SP Campground Review – McKinney Falls State Park, Austin, TX

Ruins from the McKinney Homestead

A lovely State Park in the perfect location to explore Austin.

Link to campground here: McKinney Falls State Park
Link to map location here: McKinney Falls State Park

1. Site Quality = 3.5/5
   The sites here are decent. They are long asphalt pads with 30/50Amp & water, good separation between campers, selection of shaded and open choices plus picnic table, fire-pit, and tent-camping square at each site. The only ding is levelness. Many sites are uneven and a few have significant slope. Pull-throughs tend to be more level than back-ins.
2.  Facilities = 4/5
   Facilities are nice. Good size bathrooms with large showers (2 per bathroom in a communal  changing space) and good water pressure. Slightly dated, but kept nicely clean each day by the park. On-site dump, but no laundry.
3. Location = 5/5
   This is the perfect location to visit Austin. You’re only 10 miles from town, yet you’re right in the middle of lush and relaxing nature. Plenty of hiking and biking trails on-site. Historical interest with Rock Shelter and remains of the McKinney Homestead on-site.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Good pet-friendly spot. Lots of hiking trails for pooch and good space to hang out outside the RV.

Overall Rating = 4.4
BONUS ALERT = Relax in nature only 10 miles from Austin!

Summary: This was the perfect spot to visit Austin. The park is only ~10 miles from town yet is set in a lovely, large green area with miles of hiking/biking trails, historical interest (Rock Shelter and the McKinney Homestead) and even several creeks with cute, little water-falls. The sites themselves are very decent asphalt pads with great separation, green ”sitting area” and electric/water hook-ups. The only negative is some of them are rather uneven (with blocks and fully extended jacks our RV was just barely level). Overall we thoroughly enjoyed exploring/hiking the park and taking trips into Austin and would certainly stay here again if we came back.

 Extra Info:  Both Verizon aircard and phone worked fine. Sites are $16/night  for 30Amp/water or $20/night for 50Amp/water. Additional entry fee of $5/person/day (waived if you have the Texas State Park Pass). On-site dump.

Typical back-in site view (Site #12 shown)

View of one of the more shaded sites (#13 shown)

Side-view of our corner site (#15). Lots of space around the RV, but the site was very uneven.

View down campground loop (Site #8 on right)

Another view down campground loop (Site #18 on left)

Picnic table, fire-pit and tent-space at each site

View of one of the pretty McKinney Falls

Farmers’ Markets & One-Wok Cooking

Locally-grown mushrooms at Sunset Valley Farmers Market

We’re still on our gastronomical kick here in Austin. Over the week-end we attended a Farmers’ Market in Sunset Valley, one of our favorite local activities and a great way to get fresh, seasonal produce and sample specialties from the region. Austin, being a very food-oriented city, has several major Farmers’ Markets which offer a plethora of choices in organic vegetables, honey, chocolate, raw cheeses, mushrooms, and pastured (grass-fed) meat and eggs. We load up at these places and will stuff as much as we possibly can into the RV fridge in preparation for many splendid evenings of gourmet cooking at home.

Fresh and luscious veggies

And we looooove cooking at home, absolutely love it. For many years we believed in “the bigger the kitchen the better the cooking”. That was our motto right up until the time we moved to Asia and spent 2 years living in Hong Kong in a mini-apartment. The kitchen, believe it or not, was far smaller than one we currently have in our RV, having no oven, no fridge, a simple portable 2-burner stove-top and only barely enough space to squeeze by each other if we held our breath. It was, simply put, the worst kitchen we had ever lived in, and we were flummoxed as to how to cook in it…..until the day we discovered the Wok.

My beloved wok

We actually had a Wok, like many people do. It was something we’d bought 6 years or so before our Asia experience with great excitement. We paid ~$15 for it in San Francisco China Town, seasoned it ourselves, proceeded to do 2-3 stir-fry’s in it and then promptly stored it away for all eternity, because after all, how many stir-frys do you really need? Our mini-kitchen experience brought it back to life and it was only then we discovered the true value of this fabulous Asian tool. The wok is both deep, voluminous, can handle all kinds of heat and yet is a super-space saver on the stove-top. During our years in HK we learned to use it almost exclusively. Besides the basic stir-fry we discovered we could make soups with it, steam vegetables, create curries, do pasta, roast meat, cook stews, make flat-bread…just about anything! It became our ultimate cooking machine and we finally understood why Asians (who often have v.small kitchens) love it so much.

