RE: Camping in Kirby (Houston)??
We made reservations at Houston West RV Park in Brookshire 4 weeks ago for a one-night stay a few days later. They said then that we "took their last site." But, I have a friend who called the same place and went 2 weeks ago for a weekend trip - booked 3 days out.
It's just outside of Katy, still a good trek into Houston proper.
As a previous poster said, try calling around to see who has available sites.
RE: Keeping Kids In the TT
Hummm. Interesting question. We haven't had one fall down the stairs. But.. about a year ago one of the triplets was going up the steps when Mom opened the door to come out. She knocked him off the steps, into the trash can, and he ended up wedged against the tires. First words out of this mouth - "Sure am glad I have my bike helmet on." I'm not advocating wearing a helmet 24 hours a day :), but we were lucky he had it on at the time.
They're five now, but were 3 when we started camping. We've always followed the discipline route and haven't had any issues.
RE: new braunfels restaraunt suggestions
Another vote for Clear Springs - their catfish and onion rings are hard to beat. Rudy's and Coopers are both good for BBQ. It's been a while since I've been to Gruene, but the Gristmill was good - just pricy.
RE: I-10 Through Houston
Came through Houston 2 weeks ago on the way to San Antonio from Disney World in Florida. There is some construction on the Eastern side of Houston that made for some rough roads, but we had no problem going straight through the middle of town. We went through Houston on Saturday on the way to Disney, and came back through on a Sunday, so there was no rush-hour traffic to avoid.
RE: walt disney world
We were there 10/26 - 11/1 in a preferred site - Loop 1400. After making reservations earlier in the year, we bought a new TH which was 5 feet longer than our other trailer. When we received our confirmation a few days prior to leaving for the Fort, the paperwork indicated the preferred site was 10 feet wide - UH OH! Both trailers (old & new) have slides only on one side, but we were shocked at the width, as we're just over 12 with slides out.
As we found common at Disney - No Problem! DW called and they said that some of the preferred sites are 10 feet wide and some are 15 feet wide, so they would make sure we ended up in the wider of the 2.
RE: Would you camp in 40* weather?
We've done it, and will do it again. Kids can be bundled up and still play outside in short spurts. On other recommendation: try to find campgrounds with cold-weather amenities. We have located a couple of places within an hour of home that have indoor heated swimming pools. Another has a 6,000 square foot heated pavillion. Kids can ride bikes, kick the ball around, etc, and still be out of the elements. It isn't toasty in there, but still an avenue for some warmer activity.
Go have fun!
RE: San Antonio Hospital Recommendation?
Wow. Sorry we were traveling last week, or we could have directed you to a better hospital in San Antonio. For future reference - The Methodist Hospital in the Medical Center area has the best reputation for cardiac care. It is about 2 streets over from the University hospital you were at. University is good for trauma, but it is the County hospital for those who can't pay, so you will wait if not taken by ambulance. If we can help in any way, please don't hesitate to PM or email us.
Best of luck as you continue through this ordeal.
RE: Recommend Campground
We went to Lost Maples 2 weeks ago today. The campground itself is small (30 spots), and was in good shape. The grounds had been recently mowed, although there wasn't much "green" due to our lack of rainfall. There are a number of trails for hiking - anywhere from a mile and a half to 5 or so miles if I remember correctly. Not much else in the area. We took 3 almost five year olds on the shortest of the trails a couple of times and they did fine. Not sure if you have been to the area before, but there are some STEEP hills getting there and back.
Sorry I can't help you with a stopping spot on the way.
RE: Mor/Ryde Kingpin
We ordered a 2009 3795 Cyclone Toy Hauler in August. We also ordered the Mor-Ryde pin box. Trailer arrived before the pin-box, so we headed out for a 5 day trip without the Mor-Ryde. We chugged the entire trip of 474 miles. The Mor-Ryde pin box arrived while we were gone, and the dealer installed it for us upon our return. We took a short 141 mile trip with it and couldn't believe the difference. I won't exagerate and tell you it eliminated all of the push and pull, but the decrease was significant, and I was glad we spent the extra money. I don't know if it does anything to the up and down movement, but can just testify that our ride was undoubtedly smoother.
RE: Traveling with Triplets
Just searched "triplets" and found this thread. Our BBG triplets will be 5 on the 30th of this month.
Headed for Disney World on the 25th, and will be there for their birthday.
RE: Experience with good campgrounds around Austin/ San Antonio?
We have stayed at Guadalupe River RV Resort in Kerrville, and enjoy the park. But - it's a long way from New Braunfels.
We stayed at Pecan Park Campground in San Marcos in February of 2007, and decided we wouldn't go back. The reviews have really improved recently, so we might, but we were disappointed on our stay (unfriendly staff, no playground, and a lot of traffic thorugh the park). We understand they have rectified the first 2 of those situations.
Guadalupe River State Park is on Hwy 46, but a good distance from New Braunfels. We haven't stayed there, but as another response indicated, it will have only electric and water connections. Maybe that's not a big deal, but that's a challenge for a family of 5, so we generally stay at places with full hookups.
