Road Trip to Houston: San Antonio

Day 7

We slept late today and just relaxed as it was nice not to have to get up and hit the road.   While I waited for Val I went down and took a few pictures of our hotel and the River Walk..

Besides the tour boats, they also have water taxis.

Val is watching me from our balcony, she is near the top in the middle of the picture.

 

We decided to skip breakfast and eat an early lunch so after getting cleaned up and dressed we were on our way to the Alamo. The Alamo is a short walk from the hotel so we were soon there and walking around the grounds.  We watched a very interesting short movie on the history of the Alamo and Texas independence.  The Alamo is considered a sacred shrine in Texas and is treated with respect and reverence, it is a pretty amazing story. After going through the museum and visiting the church we headed back to the hotel.  Here are some pictures of the Alamo, but because it is a shrine, no photography is allowed in any of the buildings.

The next thing we wanted to do today was go to Market Square, which is a large Mexican market with many street vendors, shops and restaurants.  Surprisingly, both Val and I are still feeling the effects of our walk down into Carlsbad Caverns so we decided to take a cab instead of walking.  After arriving at Market Square, our first order of business was lunch and we had heard that the Mi Tierra Café and Bakery had very good Tex-Mex food so that’s where we ate.  It is a huge restaurant and we enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere.  After lunch we couldn’t resist the bakery and bought some pastries for dessert.  We wandered around the shops for a while and then headed back to the hotel for a little afternoon rest.

I was feeling a little uncomfortable being serenaded, but it did add to the fun.

 

You can see why we couldn't resist a visit to the bakery.

 

After our rest we decided to go down to the River Walk and walk the full loop.  The part of the loop that is the main river channel is not very interesting as there is not much going on, but overall it was an enjoyable walk.  Once again it was a beautiful, balmy evening, but being a Friday night there were a lot more people out than last night.  We completed the loop and decided to look for something to eat.  

Just past the bridge there is an amphitheater.  You can see the seating on the right and across the channel is the stage.

Val told them to look mean and angry for their picture, but the fellow on the left didn't get the message.

We weren’t very hungry as we had a full dinner at lunch so we just opted for ice cream.  We returned to the room and enjoyed the evening from our balcony for a while and then retired to the room.  I spent the rest of the evening downloading pictures and working on the blog and Val planned our route through the Texas Hill Country tomorrow.

We really liked staying here at the Omni Hotel and will be sad to leave, but we have other places to go and things to do so it’s back on the road tomorrow.

Road Trip to Houston: Carlsbad to San Antonio

Day 6

We got up early as we had a nearly 500 mile drive to San Antonio.  After a quick breakfast at the hotel we were on the road by 8:30.  The drive on US Highway 285 from I-40 to Carlsbad was a nice four lane highway, but south of Carlsbad it was only one lane in each direction with lots of truck traffic.  Despite the fact that oil prices are in a slump, it seemed that most of the trucks were carrying equipment for the oil fields and we could see plenty of activity along the road as we drove south.  I believe most of the activity was more for production than drilling as we didn’t see any drilling rigs.

We crossed Interstate 20 in Pecos and continued south to Fort Stockton where we picked up Interstate 10 headed east.  The interstate is not our preferred way of travel, but it was a relief to get on a four lane highway and away from all the slow truck traffic.  There was very little traffic on I-10 and the land was hilly, barren and desolate with very few towns.  As we got nearer to San Antonio we entered what is known as Texas Hill Country, which has more interesting scenery and there were also more towns.

San Antonio is a good size city with a population of just under 1.5 million.  We would be staying right in the downtown area so we had to contend with quite a bit of traffic, but we made it to our hotel by 5:00 and were soon in our room.  We are staying at the Omni la Mansion del Rio Hotel, which is right on the famous San Antonio River Walk.  The hotel is in a historic building that was originally a boy’s school.  We had opted for a river view room, but when we checked in we were told we had been upgraded to a balcony room, yea, good luck again.  Our room was on the fifth floor with the balcony looking right down at the River.

