Lunch Report: Turks Deli in Lakehills; Google, We Have a Problem...

I'm giddy on multiple levels at this point. If you have followed along for any time now, it is not uncommon for my wife and I to pick a random town, fire up the Google and start looking for a place to eat. Then, through the use of Garmin, find said location and commence to eat. Today's little adventure was very much worth the trip, but before we talk about food, I have tell you about the Google incident.

Is it possible that the guy driving the little Google Mobile stopped at one of the many ice houses in the greater Medina Lake area and popped a few tops before setting his GPS system? I suppose anything is possible. Several months ago, we were traveling in that neck of the woods looking for a restaurant (the name I can't recall), and from memory of the map I had looked at on Google, I was following the road and hoping that once I got close, Garmin would pick up on the exact location of the restaurant. We never found the place and I just assumed it had gone out of business or something. As a matter of fact, I now recall that we ended up all the way back in Hondo and ate at Hermann Sons Steak House, having given up on wherever it was I was looking for. I had blamed the entire incident on Garmin, when now I suspect it was Google to blame.

So today, I happened upon a web page for a place called Turks Deli on Park Road 37 just south of Lakehills. This time, I printed off the map so there would be no mistake about where we were going. Once again, when I entered the address, Garmin didn't recognize it, even though I spent $69.95 on the upgraded maps. That was a clear waste of good money.

Turks Deli web page lists the address as 12293 Park Road 37 in Lake Hills. If you Google that, it will end up taking you to the East side of FM1283. In reality, Turks' and that address is on the West side of FM1283. This is a big deal if you are trying to find a specific address. I trust the fire department uses something besides Google Maps. Anyway, we followed the map and as instructed, turned right (East) on PR37 and the address numbers started at about 8000 and were getting smaller as we drove. I turned around, crossed FM1283 and headed west on PR37, and before long, we found Turks, several miles (like 5 or 6) from where it was shown on Google Maps.

Okay. Enough of my whining about all the potential good food I may have missed at the expense of Google Maps.

Today was so beautiful that we just had to get out for a drive. I have written many times before how we love the fact that just minutes from our home, we are out of the traffic, out of suburbia and into the country where any number of farms and ranches and wide open spaces seem to erase the destructive views I can't seem to escape when I travel through my 'hood these days. It doesn't take statues or water parks or monumental views to escape; you just need a quarter tank of gas and about twenty minutes to get beyond the traffic.The motorcycles were out today, taking advantage of the same views and cooler temperatures. Lots of windy roads and easy hills make the drive enjoyable in any form of transportation I suppose, but seeing the folks on bikes makes me want a convertible.When we finally reconciled the map situation and found the real location of Turks, I think my wife and I both knew before we even walked in that we were going to like the place. One sign on the front porch said "Simply Good Food". And they ain't lyin'.Walking in, the place is clean with an immediate homey feel to it. The living room really caught my eye! There was only one other couple there, finishing up their lunch, and I immediately went, with Google map in hand to discuss the situation with a wonderful lady named Gwen who turned out to be the owner.We talked Google, and web pages and directions and such for a while, then the conversation just flowed into the history of the building (Turks had been a grocery store and a bar prior to her taking over two years ago). Now, she serves up good, home made food with all natural ingredients and even makes the bread fresh from scratch (though today, the rye bread was store bought).In addition to the food, Turks serves as a place for the Rhythm and Rhymes night - basically, people go in and read poetry, sing songs, play the guitar and such. We suggested karaoke!

We also talked about the level of the lake. Gwen showed us where the lake uses to come right up to the back of the property. When Turks was a grocery store, people would drive their boats over, get vittles and leave. She has a great deck that overlooks what is Hamilton Cove (when wet) and you can see the floating docks simply laying dry on the ground. My wife ordered up a 6" Club sandwich. The wheat bread was so fresh and soft. Turkey, ham, bacon and the fixin's. Good stuff. My wife also wanted to try the broccoli and cheese soup so she ordered a small sample of it and Gwen ended up just giving us both bowls to try. It was really, really good, and served hot, along with home made garlic bread. What made me pick Turks in the first place was that I saw they had a Reuben sandwich. Of course, I ordered one and was nothing short of pleased. Have I had better? Sure. But this Reuben was excellent and I'd gladly order it next time around.

As an FYI: they have applied for their TABC licence, so if you need a beer to go with your vittles, you'll be good to go.

