After our rainy stay in San Antonio, the weather cleared just in time for us to hit the road. It was a Friday morning (Nov. 7th) and we managed to skirt around San Antonio with very little traffic, much to our pleasant surprise.
Three hours later we arrived at Goliad State Park….. along with a line of yellow school buses. Turns out this particular weekend had a lot of happenings going on. “Oh, joy!” Actually it’s nice to see the younger generation being taught history with a hands on experience. Goliad, Texas, is the perfect place for this hands on experience considering the historical sites in the area…. history abounds.
The park was filled with middle school children from the nearby town of Victoria. That Friday and Saturday reenactors would be present at the onsite Mission Espiritu Santo to help display and reenact life as it was so many years ago.
I had made an online reservation in the Jacales Camping Area which offers electric and water only. The full hook-up sites in the Karankawa Camping Area were already all booked up. Pity, because that is a lovely loop with well spaced sites that I would highly recommend.
Upon check-in, the gal gives us the perfect site (#33) in the Jacales Camping area which is pretty much a parking lot with back-in sites. The gal says, “I think you’ll be happy with that site and not bothered by the boy scouts”. Brain fart – comment doesn’t register!
I direct hubby to our campsite. “Oh yes, what a nice site”. Our door opens to a grassy area with a picnic table and fire ring. There’s only one other trailer in the far opposite corner of this rather large square parking area. “Ah, peace and quiet amongst trees and nature”. Al and I grabbed showers at the ‘comfort station’ and are rewarded with lots of hot water. For those of you unfamiliar with living in a RV, LONG HOT showers are a luxury and not the norm for our lifestyle. A six gallon water heater does not a long hot shower make!
Oh, how I miss my Rinnai tankless water heater (which our last two sticks and bricks homes had) and yes they do make them for RV’s and yes one is on our wish list. Ah, I digress ….
So after our hot showers, we relaxed around camp thinking this is the life. No sooner said, the first of many vehicles started pulling in followed by the hammering of tent stakes that continued long after sunset. Campfires were seen in all directions with the occasional sounds of children at play.
We’ve already established in earlier posts that hubby and I are both morning people and are usually enjoying coffee by 6 or 6:30 every morning. That said, Saturday morning I gazed out the window as I poured my second cup of coffee. It was 7 a.m. and dozens of little boys were running around the campground playing hide n go seek while their dads were gathered around campstoves cooking up breakfast.
We were surrounded ….. surrounded by tents in all directions. This wasn’t just a Boy Scout outing, this was a local mini Boy Scout Jamboree which included several scout chapters from southern Texas and we were in the center of it all.
They were gathered here to enjoy the Rio! Rio! event and learn the history of the area. We too enjoyed the event as we strolled around the Mission Espiritu Santo grounds and talked to the reenactors.
Do you know the difference between a Cobbler and a Cordwainer?
A cordwainer makes shoes and a cobbler repairs them. As a side note; try Googling ‘cobbler’ and you’ll find some amazing recipes LOL.
The cordwainer reenactor was interesting to talk to as he shared the process of boot making. Then we were on to the spinning wheel. This gal was making yarn from some Alpaca wool. Her table was loaded with wool from sheep, alpaca, and bunny rabbit angora. Loved this touchy, feely event!
All the reenactors were gracious and enthusiastic about sharing and being photographed.
The mission itself houses some interesting historical artifacts …. items used for everyday life. This was definitely a fun find and the Rio! Rio! event helped bring to light life on a mission 200 years ago.
Next, we explore downtown Goliad…..
Live Laugh RV 