Monday 18th November 2013…Day 5!!!

The usual routine out onto the River walk by 8am

 

and back to the hotel for the Buffet breakfast just before 9.30am…this was a longer walk this morning and a great way to start the day….the breakfast was really good too…..

It was going to be a shopping day and we both had long lists but after nearly 5 hours a lot was accomplished for me it was at the REI store where I bought many items for my next year’s Camino hike including shoes and poles…the salesman we had was very knowledgeable and he helped me a lot and also I am to wear my new hiking shoes for the next couple of days and if they are not right they will exchange them for me without any questions……

We got back to the hotel around 4m and relaxed for a while and then got cleaned up and went to Kirsten's for dinner where I met Carolyn’s Brother Phillip and another friend Mike.  Kirsten cooked an incredible meal and it was s a special evening…..

So another day finished.

Yashi Koshi!!!

Sunday 17th November 2013…Day 4!!

Started with watching the runners from our 13th floor room..it was the San Antonio marathon..there was lots of runners!!!

We just at around this morning and caught up on e mails and stuff and then went over to pick up Kirsten and her daughter Erin and I drove the 55 miles to

where we spent a great couple of hours exploring and taking photos…I do like my new camera!!

A really beautiful area!!

Another one of the panorama shots!!

Three generations!!!

Even managed some wild life shots!!

It was really a great day and on the way back to SA we stopped at this old Diner and I had…eat your heart out LINDA!!!  Chicken fried steak!!!

I t tasted every bit good as it looks!!!

After we dropped the girls we did not get back to the room till almost 9pm….a wonderful day blessings Les

Saturday 16th November 2013…Day 3!!!

We started today the exact same way as yesterday….out on the River walk by 8am and walked for an hour

and then tucked into a wonderful breakfast..it is buffet style so no need to rush and the food is really good..I also managed to snag some yogurt, muffins and fruit for later.

This is with using the panoramic switch on the new camera

Today we were going to the house of a friend of Carolyn’s daughter……Eddie lives in the Texas hill country about a 70 minute drive so picked up Kirsten and away we went the drive was lovely and what a shock when we reached Eddie’s “Mansion”.

The house is situated on the banks on the Guadalupe river and is magnificent…..so tastefully decorated and I immediately went walking on his property down by the river.

I must say I really like my new camera learning everyday how to use it but I like the shots!!!

It really is such a lovely setting and the house, the paintings, the furniture all very wonderful.

Eddie was what I would describe as a Southern gentleman, very nice and kind and he took us all to lunch at a lovely restaurant in the hills and the food was fabulous.

Afterwards they had to get back to the house to watch College football…I cannot believe they wanted to watch sports!!!!!  Listen to me!!!  Anyway Eddie had told me all about the deer in the area and he reckons that over 80 deer come through his property every day well I just had to find me a deer so I excused myself and went out hiking…..I had walked maybe three miles down this road without a sighting when I heard them before I saw them…about 30 feet in front of me 3 deer came from my right jumped over a small fence ran across the road over another fence and into the field and I thought WOW but then a few more deer did the same thing and then some babies and then some bigger deer I think in all maybe 20 passed right in front of me much to fast to get a photo but then I watched them in the field and I love the zoom on this camera!!!!

this deer was a ways away so yes the camera is a hit!!!  I walked back a happy man.

I then tried the panoramic feature on the camera and liked that too

We shortly after said thanks and goodbye to Eddie and the drive home I was driving but the girls told me how great the sunset was……

Now tired and happy relaxing in this great hotel room after a wonderful day full of Texan hospitality!!!

Yashi Koshi!!

Friday 15th November 2013…Day Two!!

This hotel room is just so divine like a small apartment and so tastefully decorated and the view wonderful

We were downstairs at 8am and it was warm and sunny and we went for a walk on the river….the river runs through a lot of downtown and is quite lovely.

The hotel offers free breakfast so we were back at the hotel after walking for an hour and sat down to a great breakfast it was buffet style and they had a great selection from fresh fruit, waffles, eggs the whole full meal deal..it was great and we also took some fruit and muffins out for our lunch.

Today was going to be a shopping day and it was………. the first stop my favorite store

A few mores stops and we were at Best Buy where I treated myself to a new camera…I had did some research and the Sony point and shoot with 20 times zoom was the best choice and that is what I bought and I also bought myself a Nexus 7 tablet, again researched and this was the top pick…so I have two new toys I have decided not to even look at the tablet till I get back to SMA but these next couple of shots are with the new camera…I have not yet looked at the manual so I need to study that.

Carolyn and her daughter Kirsten…

After supper we went and looked at one of Carolyn's home where she used to live back in the 80’s and then we walked a little bit down town….

