Horsing Around

Before the tour I asked Steve, our driver, to find a ranch where we could take our guests horseback riding. He found the Rocking B Stables near Austin. So we offered horseback riding to them and we got 5 takers and about 15 passengers who wanted to go just to see a real working ranch.
So after we dropped off half of our group on Austin's busy 6th Street to shop, dine and explore the live music scene we took the "horse people" and the "horse lookers" as I called them to the Rocking B.
We met Bruce (the B in Rocking B) who showed us around the ranch...which raises goats, chickens and cows and boards horses. He then got our riders ready for their adventure. It took close to an hour to get everyone acquainted with their horses and saddle and bridle them up, (the horses, not the people) and then they went giddyup onto the trail for an hour while the rest of us relaxed under a big tree and waited for them to return. They returned with big smiles on their faces....and as far as I could tell the horses hardly noticed.
All in all it was a great adventure for everyone....when I asked Susan, the first-time rider how she liked the experience she said...."Brilliant!"

Stonehenge Texas Style

Today we visited San Antonio...everyone explored on their own. There were those who waited their whole life to see the Alamo, those who took a leisurely stroll along the Riverwalk, and those who took advantage of endless shopping opportunities at the Rivercenter Mall http://www.shoprivercenter.com/ and mostly everyone enjoyed the myriad of shops, galleries, arts and crafts displays and the multitudes of wonderful restaurants that can be found in this unique city.

After their free time we all enjoyed dinner at Mi Tierra, a Mexican restaurant full of colorful decor and delicious food. We were even serenaded by a 3-piece Mariachi band while we dined.
On the long trip back to the YO Ranch Resort Hotel in Kerrville, everyone was tired but very satisfied with the full day they had and the delicious meal they enjoyed so they wondered why we passed right by our hotel until I told them that we had a surprise for them.

In the town of Hunt, Texas there is a 60% scale replica of Ancient Druid Monument, Stonehenge, which is in England, and in fact most if not all of my UK guests have seen the original. So I thought it would be fun for them to see one Texan's version of this Ancient wonder. An area local, Al Shepperd had been given a slab of limestone, 5' tall and 8" wide, that was left over from a patio construction job. He placed it in his field near the road. After a while he began mowing larger and larger circles around it and in time he asked his friend, who had given him the slab, to build the riplica of Stonehenge. The result is a 92' diameter hollow plaster-covered steel replica flanked by 2 Easter Island statues.

Al died in 1994 and his ashes were sprinkeled on the grounds of Stonehenge II.

The group was surprised to see it and enjoyed wandering among the pieces and commented that it is not possible to walk among the pieces of the original Stonehenge so it was fun to get up close and personal!

Back in Texas!!

After watching and waiting and wondering what the Iceland Volcano would do to my UK group's chances of flying over the pond for our Texas tour, the suspense was finally over on Wednesday morning when I got word that the skies were open again. I think they were one of the first planes to take off from Heathrow Airport when the ban was lifted.
So here we are, after a greuling day of travel for them and for me, in the Lone Star State to see Texas in the Spring. Only one lady has arrived without her luggage. I have no idea how this could have happened since they were on a non-stop flight, one plane from London to Fort Worth. Her luggage is either still at Heathrow or it ended up on a plane to some other destination. Hopefully it will catch up with us at our first hotel in Fort Worth which is where we arrived last night at about 9:30.
Today we're headed for the the Fort Worth Stockyards via the Grapevine Vintage Railroad Train http://tinyurl.com/m57wx4
We'll spend some time at the Stockyards, then head into Fort Worth for dinner.
I've heard that three tornados touched down in Texas yesterday...I see no tornadoes but although it rained earlier this morning the sun is shining now and Texas is in full spring bloom. I'll post some pictures later.