Tuesday 17 May, to South Llano River
Left San
Antonio in overcast conditions, and headed west on the I10. It turns out to be quite a big city to get
out of with almost as many over and under passes as Houston.
 |
| Leaving San Antonio TX |
Our plan is
to try free camping tonight and we choose Junction City Park, TX 76849 about
120 miles away. On arrival we find it’s a pretty spot right on
the shore of the South Llano River and has a picnic table, BBQ fireplace and even bathrooms. There was one other van camping here but quite
a way from us. However there is a sports
arena and a pool in the park too so there is lots of traffic coming and going.
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| South Llano River, Junction TX |
Enjoying a
nice evening grooving to the music on the country station KOOK 93.5FM until just
as it was getting dark the radio and our cell phones alarm us to severe weather
conditions for the next two hours – thunder storms, half dollar size hail and flash
flooding in Kimble County, yikes that’s us and we are right on the river -
although it is about 30 feet down from where we are parked! It starts to blow, not as bad as home, then
there’s lightening and deafening thunder right above us. Bring on the torrential rain and now we have a
doozy of a storm! The lightening, a mix
of sheet and fork, was so overwhelming it was more like daylight with intermittent
flashes of black – I have never seen anything like it in my life! We figure we have enough height between us
and the water even if it does rise dramatically but we (I) keep a very close
eye on the little islands we can see above water to make sure they don’t disappear
too quickly. Once they do disappear we
find another land mark until that too sinks out of sight. We would
have to back out of the site if necessary as a tree branch blocks our movement
forward. However the trees we are parked
under would help protect against the hail if it comes. Getting seriously nervous!
Eventually a
good couple of nail biting hours later the rain eases, the lightening seems to move
off and the thunder dwindles. After
another nerve settling cup of tea, hit the sack with one ear still on the weather. Have to admit I was a tad concerned….. Kim’s already asleep!
Our little outdoor
mat floated away sometime during the storm, hope it’s gracing the doorway of a
critter’s home somewhere around the Llano River.
Wednesday 18 May to Toyahvale TX
79786
We were
moved on early in the morning as traffic wanted to use the loop we were parked
on but that gave us a good start to the day as we aim to get some mile s under
our belt today. Leaving Junction we see it
is just a little country town, not at all busy.
Don’t know where all the people playing sport last night came from.
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| I10 west towards Fort Stockton |
Carried on
heading west on the I10, in the patchy drizzle and/or rain. It’s a bit cold too, at 15C. Decided against staying at Fort Stockton, the
RV Park was just off the Interstate with
little ambience, although it did boast a restaurant. Kept heading west to come to a stop at the Balmorhea State Park, near Toyahvale. It was a good effort today -250 miles trip in
all and a good way to spend a wettish day.
We will get over to New Mexico tomorrow, unless the sun comes out and we
decide to stay another day here.
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