June in Texas, very hot and no place better to be than on the riverwalk in San Antonio for
our 13th anniversary. This will be the first time we've combined our wedding anniversary
with vacation and the first real getaway for us without Barbara since our honeymoon. The plan
is to go to New Braunfels and introduce Martha to 'toobing' on the Guadalupe. If we survive
that, then we have a reservation at La Mansion on the riverwalk, a historic landmark and the only
five star hotel on the riverwalk. Very elegant and romantic with a balcony on the riverwalk. I've
also made plans to do a cave tour at Natural Bridge Caverns before we check into our hotel
Sunday. That's how I know she loves me, she tolerates my fascination with caves.
We do Sea World on Tuesday, check out Wednesday and do another toob float on the Comal
river on the way home.
Martha has never been 'toobin' and I haven't done any in over 15 years, but I throw caution to the wind and ignore our ages as we jump into a river filled mostly with people 20 years younger than us on toobs. She loved it, we had a blast, and for the first time ever I get on and off the river without serious sunburn issues. Of course it's also the first time I've ever gone on the Guadalupe with sunscreen and without drinking all the way down the river. That probably helped a lot.
 |
 |
 |
This 75-minute tour travels through a half-mile of the largest and most spectacular of the 7 show caverns in Texas. The temperature in the caves is 72 degrees and the humidity is 99 per cent. This is an actively growing cave and very wet. When you complete the tour you're probably drenched from the humidity.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
An elegant and charming hotel, La Mansión del Rio is located in the heart of San Antonio,
overlooking the historic Paseo del Rio, or River Walk.
The only 5 star hotel on the riverwalk, we knew we wanted to stay at La Mansion the first time
we walked along side the riverwalk and saw it. During our stay we would sit on the balcony in the evening and
as the riverwalk tour boats passed, the guides would point out the historic hotel, and the passengers
would look up, see us and wave. Our room overlooked the bridge that Jennifer Lopez sat on
in the movie "Selena", and is one of the most popular photo ops on the riverwalk.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Tuesday is Sea World, one of Martha's favorite theme parks. We can't remember what year it
was when we came here originally, only that it was the fourth of July and they had an incredible
fireworks and laser show. The dolphin show was so good we watched it twice and of course
there's Shamu. It was a very hot day but we walked all over the park and had a great time.
We went back to the hotel for one last meal on the riverwalk and a cold beer. We ended up at
the Lone Star Cafe and had absolutely the best hamburgers we've ever eaten bar none!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
< |
It's time to head back home but we wanted to try a float on the Comal river on the way. A young woman
in San Marcos had recommended it to us as being a relaxing 2 hour float, but still exciting
because of the infamous Solms Park city tube chute near the beginning. The chute is really
fast and exhilarating until you come out and shoot across a small lagoon, bounce off a
concrete wall and realize you missed the small window to the left of a really fast moving two
foot waterfall which flipped us completely upside down. Then it's a real struggle to get out
of the undertow and away from the waterfall without being knocked down by the current
repeatedly. We lost my hat, Martha's sunglasses and shoes, and the
sunscreen (we found one shoe floating down river several hundred yards later). Thanks
Crystal.
Humbled but not beaten we vowed to return and do better, then sadly said good-by to New
Braunfels
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
