San Antonio and Austin, Texas

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We woke on Monday the 15th of August, our first day in San Antonio, to find it disgustingly hot... It was at this stage, due to parking on a slope for the night that we realised our fridge was no longer working. Shane had decided he had had enough of the loud constant banging noise we were subjected to in the motorhome whilst driving over 50mph so he decided to give the rental company a call.

After a few calls and Shane speaking to a few useless staff members he was told to take off the metal mud guard on the drivers side as it sounds like it had cracked. Due to his limited skills in the mechanical industry Shane thought it best to head to a mechanic (although he did have a look and despite his best efforts using a butterknife for other screws he fixed, it wasn't going to work this time).

We made it to a helpful mechanic who proceeded to take it off in a matter of minutes and sent us on our way, free of charge. Things were looking up...Maybe...

After driving into the Army grounds and being sent back out (Whoops, sorry about the directions Shane) we finally made it downtown and parked our car.

We headed to the Rivercentre which is a pleasant air-conditioned shopping mall. The weather here at the moment is a constant 37 degrees (minimum) daily. Although it does slightly drop... to 30 at night!

We didn't buy anything inside the mall however Shane did drool for quite a while in the health food store at the prices of all the items, wishing he could spend his money and send it all home.

We then visited The Alamo, a Spanish mission established in the late 18th century which later became the famous ground for one of the many battles between the Mexican forces and the Texan residents during the Texan Revolution. Davy Crockett was among the men who died, defending the independence of Texas. We watched a 15 minute film featuring the history of The Alamo (during which Chris nearly cried) and then had a look around the grounds.

After heading back to the car we drove to the local library where we surfed the net and updated the blog. When we left and were driving peacefully back to our petrol station for the evening, Shane started screaming profanities... someone had smashed the drivers side mirror on the motorhome and he could hardly see out of it to change lanes. After making it back to the library we found the large rock used and the remains of the glass.

Driving slowly, we made it to the petrol station and had some dinner before we were harrassed by a guy narrating his sob story and wanting us to give him some money whilst he was standing at the door of our motorhome reading the bible to Shane. Although wanting to avoid doing this, Christine passed Shane a few dollars and we sent him on his way. We both hoped this would bring us some luck.

We woke on Tuesday the 16th of August and then fell back alseep. Then woke and fell back alseep. Finally when we woke up for good we both declared that we would have to stay in a motorhome park for the next few nights as the heat was too much to bear and we just couldn't sleep.

We spent the majority of the morning and part of the aftrenoon driving around trying to get the mirror fixed and at the 3rd place, we managed to find someone that could replace it. After 30 minutes of trying to work out if they could fix it, and then 1 hour actually replacing the mirror, we forked over the money and headed to Walmart.

For those that aren't aware Walmart is huge over here. Most are open 24 hours and have everything that you could need, almost like a huge Big W but with groceries as well. We have stayed there overnight on a few occasions amongst others doing the same thing.

We headed to a motorhome park and Shane turned the air-conditioning on as soon as we had electricity. We both declared that this is living and we have to pay the money more often. While Chris made a delicious dinner Shane went exploring through the motorhome park on his mountain bike and even went and checked out the golf course beside the park.

We both slept much better that night and it was a great feeling to wake up on Wednesday the 17th of August feeling refreshed.

We boarded a bus out the front of the motorhome park and headed into town early that morning. We first headed to the Visitors Centre and picked up a few brochures.

After which we headed to the Post Office, where despite only buying a few postcard stamps we were sent through a metal detector and had our bag searched.

On the way to the Riverwalk we stopped at Buckhorn Museum and Saloon which is a large bar and Museum containing a various number of lifesize stuffed animals.

The Riverwalk (Shane thought it looked more like a dirty sewer walk) was quite nice and we stopped about half way to head to the San Fernando Cathedral. San Fernando is the oldest cathedral in the US. There was a mass on so we decided against going in. We then headed up to Market Square, where we both agreed we shouldn't have wasted our time. There were only a few stores open but nothing we would be prepared to buy anyway so we headed back to the Aztec Theatre and watched a free lightshow. Although the lightshow was good, or so everyone else thought, compared to Vegas... it was dull and definately not worth the effort.

There is a tour company that runs guided tours of the Riverwalk so we handed over our money and crammed on the boat with the other people. We got told some interesting information along the way and visited a set from 'Miss Congeniality'. Once we got off the boat we headed straight for some shade in the 45 degree heat.

With us both complaining about the heat we figured maybe some air-conditioned shopping would help. Shane found a shoe warehouse that he thought Chris would adore so we jumped on the bus and headed there. The bus does a loop of the city (or the one we caught does) in about 20 minutes. So when we missed our stop the first time around we figured staying in the air con of the bus for another 20 mins wouldnt hurt, besides that the driver drove like a maniac and got us there in record time.

When we finally got off, we headed into the shoe shop where Shane took a few looks at the guys shoes and decided he wasn't going to buy any and lay down on a seat and proceeded to have a little snooze whilst Chris picked out 3 pairs of shoes to buy (well really there were 5, however Shane made her narrow them down).

