Walkin' the River With Friends

   Saturday morning we woke to rain.  I had a bad night, just couldn't get to sleep, so I didn't roll out of bed until almost 9:30!  John had already washed Harvey's whole face by the time I got up.  We had breakfast and then John washed 2 of Harvey's tire covers and left them to dry (the rain had stopped) while we went to the PX.  They were having a 40% off clearance sale today.  John got a few shirts, but I didn't find anything.  From there we went to the Army Medical Center Museum.  It was well done and very interesting.  Makes me glad I wasn't around when they used all those crude medical techniques!! 

 

A statue out in front of the museum.

 

This was a homemade "Mid East" Monopoly Game.  I can't
imagine how long it must have taken.  Even the
money and the box housing it was hand made.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got back about 4:30.  John wanted to wash the other 2 tire covers, so I went back to the PX to look around some more.  You know how it is, ladies.  When your husband is along you just can't "browse" as long as you would like.  But they can't help it...they just don't have the shopping "gene" we have.  I was successful, finding a few things. 

This was my greatest find, already half price
and then another 40% off.  Sent a shiver right up my spine :) 
I've always loved this perfume when I smell the sample in a magazine,
but it is just too expensive.  I was finally able to afford it.
I actually got this one and another one of hers.

I got back about 7:15...yes, I shopped for almost 3 hrs.  We had supper and then played 2 games of 5 Crowns.  I won both.  It's 9-8 now.  We were in bed by 10:30.

   On Sunday we had breakfast and then while John took a walk I got ready for our get together with Chuck and Melissa in San Antonio.  We weren't meeting them until 1:00, so we had time for a game of 5 Crowns.  John won.  We are now tied at 9-9. We left at 12:15 and got to our meeting spot, The Alamo, right at 1:00.  Chuck and Melissa arrived about 5 minutes later.  It was so good to see them!  After hugs, we toured The Alamo and then watched a black powder 12 step rifle loading demonstration.  They shot them off 3 times.  Scared the living daylights out of me the first time!! 

We took a picture of this carriage in front
of the Alamo while waiting for Melissa and Chuck.

And this guy posing as a statue.

The Alamo!!!

Come on, John...you know better than to touch that!!

Melissa and Chuck were very interested in
the rifle demo, too. Chuck hunts with one!!

It was sooo loud!

 From there we went to the Menger Hotel.  What a neat place.  It's still fully operational since the times when Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders there at the bar.  And they have kept it mostly decorated from that era, too. 

It is so elegant yet quaint.

 Beautiful stained glass in the ceiling.

This clock was interesting...not only did it tell the time,

but also the day and date!  My Dad would love it!!

These anthuriums were REAL.

Remember these??

This Bull Moose hung over the bar...

...where it is said that Teddy Roosevelt frequented.



This is for you, Alexandra and Todd.


It was such a beautiful day we decided to eat outside at The Republic of Texas restaurant next to the River Walk.   

Chuck and Melissa were great hosts!

Sometimes I think this way!!

A portion of the River Walk.

The River Walk makes a nice backdrop!!

Then we went to the Buckhorn Saloon just to check it out.  There is a Texas Ranger Museum there, but we weren't interested in that.  The bar area was neat with all kinds of animal heads.

Those are all antlers across the archway!

Some of the over 100 animal heads.

This sweatshirt was quite unique, having
a pocket for a beer or soda bottle.

We said our goodbyes and headed back to the parking garage about 5:00.  Chuck and Melissa are so easy and fun to be with! 

There was a peaceful demonstration going on
across from the parking garage protesting
Pres. Trump's immigration order.

We got back just in time for me to watch the Miss Universe pageant. 

John got this picture of the beautiful sunset and then watched the Tom Brokaw special in the bedroom. We got to bed about 10:30.
   Monday was supposed to be even warmer than Sunday, so we decided to visit the Natural Bridge Cavern and the adjacent Wildlife Ranch.  They were about 25 minutes from the CG.  So we had breakfast and took off about 10:15.  We went to the cavern first and our tour started at 11:10.  It was amazing!  At one point we were 180 feet below the level of the natural bridge.  And the temperature inside was 70 degrees and 99% humidity.  The cavern is 21 million yrs old.  It was opened in 1964.  Many trails had to be dug. There was water dripping most of the way through.  Because limestone (what the cavern is made of) is porous rainwater travels downward thru the layers of rock where it dissolves out calcium carbonate.  That builds up and causes the waxy lustered formations.  Just enjoy the pictures because I can't describe it.  It was hard to narrow down all the neat stuff, so be forewarned...there are quite a few pictures. 

This is the 60 ft long Natural Bridge
formed by a sinkhole 5,000 yrs ago!

This is looking up at the Natural Bridge.  The
entrance is down to the left.

We weren't allowed to touch ANYTHING because
the oil from our skin would discolor and stunt
the growth of the formations.

There were about 25 of us in the group.   Here we go!!

These formations are called Flowstones.  They form
on the sides of the walls from slow flowing water.

Stalactites hang from the ceiling.

Stalagmites grow up from the cavern floor.

This is called Sherwood Forest because it looks
like tree trunks and tree tops.

These are called Rimstone Pools.  They were my favorite.

This is the 50 ft tall Watch Tower.  It actually
goes from floor to ceiling.

Some of the passageways were steep and narrow
Watch your head!!

This was very cool, too.  It looks like a
piece of flowing material.

This is the Emerald Pool.  Whatever is in the bottom of
the pool shone like emeralds!!

