#25: Darn skippy
After (too many) years since my last trip to the iconic Texas summer getaway, I decided to take stay for a night to see if anything had changed since then. I’m glad to say that the park is mostly the same, but I did notice a few things…
- It is only a two hour drive from San Antonio to Garner, as opposed to three and a half from my parent’s house. WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG?
- I took Highway 90 on the way over, and will likely take the ‘scenic route’ on the way home.
- Shocked to find hardly any vehicles at the park office, think I picked a perfect time to come!
- Temperature notwithstanding, anyway.
- Slept without the benefit of air conditioning at home the night before to prepare myself. Not too hard.
- Resisting the urge to turn on my CR-V’s air conditioner on the drive over, however, was quite difficult!
- Lost my cell signal somewhere between Sabinal and the park. Didn’t miss it…
much. - Okay, maybe I missed it a little, but that’s because I’m waiting to hear back about an interview.
- Despite the low number of cars at the park office, I still had to wait a bit.
- I pulled number 70 and the last one helped was 65. People have no patience!
- My original plan was to stay two nights, but I shortened it to one…maybe once it isn’t a billion degrees out.
- It has been so long, I only have vague memories, but a few were jostled loose when I drove by the campsite I (think) I stayed in last time.
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#13: Canyonero!
Upon reaching my site, I had to take a picture of my CR-V like it’s in one of those SUV commercials.
- Set up my tent only to find the zipper on the door isn’t working quite right. Crap.
- Only packed sandwiches and snacks to eat; I have no desire to prepare or eat any hot food while I’m here.
- Not bringing my stove and any food to heat up made packing harder somehow.
- Chili lime chips are the closest I’ll get to heat today.
- I’m keeping my Pebble Time smartwatch on even though my cell phone is kaputski. It still works as a pedometer, and well, a watch.
- Hiked down to the riverbank, had the obligatory ‘slip on the muddy ground/slick rocks’ moment.
- It is hard to resist taking panoramic pictures. Some beautiful country, here.
- Finding trash around cheeses me off, and I pick up what I can.
- I can appreciate the irony in the gift shop selling bottle openers.
- Yes, I bought one, because why not?
- Picked up a cane sugar Dr. Pepper from the ‘Stinkin’ Sweet’ candy store to make sure it wasn’t defective.
- Also bought a bumper sticker. Thanks to some unintended help from Verizon (see #7) it’s pretty easy to stay unplugged.
- Didn’t do any tubing, but went for a refreshing swim by the dam.
- Is there a rule that says the only people that buy portable speakers have to have the crappiest taste in music?
- The tube/paddleboat rental shack is no more, replaced by a trailer.
- They also have a food truck ‘Garner Grill.’ Dunno if they have tacos.
- Spent most of the afternoon sitting at my campsite, listening to the radio and working on this list.
BUNNY!
- I also spent about twenty minutes just looking at birds.
- Didn’t do much, really, but that’s kind of the point.
- My $15 Emerson analog radio picks up The Eagle from San Antonio, yet my CR-V doesn’t. Huh.
- BUNNY!
- Jackrabbits are freaking HUGE.
- Saw a guy walk into the men’s room shower followed by his dog. Damn furries.
- Garner Grill has the best food truck slogan ever: “Where fat free can take a hike.” No tacos, though.
- They did have burgers, of which I partook. Hooray for convenience!
- Got a story idea while waiting for my food. Hooray for inspiration!
- I was a little surprised at how active the wildlife got once the sun went down.
- Annoying music coming from a car at a nearby camp. If his battery dies, and they ask: No, I don’t have jumper cables.
- Annoying music stops, and I can now hear music coming from somewhere else. *sigh*
So purdy!
- You don’t know how sunburned you are until try to go to sleep.
- It was a fitful night’s sleep. I’m not sure if it was the heat or my bedding that kept me up.
- One night of tent camping is definitely enough in Texas’s August heat.
- The scenic route home was a fun little drive.
- I look forward to coming back when the temperature isn’t so brutal!
Eduardo Soliz 