Georgetown, Texas
Weather: low 42 degrees, high 55 degrees, clear skies, windy
How windy was it? try up to 35 miles per hour. I don't think it would have been much fun moving the RV today. Luckily, we weren't moving, so we sat back and thought about a possible new RV.
When I went for my morning walk, the wind was blowing so hard that it actually pushed me off balance a few times. The park was about 75% full this morning, and by noon, at least half of the RVs and campers had given up and gone home. That's too bad for people who are still working. I'm sure they were looking forward to a peaceful weekend on the lake.
After we got going this morning, we went back to the RV dealerships that we had visited earlier this week. The first one we went back to had gotten a new model in they wanted us to see, but it did not move us. There was nothing about it that we liked. We talked to the salesman and his boss about our needs and desires, and they are going to keep their eyes open for something that might fit us.
The second dealership still had most of what we looked at earlier, but nothing new had come in. We talked with them a little about one we saw this past week, but that they had sold. Another one of the same model can be brought in for us to look at, but we would have to put down a refundable deposit for that to happen. We're not sure if we want to do that. I asked that pictures be sent to me, along with what the price would be with our trade in. We'll look over the pictures, specs, and prices to see what's best for us.
When we finished RV looking, we decided to take a drive in the country to clear our minds a little. We ended up in Taylor, a town of about 15,000 people located east of Georgetown. Taylor appears to be a nice town that is going through some growth. The town was settled by immigrants from Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Austria in 1876. It looks like the primary industry is ranching and farming. Some of the growth appears to be generated by people moving here from the Austin and Round Rock areas.
One reason we went in the direction we did was that we wanted to find a couple of Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds located on Granger Lake. The lake is over 4,000 acres in size, and was stocked with catfish, white bass, and crappie. After a little bumbling around, we found the campgrounds, and both of them appear to be places we will want to spend some time. The closest town is about eight miles away, but that's not a problem for us. As long as we have a cell phone signal and some shopping is available within a reasonable distance, we're good to go.
Tonight, we went to a local bar-b-que restaurant to try their food. We like the Texas style of bar-b-que, and are always looking for the best. The one we went to tonight was Duke's Smokehouse, located just off I-35 in Georgetown. Both of us had the brisket and sausage plates, along with the sides and trimmings. The food was good, and the price was reasonable. Plus, we have enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Or maybe supper.
The temperature is forecast to get down to 32 degrees tonight. It seems hardly possible, when we had highs in the low 90s yesterday. Carolyn's loving this cool weather.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Taylor, Texas: More To Life… More To Like
Not all who wander are lost.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Lost Looking For The WalMart Mall
Georgetown, Texas
Weather: low 67 degrees, high 90 degrees, cloudy early, then clear skies, windy
90 degrees??? Already??? Is global warming finally kicking in? I don't think so, because we have seen these warmer temperatures this early in the year in Texas before. Besides, tonight the temperature is forecast to be in the 40s, and in the 60s tomorrow. More seasonable, and making Carolyn happy because she likes cold weather. Not that the 40s would be considered cold, but she'll take what she can get.
We looked over the invoices and spec sheets for the RVs we looked at yesterday. We're still pruning the list, looking at the features each offers. Tomorrow, we will go back to the dealers we visited yesterday and look again, now that we have more information.
We spent a good part of the day taking care of house keeping chores and minor repairs that we have to do from time to time. In the afternoon, I had to go to the WalMart Mall to pick up a few things, and what an adventure that was. According to the WalMart atlas we have, the local WalMart Mall is located at exit 261, which is not very far from our campground. I thought that a WalMart Mall shouldn't be that hard to find, so I didn't ask anyone how to get there. It's that manly thing. We don't need no stinking directions. Just get out of the way and let us get at it.
