#wimberley

Hill Country Wine Cave, Wimberley, Texas,

Cabin in the woods, just us 2 humans and a dog.

I've made my way down to the forest

Way down to the sea of trees 🍃

This year has not been what I expected it to be. Trips had to changed, cancelled and limited to places we could social distance. Despite that I still had some amazing experiences. Trips: WimberleyCentral KansasPacific Northwest For all these trips we did our best to social distance or we visited at non peak times. Gear Reviews: HammocksBear’s PackHalf Dome TentTrekking Poles Note on the…

Hill Country House - Wimberley, Texas, USA - Miró Rivera Architects ____

The notice on my reservation made clear the campground’s 3 PM check-in time is strictly enforced. Therefore, we spent the day killing time by traveling through towns we might not typically have had a chance to see. Johnson City provided an RV parking space at their Lyndon B. Johnson boyhood home national park. And first we made lunch in the camper and then spent a leisurely two hours walking the grounds of this amazing historical treasure. Johnson’s paternal grandparents settled the land there and their story is so interesting. The old homestead of his grandparents remain in great shape, along with outbuildings, and Johnson’s boyhood home is available to tour. This stop was a surprise and is one of the highlights of this summer’s adventure, and if it weren’t for knowing ahead the strict check-in rules of Cranes Mill Park we most likely would not have stopped in Johnson City. 

Cranes Mill Park itself was okay, nothing great or negative about it. And only thirty RV hookups are available, but that does not deter the occasional immature man who acts like one of the slacker roles Matthew McConaughy once played. This Dazed and Confused man drove around the lakeside bend and abruptly pulled straight into his campsite so his front door faced us.  He had a small vintage trailer, which was cool, but every accomplishment of his set-up produced a swift one-clap of the hands by this strange man. He had a tall bistro-type umbrella he set up, with a table he attached to the side of his trailer, and two plastic Adirondack chairs. After every task accomplished he made a quick clap, and it was fascinating to watch a person so weird and enamored of himself. Shirtless, and playing something resembling a mix between  rap and hip-hop, he also had a miniature motorcycle he kept in the bed of his truck that he could lift out by hand and take a spin around the park from time to time. Luckily for us he left the next morning.

We chose this park because of its proximity to Austin and San Antonio, as well as popular HIll Country towns such as Fredericksburg, Blanco, Luckenbach, and Wimberley, all of which we visited. The scenery was astounding, especially the drive between Luckenback to Wimberley and Wimberley to Canyon Lake. The weather sort of messed with us, but we hadn’t had a lot of rain to deal with on this trip so it was manageable. Wimberley was a nice surprise as well with its art-village appeal and Cypress Springs Preserve. 

The restrooms were rustic and a combination of old and new. The shower stalls were large and provided plenty of hot water. 

AT&T service was a satisfactory two bars. Our geezer price averaged $15 per night, which was a bit steeper than our usual fee and not indicative of any additional amenities than other ACoE parks we have stayed in, and basically over-priced in our opinion. Yes, there were enough safe roads in which to ride our bicycles, but with generally no trees it wasn’t so much fun in the direct sun. No nature trails in the park itself to hike, but day trips can provide anything a camper like us might need for a satisfactory experience. This park is truly a boater’s paradise, and not a good choice for those of us who prefer a bit of shade, wooded topography, and a bike ride through the countryside. 

Much to our dismay we did arrive to our check-in about ten minutes early.  However, we parked outside the gate and I approached the gate window on foot. I presented myself as humble, and apologized for being early. The camp hosts were friendly and forgiving, and also  expressed their pleasure that we had obviously gone to some trouble in order to follow their rules. Happily, check-in was quick and easy.