With Chris, shopping bag in hand and Shane half asleep, we again jumped on the bus and made the treck to the library for a few hours and then back to the motorhome park for the night.

On Thursday the 18th of August we both had a sleep in and decided we would lounge around the pool for the day as it was too hot to move... It was a very relaxing and refreshing day compared to trecking around in the heat we have endured since leaving home.

On Friday the 19th of August we checked out of the motorhome park and started our drive to Austin where we stopped on the way at San Marcos Outlets which contained 2 massive outlets with over 100 stores in each.

We walked and walked and shopped and shopped for several hours that day. Shane only managed to purchase a few items, where as Chris managed to buy yet another pair of shoes amongst other things.

We managed to find a few sunglass shops where Chris proceeded to try on hundreds of pairs of glasses and as in the past she became increasingly frustrated when Shane decided to try a few pairs on and she declared that they all suited him... Chris stormed out declaring that it wasn't fair.

We left the outlets and finished the short drive to Austin where we first parked in a supermarket for the night and Shane continued to complain about the heat. After trying to fall asleep for 2 hours and continually waking up dripping and cursing, Shane declared at 4am we had to stay in a motorhome park. Chris calmly managed to find one as Shane threw a tantrum due to the heat. We headed to the park and slept extremely well in the lovely, cool, refreshing air-con after our motorhome was hooked up to the electricity.

On our first day in Austin, Saturday the 20th of August, we figured we would try and get as much done in as little time as possible due to the heat. Well by the end of the day we had done as little as possible in as much time possible.

The day started waiting 30 minutes for a bus and then getting dropped off at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum where we had been told to visit by a local the day prior.

The museum was full of information on Texan history and included a few very unusual cars. It took approx 10 minutes before Shane was braindead and patiently trying to visit all the historical items quickly and finish the museum sooner. It was clear Shane hated this museum and Chris left making a mental note not to venture to any more museums with Shane in tow.

When we fiiiiiiiiinally finished, we headed outside to find that the public transport isn't that fantastic as we waited another 40 minutes for a bus (we had considered driving but were told not to as driving and parking is a nightmare). We declared the following day we would drive as there was free parking everywhere and no one in sight.

After posting a blog at the local library for everyone on our mailing list to read, we walked down to the Congress Avenue Bridge discussing the strange and unusual people using the internet at the library. Shane was lucky enough to sit next to a man dressed as a woman and Chris had a perverted old man on one side discussing his sexual ventures and two men swearing and fighting over a computer on the other.

After a bite to eat at a local fast food store (mmm more delicious healthy food) we patiently waited, along with many other tourists, for the Mexican bats to fly out for their nightly feed. It was amazing to watch as over 1.5 million bats flew from under the bridge at sunset to go and feed on all the insects in the city. We tried to take some photos of the bats but they were just a little too quick for us.

We walked back to the motorhome park (which Shane continually claimed was the one out of 8 mile) where Chris once again read her romance novel for hours before finally falling asleep.

Shane woke Chris on Sunday the 21st of August as he had breakkie and big plans for the day. After paying for the site for the past two days and emptying and then refilling the tanks we headed off on Shane's sightseeing tour.

We started by visiting the 6th Street district which is famous at night time for the clubs/pubs. We then headed to the Historical district and saw a few of the local 1800 era homes.

Afterwards we stopped off and viewed the Governors Mansion (where the Governor of Austin is required to live during his term) and the Texas State Capitol.

Shane quickly dragged Chris back to the car where he then sped off to the Lindon Baines Johnson Museum. We both agreed this was far better then the museum the previous day (and best bit, it was free!!!). We saw a short film on the life of the 36th President and then had a look around the museum. It was quite interesting to see a rock from the moon and a 1/8 scale exact replica of the oval office and various gifts from other countries to LBJ during his Presidency.

We then once again headed to the library after a drive past the University of Texas Tower where in 1966 a student shot dead other students from the top in sniper mode.

Shane had been bugging Chris to go for a bike ride ever since getting the motorhome so we visited the Botanical Gardens where Chris promised afterwards we would go for a ride. Well after 15 minutes Chris declared it was too hot for either activity and we headed for Barton Springs where although we both wanted to go for a swim neither of us were prepared to pay $9 for the priviledge. Instead we chose to drive towards Houston and find a motorhome site for the night.

We ended up spending the night in a petrol station carpark as the 3 motorhome parks we visited didn't have payphones and Shane needed to call his Mum and Nan before they headed overseas themselves the following day.

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Photos

Shane's new mates
It took him a long time, but Shane finally found some new friends

Austin's Congress Ave Bats
There are over 1.5 million of them

Comments

[Dad]

Heat Relief
Hi Kids...Shane why don't you visit a golf course and see if you can get a couple of those neck ties that you wet to help keep you cool, they normally have some form of crystals in them that go cold when wet.