After wasting what seemed like an hour and burning half a tank of fuel (not really), common sense kicked in. I stopped at a Dairy Queen and asked a worker where the WalMart Mall was located. He gave me directions, including the fact that it was not marked and was located behind a Home Depot. Armed with the directions that had the secret code word included, I finally managed to find Wally World. Talk about hiding something. At least it was hidden from me. The parking lot was full. If the entrances were marked, they probably couldn't have handled all the business.
Tonight, I was outside for a little while, and noticed the moon and a bright star (which was it, Mars or Venus?) very close together. I took a picture, but my zoom was not strong enough to capture what I saw. In addition, there was a slight haze that affected the quality of the picture. Here's what I was able to capture.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - West, Texas: Home Of Scott Podsednik Of The Chicago White Sox
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 67 degrees, high 90 degrees, cloudy early, then clear skies, windy
90 degrees??? Already??? Is global warming finally kicking in? I don't think so, because we have seen these warmer temperatures this early in the year in Texas before. Besides, tonight the temperature is forecast to be in the 40s, and in the 60s tomorrow. More seasonable, and making Carolyn happy because she likes cold weather. Not that the 40s would be considered cold, but she'll take what she can get.
We looked over the invoices and spec sheets for the RVs we looked at yesterday. We're still pruning the list, looking at the features each offers. Tomorrow, we will go back to the dealers we visited yesterday and look again, now that we have more information.
We spent a good part of the day taking care of house keeping chores and minor repairs that we have to do from time to time. In the afternoon, I had to go to the WalMart Mall to pick up a few things, and what an adventure that was. According to the WalMart atlas we have, the local WalMart Mall is located at exit 261, which is not very far from our campground. I thought that a WalMart Mall shouldn't be that hard to find, so I didn't ask anyone how to get there. It's that manly thing. We don't need no stinking directions. Just get out of the way and let us get at it.
After wasting what seemed like an hour and burning half a tank of fuel (not really), common sense kicked in. I stopped at a Dairy Queen and asked a worker where the WalMart Mall was located. He gave me directions, including the fact that it was not marked and was located behind a Home Depot. Armed with the directions that had the secret code word included, I finally managed to find Wally World. Talk about hiding something. At least it was hidden from me. The parking lot was full. If the entrances were marked, they probably couldn't have handled all the business.
Tonight, I was outside for a little while, and noticed the moon and a bright star (which was it, Mars or Venus?) very close together. I took a picture, but my zoom was not strong enough to capture what I saw. In addition, there was a slight haze that affected the quality of the picture. Here's what I was able to capture.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - West, Texas: Home Of Scott Podsednik Of The Chicago White Sox
Not all who wander are lost.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Looking At RVs
Georgetown, Texas
Weather: low 65 degrees, high 84 degrees, clear skies, windy
We had a leisurely morning, not getting out until after 1100 hours. When we finally ventured out, we decided to check out some of the local RV dealerships. When we walked in the door of the first one, I told the receptionist that we wanted to look at their fifth wheels. She said she would call a salesman to show us around. At that point, I started thinking that we had stopped at a high pressure type of place, and we don't play that game. I told the lady we didn't need any help, and we would not make a decision today. She told me that all their RVs were locked, and the salesman would have to let us in. So, when the salesman came, I explained what we were doing, and even if we found something we liked, a decision would probably not be made today. With that understanding, off we went to start looking.
There was only one thing wrong. No problem with the salesman, he was not pushy at all. The problem was that the dealership did not have anything that would fit our needs. We are seeing this more and more, where dealers are keeping their inventory as low as possible so their costs are kept down. After we talked with the salesman a little, he went to get us a list of manufacturers that have gone out of business. When he came back, he said the sales manager told him about a Jayco coming in on Saturday that might fit our needs. We made an appointment to go back on Saturday at 1000 hours to see the RV.
