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Horseshoe Bend Cellars Vineyard and Winery Iowa Park, Texas
Our goal is to travel no more than 3 ½ hours a day. Doesn’t always happen but that is the goal. There are times when we just need a place to stay overnight. So far, we haven’t had to visit a Walmart or Cracker Barrel.
Horseshoe Bend was our host for the evening. This winery sits on a large secluded property. We were directed to park our rig on a gravel parkway. Our hosts also allowed us to use our generators which provided air conditioning for the night. We enjoyed our host, Gabi, as she explained the wines we chose for our wine tasting. The tasting offered a sampling of four wines of your choice and if you purchased a bottle of wine the tasting fee was waived. Yes, not only did we buy one bottle but two. We also ordered a cheese board that offered a selection of four kinds of cheese, nuts, grapes, and crackers. Much to my surprise gluten-free crackers were included.
There was another couple who were staying the night and we conversed ( the tables were more than six feet apart) finding out they were from a town about 2 hours away and they were just out for a weekend getaway. We really enjoy our stays at Harvest Hosts campsites and meet the friendliest hosts and people passing through.
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Speegleville Campground – Waco, Texas
The last week was spent in Speegleville Campground which is situated on the Waco Lake. This campground is owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers. These campgrounds are usually near water and most of the time have water and electric hookups at a very reasonable price. We arrived on Sunday and it was crowded as the “weekend warriors” were still enjoying boating, water skiing, and just relaxing before going back home. By Monday morning the campground became sparse and many sites became available.
Our view was pretty awesome. The best part was watching the diamond-like glitter on top of the water as the sunset. The sun has an amber glow and I am filled with a feeling of peace which is much needed during these trying times. There were several mornings when the deer decided they felt safe to venture out into the campgrounds as they frolicked around the empty space between the campsites.
Our next stop is a Harvest Host winery for a quick overnight stay before heading to the Texas panhandle. Texas is getting pretty hot as temperatures range from the ’90s and some days 100’. We look forward to traveling north to enjoy some cooler weather.
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Waco, Texas
If you watch Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines then you have heard of Waco, Texas. Not only do they have the TV series but also purchased the silos and developed a quaint little shopping area. We started out the day by visiting Magnolia Market the Silo’s. Very cool place.
First stop, Silo Baking Company. Not sure if it was because of COVID or early morning but there was no line to get into the bakery. A pleasant surprise for us as we just strolled into the store and the wonderful aromas of the baked goods was there to greet us. We walked to Magnolia Press Coffee Shop with 4 cupcakes and one gluten-free cookie in hand. The ambiance of the shop was unique as they had tables that reminded me of old-time library tables with wooden desks and gold banker lamps. The outside sitting area was open, airy, and welcoming. I can see why this place is crowded during non-COVID times. They also have a restaurant called Magnolia Table but we didn’t eat there.
The Magnolia Market had a variety of household goods. One positive note of living in a 5th wheel is when you shop you don’t buy it because you have no room to store anything. This makes it easier on the credit card. On the next street was another store offering household items, most of it rustic décor. If you want to do something out of the box, visit the Dr. Pepper museum. Yes, there really is such a place and we toured it. We also shopped at Spice Village, where there are 50 or more vendors under one roof, all selling unique items from kids, baby, home decor, jewelry, souvenirs, candles and so much more!
The Riverwalk along the Brazos River provided a good route for our bike ride. It stretched from Baylor University to Cameron Park and it goes underneath the suspension bridge. Waco was an entertaining stop and we enjoyed our visit.
One of Several murals around the city. -
Riverside City RV Park – Victoria, Texas
We have been here for a month and are now heading out of Texas towards Colorado. Victoria is a small town and most likely would not be a destination on anyone’s bucket list. For us, it was to spend time with our beautiful daughter and well worth the trip. We stayed in Riverside City RV Park that had full hook up sites and it was only $12 a night. The sites were spaced out so you weren’t on top of each other and there was a walking trail along the golf course. On one of my walks, I spotted more deer in one spot than I had ever seen.
One Saturday afternoon, we went kayaking down a portion of the Guadeloupe River. The launching site was in the park. We also took two-side trips. One was to Fredericksburg, see my previous blog on Fredericksburg for more information. The other was to Magnolia Beach. We heard you could park your trailer on the beach and was intrigued. After scoping it out, we agreed we would pass on staying at Magnolia Beach.
While we will miss our daughter, we are eager to resume our travels and get into some cooler weather. We aren’t sure how the COVID will affect our future travels as we have seen many small towns completely shut down, but, we will go with the flow. At least Mother Nature hasn’t closed her doors. Next stop Waco.
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Fredericksburg, Texas
We decided to venture out for the 4th of July weekend to Fredericksburg. This little town is a hidden gem tucked in the hills of Texas. The town has several German restaurants since it was German immigrants who settled here many years ago. There are cute shops, art galleries, and quite the selection of wine bars.
Unfortunately, with the rise of COVID in Texas, the governor decided to close bars. This also included any wineries offering wine tastings. If a winery had a restaurant accounting for at least 51% of its sales, wine tastings were allowed as long as state regulations were followed. We were able to find one winery which met the requirement. However, most of the wineries were opened to sell bottles of wines. We were able to purchase a bottle of wine which allowed us to drink on their outside premises. These grounds were vast so groups were able to be more than six feet apart. Some had swings underneath the trees, others had tables and chairs scattered along their patios overlooking the vineyards. We were told these grapes would be ready for harvest next month.
Friday was spent visiting the stores. (mandatory masks and 6 ft apart). Everyone was following the rules. On Saturday, we visited the wineries. We enjoyed one wine tasting and savored the bottles of four other wineries. The day was relaxing, the scenery around us peaceful and serene. Those who worry about driving, wine shuttles were available. We stopped to get some peaches and ice cream upon our return. What a great way to spend the 4th of July.
Visit https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/wineries/ to check out all wineries in Fredersburg.
