Carl & Ceil Winters Texas Hill Country Home Inspector

Yes indeed you will hear loud noises in New Braunfels, Texas this weekend (first weekend in May 2008). They will expect 10,000 plus to visit New Braunfels and Canyon Lake, Texas this weekend.

I don't mean the four-legged kind. This kind......Two-Wheeled Hogs

The RALLY ON THE RIVER & Landa Park

Rally goers will have an opportunity to participate in guided Hill Country rides leaving every 2 hours, a Hill Country Dealer Run with an exclusive run pin, self-guided rides, a bike show, field events, observation runs, skill games, tremendous entertainment throughout the rally, and a Saturday night "beach party" featuring The Beach Boys!

Evening Entertainment Featuring " The Original Beach Boys"

Just another Party in New Braunfels Txas!

GOD BLESS TEXAS

WELCOME TO NEW BRAUNFELS

New Braunfels is a little bit of old Germany smack dab in the middle of the Texas Hill Country. New Braunfels is the kind of old-fashioned town that makes folks feel right at home. This is the very reason tourist come year after year for summer fun and river fun.

Tubing down the river in New Braunfels is just as popular as ever for tourist. Tourist not only come to have fun at Schlitterbahn, or stroll through Gruene for Market Days, or have dinner at the Gristmill, or listen to music at the Gruene Dance Hall and for as long as I can remember to tube down the river. If you have been following my series you know I have mentioned some of this previously.

New Braunfels is opened for business - May 1, 2008 - Summer Kick-Off!

This information that may help you organize your summer fun in New Braunfels, Texas.

How to tube the river and items you will need

• Tennis or aqua shoes
• Sunscreen
• Bottled water
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• swimwear

Step1

Know about beautiful New Braunfels, Texas, a town in the Texas Hill Country, about thirty minutes from San Antonio. For additional information: www.nbcham.org , Camp on the river. Rent tubes from outfitters. Everything you will need river tubing.

Step2

Understand river tubing, or free-floating tubing. To go tubing, you ride in an inflatable, donut shaped inner tube that is made of a thin, synthetic material. The current of the river carries you along in your tube. You can buy inner tubes or rent them for the day. The most common type of inner tube has no bottom, but you can get one with a bottom, as well as other types of specialty tubes, such as one with an attached ice chest.

Step3

Tube the Comal River. The Comal river is a 3-mile spring-fed river with clear water that is 70 degrees F year round. The Guinness Book of World Records lists it as the shortest river in the world. There are many river outfitters in New Braunfels that can set you up to tube the Comal river.

Step4

Go tubing on the Guadalupe river, a 230-mile river that runs from Kerr County, Texas, to the San Antonio river near the Gulf of Mexico. The Guadalupe flows out of the Canyon Lake dam about 20 miles from New Braunfels and is a favorite among water adventurers. Outfitters all over New Braunfels can help you tube the Guadalupe.

Step5

Know the river rules. Each river has its own set of rules which can be found on the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce website. New rules have been introduced for 2008 tubing season.

Gruene Market Days...May 17-18, 2008

Gruene Market Days are special in that all products are made by the vendors themselves. Admission is free, and you're bound to be charmed by the ambience of this little community. Admission is Free

Schlitterbahn, New Braunfels... http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/ Visit website for dates, activities, ticket information. Schlitterbahn Waterpark has fun activities for the entire family.

Shop at the outlet stores in San Marcos

GOD BLESS TEXAS!

Need a home inspection. Call Carl Winters, Complete Inspection Service, 830-660-0131, License #3630 (since 1994)

More cars than ever require premium fuel <<< Cars <<<<<<Require<<<<<<Premium Fuel???

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Driving

Whether you call it "premium," "super unleaded," or even "high test," it all means the same thing -- the most expensive gasoline at the pump (except maybe diesel). In a somewhat counterproductive trend, the skyrocketing cost of fuel is forcing automobile manufacturers to use smaller and more powerful engines, often with forced-induction. Unfortunately, these engines require higher octane... the distinguishing feature of premium fuel. -SAY AGAIN?????????????

Kelley Blue Book has been following the trend and according to their analysis, there were 166 vehicle models that required premium fuel in 2002. This year, that number is up to 282. While some automakers only require premium for their highest performing models, companies like BMW call for premium fuel across their model range.

While there is no advantage to running premium fuel in an engine that doesn't call for it, you should run the higher octane fuel in a powerplant designed for it (if in doubt, check the owner's manual, or the inside of the fuel filler door). While nearly every late-model high-performance engine on the road can handle a slightly lower octane rating without damage, don't skimp when filling up as your fuel economy and horsepower will suffer (yes, it will likely negate any savings at the pump).