Next stop was about eight miles north of Georgetown at Jarrell. This dealer had several RVs that might fit our needs, and we looked at about ten of them. The list was narrowed down to three that we want to investigate further. We have the specs on those three, and have requested invoices so we can review what each RV has on it as far as equipment. Uppermost in our minds is to ensure that we don't buy something that is heavier than our truck is rated to pull. As I have said before, the truck will pull just about any RV, but if it is too heavy, there may be a problem with stopping. I don't want to run into that problem.
The search for another RV is looking more promising. We are not under any time pressure to find something, and will take as much time as necessary. More as this story develops.
By the time we finished looking at RVs, both of us were ready to go home for some well earned meditation. Tonight, we went to Chili's for supper. As much as I complain about chain restaurants, I have to say that I was satisfied with this particular restaurant. Service was excellent and the food was not bad. We may have to go there again before we leave here.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Georgetown, Texas: Gtown
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 65 degrees, high 84 degrees, clear skies, windy
We had a leisurely morning, not getting out until after 1100 hours. When we finally ventured out, we decided to check out some of the local RV dealerships. When we walked in the door of the first one, I told the receptionist that we wanted to look at their fifth wheels. She said she would call a salesman to show us around. At that point, I started thinking that we had stopped at a high pressure type of place, and we don't play that game. I told the lady we didn't need any help, and we would not make a decision today. She told me that all their RVs were locked, and the salesman would have to let us in. So, when the salesman came, I explained what we were doing, and even if we found something we liked, a decision would probably not be made today. With that understanding, off we went to start looking.
There was only one thing wrong. No problem with the salesman, he was not pushy at all. The problem was that the dealership did not have anything that would fit our needs. We are seeing this more and more, where dealers are keeping their inventory as low as possible so their costs are kept down. After we talked with the salesman a little, he went to get us a list of manufacturers that have gone out of business. When he came back, he said the sales manager told him about a Jayco coming in on Saturday that might fit our needs. We made an appointment to go back on Saturday at 1000 hours to see the RV.
Next stop was about eight miles north of Georgetown at Jarrell. This dealer had several RVs that might fit our needs, and we looked at about ten of them. The list was narrowed down to three that we want to investigate further. We have the specs on those three, and have requested invoices so we can review what each RV has on it as far as equipment. Uppermost in our minds is to ensure that we don't buy something that is heavier than our truck is rated to pull. As I have said before, the truck will pull just about any RV, but if it is too heavy, there may be a problem with stopping. I don't want to run into that problem.
The search for another RV is looking more promising. We are not under any time pressure to find something, and will take as much time as necessary. More as this story develops.
By the time we finished looking at RVs, both of us were ready to go home for some well earned meditation. Tonight, we went to Chili's for supper. As much as I complain about chain restaurants, I have to say that I was satisfied with this particular restaurant. Service was excellent and the food was not bad. We may have to go there again before we leave here.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Georgetown, Texas: Gtown
Not all who wander are lost.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Moved To Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown, Texas
Weather: low 57 degrees in Marble Falls, high 83 degrees in Georgetown, partly to mostly cloudy skies
We left the Marble Falls area this morning, pulling out a few minutes after 1000 hours. We ended up in Georgetown, about 60 miles away. Tough pull.
We were looking for the Army Corps Of Engineers park located on Lake Georgetown, which was formed by the damming of the north fork of the San Gabriel River.
Here we are set up in our campsite. The park is the closest COE park to an urban area that we have been in, with a HEB grocery store located less than two miles away. In addition, we have 3G air card service, which is almost unheard of when staying in a COE park.
Finding the park was an adventure in itself. We missed the turn off Texas 29 to get onto I-35 so we could go north to FM 2338. After going about a mile out of the way, we were able to turn around and backtrack and get onto the interstate. Then, we missed the turnoff to FM 2338, going about eight miles too far north. Turning around, we bumbled our way to a convenience store, where I received directions to the campground. It was pretty easy once I knew where to go. Who needs a GPS system? And miss all this fun?
I've mentioned the severe drought the area is suffering from, and it is affecting the water level of the lake. As much as I like dry weather, I wish it would rain to help the area. I took this picture while taking a walk late in the afternoon.