I think once I read up and get used to the camera I am going to really like it.

We were back at the hotel by 8pm a long full and busy day.

Going out into the Texas Hill country tomorrow so stay tuned!!

Yashi Koshi!!

Thursday 14th November 2013………Day one!!!

We left SMA at 7am and it was a good drive to get onto the toll roads and the scenery very beautiful…

We took turns driving and Carolyn’s car is very comfortable and easy to drive and the hours and miles went by very quickly and around 3.30m we were at the bridge crossing in Laredo, Texas

…it took us 35 minutes to get across the bridge and no issues getting into

The drive from the border to San Antonio was all on the freeway and we both got hungry so stopped at a Mc.D’s..I told Carolyn I had to have the super size vanilla milk shake as I had not had one in 7 months…so we go to the counter and ordered our food and I ordered the milk shake and the girl says sorry our milk shake machine is broken…I had a mini fit about having to wait 6 months and on and on and Carolyn just rolls her eyes but the woman behind me said Honey go next door to Sonic they have good milkshakes….so I did…but it is a drive through only so I went to the window and asked if it was possible to order a large milk shake but I had no vehicle and the guy said sure..so a couple of minutes later this girl comes out with my milk shake and hands it to me and I asked how much and she looked at me and said..no charge just take it….pardon me I said so she repeated its Ok just take it..so I thanked her gave her a tip and left…I love America…..so when I told Carolyn what had happened guess what she said……..she probably felt sorry for you and thought you were homeless…needless to say I did not speak to her for two minutes.

So in San Antonio, now referred to as SA..we met Kirsten, Carolyn's daughter, at out hotel which Erin, Carolyn’s grand daughter works for and got us a special room rate…the hotel is quite wonderful and one of the best I have ever stayed at we are on the top floor, great views…

We had a lovely visit with Kirsten who was kind to put flowers, wine and soap in the room……so it was a great first day 12 hours from door to door……tired but happy more tomorrow…

 

Breaking news…

PULLMAN, Wash. – Zach Anderson, Derek Bayley, Brian Mogg, and Evan Omelia have each signed a National Letter of Intent to play men’s golf at Washington State University, beginning next fall, Cougar Head Coach Garrett Clegg announced, Wednesday.

A four-year captain and No. 1 player at Dover Bay Secondary in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Anderson was the individual champion at the 2013 CN Future Links Prairie Championship. Heading into his senior season on the golf course, he is a three-time British Columbia Golf Zone 6 Junior Golfer of the Year. Last season, he finished second at the British Columbia AAA High School Championships and fourth at the British Columbia Junior Championships.

“Zach’s golf game has continued to improve and he has won at a very high level in Canada,” Clegg said. “He has huge potential to be a great player for the Cougars. Zach has very good touch around the greens. He is one of the top players in British Columbia and I am excited to have him on board.”

Bayley is a three-sport athlete at Lakeland High School, playing golf, football, and basketball. He took home the top individual honors at the 2012 Pacific Northwest Men’s Amateur Public Links Championships. Making the cut at the U.S. Junior Amateur, Bayley bowed out of the tournament in the round of 64. During his freshman year, Bayley won the individual title at the Idaho 4A State Championships.

“Derek is one of the best junior golfers from Northern Idaho in recent years,” Clegg said. “He is a very strong player and a great leader.  We are excited that he chose Washington State.”

A senior at Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash., Mogg becomes the second Cougar of his family to golf at Washington State. His father, Gary Mogg, competed for the Cougars when he was at Washington State (1982-85). This past summer, Brian qualified for match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur. As a junior, Mogg won the Bill-Egbers Memorial Golf Tournament, topping 116 of Washington state’s best high school golfers.

“I have seen Brian compete since he was 13-years-old and am very impressed with how much his golf game has progressed over the years,” Clegg said. “Brian is one of the best putters I have seen in recruiting. Brian has the game and demeanor to compete against the best and he will be a fantastic addition to the team in 2014.”

A native of Watford, England, Omelia arrives at Washington State from the Community Colleges of Spokane. As a freshman, Omelia was named a first-team all-conference player in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges. He won three individual titles and helped lead the team to 15-straight tournament titles.

“He has done a great job in Spokane,” Clegg said of Omelia. “We are thrilled to have Evan joining the program.”

 

Zach is the youngest son of my great friends heather and Kirby in Nanaimo and my home away from home….Zach has been a golfer since before he could walk and this has been his goal to get a scholarship to a USA school so a huge accomplishment  well done Zach…just remember when you turn professional all those times I drove you to the course….great work kiddo!!!!

 

Yashi Koshi!!