As we were leaving, more customers were coming in to grab lunch and some folks were coming in for a scoop of ice cream or the freshly made cookies. Turks is located fairly close to the Thousand Trails RV resort and of course, Medina Lake, so folks were in swim trunks. We weren't the only ones enjoying the beautiful day, and this great little deli away from it all...

Medina Lake Report: A Visit to Thousand Trails Preserve

This afternoon, we made an unplanned trip over to Medina Lake to see some of my wife's family staying at the Thousand Trails Preserve near Pipe Creek. I haven't fully figured out the ins and outs of this operation, but the gist of it is, you pay a membership fee to belong to this nationwide resort organization which allows you access to their facilities. I'm thinking if you own an RV, this is the ticket, but since I don't own an RV, I don't know for sure. As guests, we paid $5.00 to go in and that was very reasonable considering the amenities.

First, you should know that one of the great joys of living in San Antonio is that, 15 minutes outside the city limits in any direction puts you out in the middle of the country. I should also mention that, in a few years, you'll have to drive a lot more than 15 minutes to be out in the country because they are building everywhere.

Our son attended Communications Arts High School which is located on the Taft Campus just outside of Loop 1604 on 471 (Culebra Road). Just a few years ago, there was nothing between Taft HS and Medina Lake and now, it is a freakin' neighborhood!

Attention people from California, yes, this is the best deal going - you sell your crappy crack-house outside of LA for close to a million dollars, then buy a near-mansion on 10 acres here for $350K, buy a riding mower and live like Thurstan Howell the 3rd and Lovey, but please, quit telling your friends about it, or better yet, tell them about Austin and Fredericksburg. They need the growth, we don't.
Okay, aside from that unpleasantness, the ride is awesome and you can really appreciate why so many folks are purchasing motorcycles and taking rides along the gently winding and rolling hill country roads.
And now that God has stopped punishing us with the great floods of 2007, the weather is bright, sunny and wonderful again; keep in mind however, cars have air conditioning, motorcycles don't.
Pipe Creek and Medina Lake is about 30 to 40 minutes from our house depending on traffic, but it is a beautiful ride. Take a gander at these views of the short trip.
If you don't live here in San Antonio and think of the place as the Alamo, the River Walk and the AT&T Center where the Spurs play, go back and watch a movie like Lonesome Dove, and no kidding, this was where they rode horses. Before asphalt, of course.
You know how it gets confusing if you try to explain the relationship between various family members etc, anything beyond immediate family? Well, I'll skip it and just say that these folks are related on my wife's side. Joe and Bertha are the RV owners - and damn, if you wanna go camping, this is the way to do it. I have been in RV's before but had not seen the full benefit of what they call slide-outs. The increase to the living space inside is amazing. Take a look.
One of the nice things about this park is the huge population of people friendly deer. I know they can be pests to homeowners, but in the park, they seem to make everyone happy. Coincidently, Joe was serving up some awesome venison sausage with cheese and jalapeno. Man it was good, though I am confident there was no connection between the sausage I enjoyed and the many Bambi's I saw.
We didn't stay long enough to partake in any use of the lake, though I must tell you that watching the boats speed by, some with skiers in tow, and others just quietly making a leisurely trip around the lake looked like fun. I am told that just a while back during the big rains, the water was way up into the camping area and as I walked around stalking the deer pictured above, I could see the signs of the receding waterline deep into camper territory. But either way, the place is beautiful with lots of low hanging trees providing a shady canopy so you can enjoy the refreshing breeze off the lake. I was actually surprised at how comfortable it was outdoors though for at least a portion of the time, the ladies seemed to take advantage of the air conditioning in the RV.
After some awesome vittles and one or two beverages, it seemed as though this crowd was ready for a little dancing with the stars. Granted, aside from my claim as a published letter to the editor writer in a local HOA newspaper, there were no stars to be found, so people had to simply make due with spouses and such.
Before long, the assembled kids were ready to hit the pool and my wife and I were ready for the short ride back to San Antonio and the land of many HEB's.
The pool at this place was nicely done and I'm happy to report, the men's room was clean, and fully walled meaning that you don't have to engage in a conversation face to uh, well, anyway, with the guy taking a dump in the stall as you stand at the urinal. That's always the sign of a quality place.
Next to the pool was an historical residence used now as a haunted house and other events. It is the home of the Spettel Family.


So, it really didn't take us long to get back home but I did have to stop and take a picture of this awesome design for a liquor store.

We Texans are a proud bunch. JR's Liquor Store near Pipe Creek pretty much says it all.