The 60 mile drive plus a few miles of bumbling and drifting our way to the park tired us out, so we didn't get out in the area today. Tomorrow will be a different story. We're always looking forward to checking out a new area.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Bertram Texas: Home Of The Oatmeal Festival
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 57 degrees in Marble Falls, high 83 degrees in Georgetown, partly to mostly cloudy skies
We left the Marble Falls area this morning, pulling out a few minutes after 1000 hours. We ended up in Georgetown, about 60 miles away. Tough pull.
We were looking for the Army Corps Of Engineers park located on Lake Georgetown, which was formed by the damming of the north fork of the San Gabriel River. Here we are set up in our campsite. The park is the closest COE park to an urban area that we have been in, with a HEB grocery store located less than two miles away. In addition, we have 3G air card service, which is almost unheard of when staying in a COE park.
Finding the park was an adventure in itself. We missed the turn off Texas 29 to get onto I-35 so we could go north to FM 2338. After going about a mile out of the way, we were able to turn around and backtrack and get onto the interstate. Then, we missed the turnoff to FM 2338, going about eight miles too far north. Turning around, we bumbled our way to a convenience store, where I received directions to the campground. It was pretty easy once I knew where to go. Who needs a GPS system? And miss all this fun?
I've mentioned the severe drought the area is suffering from, and it is affecting the water level of the lake. As much as I like dry weather, I wish it would rain to help the area. I took this picture while taking a walk late in the afternoon. The 60 mile drive plus a few miles of bumbling and drifting our way to the park tired us out, so we didn't get out in the area today. Tomorrow will be a different story. We're always looking forward to checking out a new area.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Bertram Texas: Home Of The Oatmeal Festival
Not all who wander are lost.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Diesel Fuel For $1.679 Per Gallon!
Marble Falls, Texas
Weather: low 50 degrees, high 78 degrees, clear skies, windy
We expect to move the RV to another location tomorrow. At this time, we are uncertain where that location will be. It may be that we pull out to the highway and flip a coin. We're not moving because we don't like the area or the park where we're parked now. To the contrary, we like everything we have seen about this area. The weather, people, scenery, even the cost of living are great. We just feel like it's time to find another place to set up and get to know the new area. We will definitely be back here in the future.
We returned to Burnet today to take another look at the court house, and I'm glad we did. The current court house was completed in 1937, and was built using the local pink granite. It is definitely not a pile of concrete. When the sun shines on the exterior, sparkles can be seen from the mica in the granite. It is very striking. The statue is of former county sheriff Wallace Riddell, who was the longest serving sheriff in Texas with more than 39 years of service.
Here's a picture of the inside of the court house. Note the design on the floor, and what appears to be either marble or granite on the walls.
On the north side of the court house grounds is located a memorial to the people who served our country in the military. I have never seen a memorial such as this, and it caught my attention. Numerous historical plaques and memorials are placed around the court house, remembering the history of the building and area.
On the way back to Marble Falls, we stopped at an RV dealership to see what they have available. In two words, not much. We only saw one that we would be even remotely interested in. One thing that turned me off was that the RV was built in March of 2008, and the salesperson was trying to tell that this was a 2009 model. That's a little hard for me to believe. An RV that's already a year old is a 2009 model? And the price she quoted does not reflect an RV that's a year old. She said she was willing to get the pencil out and see how much she could whittle off the price, but she should have done some of that already.
Since we plan to move tomorrow, we decided to fill up with diesel. Imagine our surprise to find diesel for $1.679 per gallon. The last time I saw diesel this low was in 2004.
