Campgrounds, Texas

No Room at the Inn

by Ingrid

The Hilltop RV Park in Stockton, Texas proved to be a great spot to overnight.  We could’ve saved ten bucks by staying at a Passport America park but that place was literally next to the interstate.  The Hilltop RV Park, aptly named since it sits high above the interstate on a hill, was convenient and quiet and even offered a view of a lovely Texas sunset.

speed limit in Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas and faster – speed limit 80 mph

Texas is a BIG state…..How big is Texas

It’s December 29th and we’re anxious to get to our next location to stay long enough to ring in the New Year.  We hit the road shortly after sunrise knowing we have about a 5 hour drive in front of us.  Our destination is a Corps of Engineers campground at Canyon Lake just northeast of San Antonio, Texas.  We first heard about this place from fellow blogger Donna and a nice comment from her had us calling the COE to double check for vacancy.  There were three sites still available at the Cranes Mill Campground.  Potters Creek was full.

Having commitment issues lately, Al and I decide to roll the dice and not make a reservation.  By the time we arrive at the Cranes Mill Campground around 3:00 in the afternoon, we are politely turned away….no room at the Inn.  What? And no overflow lot for boondocking?  Really?  You snooze, you lose!  Plan B.

Five minutes away is a private RV Park called Rio Raft or Rio Guadalupe Resort.  They accept our Passport America discount card and we pull into a very nice pull-thru site for $17 a night with full hook-ups.  The park sits along the Guadalupe River.  We pay for one night and the next day pay for another.  Gosh, we’re indecisive.  I love it!

Guadalupe River
Guadalupe River

I had all these grand plans to explore around the Texas hill country and visit the San Antonio River walk.  Susan’s blog has been providing me with oodles of information on the area.  The cold humid air chills Al and me to the bones.  We’re just not used to this kind of weather anymore.

So these two wusses wimp out and travel on the very day they vowed not to travel….Dec. 31st.  We arrive at our Rockport, Texas destination 5 days early in some attempt to circumvent the inclement weather.  BUT just because we made it to south Texas does not mean we averted the “polar vortex” that has engulfed most of this country.  Nope, we’ve been graced with freezing rain and 25 degree F overnight temperatures.  Oh, joy!  The adventure never ends.  Thankfully, fairer weather is on the horizon.

how big is Texas
no end in sight!

Random Texas facts…

  • The bowie knife is named after the Alamo hero Jim Bowie (1796-1836).  His brother designed the hefty weapon.
  • It is still a hanging offense in Texas to steal cattle or to put graffiti on someone else’s cow.
  • It is illegal to indecently expose or swear in front of a corpse.
  • In Galveston, Texas, it is illegal to have a camel run loose on the beach.  Camels were imported into Texas in the 1850’s by the U.S. War Department in the belief that they would be handy animals to use during the Indian Wars.
  • Oscar, the Academy Award statuette, was named for Texan Oscar Pierce, whose niece worked in Hollywood for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.  When she saw the gold statuette, she reportedly said, “Why, that looks just like my Uncle Oscar.”
  • At 268,601 square miles, Texas is the second largest U.S. state.  Alaska being number one.
  • Texas is the second most populous state.  California is number one.
  • Charles Alderton (1857-1941) a Waco, Texas, pharmacist, first created Dr Pepper in 1885.  The oldest working Dr Pepper plant is located 94 miles west of Waco.  Oh and there is no period after the “Dr” in Dr Pepper.
  • Each year Amarillo, Texas, hosts the World’s largest Calf Fry Cook-off.  “Calf fries” are bull testicles.
  • John Wayne and Chuck Norris are honorary Texas Rangers.  The Texas Rangers are the oldest law enforcement agency in North America with statewide jurisdiction.
  • The world’s largest and oldest rattlesnake roundup is held every March in Sweetwater, Texas.

AND on a final note……….here’s a photo of my friend snorkeling in Minnesota

snorkeling
snorkeling anyone?

55 thoughts on “No Room at the Inn”

  2. Weslaco Texas offers too much of satisfaction for holiday makers. The best part is that you can stay at a Weslaco Inn and visit places around including Neuvo Progresso and the best part is it is not so cold as Minnesota too.