Steaming pastured duck from a Farmers' Market in CA in the wok

When we moved into the RV the trusty wok came with us, and it’s been a super-utensil ever since. If I could have only one pot, this would be it and I try to promote it whenever I can. So, if you’ve never discovered the ultimate RV cooking utensil you may want to go Asian-style and give this a go. Cooking gourmet-style in the RV is just one pot away

Trailer Food Gourmet – Austin, TX

The gourmet menu at Odd Ducks

So we were on our 3rd day in Austin and our quest for gastronomic indulgence had progressed. Having revelled in homestyle Texas BBQ (with several refills at home) we had now attained a mood for gourmet. Our guts were groaning for high society, delicate flavors and a je ne sais quois. Indeed, we were feeling decidedly…epicurean. Perhaps a roasted Quail with sweet-potato salad and soft-boiled duck egg, or perchance some Prime Rib with farm-fresh vegetables? What we wanted was flavour, indulgence, pizzazz, creativity and gourmet. In other words, we wanted it ALL, but being RVers, we wanted it without the black tie and wallet drain.  

Trey's Cuisine offering succulent kebab's

Obviously what we needed was a food trailer. Yes, believe it or not gourmet food comes down to the streets in Austin. We’d seen a show about it on The Food Network about a year ago, and the whole thing had fascinated us. Appealing to both our nomadic lifestyle and our stomachs, it was one of our main reasons for visiting this city.

Food trucks, of course, are nothing new. The history of mobile food dates back to traditional nomadic tribes with more modern versions coming in the form of field kitchens used during the various wars. The first motorized food carts (“mobile canteens“) evolved around WWII and spread quickly from there to serve local neighborhoods. From your local hot-dog stand in the US to kebabs in the UK or satay carts in Singapore everyone everywhere has tried one at some point in their lives. They’re fast, friendly and satisfy a quick urge.  

Creative doughnut offerings at Gourdough's in S.Lamar

But here in Austin they’ve taken on a totally new twist. Young chefs with budding ideas and limited capital have moved into trailers to deliver their creations. It’s spawned a rapidly growling and completely unique sub-culture of fine dining on the streets, and there’s literally no limits to what you can find.

The prime rib kabob from Trey's. Just delicious!

Our quest went to South Lamar and a little cluster of 3 trucks, Trey’s Cuisine (succulent kabobs), Odd Duck (specializing in farm to market gourmet-style cuisine) and Gourdough‘s (Donuts a-la-creative with every type of savory and sweet version you couldn’t imagine). Our prime rib kabob from Trey’s was perfect. Juicy meat, perfectly grilled vegetables and home-made sauce (the jalapeno-pesto was especially tasty). In the mood for Japanese, try Love Balls Bus or leaning towards Korean/Mexican, taste Chi’Lantro, or going all the way to African, dig into Cazemance. No matter what your penchant, you can find a place that serves it up street-style. There are literally hundreds of these delicious kitchens on wheels around and a few online guides to help you find your favorite:

• Austin Food Carts – Complete guide and map to finding your favorite trailer http://austinfoodcarts.com/
• Food Trailers in Austin – Blog and guide to the local scene http://www.foodtrailersaustin.com/

We’ve only just tasted the tip of the trailer food scene in Austin and plan on going back many more times before we leave. This is, most definitely, our kinda eating!

Happiness Amongst Weeds

 “Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present”
Jim Rohn

It's a beautiful day in nature

I was inspired by a brilliant post on happiness from fellow RVer and blogger live.work.dream the other day. It got me thinking about life, joy and positivity, all of which led me to weeds. It’s a convoluted thing my brain, at times, but somehow it all makes sense. You see I’ve always been very happy in nature. Like a pig in mud I thrill at the joy of dirt under my nails, the sounds of birds chirping in the air, the brilliant splash of color hidden in the ground. The more in tune with all that I get, the better I feel and this rings true all the way down to the weeds on the ground.