When we arrived home, we washed our laundry and did a little cleaning and stowing in preparation for moving. Since we are moving more often now, getting ready to go doesn't take as long. Late in the evening, we noticed a commotion at the RV next door to us. It looked as though they were having problems getting a slide-out pulled back in. I walked over to see if I could help. It seems someone had stolen their battery. That's only the second time that I have heard of something being stolen in a park that we have been staying in.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Carthage, Texas: Gas Capital of The World
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 50 degrees, high 78 degrees, clear skies, windy
We expect to move the RV to another location tomorrow. At this time, we are uncertain where that location will be. It may be that we pull out to the highway and flip a coin. We're not moving because we don't like the area or the park where we're parked now. To the contrary, we like everything we have seen about this area. The weather, people, scenery, even the cost of living are great. We just feel like it's time to find another place to set up and get to know the new area. We will definitely be back here in the future.
We returned to Burnet today to take another look at the court house, and I'm glad we did. The current court house was completed in 1937, and was built using the local pink granite. It is definitely not a pile of concrete. When the sun shines on the exterior, sparkles can be seen from the mica in the granite. It is very striking. The statue is of former county sheriff Wallace Riddell, who was the longest serving sheriff in Texas with more than 39 years of service. 
Here's a picture of the inside of the court house. Note the design on the floor, and what appears to be either marble or granite on the walls.
On the north side of the court house grounds is located a memorial to the people who served our country in the military. I have never seen a memorial such as this, and it caught my attention. Numerous historical plaques and memorials are placed around the court house, remembering the history of the building and area. On the way back to Marble Falls, we stopped at an RV dealership to see what they have available. In two words, not much. We only saw one that we would be even remotely interested in. One thing that turned me off was that the RV was built in March of 2008, and the salesperson was trying to tell that this was a 2009 model. That's a little hard for me to believe. An RV that's already a year old is a 2009 model? And the price she quoted does not reflect an RV that's a year old. She said she was willing to get the pencil out and see how much she could whittle off the price, but she should have done some of that already.
Since we plan to move tomorrow, we decided to fill up with diesel. Imagine our surprise to find diesel for $1.679 per gallon. The last time I saw diesel this low was in 2004.
When we arrived home, we washed our laundry and did a little cleaning and stowing in preparation for moving. Since we are moving more often now, getting ready to go doesn't take as long. Late in the evening, we noticed a commotion at the RV next door to us. It looked as though they were having problems getting a slide-out pulled back in. I walked over to see if I could help. It seems someone had stolen their battery. That's only the second time that I have heard of something being stolen in a park that we have been staying in.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Carthage, Texas: Gas Capital of The World
Not all who wander are lost.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Fredericksburg, Texas
Marble Falls, Texas
Weather: low 37 degrees, high 64 degrees, mostly clear skies
We finished a trip today that we started last week. On the day that we toured the LBJ Ranch, we had planned to go to Fredericksburg, but were side tracked by the ranch and other things. So, today was on to Fredericksburg to see what that area is about and I have to say, there's a lot to it. History, shopping, eating, beautiful sights, wineries, museums, golf courses....... There's much more here than we could do in one day.
The population of the town is about 10,000, but it probably has many more people than that on weekends and in the summer. It was settled by Germans in 1846, and the German influence is seen in the architecture and food. Gillespie County, where the town is located, was one of the few counties in Texas that voted against secession before the Civil War.
When we got into town, we decided to drive through town and out the other side to get an idea of what was where. On the way back in, we stopped at the Amish furniture store and drooled over the beautiful and functional furniture. If we ever live in a house again, it would be nice to have some of this well-crafted furniture in it.
Then we walked down the street about a block to Chocolat, a candy store that specializes in handmade chocolate candy. As we walked in the store, we were offered a free sample of their liquid center chocolates, filled with wine, liqueur, coffee and other liquids. I tried the tawny port and Carolyn tried a coffee filled one. My sample was really good, but for some reason I couldn't talk the girl into giving me another one. That reminds me of a visit we made to a brandy distillery in Oregon. I'll tell that story sometime.
When we left the chocolate store, we drove some of the backstreets, admiring the old houses that have been preserved so well. Then it was out to the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, which contains ball fields, walking trails, a golf course, and an RV park, all owned by the city. It is located adjacent to the airport. Looks like we may have found another place to spend some time in the future.
