Heading to Texas

Days 65 - 71: Lakehills, TX

We spent a week at Thousand Trails Medina Lake just outside San Antonio. It was a nice break and we took the opportunity to go see some sights while we were there!

We spent one day at Sea World, which was a first for me although Ken had been there before. We tried to see as many talks and shows as possible while we were there, so here are all the random facts I learned!

• Alligators: Each alligator can replace each tooth up to 50 times. There are two types of alligators but twenty-three types of crocodiles. An alligator can hold its breath for 3-4 hours if at rest but only about half an hour if hunting. 

• Dolphins: Seaworld dolphins live in a pod of ten ranging in age from four to forty. Training encourages natural dolphin hunting behaviors as well as behaviors needed for their care such as turning on their backs for inspection, allowing regular blood draws for health monitoring, and swimming onto a medical platform that also functions as a scale. The notches in their dorsal fins are genetic traits present at birth.

• Aquarium: There are 28 species of clown fish. Each one of them has a preferred flavor of anemone. Sharks can replace up 30,000 teeth in one life time. 

• Orcas: Orcas are found in all oceans around the world. They have really good eye sight both above and below the water. Gestation takes 17 months. The area between the dorsal fin and the tail tip is called the pedunkle and in a full grown orca weighs approximately 9,000 lbs.

• Belugas: Belugas are called the canaries of the sea because of the sound they make. The bump on the head is called the "melon" and is used for echo location. These whales don't have dorsal fins to help them avoid detection but they do have strong tough ridges for breaking through ice. 

• Pacific Whiteside Dolphins: Smaller than the dolphins we normally think of and are in very limited numbers. They are beautifully colored with black, white, and grey. These dolphins can swim up to 20 mph and can jump and flip at great heights leading them to be called the "acrobats of the sea." (We were amazed by these speedy, nimble little swimmers!)

• Penguins: Seaworld has five (5!) different types of penguins. King is the largest, standing 3-4 feet tall. The gentoo penguins are the second largest and have white spots on the sides of their heads that resemble ear muffs. They can swim up to 22 mph (fast as a dolphin). Chinstraps have a little line of black feathers that go under their chin just like a chin strap. They are the most abundant penguins. Finally, the Rockhoppers have the little yellow feather crests over their eyes and across their heads. These feathers come in when the penguin is 1-1.5 years old. 

The Christmas decorations were also really cool!

We also spent a day in downtown San Antonio exploring the Riverwalk and then the Alamo. If you get the chance to take the boat tour of the Riverwalk it was definitely worth it. Our guide, Anthony, shared really interesting facts about the buildings and architecture as well as the history of San Antonio. Then we had an amazing lunch riverside, where Ken was attached by some hangry pigeons. After the Riverwalk we walked over to the Alamo. The most interesting thing I learned there was how many different ways the site has been used over the years, including by the US military!

Normally I write mostly about the activities we do but I also wanted to write about Medina Lake. Our campground map showed a boat ramp and fishing area, so one day I walked down to the boat ramp to see the water. However, there was no water, just trees and shrubs. (And deer. LOTS and LOTS of deer.) So, I did a little research and learned that Medina Lake is down to 2.7% of its former volume. My first thought was it was due to global climate change but I read a few articles and learned while it is a manmade problem it is not a climate change problem. You could definitely see the economic impact of the loss of the lake. Soapbox moment: Let's take better care of our planet, people! We only have the one!

Days 55: Morristown, AZ

This night was spent at the second Harvest Host of our trip, Dillon's at Western Trails Ranch. We had some delicious Kansas City BBQ and were able to see some local rodeo riders. Wonderful staff and a large parking lot with plenty of space. They even gave us free onion rings! Driving today we came to an overpass that was 13' 10" tall. Our rig measured at 13' 8" when we had the new independent suspension put on so we put that measurement to the test and came through with no problems. 

We woke up in the AM to the sounds of cows being rounded up and driven past our rig to prepare for the rodeo that continued. It was a fun way to start the day. 

Days 36 - 44: Acton, CA

After the rally we headed south again and spent some time at Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon. This campground was not really close to any big towns or anything, but we took the opportunity for some quiet time. We did spend a morning at Vasquez Rocks Natural Area and Nature Center. The geology was amazing but even cooler was the fact that several Star Trek episodes were filmed on location there, including the famous battle between Captain Kirk and the gorn. Ken and I could not resist the opportunity to reenact the start of the final battle. (Okay, it was really mainly me, but Ken was a good sport and played along.)

One of the interesting things I am discovering about being retired and living on the road is that I often lose track of what day of the week it is. Other than travel days, I don't have commitments for my time and that is both freeing and discombobulating. Other than chores around the "house," I spend a lot of my free time reading, knitting, crocheting, cross stitching, and biking. I LOVE my ebike!

VAsquez rocks natural area and nature center

Days 24 - 31: Morgan Hills, CA

From San Francisco, we moved on down the coast to a Thousand Trails campground in Morgan Hills. We had plans to explore the area and even booked a whale watching cruise, but the cruise was cancelled due to weather and we wound up just having some "chill" time at the trailer. We did have an RV tech come out and install an external jack for our Starlink so we can now just plug it in outside and we don't have to pull the cable through the slide. 

One of my biggest adjustments so far, with having no fixed address, is changing how I use Amazon. I admit that I am an Amazon junkie. I love the smile boxes! But, not all campgrounds allow you to have packages delivered, so we are learning to use alternative Amazon delivery options such as lockers and UPS stores. We are also learning to time our orders so that packages arrive in a location at the same time we do. It's a whole new thing!

No pictures from this stop since we were mostly hanging out. 

Day 19: Nelson Family Vineyard

We left the redwoods behind and spent the night at our first Harvest Host site, the Nelson Family Vineyard. After setting up, we headed back to the main building and had a lovely wine tasting. The temperature and view were sublime.  We bought a few bottles of wine and some homemade fudge that was positively AMAZING!

I am definitely still getting used to the idea that my home is now a 5th Wheel RV. I love our "House" but sometimes I catch myself thinking about "when we get home." Hopefully as we spend the next year traveling it will start to feel more natural to me. Right now I am very much a nervous passenger.