Note the guy taking a selfie!
 

Canyon Lake, TX made our list of stopping points for one reason...Scott HAD to see his "Battle Buddy" from Iraq, his wife and their two beautiful children, who are lifelong friends that we cherish!  Since we were going to spend most of our time with them, we decided to try Joint Base San Antonio Recreation Park (a military park; https://www.militarycampgrounds.us/texas/randolph-canyon-lake-recreation-park) for our stay.  

Very nice choice!  

We were greated every morning and evening by our four-legged friends below.  The park has paved roads and concrete pads with full hook-ups.  Each site has a grill, fireplace ring and a very nice concrete pad with awning.  The park is directly on Canyon Lake and has boat access with a small marina, as well.  The most we did was walk along-side the lake and I never had my camera with me....dang it!  All in all, a very nice park.  

Lousy picture!Took this through our very dirty coach window as we were driving into the park. Reflections all over, but you get the point....right?
Nice RACK!Scott had heart palpitations every time he saw the big boy!

Neighbors yard...A family of six wondered over in the afternoon to graze, so we decided to go out and take some photos. All of 10 feet separated us from them...very comfortable in THIER park!



Just love shooting wildlife!

 

The day after arriving, we met with Ocho (Ron) and Mikaela...what a stunning job they have done in constructing their forever home!   After an amazing career culminating as a Commander in the Navy, Ocho retired and began a new career that he would have to kill us if told us about it...don't know what he does, but its important.  He and Mikaela have built a beautiful home in a community in Canyon Lake with sweeping views and wonderful breezes.  

Mikaela  owns her own company (and Ocho), Imagine Gurus, LLC, which provides home staging, professional organizing, redesign, and remodel & project management services in/around Canyon Lake...so, their home is extraordinary, inside and out!!!  

If you are ever in need of her services, please, reach out to her...she is amazing!!!

  (https://www.imaginegurus.com)

Back of the home...According to Ocho, the backyard is a work in progress as their vision for landscaping and expansion evolve.
 

Pondering....Ocho would like to have a woodworking shop in the hill behind him with an In-law casita above...our future residence!
 

In all of Ocho's spare time, he wanted to build a treehouse for his two children.  So, the project began with a vision, some drawings, and then a LOT of hard work.  I must say, the end result is amazing...more of a "guesthouse" then a "treehouse" and from what we understand, Mikaela loves to have Wine-n-Dine outings there for the ladies!  

So, down the hill we go...He built the staircase, as well!

The design...Scott and Ocho discuss some of the challenges he faced while constructing the treehouse. Look at the amazing beauty of this tiny house...mind you, Ocho has no construction experience! The rock....Ocho built the front porch around this amazing rock which turned into a piece of artwork. You can see, Mikaela put her magical touches in & out to decorate this place.

 

And now, let's go inside this "treehouse".....

So roomy...solid wood, heat & air, wired for internet and cable...unreal...
LOVE the retro frig and microwave!
And, look up...a second floor!!!The second story that Ocho built into the design is equipped to function as a bedroom with walk-in closet. He utilized cable as the railing for safety, but also provides limited viewing obstacles to watch TV which will be mounted on the opposing wall...always thinking!

So, with tours complete....let's go see the area around Canyon Lake.

First stop...The Ben Milam Whiskey Distillery!

(http://benmilamwhiskey.com)

An intimate and friendly gathering spot for tasting or just to drop by and have a few cocktails.
Cheers!Here we are with Ocho & Mikaela trying the Bourbon....I think. Thank you selfie stick...you are amazing!

These are the Single Barrel Bourbon and Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskeys... We also had a Tequila and a small batch Rye Whiskey (that Scott really liked).

On to the WINERY(s)!!!

First stop...Ab Astris WineryA family-owned, boutique winery in Stonewall, Texas, dedicated to producing handcrafted vintages in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. (https://www.abastriswinery.com)
HOORAY WINE!!love this picture...don't they look so happy? Thats our table on the right....
Lovely seating areas throughout the winery yard...
Our view while enjoying the yummy white wine...a beauty!

Tervitused! That is Estonian for "Cheers!" Mikaela and Ocho spent three years in Tallinn, Estonia while Ocho was assigned there working with the U.S. Embassy. Lunch...Mikaela packed this lunch for us to enjoy on the road (wherever we might end up)...it was fabulous and paired well with the 2017 Solis Muscat/Roussanne Blend....mmmmm And again, everyone looks sooooo happy, don't we? Wine makes everything better!!

After lunch and the bottle, we move on to the next wonderful spot....