The view of the River Walk from our balcony.

You can take a tour of the river on these boats.

The San Antonio River Walk is part of the San Antonio River with a channel coming off the main river and then reconnecting further down making a loop.  There is also a channel leading to the convention center and a large shopping mall.  There is a continuous walkway all along the river and channels with hotels, shops and restaurants all along the way.  Most of the restaurants have outdoor seating along the walkway and river.  There are numerous pedestrian and vehicle bridges along the way.  It is very picturesque and we were very impressed.

After settling in, we went down to the River Walk to explore and have some dinner.  It was a beautiful and balmy evening and despite this being the slow time of the year, there were lots of people strolling or sitting in the restaurants enjoying the evening.  We decided to take a boat cruise and get the lay of the land along the River Walk.  It was a guided tour that took the full loop plus the channels that led off the main loop.  The sun had just gone down so it was very nice with just a twilight sky and all the lights along the way.  The cruise took about 35 minutes and we were glad we did it as it was very interesting.

I'm enjoying our cruise along the River Walk.

We were getting hungry so after the cruise we started looking for a restaurant and decided to eat at Ostra, a seafood restaurant right across the channel from our hotel (and apparently owned by the hotel).  It was an excellent dinner, which Val and I both enjoyed.  After dinner we strolled along the River Walk for a while and then decided to walk over to the Alamo which is nearby.  We didn’t stay long as we are planning on visiting tomorrow morning, but we did want to see it lit up at night.  We walked back to the River Walk and our hotel and decided to call it a night.  Our first night in San Antonio was wonderful - perfect weather, good food and the very nice River Walk.

The Alamo

Road Trip to Houston: Carlsbad Caverns

Day 5

Today we are visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park, which is about a thirty minute drive from our hotel in Carlsbad.  We slept in a little and didn’t get on our way until just before 10:00.  The area around the park is quite hilly compared with the flat land around Carlsbad.  We checked into the visitor’s center and found out the elevators weren’t working so the only way into the Caverns is the long steep trail starting at the natural entrance.  Val had some worries about how she would handle the long walk, but decided to go for it and off we went.

The park information says that it is a steep (20% grade) 750 foot descent into the cave, but the reality is, it was a 1.3 mile walk down to the Great Room, which is one of the main features of the cave.  I believe the 750 feet must mean the vertical drop, not the actual distance.  It was a steep walk down and it seemed like a lot longer than it was, but we made it.  The formations aren’t quite as spectacular as some other caves we’ve been in, but the sheer size of the Great Room was very impressive.  We took a walk around the outer edge of the Great Room before coming to a rest area with restrooms, seating and a snack bar; this is also where we would get on and off the elevators if they were working.  Because the elevators were broken, there wasn’t much food available, but Val and I split a sandwich and rested a while before starting the trek back to the surface.  Here are some of the pictures we took, but they really don't show the immensity of the caverns.

The natural entrance and the beginning of the long walk down.

Going up is easier on the legs and knees than going down, but the steep climb up is very tiring.  They said the trail is a 20% grade, which didn’t sound too bad, but in practice it seemed pretty darn steep.  It was a long slow climb to the top with quite a few stops to catch our breath and rest.  There are benches spaced along the trail and they were well used.  After about an hour’s walk we were back at the top, tired but very happy we made it.  I was very proud of Val who despite a hip and knee replacement and arthritis did very well and made it without problems.  Altogether today we walked close to four miles, most of it either going steeply up or down so we were pretty tired by the time we got back in the car.

We start the long, steep trek back to the surface.

 

Daylight at last, but we still have quite a way to get to the surface.

I did learn one thing today that I had been wondering about – what is the difference between a cave and a cavern?  I asked a ranger and he said you can walk into a cave, but you have to use a rope or a ladder to get down into a cavern.  We were able to walk into Carlsbad Caverns, but until a trail was built you had to use a rope to get into it so it is still called a cavern.  Now I know.

