Texas RV Travel blog

Medina River

Photograph by Eileen Trainor, all rights reserved

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Castroville Annual Veteran’s 100

Castroville Regional Park
831 Alsace Street
Castroville, TX

Register online by clicking here.

A staggered start begins the 100 mile ride at 8 am, followed by the 67, 40, and 25 mile rides. On-site registration starts at 630 am on Saturday, May 3. The 2007 Castroville Annual Veterans Ride (CAV) offers a scenic tour of the historic Medina County rural countryside. The tour begins and ends at the Castroville Regional Park. Indoor restroom/shower facilities are available free of charge. Enjoy the remainder of your day along the clear Medina River, by touring antique stores, visiting novelty shops, or eating food from the Alsace region of France.

Routes - Click on the link to download a copy of the map.

25 - Map

40 - Map

62 - Map

75 - Map

Adults $25, children (under 15-years-old) $10

Race Contact Information

David L Rairdan
210-535-7039
rodanmoon@msn.com

Castroville Regional Park

816 Alsace St
Castroville Texas 78009
830-931-0033

Race begins and ends in this park.

RVers can just pull in and hook up.

• Daily Rate is $25
• Weekly is $150
• Monthly is $250
• Dump Fee $10

Amenities

• Host on Site
• 40 pull through sites
• 30/50 amp Full Service Hookups
• Dump Station
• Picnic Tables
• Bathhouse
• Security Fencing
• Adjacent Playground
• Rec. Hall with Kitchen
• On Site Laundry
• DSL/Wireless Internet Available

For Site Availability,
contact Ken Williams
at 830-931-0033

Posted by CyberCelt under Family Fun & Hike/Bike/Run & Nature & RV Parks & RV Travel & Wildlife Watching | 2 Comments »

April 11-13, 2008

25th Annual Bluebonnet Festival

Burnet, Texas

Plan to arrive at the historic square in Burnet in the afternoon and take the kids to the carnival or visit the arts and crafts vendors on the historic square. At 530 pm, there will be a Confederate Air Force fly over, followed by a pet parade and a street dance with live music.

Saturday, you may enjoy a cowboy breakfast, golf tournament or car show. Participate in the 5K Bluebonnet Fun Run or the Kiwanis Bluebonnet Bicycle Tour while the kids enjoy their own fun run or bicycle decorating contest. View the Festival Grand Parade, grab a bus to the Highland Lakes CAF Air Show or watch one of the Burnet Gunfighter’s Shootouts in Old West Town. The night belongs to live music, street dance and a destruction derby.

Sunday begins at 730 am with the Bluebonnet Golf Tournament or at 10 am with the Car Show. Do not miss the Weiner Dog Race or the Highland Lakes Birding and Wildflower Show.

Believe it or not, I have not listed all the activities for this festival. Download a PDF of the schedule by right-clicking here or visit the Burnet Chamber website for race and parade forms.

2008 Bluebonnet Festival

Chappell Hill, Texas

Chappell Hill is located in beautiful Washington County, which is an epicenter for wildflower activities. Held in the National Historic District, this festival features 250+ juried exhibitors in the areas of home décor, gardening, artists, craftsmen, jewelry and clothing. Enjoy food and beverages, live entertainment and music and tours of the historic community. There is a special children’s activity corner for pony rides, petting zoo, face painting and barrel train. Admission is free, parking $5. Visit Chappell Hill Museum website for more details.

 Wildflower Driving Trails

Washington County (Central) Texas - Wildflower Watch - Bluebonnet Trails Map (PDF)

Rusk County (East) Texas - Driving Tours from Henderson - Wildflower Driving Trails (PDF)

Ennis (North) Texas- Local Sightings - Bluebonnet Trail Map (PDF)

Posted by CyberCelt under Fairs/Festivals & Family Fun & Gardens/Tours & Historic & Motor Sports & Music & Nature & Nature & RV Travel & Sports | 3 Comments »

Below are pictures of some of the plants contained in the structures on the Conservatory Complex post from March 3. These are cycads, some of the most primitive plants on Earth today.

The Jurassic is often referred to as the Age of Cycads. Cycads are an ancient group of seed plants with a crown of large compound leaves and a stout trunk. They are similar in appearance to palms.

Cycads reproduce via cones (like pine cones). Woody growths on the cones, called sporophylls, produce pollen (male) or large ovules (females). The seeds of cycads are large and have an colorful outer layer (sarcotesta), pictured above (see inset).

