Our Journey Across the Country
Medina Lake - near San Antonio, TX | 2/1/22 - 2/15/22
Medina Lake RV Resort is a Thousand Trails (TT) park about 45 minutes west of San Antonio. We stayed for free for our maximum 14 nights. Actually, the 50-amp power (vs 30-amp) was an upcharge of $3/night, and we had some mail sent to us here which incurred a $5 charge so it wasn’t completely free. We knew we were coming in to the edge of a major cold storm, but were lucky to have beautiful weather on our travel day. It was a balmy 74 degrees when we arrived, but the next few days were going to be ice storm, so we did our grocery shopping right away so that we would not need to be out during the storm. As we were parking the rig on arrival day, Mary was watching and guiding as Mike backed the rig into the site among the trees. A couple rode by on bicycles and waved - it was Martha and Lee who we had met at La Vina! Small RV world! When the storm arrived, we kept the furnaces on, which vent also to the basement so that pipes will not freeze. With the 2 furnaces, the electric fireplace and an electric radiator we managed to stay pretty cozy inside. After the rain/sleet stopped, Mike went outside to check on hoses - but slipped on the frozen RV steps and fell to the ground. Miraculously he had no injuries!
After the storm had passed completely, we went out to explore our surroundings, and do some errands at Home Depot (water jug refills) and Walmart (RV toilet paper!). We drove 30 minutes to the outskirts of San Antonio, passing through Old Helotes on the way. We decided to try some Texas BBQ and chose B-Daddy’s, right on the highway in Helotes, based on good reviews. Unfortunately, we were not impressed - there wasn’t much flavor in any of the food. As we walked out, we noticed a pathway behind the BBQ to Old Helotes, so we explored. The town was redeemed, as we found funky shops and a great coffee shop in old Texas architecture.
Later in our stay we took a day to go in to San Antonio and see the Alamo and the River Walk. Mary had been there before (with Sara) to watch one of Andy’s college football games. This time the Alamo struck me - us both - differently: those who were being honored for fighting for “their” land were people (or descendants of people) who stole the land from the natives. Isn’t that how every culture history goes - what we celebrate as our victories and discoveries are almost always someone else’s losses. Also, the T-shirts and slogans all over town “come and take it” and “don’t tread on me” felt passive aggressive, rather than liberating, as if every one was ready to fight if you irritated them for any reason.
Much like our very first stop at Lake of the Springs campground in California, this TT campground was a little old and tired, and full of families with kids (3 families around us were full-time RVers and home schoolers). And like Lake of the Springs, Medina Lake was nearly dry so we could not access (or even see) the water. All-in-all, Medina Lake RV park was too far from town to make exploring easy, and the surrounding area was not really hike-able (mostly private property and very dense scrubby vegetation), so we were quite ready to move on when our 2-week stay was over.
Another TT campground with fearless deer
It was a lovely 72 degrees when we arrived, but immediately plummeted as the ice storm came through.
Even the bull had icicles! Brrrrr!
the moss that hangs on the oak trees gets caught on the wires like little puff balls, or maybe Angry Birds?
After the weather warmed back up, Mary took a walk through the woods in the campground
We went out for famous Texas BBQ in Old Helotes TX
found this funky store behind the BBQ in Old Helotes
now That's a lotta Cheetah!
now that's a well-worn saddle
love the Texas Limestone architecture
the surprise discovery at this coffee shop saved the day - the affogato was A-Maz-Ing!
Alamo in the foreground, San Antonio beyond
courtyard at the Alamo
They may look innocent, but we have to cover all the "leather" furniture so it doesn't get clawed
the River Walk, San Antonio TX
tile mosaic at an entrance to the River Walk
railing at the Hard Rock Cafe