Kluhman Cellars

"At Kuhlman Cellars, we celebrate the bounty of each year’s harvest through our uncompromising wine quality.  We produce handcrafted wines of unparalleled character and complexity from hand-tended vineyards and well balanced fruit.  Each vintage is a celebration of our handiwork and the unique Terroir that is Texas.

At Kuhlman Cellars, it is All About the Wine".

http://www.kuhlmancellars.com

Thank you, again, Mr. Selfie Stick!Both Joan & Scott can be in pictures...Love you!! And, guess what....Mikaela is a club member of this winery so we had an appointment as the sign states...yippee!! This is very nice wine!The tasting room is lovely and quite busy. We were hosted by a sweet young lady who made us feel right at home and paired the wines with nice delicious bites. Out into the vineyard to look for the Rios vine... Oh, what a great day with friends! I love my selfie stick and tilted photos!

HOW ABOUT A BEER!

Ever heard the song "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" by Waylon Jennings featuring Willie Nelson?

Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
https://play.google.com/music/preview/Tsqeqdo7jdbxpof6xjuokzwolga?play=1

Listen along as we explore!

How Luckenbach Got Its Name...Luckenbach was established in 1849. One of the first settlers in the area was Jacob Luckenbach (1817-1911). A group of German nobility, the Adelsverein, hoped for great riches by establishing a colony in the New World. In 1845 Jacob signed up and sailed with his family on the Johann Dethardt to Indianola in December. Jacob's family was one of the first settlers to arrive in Fredericksburg. He was allocated a town lot and a 10-acre lot southwest of town, where he first settled his family. In 1852, he sold both properties and moved 12 miles southeast of the site that was later known as Luckenbach. He was instrumental in the creation of Gillespie County and served as county commissioner and school super-visor. Even though he opposed secession, he served in Captain Englebert Rrauskopf's Home Guard during the Civil War. His youngest brother, August, joined a group of Union sympathizers and died at the hands of Confederate forces in 1862. Although Jacob Luckenbach and his family were early settlers, they are not credited with founding the town of Luckenbach. That honor goes to the Rev. and Mrs. August Engel. Rev. Engel was a circuit-riding Methodist preacher and was often away from home. Mrs. Engel, having time on her hands, established a small country store near their home in 1860. When August Engel Jr. applied for a post office, his sister, Minna Engel, agreed to work as his clerk. While they were filling out the postal application, Minna selected the name of her fiancé, Carl Albert Luckenbach, who was the son of Jacob. In the end, the name simply stuck. http://www.luckenbachtexas.com

How to "git" to Luckenbach....

• You get on I-10, go to 87, get off on 290, you know... where that dead deer 
  is in the ditch. 

• Then you take a right on that farm-to-market road. You know, where that cattle guard is? And that mawkin' bird nest? 

• Then take a left, go through a bump gate, two wooden gates, and a wire gap. 

• Then you'll find Luckenbach in the canyon. No, well, it's more like a rut." 

• On second thought...you better just print out the map!

Just look at the character in this town! And no, I don't mean Scott....This tiny hill country hamlet where “Everybody’s Somebody” was established as a Trading Post in 1849 making it one of the oldest settlements in Gillespie County. The Post Office/ General Store/ Beer Joint, was first opened in 1886 by August Engel, an itinerant preacher from Germany, who’s daughter Minna chose the name Luckenbach in honor of her fiancé, Albert Luckenbach. (Herr Luckenbach, a prolific fellow, also founded another little town called—what else?—Albert, not far away).
Groupie!See how handy the selfie stick is...???? Mikaela bewitched ~ Preach on, preach on...! Altstadt Kolsch...If you’re drinking to forget, please pay in advance. ~Posted Behind the Bar
 

In 1970—Luckenbach, which remained in the hands of the Engel family the whole time, fell into eclipse. Benno Engel retired as postmaster and placed an ad in the local paper: “TOWN FOR SALE” —lock, stock and dancehall.

At this point, Luckenbach’s second life began. Luckenbach was purchased by a collection of only-in-Texas characters—Hondo Crouch and his cohorts, Guich Koock and Kathy Morgan, who had what might charitably be described as over-active imaginations. Hondo imagined it was an old west fairy-tale-like principality and gave everybody titles. He formed a make-believe town and proclaimed himself Mayor. He made Marge the Sheriff and appointed ambassadors to foreign countries. The trio began to use the nearly-abandoned buildings as a backdrop for anything that smacked of mirth and diversion: “Hug-Ins”, a Luckenbach World’s Fair, Ladies State Chili Bust, the Mud Dauber Festival — and daily sessions of song-picking, domino playing and beer drinking beneath the 500-year-old oak trees. Today, over thirty years later, these events are still celebrated and the pickers are still pickin’ out under the big oak trees.