We made the half hour drive back to the hotel and when we got out of the car we realized just how stiff and sore we were.  For dinner we decided to just go down the street a little ways and have a sandwich at a deli.  The rest of the evening was spent relaxing and resting our tired legs.  Tomorrow we have a long drive to San Antonio, Texas where we will spend a couple of days.

Road Trip to Houston: The Journey Begins

Day 1 - Tehachapi, CA

As always when we travel to the Southwest, we take the short three hour drive to Tehachapi to kick off our trip.  Since it was a short drive we didn’t leave home until after lunch and arrived in Tehachapi around four.  Traffic was surprisingly light for a Saturday so it was an easy drive.  Tehachapi had quite a bit of snow a few weeks ago and we were surprised to see there were still patches around despite the warmer temperatures.  Our favorite spot to eat in Tehachapi is the Red House BBQ and that is where we headed for dinner.  As usual, it didn’t disappoint and we had a good barbecued rib dinner.  After dinner it was back to the hotel for the evening.

Day 2 - Laughlin, NV

Our destination today was Harrah’s Hotel in Laughlin, NV, which is another place we usually try to stay when head east.  We left Tehachapi around nine and once again encountered very light traffic.  Today is Superbowl Sunday so I guess everyone is at home getting ready for the big game.  We arrive in Laughlin around one and were soon in our room.  Our host came through and we were comped a suite, which is always a welcome surprise, thank you Leslie. 

After getting cleaned up we were off to the casino to get in a little gambling and found it very crowded;  now we know why the highways were empty.  Harrah’s was hosting a Superbowl Party for its loyal customers so I guess that drew a lot of people.  We were invited, but Val and I aren’t really big football fans so we decided to pass.  Once the game got underway the casino was much less crowded so that was a plus.  After a while we got hungry and decided to try the new Mexican restaurant opened by Guy Fieri called El Burro Borracho.  It was actually quite good and we enjoyed our meal.  After dinner it was back to gambling where I lost all my allotted funds, but Val actually turned a profit, she did very well today.  We called it an early night as we have a long drive tomorrow, but we did enjoy our short stay in Laughlin.

Day 3 - Gallup, NM

After two easy days, today we have a longer drive all the way across Arizona to Gallup, New Mexico.  To add to the day, we lost an hour when we crossed into Arizona.  We took the cutoff from Laughlin to Kingman, AZ where we got on to Interstate 40 and headed east.  After hitting some heavy truck traffic just outside of Kingman, traffic thinned and it was an easy drive the rest of the way.  We stopped for lunch in Seligman, AZ, which is a major stop for Route 66 enthusiasts.  There are many cafés and businesses keeping the spirit of the old Route 66 alive so it is an interesting place in a very kind of down and out retro way.  After a good lunch at the Westside Lilo’s Café we were back on the road heading east. 

As we rose in elevation and got near Williams, AZ we started to see snow along the road and by the time we neared Flagstaff it was quite heavy in places.  It grew less and less after Flagstaff, but we saw traces of it all the way to Gallup.  We arrived in Gallup around five and after getting cleaned up, we had a quick meal and called it a day.

One small crisis arose today when Val discovered she had left her driver’s license in her purse at home, so she called our friends Doug and Ev and they came through and were able to get the license and overnight it to Carlsbad, NM where we’ll be staying tomorrow night.  Thanks so much Doug and Ev, you are truly good friends.

Day 4 - Carsbad, New Mexico

When we got up this morning the temperature outside was in the twenties, but it was sunny with no clouds.  We had a long drive today so we were up and about and on the road by nine.  We continue east on I-40 until we reached Clines Corners where we finally got off the interstate and turned south on US-285.  Clines Corners was kind of interesting in a roadside attraction kind of way.  For miles and miles before we got to Clines Corners there was sign after sign advertising everything from fireworks to fudge.  We didn't stop, but if you had the time it might have been an interesting diversion.