In the center of the plant above is another example of a cycad cone.

More pictures coming!

Living cycads are found in the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of both the north and south hemispheres. While substantial numbers exist on the continents of Africa, Australia and South America they are also prominent in Central America (which has the greatest diversity) and the Caribbean Islands. Cycas is the most widespread genus, with representatives occurring as far north as Japan and others being scattered throughout various Pacific islands, China and India to Madagascar and the east coast of Africa.

http://www.nd.edu/~fboze/cycads.shtml

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Gardens/Tours & Nature | 4 Comments »

March 29-30 and April 5, 2008
Tyler County Dogwood Festival
Woodville, Texas
409/283-2632

Western Weekend includes two day rodeo, parade, crowning of the Rodeo Sweethearts and the annual Western Weekend Dance. On Saturday, April 5, enjoy the coronation, parade, pageant and queen coronation and fireworks. Call for up to date information.

March 29-30 and April 5-6, 2008
Texas Dogwood Trails Celebrations
Palestine, Texas
800/659-3484Bicycle race, parks filled with magnolia and dogwood trees, Texas State Railroad, museums, Dulcimer Festival. For event schedule, download PDF here.

RVers: The campground in Rusk was once a state park. It has two RV camping sections, approximately 55 sites. One campground has full hookups (30/50) and pull-through sites. The group camping area, with water and electric only, are back-in sites. Must make reservations by calling (903) 683-5126. There is camping on the Palestine side, but sites are water only, and available on the first come, first served basis.

Through April 6, 2008
Azalea & Spring Flower Trail
Tyler, Texas
800/235-5712

Download event schedule here or call for more information.

RVers: Family-oriented Whispering Pines RV & Cabin Resort is located on 47 acres of beautiful pine, oak, dogwood and sweetgum trees. 5583 FM 16 East, Tyler, TX 75706. Call (800) 559-3817.

Through April 13, 2008
The 24th Annual Dallas Blooms
The Dallas Arboretum
8525 Garland Road
Dallas, Texas
214/515-6500

The largest flower festival in the Southwest explodes with 400,000+ bulbs blooming–tulips, daffodils, iris and hyacinth. Blend 3,000 azaleas and 100,000 pansies, violas and poppies with 1000s of native annuals and perennials. Top with Dogwoods in bloom and The Star of Texas, a giant flower-filled red, white and blue star.

Posted by CyberCelt under Camping & Fairs/Festivals & Family Fun & Gardens/Tours & Nature & RV Parks & RV Travel | 2 Comments »

We lost our best friend yesterday. Rags, the finest dog I have ever known, passed on at approximately 4 PM. He gallantly struggled against his failing body, but his body won. I feel like my heart has been torn from my body and that I will never be able to breathe again without pain.

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. Josh Billings (1818 - 1885)

I may offline for a few days, as I learn to live without my fluffly little dog. Say a prayer that he finds his way to where all good dogs go.

Posted by CyberCelt under RV Travel | 47 Comments »

My brother-in-law became very involved in fantasy football a few years ago. I never understood how it worked, but he spent hours picking his players, trading them, and losing money on them. I think the players were just as real to him as his wife.

Recently, I read of the challenges of managing a fantasy baseball league. Why you would want to spend your nonworking hours on the computer, rather than coaching a little league team is a bit beyond me. I guess any activity that makes you use your brain is a good one.

Someone has developed a helpful tool to winning fantasy baseball leagues. Below I have posted the pertinent design features. You may want to try this out.

Fantasy Sports Prophet’s Fantasy Baseball software:

• Is web-based, so you may access it from anywhere.
• Ranks all the players based on predictive modeling programs developed by scientists.
• Assists with draft picks with a draft assistance tool, which provides you with up-to-date data so that you may make the right decision about any player.
• Manages a full season roster, complete with mid-season projections.
• Allows access all stats, injury reports and major updates available,

If you are thinking of purchasing this software, use this 10% off special promo code: BMC200. If not, visiit the website and see about improving your fantasy life.

Posted by CyberCelt under Product Reviews & RV Travel & Sports | No Comments »

You are walking down pathways lined with flowers and shaded by trees when, suddenly, the above structure appears on a hill. As you walk closer, the entire conservatory complex comes into view.

The conservatory at San Antonio Botanical Gardens is a huge underground complex. We wandered around, trying to find the entrance. We walked on and came back to the conservatory later.

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips & Gardens/Tours & Historic & Nature | 5 Comments »