Hot Springs, AR and Texas Hill Country

Check out the name of the town we (Arkan)saw on the way down to meet up with @hitchedwithjoy and @airstream_dad. #atowncalledwynne

View from the mile and a half trail into town of @hitchedwithjoy's AS parked right across from ours. Happily, @airstream_dad and @lwphotofindings made a road trip while their trailer was in the shop to come hang out. Check out those feeds for some fun group pics, but it's been fun hanging with traveling parents plus kids 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years old! #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #fulltimefamilies #travelwithkids #familytravel #hotspringsarkansas

Time to say so long to @hitchedwithjoy (seen in the reflection!) and @airstream_dad/@lwphotofindings and keep making our way slowly towards Austin. #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #airstreamwithkids #sisterhoodofthetravelingparents

Hello, Texas! #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife

Keeping in touch with traveling friends. #donttextandtow #butaquickpicisokaysometimes #lifeontheroad

Got camp set up last night just in time for a walk down to the lake to catch the sunset (and try for a few fish 😂). #childhoodunplugged #sunset #cooperlake #texas #iphone6 #nofilter

I'm starting to think that our #moochdocking spot in north central Texas has already been discovered by some other Airstreamers... Oh no, wait, we're visiting @annflanagan and @paulmayeux at their AP Vintage Trailer Works (link temp in profile) shop near Paradise, TX. Between another amazing sunset over drooooolworthy silver trailers, green chile burgers on the BBQ and getting to meet these nice folks, I see where the town got its name. The Airstream community is the best! #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #sunset #texas #vintagetrailer #vintageairstream

The weekend is booked at Colorado Bend State Park but there are only a few of us here now and we'll stay til then! Great drive down through small towns of Texas hill country today. #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #texas #texashillcountry #coloradobendstatepark #coloradobend #coloradoriver

Gorman Spring cascades 65 feet over Gorman Falls, the calcite rich waters leaving bulbous drapery formations of new rock and supporting a lush hanging garden on the way. Incredible spot and we were the first ones there this morning! #gormanfalls #gormanspring #coloradoriver #coloradobend #coloradobendstatepark #texashillcountry #texas

I fell into a burning ring of fire(ants). Well, almost anyway, which is why Ann built this circle of rocks around their hole. You see, while we don't yet know what reaction the kids might have to being bitten by fire ants, we also don't exactly want to find out since the last time it happened to me while camped outside the Palenque ruins in Chiapas, Mexico, I developed hives all over my body and had to remain submerged in a cool spring fed pool as a precaution against my throat closing (Palenque blog post which begins with an "interesting encounter" at a roadblock temporarily in profile). #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #airstreamwithkids #airstreamwithfireants #ohtexas

This one walked every step of the 2.4 mile round trip to Gorman Falls, including the final steep section protected with cables. #gormanfalls #coloradobendstatepark #coloradobend #texas #childhoodunplugged #toddlerlife #fulltimefamilies #travelwithkids #familytravel

Went to Germany today... in Fredericksburg, TX. Along with other towns in the hill country like New Braunfels, Fredericksburg was founded by German immigrants in the mid 1800's where settlers created their own dialect of "Texas German." A product of its history, the menu at this authentic-feeling biergarten ranged from wiener-schnitzel to fajitas. #ohtexas #txhillcountry #fredericksburg #hesaidweiner

Yes, it's an RV park (city park, actually) but the neighbors are nice (and have good taste in trailers), it's close to a neat little town and a cool sounding outdoor music venue and Texas sure knows how to do sunsets! #anotherepictree #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #texas #texashillcountry #fredericksburg

Hi ho, hi ho. #wynneswagon #airstream #airstreamwithkids #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #childhoodunplugged #rvwithkids #fulltimefamilies

Luckenbach, TX was founded in the mid 1800's, grew to almost 500 people by 1904 and was nearly abandoned by 1960. In fact, it was offered for sale in its entirety in a local paper for $30K in 1970 and its status as an independent municipality used by the new owner to allow it be operated as a music venue and drinking establishment.

Upon our arrival, a gentleman with a mustache as wide as his hat holding the reins to a steer with horns wider than the truck that guy probably drove there in greeted us and asked where we were from. Without thinking, I quickly replied, "California." He overacted a dramatic winch and quipped "I wouldn't say that so loud around here if I were you." Oh, I quickly realized, we're being folksy. Got it!

With two Shiner Bock longnecks in hand, we found a seat at one of the picnic tables under the oaks and watched a daring chicken flap and hop its way between the branches above us as the band launched into a series of Western swing classics. Between songs, the singer bantered "If you're not from here, this is the real Texas." Then added, "Don't judge us by Austin." Two strikes - I was a Californian who was really looking forward to visiting Austin. Easy now, I'd better be careful...
😬

Mae and I wandered into the gift shop where I found a wooden magnet burned with the town logo, perfect for our collection in the trailer, and brought it to the counter. "Well, that's a mighty fine little striped animal you got there," the cashier offered with a smile. Okay, this was my chance to blend in. Keep it light. Be folksy. I shifted Mae in her brightly striped dress over to my other hip and fired back, "Oh thanks! You know I've already taught her to walk and she even knows a few words but she's not house trained yet." Yes! Nailed it! With a perfect deadpan, he pointed to the striped stuffed kitty Mae was holding and said, "I was taking to her." #folkme #folkfail #imessedwithtexas #luckenbach #hillcountry #txhillcountry