Texas RV Travel blog

~ Texas Weather ~
If You Do Not Like It, Wait a Minute,
It Will Change . . .

Please bookmark these pages below. These are websites for finding river, lake and weather conditions while traveling in Texas. Please be safe. We do not like to lose visitors!

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service from National Weather Service provides up to date and predicted water levels throughout river basins in Texas.

Real-Time Data for Texas: Streamflow from United State Geological Survey features data from actual gauges on Texas rivers. May be sorted by county. You may also This site includes coastal areas.

Real-Time Data for Texas: Lakes and reservoirs from United State Geological Survey. May be sorted by county.

Real-Time Reservoir Information from Texas Water Development Board. Collated information from from USGS, IBWC, and USACE websites. View by state, river basin or individual reservoir.

Road Conditions by Texas Department of Transportation. May be sorted by county or roadway. You may also view Road Conditions Map and zoom in on specific areas.

Weather Underground has many maps with current weather, temperature, heat index, windchill, humidity, radar, dew point, wind, visibility, visible satellite, fronts, snow depth, precipitation and jet stream. There is also online weather radio for some Texas cities.

AccuWeather is another great site for Texas weather, including radar, headlines, videos and alerts sent to your cell phone.

Tags: Texas weather, Texas river level, Texas lake levels, Texas road conditions, flooding, weather, safe travel

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With all the rain in the Texas Hill Country, and the lack of drinking water that followed the flooding, I have an idea that might help. Our travel trailer has a 40 gallon freshwater tank, but some RVs, especially the Class A (motor homes), have huge water tanks–some over 300 gallons.

The next time I hear of a need for freshwater within 100 miles of our home, we are heading out with a full tank of water to share. Meanwhile, I am going to start collecting water bottles and sterilize them. That way, I will have a bunch of bottles to fill up once I get wherever they need the water.

Think of it. RVs, normally seen as a nuisance–clogging up space at the gas pumps, slowing down traffic on highways, taking up campsites at the State Parks, stinking up the air with diesel fumes–rolling into town to give water to flood victims.

~RVs to the Rescue~

We could take it further, transporting people to shelters and hospitals, using our generators to run lights, sharing space out of the weather for emergency care, using our propane to fuel cook stoves or to keep blood refrigerated, and sharing bathrooms where there are none. Think about how much gasoline or diesel fuel RVs carry. With a siphon hose, a large RV could be an emergency fuel depot.

What do y’all think? Would you share your water with flood victims? Would you drive 100 miles to help?

Tags: RVs to the Rescue, RVers helping flood victims, RVing and natural disasters

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July 4, 2007

27th Annual SummerFest, Sewell Park on the San Marcos River–Live entertainment, food and activity booths, special events for children, swimming, and a patriotic program. Lighted river parade and a fireworks exhibition after dark. Free. 11 am-11 pm.

Austin Symphony Concert and Fireworks, Zilker park (Lou Neff Point)–100,000+ people will gather in Austin for the Independence Day celebration. Free. 830 pm.

Beach Day, Fort Richardson SP&HS & Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway–Bring your swimsuit and picnic lunch for free day of swimming and picnicking on Sandy beach at the Lost Creek Reservoir Trailway trail head. 8am-5 pm. Free. (940) 567-3506

Chevy’s Freedom over Texas, Eleanor Tinsley Park @ Buffalo Bayou, Houston–World-renowned fireworks after concert by Montgomery Gentry . Both the concert and the fireworks will be televised. $6.00 for adults, Children under 10 are free. All food and beverage by coupon only. (713) 247-3500

Fourth of July at the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, Lyndon B. Johnson SP&HS– Experience life in early 1900s on historical farm with period costumed interpreters. Play horseshoes, pitch washers and other games. National Park Service bus tours to the LBJ Ranch. 10am-3pm. Fee for bus tour. (830) 644-2252

Fireworks at the Fishery, Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens, Texas–One of the largest fireworks shows in East Texas. Fireworks begin at dark. Admission is free after 5pm. (903) 676-BASS

