Ever since Thanksgiving, it’s been one thing after another, making this the most action-packed week I can remember in a long time. Sometimes when I sit down to write, I’m stumped as to what to write about because nothing really worth writing about happened. Not so this week. I could write about six or seven things easily. Life is good.

We ate a delicious Thanksgiving pot luck dinner with nearly a hundred other RVers on Thanksgiving Day. Sitting at our table was the third female I’ve met on this trip who’s RVing alone: Lynda from Ottawa, Canada. We connected right away, probably because we were about the same age and she said she loved to walk, too. We made plans to walk the next day, and ended up going on two more while she was here in Bandara.

I had the best time getting to know this gutsy woman who sold her house, renovated an older RV, and decided to head south for five months with no particular itinerary in mind. It was nice to have someone to talk to besides my pup Biscuit, who’s my usual walking buddy.

Bandara Park adjoins the RV park we’re at, and it’s a safe and scenic place to walk. The Medina River runs through it and all kinds of waterfowl abound, especially at this time of year. At the far end of the park is a road that goes up a steep hill, at the top of which stands the remnants of the Silver Spur Dance Hall.

I’ve been curious about it ever since I spotted it last year when we were here and always wanted to see it up close, but I was too scared to go alone. But Lynda had gotten some local information from an old-timer at the RV park that sounded like it would be worth exploring, so off we went.

We trudged up the steep and narrow paved road leading to the dance hall, stopping momentarily to take in the view. In late November, there are still a few spots stubbornly clinging to its fall foliage.

The dance hall, still impressive though desolate and unkept, loomed at the top of the hill. It was not hard to imagine what the Silver Spur Dance Hall must have been like back in its heyday!

Built in the 1920’s, it saw success first as a supper club, and then for its weekend dances.

In the 40’s and 50’s, the Silver Spur was a popular stop for country singers and musicians on the club circuit in South Texas.

Ray Price, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and many other legends sang to enthusiastic crowds here.

I’m not sure about the significance of this horse, unfortunately. It’s a stunning 3-dimensional wooden puzzle!

One night in the early 1960’s, fire broke out and engulfed the dance hall long before the fire department could get to it. It sat in ruins until it was reopened in 1976 as a bed and breakfast, and operated as such until 2014.

Word is that a woman from New York bought the Silver Spur to include the four rock cabins on site. Those have been renovated and are now available to rent. The view alone would make the stay memorable and worthwhile.

This week I also got to ring the bell for the Salvation Army a couple of hours and deliver lunches driving for Meals on Wheels. I thought I’d be a “jumper” and be the one to actually deliver the meals, but it turns out they want me to be a driver with my own route. This should be interesting; I can’t read a map to save my life. Ask Dave.

Speaking of Dave, that’s another thing that happened this week…he went to the doctor and found out he’s getting a new knee for Christmas! He’s excited because it’s been very painful for quite some time.

Recovering in the motor home will be challenging, but doable. As a matter of fact, one of our neighbors here at the RV park is a retired orthopedic physical therapist, and he gave Dave all kinds of suggestions. Surgery isn’t scheduled until early January, so he has time to figure things out ahead of time.

I’ll leave it at that and save telling you about how we’re playing bingo on Monday nights now for another time. Never thought I’d be doing THAT, but it’s actually quite fun. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Until next time…Maria