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    1. Oh yes, Minnesota has been ridiculously cold. Even in the Chicago area, my poor dad has been housebound. Fortunately my sister lives nearby to help out. I’ll stick with 60 degree weather in south Texas 🙂

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    1. Thank you…..perhaps its time to pack the rig and head further south 🙂 The cold and rain has finally moved on here in south Texas. Sending warm weather, well at least warm thoughts your way 🙂

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    1. Oh, I’m sure it was an ‘end’ of some sort. Yes, you have seen quite a bit of Texas. We’re still working our way around. I think it would take years just to discover part of it. Warm and sunny in south Texas today and loving it 🙂

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  6. We all know it gets smaller in cold… your friend probably could not find his for a day or two… Love the photo though, snorkeling?? Texas Is one of those places that has always fascinated me, and I wonder if there are still a lot of the smaller towns that one would expect the cowboy to come galloping around the next corner…

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    1. And probably talking in a high pitched voice LOL.
      Yes, there’s still lots of real cowboys in Texas as are in Colorado and Arizona…….
      Lots of small towns with lots of cowboy history. No cowboy posts forthcoming. I’ve been focused on birding near the ocean. Can’t decide if I need a new camera or new photographer 😉

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    1. No fear….the only snorkeling I’ll do will be in the Caribbean. My blood has thinned to the point of needing to don a parka just looking at the photo 🙂

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  8. Great facts about Texas and your friend is one crazy guy, but I guess you have to be to live in MN in the winter. 😉 I have to say that we loved San Antonio and the River Walk. We were there two years ago for Thanksgiving and stayed for 3 weeks. We could hop onto a paved trail and connect with the River Walk from where we stayed. We were there for the river parade that kicked off the Christmas holiday. 🙂

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    1. I was disappointed the weather pushed us south before exploring San Antonio. I hope the weather will be more agreeable in February. If not, I’ll just need to target next year 🙂

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    1. I think we were in site 72 and we were pretty happy with it. It’s a basic park with gravel sites. Nothing special. The weather was horrible while we were there thus have no clue what’s in the area 🙂

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  11. Lv the European/Texas comparison…darn its BIG! Nice park…our kids headed to San Antonio for getaway…I’ll have to hook them up to Susan!

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    1. Definitely a big state. Allow yourselves plenty of time to cross Texas to get to Arizona. Takes longer than it looks. Susan has been in San Antonio over a year so a very good resource.

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  13. Only someone from Minnesota!!

    Yes, it was hard to escape the cold. Luckily, it was only one day for us but today was the first time we’ve seen the sun in a week. Very strange weather pattern this year.

    We’ve only done TX by plane for a long weekend to San Antonio. Can’t quite bring myself to visit in the MH. I guess I haven’t seen that must see area in any blog yet. But some day down the line we’ll have to get there. Enjoy your stay:)

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    1. I guess it depends on the time of year you’re traveling east to west/west to east because it almost seems natural to go thru Texas. I’m located in a birders paradise right now and having great fun. I guess it all depends on ones interest. There is an RV Park that has ‘Pam’ written all over it. When we drove through it to check it out I thought of you; Gulf Waters RV Resort on Mustang Island (Port Aransas/Corpus Christi) similar to Portal in Moab but with the ocean instead of rocks. 🙂

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  15. Love those Texan tidbits and thanking you for paving the way for us next winter. Both Susan and Bob are excellent guides and references about San Antonio not to mention very nice couple.
    I think your friend is a little crazy, wonder how long he stayed out.

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    1. We’re still undecided whether we want to travel further south to Port Isabel or head north to San Antonio. It is fun being free to roam in whatever direction. I have several of Susan’s posts bookmarked just in case we do make it to San Antonio. She’s been very helpful by emailing me info on RV Parks since theirs is booked depending on our actual dates.

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      1. I just looked you up on the map and looked like you are pretty much southeast of TX. Anyhow, on your way back up to AZ you might want to check South Llano River State Park off of I-10. We liked it there and lots of birds!

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        1. I’ve heard others recommend Llano River SP and we did see the sign for it. Thanks. Oh, and if you Google Goose Island State Park we’re virtually next door.

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      1. There is a town not far from me named Severance and there is a sign there that says “where the bulls cry and the geese fly”. And there is a bar there that specializes in serving Rocky mountain oysters. Deep fried, not bad, but kind of chewy for my taste.

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  19. Ha! – love the last photo – hopefully no bits were harmed in the snorkeling – sorry could not resist saying that! Love the facts – do not expose or swear to a corpse – check! Happy Weekend:)

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    2. I had that snorkeling photo in my archives and thought this was perfect timing to share. I found a whole bunch of tidbits on Texas and picked the ones I thought were most unusual. Have a great weekend and hope the sun is shining in your neck of the woods.

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  21. Love the Guadalupe River and the Frio River down at Garner State Park! Glad you survived the cold spell, and you should have some great weather in your area unless another one moves through. Very sorry you missed the riverwalk, though. it is pretty epic. 😉

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    1. We’re discussing our February plans so it may still be in our near future. We did a quick drive by the River Walk and the Alamo several years ago, but now we want to really dive in and explore, thus nicer weather needed. Even with the inclement weather, we are really enjoying the area and may even return next winter.

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