Fireworks-on-the-Brazos, Washington-on-the-Brazos SHS–Explore Barrington Farm, Independence Hall and the Star of the Republic Museum Old-fashioned games for children are scheduled for 630 pm, free Blue Bell Ice Cream and Coca-Cola at 7 pm, Western Swing concert at 8 pm, fireworks at 9 pm. Free. (936) 878-2214

Ike’s Welcome Home 4th, Eisenhower Birthplace SHS–Celebration for all returning veterans, featuring entertainment, guest speakers, free tours of the Eisenhower Birthplace 1-5 pm. Free. (903) 465-8908

July 4th Celebration, Luckenbach, Texas–Day of remembrance, music, fun, beer and celebration. Hosted by Walt and Tina Wilkins, with special guests Autumn Boukadakis, Sam Baker, Brian Langlinais, Montey Russell, David Raines, Tommy Alverson, Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines. 12noon-6pm. Free. (888) 311-8990

More July 4th events on the Texas Governor website.

Tags: July 4, celebration, Independence Day, festivals, concerts, fireworks, family fun

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At least 18 people had to be rescued from flood waters Wednesday in Marble Falls, Texas. The National Weather Service said parts of Central Texas received more than 18 inches of rain overnight. Flooding in Williamson, Lampasass and Burnet counties led to rescues by land, air and boat.

Tonight, Wednesday, another 8-10 inches of rain is expected in Marble Falls, an area already dealing with heavy flooding. More than 125 businesses and homes have been damaged by the flooding, roads are underwater and bridges washed out. The mayor of Marble Falls has asked residents to conserve water, stay off roads, and get to shelters or stay indoors after reports of looting.

Marble Falls Middle School, Faith Baptist Church in Marble Falls, Liberty Hill High School and Union Hall Baptist Church in Liberty Hill will serve as community shelters. Granite Shoals residents should go to shelters in Marble Falls.

The Texas National Guard is on the move to lend a hand to the flood-related emergencies in Central Texas. About 150 soldiers and 50 vehicles are part of the deployment. Not near enough, but most of the Texas National Guard is in Iraq.

Drinking water is desperately needed in Marble Falls, Texas. If you want to help and supply drinking water, deliver it to Marble Falls. Call 830-693-1270 if you want to help in other ways.

Tags: Marble Falls, foot of rainwater, Central Texas flooding continues

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Funny the things we remember from our childhood. My family went to New York City to visit relatives when I was five years old. That was the worst travel experience of my entire life because we drove. Yes, with two children under six and two children under ten, my father drove over 1600 miles in December to spend Christmas in New York.

My father wanted to make good time on the road, so he would not stop for any reason. I was car sick and asked my father to stop. He just shoved a milk bottle in my face and kept driving. I truly did try to throw up in that bottle; but projectile vomiting just did not fit in that little hole. Instead it went all over me and the backseat. Then we had to stop to clean up the car! Anyway, the next few time we visited New York City, my mother and I found a discount flight to New York. I guess she never forgot that first trip as well. LOL

I never subjected my son or myself to a long car trip. When he wanted to go to DisneyWorld, I grabbed a cheap flight to Orlando and rented a car. We stayed in one of those themed Disney resorts, the All-Star Sports Resort. What I really liked was that you could ride the shuttle to the parks and not have to deal with parking. The only thing my son remembers is that there was pizza delivery to the room there. It cost me $1000 for that trip, and we could have rented a room anywhere as long as there was pizza delivery.

The next time my son and I visited Florida, we planned to stay with my friend Trish, who lives in Fort Myers, for a long weekend. I checked out the flights to Florida, and found out we could fly right into Fort Myers from Austin. Trish had a car and we drove all over the western coast of Florida. We visited Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Marco Island, Tampa, and miles and miles of white sand beaches between these destinations.

Share your travel memories with me . . .

Tags: New York City, Orlando, Florida, travel memories

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