When we got back into town, we stopped and looked at some of the stores and businesses located near the center of town. I'm always looking for a photo opportunity, so when we saw the old court house, out came the camera. The old building is now being used as the public library. Next to the old court house is the court house that was built to take it's place. Quite a contrast, isn't it?
Here's a picture of the old jail. I can't imagine that any time spent in a jail would be pleasant, but time in something like this must have been really hard time.
We were starting to get a little tired, so we started back toward home. Before we left the area, we stopped at The Wildflower Farm, which specializes in (you guessed it!) wild flowers. Unfortunately, it is still a little early for the flowers to be blooming, but we still enjoyed looking at all the neat things that can be bought for a home flower garden.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Llano, Texas: The Hub Of The Hill Country
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 37 degrees, high 64 degrees, mostly clear skies
We finished a trip today that we started last week. On the day that we toured the LBJ Ranch, we had planned to go to Fredericksburg, but were side tracked by the ranch and other things. So, today was on to Fredericksburg to see what that area is about and I have to say, there's a lot to it. History, shopping, eating, beautiful sights, wineries, museums, golf courses....... There's much more here than we could do in one day.
The population of the town is about 10,000, but it probably has many more people than that on weekends and in the summer. It was settled by Germans in 1846, and the German influence is seen in the architecture and food. Gillespie County, where the town is located, was one of the few counties in Texas that voted against secession before the Civil War.
When we got into town, we decided to drive through town and out the other side to get an idea of what was where. On the way back in, we stopped at the Amish furniture store and drooled over the beautiful and functional furniture. If we ever live in a house again, it would be nice to have some of this well-crafted furniture in it.
Then we walked down the street about a block to Chocolat, a candy store that specializes in handmade chocolate candy. As we walked in the store, we were offered a free sample of their liquid center chocolates, filled with wine, liqueur, coffee and other liquids. I tried the tawny port and Carolyn tried a coffee filled one. My sample was really good, but for some reason I couldn't talk the girl into giving me another one. That reminds me of a visit we made to a brandy distillery in Oregon. I'll tell that story sometime.
When we left the chocolate store, we drove some of the backstreets, admiring the old houses that have been preserved so well. Then it was out to the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, which contains ball fields, walking trails, a golf course, and an RV park, all owned by the city. It is located adjacent to the airport. Looks like we may have found another place to spend some time in the future.
When we got back into town, we stopped and looked at some of the stores and businesses located near the center of town. I'm always looking for a photo opportunity, so when we saw the old court house, out came the camera. The old building is now being used as the public library. Next to the old court house is the court house that was built to take it's place. Quite a contrast, isn't it?
Here's a picture of the old jail. I can't imagine that any time spent in a jail would be pleasant, but time in something like this must have been really hard time.
We were starting to get a little tired, so we started back toward home. Before we left the area, we stopped at The Wildflower Farm, which specializes in (you guessed it!) wild flowers. Unfortunately, it is still a little early for the flowers to be blooming, but we still enjoyed looking at all the neat things that can be bought for a home flower garden.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Llano, Texas: The Hub Of The Hill Country
Not all who wander are lost.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Vertigo Strikes
Marble Falls, Texas
Weather: low 27 degrees, high 60 degrees, clear skies
Our first plan for the day was to drive over to Fredericksburg. After thinking about that plan for a few minutes, we decided to go east of Marble Falls on FM 1431. We had not been east of town yet, and wanted to keep the drive fairly short. Little did we know what we were going into.
We thought we had been driving in the hill country before today. Now, we can say we have been in The Hill Country. The road runs through some of the prettiest country we have seen, with hills that seem to go on forever. These hills are high and rugged, with steep climbs and sudden drops, sharp curves, and beautiful views. At times, we could catch glimpses of Lake Travis to the south. We can understand why people are so enamored with the area, and we are planning to spend some time here in the future.