Our vote would be for Yogi Bear's Hill Country Jelly Stone Park on Hwy 306 between Canyon Lake and New Braunfels. Awesome, friendly, Christian owners live and work on-site (kids too). We have stayed there 3 or 4 times - most recently over Labor Day weekend last month. I-35 is 13 miles from the park. Then New Braunfels is one exit to the right, and Camping World is one exit to the left.
Wherever you end up, enjoy your stay in the Hill Country!
RE: Which Toyhauler makers out of business?
Just picked up a 2009 Heartland Cyclone 3795 last week. We ordered one from scratch, and had it in a little over 2 weeks. Dealer said it was in production for someone else that cancelled their order and we were able to take advantage of the cancellation. Ordered 8/9 and picked it up from the dealer (San Antonio, TX area) on 8/26.
RE: ladder on side going down road?
Just bought our TH last week, and took a 6 day trip fro Labor Day. I left the ladder on the side, but have wondered the same thing about the legality. I don't mind driving with it there. I did manage to hang it on a limb (just barely with the DW screaming at me on the walkie-talkie), but it caused no damage. We were in a tight park with lots of trees, and won't return there. We made the reservations not thinking our ordered TH would arrive so soon, and our previous 5er would have been much easier to manuever. Our own fault, but wow is it tall!
This will be an interesting thread to watch.
RE: Modification to Screen Door
Great modification. Mine was much simpler though. When I arrived home from work today, Plexiglas had been installed on my 5er's screen door too! Some nice neighbor must have come by and completed the installation. What an awesome friend - Thanks!
Buckhorn Lake Resort - Kerrville, TX
What a fun 4th of July Weekend! We arrived Thursday the 3rd, just before noon, and the park rapidly filled to almost capacity. There were sites open in their "rally area" but most of the rest of the park was full. And when I say full, I mean full of kids! What an awesome sight to see all of these kids out having a great holiday weekend with parents, and in a lot of cases cases, grand parents.
Buckhorn had a 4th of July parade - a bunch of kids on bikes, and then kids at heart (following in their golf carts). At dusk on the 4th, they had an awesome fireworks display that lasted about 20 minutes. We left today (along with 3/4 of the rest of the park), and the kids are already asking when we're going camping again. It was also neat to visit and find several sites where families were out for the first time with their new RV's. We saw pop-ups, TT's, 5ers and even a TH on its maiden voyage. Weather cooperated for almost all of the weekend, with only a scattered shower here and there.
And one of the most impressive parts - this park stayed immaculately clean through the long weekend. They do a great job on the facilities, lawns, trash, laundry, pool etc..
And, before the suggestion is made, we always post reviews on www.rvreviews.com after each trip.
Wind moved 5er and we were in it!
Spent the weekend at a COE Park on Canyon Lake in Central Texas. About 2:30 on Saturday, the kids were down for a nap, and we thought we would do the same. We knew a storm was coming in, but has no idea how big of a storm it was.
We were in a family site with 2 other trailers on a peninsula on the lake, so there was nothing to break the force of the wind. The wind picked up so fast, and the lightning was cracking all around us. I pulled a window shade to see how bad it looked outside, and it was literally raining sideways. The wind and rain was coming so hard that the window frames were filling with water from the water coming in through the weep-holes.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED! The trailer started vibrating, and we could feel it moving. One kid was now awake, and we grabbed the other 2, heading for the truck to get them buckled into their carseats. As much movement as we were experiencing, I just knew we were getting ready to go rolling over. The other 2 families with us were calling us to "chat" about the storm, and had no idea it had moved our 5er. All of us ended up in our vehicles to wait out the remainder of the storm, which was only about 15 minutes.
Once the rain stopped and we were able to survey our site, we found that the front of our 5er had moved about 4 1/2 feet. My right front stabilizer leg was now in the mud, my king-pin stabilizer looked like it was been run over by an 18-wheeler, and our slide was about 18 inches from the power station.
Park was a camper's nightmare. We saw probably 2 dozen awnings ripped off, and scores of the little shade canopies mangled. I think our 5er was the only sizable trailer moved. We did see one pop-up that was spun 180 degrees, and a pontoon boat moved trough a parking area on its trailer, but the folks who used to be tent campers were devastated. The dumpsters were full of shredded tents. Even blew the door off the men's side of the comfort station.
Felt fortunate to have made it out with only a bent rear stabilizer jack (torqued to the side when the trailer spun, and a kingpin stabilizer that some campers down the way were able to repair to usable status. Kids were obviously scared to death, but were sad when we left today and wondering when we were going camping again. Thank goodness the experience didn't ruin camping for them (yesterday they were ready to just leave the trailer at "this awful park!").
So we chalk it up to experience, and count our blessing for only loosing our outdoor mat, one orange stabilizer foot pad, and a table cloth that looked like it had been in a playpen with a new puppy.
RE: Toys for Toddlers
Sand toys and stackable toys are great. Sand or no sand, there is no end to a kid's imagination of what to do. We always take along some playdough, coloring books, and maybe a movie, just in case the weather is bad. Most of the time is spent outside. We're constantly amazed at how entertaining a walk (or use your stroller) through the park checking out the sites and sights can be, and how interested the kid's are in what we find. Look for parks with playgrounds, swings, etc. Our triplets are older, but I throw their bikes in and bought some orange cones I place a site or two each side of us. The kids have learned not to ride past hose cones.
