#5 Sunday Morning Musings and Mimosa 2/5/23

We survived the Great Ice Storm of 2023!

How can you be wine tasting in Fredericksburg in 71 degree weather one day and then in the middle of a #@&!# Ice Storm the next day? Welcome to Texas! Well, we are indeed on an adventure. Pretty sure that I could live the rest of my life in San Diego and never experience an Ice Storm. Yes, it was cold, but I have to tell you, it was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen! And to watch the entire storm from Coach Addy was even more special. Remember, in the motor home, you have the large front windows and our coach has windows on each side as well. We literally were able to watch the entire storm evolve before our very eyes. It was strangely eerie and beautiful at the same time.

(Photo courtesy of Heather Lopez)

Everything, and I mean everything was covered in ice. It never snowed, but it absolutely looked like snow everywhere. Incredibly Stunning! All was good until the tree branches started breaking under the weight of the ice. If you have ever been on an Alaskan cruise and visited the glaciers, then you know the sound of the glaciers calving. It is loud and impressive. As the ice continued to build up on the trees, the weight just became too much. Large and small branches began to crack and fall. And wouldn’t you know it, we were parked right under this beautiful oak tree at our daughter’s house! Peder made the wise choice of moving Coach Addy up about 15 feet and out from under the tree branches. Right Choice!! We woke up to fallen branches everywhere, including one right where we were parked! Whew!! (I think he is building up points to regain his “Man-Card”!) The pictures below show a small tree as the ice storm first started and then the effects of the ice over the next day. The weight was just too much for it. The other pics are of the branches from the Oak tree littering the front yard and driveway. This is one of those times, when the pictures just don’t do justice to the scene. Oh and there is no wind blowing that American flag-it is frozen stiff!

What an experience! We just hunkered down and enjoyed the beauty of Mother Nature. Weather like this calls for a big pot of Texas Chili and a loaf of Peder’s Country Bread; Happy Hour in Coach Addy and dinner and cards (have you ever played Tonk?) in Butch and Betina’s house. What a special time!

Charlie staying warm during the Ice Storm

Moochdocking is the BEST!! Free campsite, free electricity, free wifi, a car for side trips and so much more! We have been parked in front of our daughter and son-in-law’s house for most of the week. They live in a beautiful part of Texas, Bergheim, just outside of Bourne Texas-AKA Hill Country. We found a nice level site right in front of their home, went “jack’s down” and will call it Home Sweet Home for a few weeks, with some side trips sprinkled in. The great part about visiting friends and family in a motorhome, is that you aren’t actually in their space 24/7. We typically don’t see Butch and Betina until about 6:00 pm each day, when we head over to the main house (or they come to Coach Addy for Happy Hour) and then we do dinner as a family with Butch’s daughter and son-in-law and their two young children, Oliver and Olivia who also live on the property. Oliver is 3 years old and Olivia is only 4 weeks old, such a beautiful family. WAIT!!! I think this makes Peder and I, gulp…Great Grandparents. What the heck?! How do you go from no grandchildren to 2 Great Grandchildren?

Before the Great Ice Storm, Peder and I borrowed Betina’s car and took a day trip to Fredericksburg. What an adorable town! More than 50 wineries and the cutest mainstreet! We enjoyed the wines from Grape Creek Vineyards and Becker Vineyards. Very delicious wines and then we watched the Chiefs beat the Bengals at Silver Creek Beer Garden and Grille. I did some shopping while Peder enjoyed a pint. Got this great mug, that brings me great joy every morning and totally expresses this trip!

Once the road conditions cleared from the Great Ice Storm, we headed out to a campground in Pipe’s Creek, near Bandera, Texas. A big shoutout to Jim and Robyn at the Lightning Ranch RV Park, who were so flexible and understanding about us not being able to get here two days ago (because of the Ice Storm). They modified our reservation and did not charge us for the nights that we weren’t able to be here! The RV Park is nice; large sites and lots of space between rigs, a huge dog park and a beautiful meadow where you can see deer and other wildlife. We stayed here for two nights and then relocated to the Bandera Brewery on Saturday for another awesome Harvest Host experience.

Bandera is quite the town, they boast that they are the Cowboy Capital of the World. Population is under a thousand people, but these people know how to party! We had a delicious meal at TJ’s at the Old Forge (all you can eat catfish for $15.99) and then headed over to the “famous” 11th Street Cowboy Bar, where we were entertained by a country and western band and the locals “two steppin” on the dance floor. But the highlight of the night…Peder’s trip to the men’s facility (notice I didn’t say room…The space was just a bunch of urinals/toilets in an open tent-I kid you not, no doors, no curtain, nothin! Just men doing their business for all to see. Really?!!

On Saturday, Butch and Betina joined us at the Bandera Brewery for a yummy BBQ of Pork Tenderloin stuffed with jalapenos and wrapped in bacon that we bought at the Bergheim Meat Market near their house. We had the pleasure of listening to a great local band, The Verde Boys. Although their genre is Country, the did a fantastic rendition of Elton's Rocket Man, see below for a quick clip! Peder and I are loving the opportunity to visit these small towns and enjoy the local food, beer and entertainment.

Note that both Coach Addie and the stage at The Bandera Brewery are rockin' their palm trees-All of the locals loved our palm tree!

We leave the brewery today and head to Al’s Hideaway Campground, in Pipe Creek, for a few days. We will be daytripping to San Antonio and Luckenbach, and entertaining Butch and Betina on Monday to celebrate her birthday, can you say Paella? We then return to their house on Wednesday and I fly back to San Diego on Saturday, February 11. (Hey, a girl has to get her hair cut and colored every couple of months…Thank You Tina Blankenship!) Oh and of course I am looking forward to visiting with family and friends!

Peder and Betina will be traveling back to Arizona in Coach Addy, where I will meet them on February 23 and Peder and I will spend 5 weeks rooting on the San Diego Padres during Spring Training. We are excited that we have many friends joining us in AZ. Let us know if you want to come to Arizona, we’d love to see you!

It continues to be an adventure! Who knew that an Ice Storm could be the highlight of your week?! But I tell you what, when half of Texas was without power (including Butch and Betina’s house), we had plenty of power. Gotta love that battery and generator!

Lesson Learned: Not only are we grateful for Harvest Hosts, but they are grateful for those who stay with them. Jason, the owner of Bandera Brewery shared that during "The Covid", it was Harvest Host patrons that helped keep them in business. So proud to be a member of this group-truly a win-win for all who participate.

Bummer of the Week: Having to rearrange our travel arrangements because of the Ice Storm. (I’m noticing a theme on this trip…rearranging travel plans due to weather! Ha!

Highlight(s)-What might be considered a bummer (an Ice Storm) actually might be the highlight of the week! Being “stranded” in Bergheim, a big pot of chili, learning how to play the card game TONK with the kids, 50 amp hook up at Lightning Ranch RV and another awesome Harvest Host Experience at the Bandera Brewery!

Cheers! Thanks for sharing in the great adventures of Coach Addy! Next week we will be visiting San Antonio and will attend our first Rodeo!