Day 10: Mistakes were made: Matagorda, TX to Kerrville, TX
No, I don’t need any beer. That was true statement, but we are on day 11 and there are only 3 Coors Lights left. I did not think I needed any beer, but I have been enjoying a cold, clear Coors Light once in a while. This message brought to you by tastelessbeers.com.
Let’s talk about last night. Oh yes, last night. The van was a rocking! It was a peaceful evening, this our second night in the parking lot of Matagorda Beach Jetty parking lot. It rained a little bit in the evening so we spent some time planning a few stops. Then, spontaneously, at 0243 this morning the rocking started. Oh boy did the van sway. Back and forth, back and forth. Radar says we are on the southern tip of the storm. No meaningful lighting that we could see, just WIND. Lots and lots of wind. I’d say in the 80 to 100km per hour range. I thought about where to take us for cover, but decided to just wait it out. After about an hour it was all done. The wind picked up a second time for the backside of the front. #vanlife
For my morning walk I decided to go shoeless down the beach. This was a wonderful walk. I saw a bird. But, after the first amount of exfoliation, the blister started somewhere around km 1.5. Shit. I hate blisters. I only had flip flops with me. I kept going and turned around about 2.1 km down the beach. At the third km I put on the flip flops (thongs for my Australian friends and older Canadians). So there I was prancing down the beach wearing my thongs (you are welcome). It’s just one big blister at the base of my second toe.
We hit the road somewhere around 1000. Late start cause we both slept in a bit due to that night of van rocking. Mission, Kerrville, TX about 5 hours of driving away. Limitation, Campground office closes at 1700 for checkins.
We stopped in Yoakum for some fuel and lunch around 1245. Damn it. There was a Buc EEs just down the road! Turns out, Dwight Yoakam is not from Yoakum, TX. Who knew? But Dwight does put on a good concert (have seen him twice) and Yoakum, TX has a nice park where we took Amy for a little walk (aka “Amy, make a pee”).
We stopped in San Antonio (which made me think of Steve Earle and his San Antonio Girl song. Also a great concert and I have seen him twice as well) at REI and a store that people buy clothes and hats at when they have forgotten clothes and hats. We were a bit rushed given that 1700 deadline. I could have spent many more time units at REI.
Mrs Milddogs likes to research the areas we are driving through. Mostly the nature stuff. Today we learned about Gonzalez, TX and the Alamo.
We arrived at Kerrville-Shriener Municipal Campground around 1638. We checked in, got info on how to get into the park and then took the road to future regret. We went to Sonic. Let’s face it, it’s shit. But chilli cheese tater tots. How can you go wrong? I got a milkshake too which is branded as “hand packed” or some such thing. Mrs Milddogs pointed out that someone has to mix the powder with water. The big challenge was that they give you a small diameter paper straw with a molasses thick milkshake. That doesn’t work.
After eating enough of the Sonic to realize we really should stop, we went out for a walk on one of the trails here. We saw 4 dear hanging out. They were suspicious and perhaps worried about Amy’s hunting prowess.
Post walk it was shower time. Oh yeah. I hit the campground showers that I rate a solid 3/10. But it was hot and lovely. I shall play that game again before we leave tomorrow.
Mrs Milddogs opted for the shower in the van after my stellar ratings of the campground showers.
Tomorrow’s mission is to get within striking distance of New Mexico. We have some stuff booked there. We will probably just stay at free parking lot or something. We should have cell coverage for the next few days.
Peace!