This is the fried egg.  If you enlarge it you can see
a yellow substance inside the "cup"'

This is bat dung.  Many years ago there was a
large colony of bats hanging above.  They left
their presence behind.  There was no smell
because the bacteria can't grow.  Thank goodness!!

This looked like a Troll's house to me, but it was
called the Landlord's house.

We were pretty tired by the time we climbed out...well, I was!!  But it was well worth it!
   We ate our packed lunches at a picnic table outside the office there and then went next door to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch.  Another incredible and fun adventure.  We drove the Jeep through a 6 mile trail of 450 acres with over 500 animals from 45 exotic, native, and threatened species.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.   

This is an Aoudad goat.  He wouldn't budge from
the middle of the road!

Can you spot the baby camouflaged in the rocks?

This is an Axis.  Look at the "velvet" on his antlers.

 

An American bison

Look at the size of the horns on this Watusi.  He
better find a good chiropractor for his neck!!

This Blue Bull Nilgai was hungry.  I was watching
John's side when he stuck his head inside my window.
I screamed.  But he was very friendly.

Took the food right out of my hand...

...and then gave me a kiss.

I think I just got slimed!!!

John decided to give it a try.  He looks terrified, doesn't he?!?

But he went for the kiss, too, not to be outdone by me!

These Zebras were so beautiful!

They can bite, so they seem to know that we won't hand feed them.

They opened their mouths and we threw it in!
My what big teeth you have!!

Two Ostriches...

...and an Emu. They were both very aggressive. 
Reached right in the car and tried to grab everything!!

You have to throw the food into the donkey's mouth, too,
but they turn their mouths sideways. 

A Texas Longhorn

And my favorite...the Giraffe

Mother...

...and baby

A red Kangaroo

This is a Bongo...love the white stripes!

Two rhinoserasaureses :))

A Gibbon

Then we went to the petting zoo.  The goats would grab your pant leg if you didn't feed them fast enough!

They were very gentle, though.

This is a Patagonian Cavy.  It's the 2nd largest rodent in the world!

It's just a chicken, but I thought it was pretty!

An African Crowned Crane.  Looks
kind of daffy!!

Had to end with a close up of my favorite.

 

On the way home we had to gas up the Jeep and right next to the gas station there was an HEB grocery store.  Bonnie told us to be sure to check it out.  It was huge...very similar to a super Walmart or Wegmans.  It was a fun experience.  When we got back to Harvey John grilled for supper and then we played 2 games of 5 Crowns.  We each won one so we are tied at 10-10.  I worked on the blog and then we went to bed about 10:30.

    Tuesday, we had breakfast and then did laundry. 

Oops, me thinks John shouldn't have put hand
cream on before grabbing the coffee out of the pantry!

 Next we went to the Fort Sam Houston Cemetery to check it out.  My goodness, it goes on forever and ever with over 144,000 grave sites!  Apparently it was originally used for only Ft Houston deaths.  But when many of the other Forts were closed the dead were moved here.  Everything is spot on straight just like Arlington.  It was emotionally impressive! 

 

These guys are in the process of removing rows
of tombstones that have become sunken in the soil.
They are raising them so the total inscription can be seen.
What a job!!

The stones go back as far as the eye can see!!

The memorial for all the branches of the service.

  We decided to get lunch at the Golf Club, but didn't know it was a cafeteria style.  We didn't like the looks of it.  So we asked a veteran who had just done a funeral for a recommendation.  He sent us about 20 miles off base to a NY style deli called, "Max and Louie's".  It was delicious! 

John's Reuben was gigantic.  So was my Rachel!
We could only eat half of it.

Then back on base to finally finish our tour of the Fort Sam Houston Museum. It was such a beautiful afternoon with temps in the high 70's, so we spent some time in the courtyard again with the birds and deer.  Then we went to the commissary to pick up a few items before leaving tomorrow.  John did some prep work outside and went to bed at 9:00!  I worked on the blog until 1:00 am. 

This plague inside the entrance shows it was built in
1876 when Ulysses S Grant was President.

The Watch Tower now has a clock in it, but it
originally served as a water tank, too.

This map show how the right half of Texas was
occupied by the white man while the left half was
occupied by Indians.  There is a line of Forts in
the middle used for protection.  These are some of the
Forts that closed and the ones buried there were
brought to the Ft Houston cemetery.



This was an interesting story.  This lad was a drummer
boy for the Army in 1851.  Clem was 12 yrs old!  When bugles
took over for drums Clem was phased out of the service
as a Sergeant.  He was given a direct commission as a Lieutenant when
he became of age.  He was Ft Houston's Post Quartermaster from 1909-1911.
He was the last Civil War veteran on duty when he retired as Brigadier General in 1915.

Look at all of them in the tree.  There is one of those white ones
in the front.

Notice how the peacock lays right with the deer.

A tombstone for one of the deer.  There was one
for a chicken, too.

I got a lot closer than I thought I would!

This oak tree was huge!  It was planted in 1886.
That's me next to it!

Look how it has grown almost into the building!



I got pretty close to the peacock, too!

This was the first Infantry Post built just east
of the Quadrangle.  Pres and Mrs Eisenhower lived here.

Love the porches/balconies!

The post Chapel was built in 1909 and dedicated
by  Pres. Wm Taft.

Then we went to the commissary to pick up a few items before leaving tomorrow.  John did some prep work outside and went to bed at 9:00!  I worked on the blog until 1:00 am.  I finally finished it on Wed night at 10:45.  Sorry how long it got, but I had a lot to share!!  Thanks for reading it!!!!