As we traveled south, the land became very flat and barren with very few cars on the road.  Southern New Mexico is quite different from the more mountainous Northern area, this was truly desolate country.  There were a few small villages looking pretty down on their luck until we reached the large town of Roswell. 

Roswell is best known for a UFO incident in 1947 where there was a supposed UFO crash near the town.  The town definitely has a UFO / Alien theme as the town makes the most of its fame.  There is a UFO museum, but it was closed so we didn’t have a chance to visit it.  We did stop and get gas, which so far has been very cheap in New Mexico compared to California; we paid $1.60 yesterday in Gallup and $1.63 today in Roswell.

After Roswell it was a 75 mile drive to our destination for the night, Carlsbad, NM.  We made good time today and arrive in Carlsbad around 3:30.  We will spend two nights here so we can visit Carlsbad Caverns tomorrow.  We decided to have dinner at the Trinity Hotel, which is an old hotel located downtown.  Despite it being a Tuesday night it was pretty busy.  We enjoyed our dinner and finished it off with a piece of fudge layer cake, which we shared.  After dinner it was back to the hotel for a little relaxation and planning for tomorrow.

Road Trip to Houston: Houston??

As part of my job, when I was working, I made many trips to Houston.  It wasn't my favorite place mainly because it seems like I always went there when it was very hot and very humid.  When I retired I made a list of places I wanted to see and things I wanted to do and visiting Houston was not one of them, so why are we traveling to Houston?

Last fall Val had some medical issues which have been resolved and she is healthy now.  However there are some possible long term issues which might arise in the future as a result of her diagnosis, so she wanted to learn as much about it as possible.  It turns out one of the leading experts in the country is at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston so she made an appointment and we we're on our way to Houston.

As I said, Houston was not on my list of places I wanted to go in retirement, but Big Bend National Park in Texas was, so I asked Val if she wanted to turn this doctor's visit into a road trip and she was all for it.  So on our way to Houston we will be visiting Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico and San Antonio, Austin and the Texas Hill country before we get to Houston.  In Houston we hope to have time to visit the Johnson Space Center before we head back west.  On our trip home we will be spending two full days in Big Bend National Park and then since Las Vegas is on the way, we will spend a few days there to end our trip.

We aren't sure what the weather will be like since it is the middle of winter, but we're hoping we will be far enough south to avoid the really cold weather.  We are also grateful we will be avoiding the Houston humidity (I hope).  I will keep up the blog as we go for as long as possible, but as soon as we start taking pictures and adding them to the blog, it becomes more difficult so I expect much of it will be posted when we get home.

Remembering Patrice

As the name of this blog implies, it is a narrative of the traveling Val and I have done since I retired in 2012, but this entry is not about our travels, but about a good friend of ours, Patrice.

One of the very first trips we took after retirement was a six-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon that turned out to be a true trip of a lifetime. Not only because of the incredible beauty of the canyon and thrill of riding the rapids, but also because of the emotional impact it had on both of us. 
 
Accompanying us on that trip were our friends Dave and Patrice whose energy, humor and spirit added so much to the trip.  For Patrice this trip had special meaning as she had just fought and won her third battle with breast cancer and was determined to live life to the fullest, making the most of every minute, which both she and Dave did with gusto.  She had an appreciation of life that most of us take for granted and it was a gift she shared with us on the trip.

Sadly, last summer breast cancer recurred for the fourth time and though she fought hard, she lost her battle this time and passed away the evening before Thanksgiving.  This was devastating, of course, to her family and friends and a great loss for all of us, and I can't imagine how it must be for Dave to lose the love of is life.

We will miss Patrice greatly and we will always remember that wonderful time we spent with them rafting through the Grand Canyon.  This is another reminder that life is not forever and none of us know much time we have left so we all should follow Patrice's advice and live life to the fullest.

Patrice, Dave, Val and Dave (me)

Patrice and Dave