Hondo became the “Clown Prince” of Luckenbach, authoring poems celebrating Luckenbach’s big full moon, holding court at various “offishul” festivities and generally giving grown-ups permission to get in touch with the child within. Hondo’s business cards read “Imagineer,” and people began to fall under the magical spell of Luckenbach. Hondo Crouch, “Imagineer“, a "mirthquake," a "legend in his own mind," put the backwoods Camelot on the Texas map simply by being himself. White hair and beard, battered cowboy hat, faded jeans stuffed into his boots and red bandana loosely circling his neck, Hondo philosophized, whittled, told stories, and sang Mexican and cowboy songs. He'd accompany himself on his old guitar, always somewhere within reach. With that and not much more than an elfin smile and a mischievious twinkle in his eye, his magical personality attracted thousands to Luckenbach.

In the Nineties, Luckenbach has become something of a cottage industry, a trademark-registered slice of old-time Texas. After some $75,000 in new wiring, septic system and long-overdue improvements, the old dancehall and general store are ready to two-step into the 21st century. Willie Nelson returns to Luckenbach annually for his 4th of July Picnic with thousands of his closest friends...and that’s just the list of performers. Walker came back in 1993, on the 20th anniversary of the Viva Terlingua recordings to record a follow-up, Viva Luckenbach. He married his wife Susan in the bar in 1974 (Hondo was the best man). In 1973, Texas country-rocker, Jerry Jeff Walker came to Luckenbach to record an album. Walker wanted a laid-back Texas locale for a backdrop and Luckenbach was laid-back with a vengeance. Jerry Jeff and his Lost Gonzo Band took over the old dancehall, stacked hay bales for sound baffles and sat around the ancient saloon writing songs during the day. At night, they recorded in the dancehall— fast and loose. The album, Viva Terlingua, went “gold”, pretty much defined what Austin singer/songwriter Steve Fromholz refers to as “the Great Progressive Country Music Scare of the Mid-1970’s”, and made Luckenbach a destination point for everyone who heard it. It produced such Texas classics as: Gary P. Nunn’s, “London Homesick Blues” (Home With The Armadillo); Ray Wylie Hubbard’s “Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother”; Guy Clark’s, “Desperadoes Waiting for A Train” and “Sangria Wine”.
I don't always visit Luckenbach, TX, but when I do, I drink Alstadt!
Four years later, Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman – penned an idyllic ode to the burg—“Luckenbach Texas (Back to the Basics)”—which became a massive hit for Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson, bringing Luckenbach to its ultimate worldwide fame. Tour buses and tourists from around the world began to make Luckenbach a regular stop when visiting Fredericksburg area attractions, such as: The Admiral Nimitz Museum, Enchanted Rock State Park and the L.B.J. Ranch in Stonewall.

"Everybody's Somebody in Luckenbach"Even the chickens....just don't pick them up! Penn State Fans in TX!Ocho & Mikaela's daughter attends Penn State (Main Campus) and loves it! Go Lions!! HONDOHondo passed away in 1976, the year before “Luckenbach Texas” became a hit, but his spirit is carried on by a collection of descendants. Hondo’s memory is also perpetuated via an eight-page monthly newspaper, The Luckenbach MOON, which is dedicated to “Peter Cedarstacker,” Hondo’s nom de plume when he wrote a column for the Comfort newspaper.

So, now it is time to head home for the evening....

And, look what we find!

Scott paid for $20 worth!I owe him $19.95 in change... R.I.P Mr. & Mrs. Krieger...As we left the parking lot, the old graveyard stood out as a memory of the German families who settled here and made this town possible. Schumann Cemetery Overview - The cemetery is located on private property near the hamlet of Luckenbach, just off RR 1376. The tiny family burial ground is situated on a gentle rise near the town loop and consists of four stones. Henrietta and Wilhelm Schumann are encircled by the decorative iron fence. The deceased are German immigrant pioneers of early Republic of Texas.

And, another glass or two before we leave ... sure!
 

The next day was a day of rest so, Mikaela and Ocho hosted us for a day of relaxation around the house and a spectacular surf & turf dinner!

The wines of choice to accompany dinner...
Love me some fried shrimp!

A meal fit for a king!Thank you so much Mikaela & Ocho!! Dinner was fabulous and we adore your friendship. We hope to see you again soon...maybe May in WA with the Von Benken's ???

The next morning before departure, Mikaela had made us some scones ... WOW, so good!  

We departed the park and went south a short distant to San Antonio...