Good Morning BSFs !!!
We got back last night, and were way too tired to wiggle... so we all crashed, and getting a fresh start this morning.
We left Monday morning and drove strait to our cabin by the Guadalupe River just outside New Braunfels, TX. Got there about 2pm. The kids got their feet wet in the river... and actually walked across the river to the other side... the river is about 17' low, and only about knee deep where we were staying.
We left about 4pm to go to my sister's house, about 15 miles away. Katy (the German exchange student who went with us) wanted to meet an American artist before she left to go back home. She was mesmerized at all my sisters art... and had one question after another about technique. She showed my sister her art on her facebook pages, and my sister seemed very impressed with her talent as well... I do think they could have talked for hours... but, we were all hungry, and met my BIL at the Gristmill Restaurant for dinner. It's an old cotton mill, kept in its original state... not even any air conditioning... and it has lots and lots of atmosphere. Had a wonderful time... and it was the first time Don and BIL ever met...
Tuesday morn, we got to Schlitterbaun Water Park about 10am. Don and I were so surprised that we kept up with the kids... we all had such a blast. It was 108*, and we wanted to stay in the water as much as possible... but to ride the rides, we had to stand in line a lot... one ride had us standing in line for an hour, for a 3 minute ride... but it was worth it... my favorite was the turbine... just a river that went all around the park... that had jets and wave makers that pushed you along... was so relaxing. We left the parks around 6pm, and drove back to the cabin to change for dinner.
New Braunfels is an old German settlement town, and has 3 old time German restaurants. So, Don and I decided to take the kids to the Freisenhaus Restaurant, and let Mike and Katy give us an education in German Foods. It's a family owned and operated by a German family. The wife greeted us at the door (dressed in the old time Bavarian costume)... (which by the way, Katy tells us they don't wear those anymore as a rule... just in old time celebrations). We introduced Mike and Katy, and they spoke some German. We all ordered something different, and shared with each other to enjoy the flavors they missed from home. Mike has missed his schnitzle, a lot... I could tell. The husband came to the table and greeted the kids in German, and they enjoyed hearing a little bit of home, I think. As we were leaving, we passed through the bakery part of the restaurant... and Mike pointed out the bread that he missed from back home... so I bought a loaf of it to try.
We were exhausted, and out tummy's were full... so we headed back to the cabin and crashed.
Wednesday morning, we decided NOT to bake in the sun for 2-4 hours on a slow moving river in a tube ... After Schlitterbaun, I think we'd all just be too disappointed. So, we decided to visit the Natural Bridge Caverns, and Wildlife Ranch. Don had been in the caverns back in the 80's, and I had been there right after they opened it to the public in the late 60's. It had changed quite a bit from back then... it's longer with new areas opened up... and the kids were in awe with all there was to see in there. It was also still 108* outside, but a cool 70* in the caverns. Then we drove through the wildlife ranch and saw wild animals galore. The zebra and ostriches came right up to the car to eat from our hands... but all the others kept far away from us.
Then we started home... about a 5 hour drive... and again... we were so exhausted when we got home.
I haven't caught up on much here... hope everyone is feeling well... but if not, hope you all feel better soon. If there's anything I need to know... poke me... ok?