The first little town we passed through was Smithwick, then Lago Vista, Jonestown, and then in to Cedar Park. Both Lago Vista and Jonestown seem to have had a lot of construction recently. There's only one problem with all of this new construction we saw: Most of it is standing vacant. Another sign of the weak economy? This area is probably popular with summer tourists, with all the access to the water and hills. Cedar Park, where we began our trip back home, is a suburb of Austin with a population of about 40,000 people. There didn't seem to be any sign that a recession was happening here.
Remember what I said about the steep climbs, sudden drops, and sharp curves? Bad news for Carolyn. About halfway across the hills to Cedar Park, she became nauseated when her vertigo reared it's ugly head. Unfortunately, there was not a place to pull over and let things settle down, so we drove on to Cedar Park, where we looked at the map and picked a route back home that was flatter.
We didn't get any pictures of the countryside today, but I have one to share from yesterday. Here's a picture of an old Farmall tractor that we saw. Now, I ask you: Is this a manly tractor, or a girly tractor? According to someone who knows, it still runs, and is started and driven several times a year.
Here's what a Farmall tractor painted the right color looks like. Quite a difference, isn't it? I like the old machinery that brings back memories of times that seemed simpler. I am going to have to go back to Burnet to look at the courthouse again. In the comments from yesterday's post, a reader rightly pointed out that I got the description of the courthouse wrong, so I will go look more closely. Pictures will be shared when I get them. This shows what happens when I look at something with a preconceived idea of what it is.
More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Jonestown, Texas: Gateway To The Hill Country
Not all who wander are lost.
Weather: low 27 degrees, high 60 degrees, clear skies
Our first plan for the day was to drive over to Fredericksburg. After thinking about that plan for a few minutes, we decided to go east of Marble Falls on FM 1431. We had not been east of town yet, and wanted to keep the drive fairly short. Little did we know what we were going into.
We thought we had been driving in the hill country before today. Now, we can say we have been in The Hill Country. The road runs through some of the prettiest country we have seen, with hills that seem to go on forever. These hills are high and rugged, with steep climbs and sudden drops, sharp curves, and beautiful views. At times, we could catch glimpses of Lake Travis to the south. We can understand why people are so enamored with the area, and we are planning to spend some time here in the future.
The first little town we passed through was Smithwick, then Lago Vista, Jonestown, and then in to Cedar Park. Both Lago Vista and Jonestown seem to have had a lot of construction recently. There's only one problem with all of this new construction we saw: Most of it is standing vacant. Another sign of the weak economy? This area is probably popular with summer tourists, with all the access to the water and hills. Cedar Park, where we began our trip back home, is a suburb of Austin with a population of about 40,000 people. There didn't seem to be any sign that a recession was happening here.
Remember what I said about the steep climbs, sudden drops, and sharp curves? Bad news for Carolyn. About halfway across the hills to Cedar Park, she became nauseated when her vertigo reared it's ugly head. Unfortunately, there was not a place to pull over and let things settle down, so we drove on to Cedar Park, where we looked at the map and picked a route back home that was flatter.
We didn't get any pictures of the countryside today, but I have one to share from yesterday. Here's a picture of an old Farmall tractor that we saw. Now, I ask you: Is this a manly tractor, or a girly tractor? According to someone who knows, it still runs, and is started and driven several times a year.
Here's what a Farmall tractor painted the right color looks like. Quite a difference, isn't it? I like the old machinery that brings back memories of times that seemed simpler. I am going to have to go back to Burnet to look at the courthouse again. In the comments from yesterday's post, a reader rightly pointed out that I got the description of the courthouse wrong, so I will go look more closely. Pictures will be shared when I get them. This shows what happens when I look at something with a preconceived idea of what it is.More later, be safe.
Today's Town - Jonestown, Texas: Gateway To The Hill Country
Not all who wander are lost.
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