The beauty of weeds

As insignificant and annoying as they may be, weeds can be some of the most brilliant, most beautiful and most fascinating things around. Wild and wonderful, they bring a dash of color as wildflowers, an element of sculpture as dried and sustenance to thousands of other species who depend on their existence. I can easily lose myself in the wonder of it all, especially with my trusty camera in tow.

Gems beneath your feet

And that brings me back to happiness. I’ve never been a naturally happy person (being rather prone to the serious side of life), but I work at it everyday, and for that reason I’m most certainly a naturally happy person. As paradoxical as that seems it’s absolutely true. I learned about affirmations in my 20′s, after a rather difficult period of depression, and from there progressed to meditation, yoga and the exercise of daily mental optimism. I consider it a work-out for my brain. In the same way that your body gets stronger by lifting weights your mind becomes happier via the practice of rejoicing.

So now you understand why weeds make me happy. By sharing that little piece of paradise with you, I’m hoping it’ll rub off and bring cheer to your day too. So, whatever your bliss may be, wherever your joy is found go out there and make it happen. For happiness is something that’s worth doing now.

A splash of color

A sculpture of nature

Grace in cactus

Simple Elegance

Blissfull in BBQ Heaven – The Salt Lick, Driftwood, TX

Pre-Note/ I feel it my duty to warn you that the following post may contain scenes of graphic meatness. My deepest apologies to all vegetarians….

The Salt Lick BBQ Pit, a feast for the senses

There are things in life that take you beyond the sphere of normal human experience. You know the type; alien encounters, transcendental meditation, skinny dipping under a full moon, that other thing…and of course gosh-darn-it-bring-it-on homestyle BBQ. The later is a unique experience all the more so because it absorbs all 5 of the human senses. It’s even been speculated that the best of BBQs trigger a type of out-of-body experience via instantaneous combustion of sensatory overload. Yes, yes, I know, I’m getting ridiculously carried away here (and I’ve barely even started the blog post), but it’s hard to focus after a meal at The Salt Lick. I’ll attempt to get back on track and start from the beginning…

The Salt Lick BBQ

As I mentioned in a previous post our guts led us to Austin, and our guts were looking for satisfaction. It’s a town renowned for gourmet cooking, foodies and, this being Texas, BBQ. Now, I should start by pointing out that BBQ is a different species here. This is not a slap-on-the-grill thing, nor is it a charcoal thing, it’s a Texas thing. Down here the BBQ is a finely tuned cooking extravaganza involving meat, spices, wood and slow-smoked flavor lovingly brought forth over many hours by expert cooks. There are literally hundreds of BBQ joints here luring you in with their smoky aromas, but only a few are truly exceptional and one of them is The Salt Lick.

Boots and wood tables

Located in the sleepy town of Driftwood, TX just ~30 mins SW of Austin, The Salt Lick is literally a BBQ institution. Opened in 1969 by Thurman Roberts, Sr they use the same slow-cooking methods passed down through the family since the 1800′s. It’s a no-nonsense cowboy hangout with simple wood tables, paper napkins, boots for decor and cheap plastic plates because it’s not about the china here…rather it’s ALL about the meat.

So, what was it like?

Nina loses it in a rib...

Well, it’s hard to convey the absolute deliciousness of the event. The meat was moist, rich, fall-off-the-bone, deeply smoked and sensational. As I bit into my first morsel I was sent spinning into the throes of meat ecstasy allowing Paul, in my delirium, to {gasp} take a picture of me. Hubby was equally swept away, absorbed by calculating the cargo we would need to dump for take-home meat whilst staying within safe GVWR driving tonnage in the RV. Indeed, we were both gone…far gone…and it was to a blissful, meaty place.

We eventually made it back to the RV with bellies full and back tires on the toad loaded down with take-home.  It was a fabulous experience one that will go down in eating history as a great one. Oh yes, our guts got satisfaction all right and looks like this town is going to throw down more delicious adventures over the next few days. Hang on to your bellies folks, ‘coz we’re not done yet. Austin’s gonna feed your soul to the core…

Patio and side-entrance to The Salt Lick

Paul is a happy camper