[Source: USA Today]

NEW COMING TO SCHLITTERBAHN THIS SUMMER...DRAGON'S REVENGE (SEE BELOW)

I wanted to post the 2008 Schedule for Schlitterbahn so that you could get it on your schedule for your summer activities. Visit New Braunfels to tube the Guadalupe or play at Schlitterbahn. Make your hotel reservations early. It's time for Summer Fun.

Visit Canyon Lake for boating activities, fising, skiing, & sailing. Shop the outlet stores outside San Marcos. Drive to San Antonio and visit the Alamo and Riverwalk. Visit Cascade Caverns South of New Braunfels.

We have it all in New Braunfels. We Welcome Your Visit!

www.schlitterbahn.com

UNLEASHING A NEW RIDE THIS YEAR...DRAGON'S REVENGE

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas The creature attacked. The residents escaped. Now it's your turn. Visiting families will be thrilled this season with the unleashing of Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort's latest sensation, the Dragon's Revenge, scheduled to open this summer.

Park guests, eager to flee the wrath of the dragon's attack, weave in and around castle ruins in search of an escape route before the mystical creature returns. After crossing over a draw bridge and entering into the castle's guard tower, guests quickly discover the only way out is through a labyrinth of ominous caverns. Once aboard the escape vehicle, thrill-seekers are quickly propelled through a series of uphill blasts rocketing riders in and out, up and down around the perimeter of the castle before taking a final fog-filled freefall into the castle's mote below. Guests careen through six dark creepy caverns filled with magical special effects including spinning tunnels, theatrical lighting, fiber optics, riveting original music, aromatic atmosphere, fog, faux fire and an encounter with the angry dragon.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort will open weekends beginning Saturday, April 26. Visit www.schlitterbahn.com for more information

http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/ Main Page

http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/tickets/ Ticket Information & Group Rates

http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb/attractions/ Attractions

This EVERYTHING TEXAS #10 will recognize The Texas Hill Country Wine Trail schedule of events that will give you the opportunity to visit some historic areas, see some beautiful wildflowers and taste some Texas wines made right here in The Texas Hill Country in our Great State of Texas. I am familiar with the Sister Creek Winery & Vineyards so enjoy the history of Sisterdale. If you ever have the opportunity be sure to stop in at Sister Creek Winery. Each winery on the list has much history. Make this a full day outing.

SISTER CREEK - STOP IN FOR A WINE TASTING

Award Winning Texas Wines
Since 1988

Since 1988, Sister Creek Vineyards has been located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country in Sisterdale, Texas (Pop. 25). Bordeaux and Burgundy wine making techniques are employed to produce our Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot wines. These traditional wines are aged in 60 gallon oak barrels for up to three years. In combination with our barrel aging, minimal filtration methods are incorporated so the wines will retain their fullest flavors. In addition to these wines an Italian style Muscat Canelli is also produced. The winery is located between the cypress lined East and West Sister Creeks in a restored 1885 cotton gin.

History: A Brief History of Sisterdale

The Second Oldest Town in the Beautiful Texas Hill Country

History of Sisterdale,TX

Sisterdale is located in a quite valley between the East and West Sister Creeks, just north of the Guadalupe River. Founded by Captain Nicholas Zink in 1847, just two short years after Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels settled the town of New Braunfels.

Sisterdale was soon populated with a group of German "free thinkers" who were disillusioned after the failed European Revolution of 1848. Upon arrival, the settlers soon chopped down most of the cypress trees that lined both Sister Creeks for furniture, cabinet making, and home construction...however, it was farming that consumed most of their time. These gentleman farmers thought they would be able to farm part of the day and spend the studying Latin, literature, poetry and music. Most had never farmed before moving to Sisterdale and the few that had quickly realized that the farming conditions varied greatly from their homeland. So, their idyllic vision of studying the arts and farming was soon dashed as the realities of frontier life settled in.

Sisterdale continued to grow and in 1850 Dr. Ernst Kapp and Dr. Rudolph Wipprecht settled here from Germany. Dr. Kapp established the Hydropathic Institute in Sisterdale, which promoted cures with mineral waters. The Comfort Museum displays a Hermann Lunkwitz lithograph illustrating the water curing process. Dr. Kapp later moved and became the first professor of languages at Texas A&M University.

Recently, a University of Chicago professor was researching his ancestors from the Sisterdale area and discovered a historical publication indicating that vineyards were planted in Sisterdale around the 1860's. Additional research indicated that the small limestone building adjacent to the winery was probably the site of the first permanent home in Sisterdale.

The 1885 cotton gin, which currently houses Sister Creek Vineyards, was in operation until 1927. A boll-weevil infestation in the mid-20's devasted the farmers and eventually forced the closing of the cotton gin.

The Sisterdale Valley Historic District has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975.

School

Sister Creek Winery is located just North of Boerne, Texas...http://sisterdalevineyards.com

Wine & Wildflower Trail Calendar of Events

April 4-6 & April 11-13 2008