Service prints and mountain views

The study with work plaques and memorabilia from both of us

Daisy's stuff in the study

The queen bedroom with Daisy's historical family portraits

120 year old "God Bless Our Home" needlepoint

Other side of great room with Daisy's artwork on the wall

Great room with Daisy's living room furniture

Sun room with Daisy's outdoor water pictures

Daisy's stained-glass award for years of service at VA Tech overlooks the deck.

Master bedroom with Daisy's wooden footlockers

The kitchen has counter space for Daisy's appliances as well.

All her other stuff went into the storage room below.

And of course we visited nearby family.

After unpacking, we went to visit Mary Lee, Rick, and Ricka in Missouri.

The panoramic view from our deck at sunset, with spring leaves appearing by late April.

We are now back in Texas to provide support and love to our friend.We have postponed our Alaska trip until next year and instead will enjoy shorter adventures based out of here for the time being. Life is too short not to love others and live each day the best way that we can.