April 2nd and 3rd - Austin, Tx. and Fredericksburg

Arrived in Austin on the NW outskirts of the city. Stayed at Emma Long Park on the Austin River. As usual we got there later in the day but still had enough time for a long walk. Pretty here even though spring has not yet arrived.

We were situated on the water, with two tent campers on either side of us. Planned to go into Austin for some music but told we would lose our site if we left without putting a tent up. Stayed the night as the weather was still blowing and high winds were expected. Can't seem to escape the high winds. As expected the winds were so high that they blew apart our neighbors tents and they ended up in their cars.

We reflected on our experience as young adults camping on Cape Cod with my cousin and her husband in the middle of a
thunder and lightening storm. After we convinced Michael to sleep in the car where it might be safer we took the next step which was to move our camping experience underneath the pool table at my Aunt's Condo - club house. We surprised the maintainence man when he found us sleeping there in the morning.

Next day needed to stock the frig. so headed to Whole Foods. Not easy to go to Whole Foods when you have a small frig.
We did manage to buy some nice fruit and seafood for dinner. The Whole Foods in Austin is even more extravagent then the one in the U. district. with a large Chocolate section.

Spent the afternoon at the LBJ Library. Very nicely done and free. He passed a lot of good legislation during his terms in office but suffered greatly from the Viet Nam travesty. Some of the legislation passed: medicare, head start, space program, civil rights, voting rights and many others.

We were told we would probably see lots of flowers planted all over the state of Texas. This was Lady Bird's program.
Unfortunately, either they had not bloomed or the drought that is a significant problem here has taken it's toll.

Now on the road for Fredericksburg, Tx. This is the hill country of Texas. Some territorial views. Fredericksburg was settled
by Germans and is known for their shops. Stayed east of town at Fredricksburg KOA RV Park.

Fredericksburg lives up to it's reputation. Very quaint town - beautifully done in what looks like limestone. Good German food
if you like bratwurst and sauerkraut which I had never tried and actually thought it was very tasty. I didn't order it
but managed a few bites from Mikie's plate. I had the quesidilla's which were just ok.

The shops were cute and we couldn't see them all but managed to escape without buying anything. However, we did go to the music store where they had Mike play there out of tune Hammer Dulcimer. This is the part of the country that likes Mt. Dulcimers and they seem to be everywhere. We missed a Mt. Dulcimer festival in Palestine Texas by just a few days.

What we did want to buy was a little country music so we asked who were the people to listen to and got a few names.
I never shop at Wall Mart but since it had the only CD collection in town I found 3 CD's that would could turn up high and sing
along with on the open prairie. The best is Willy Nelson, the others are Hank Williams, Jr. and George Strait. Strait has a good song about truckers and being on the road. We think our theme song should be "On the Road Again" by Willy - suits us perfectly.

Now heading for The Guadalupe Mts. in Texas near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The drive is too ambitious considering the amount of daylight left.. Tried to find the only Rv Park available without any luck so we bedded down on the perimeter of some small
motel. This is not our style but too tired to continue looking. Headed out early from this forsaken town of Pecos. Desolate, and depressed. Thankful that we live where we do.

March 29-30th Lake Bistineau, La.

Arrived late only spending the night and the morning of March 30th. Weather forecast predicting high winds and severe weather and honestly didn't want to spend another wild night.

This is a beautiful setting, a bit overcast.   Lots of creatures - snakes (coral, pit vipers etc.), brown recluse spiders, black widows.  Imagine these are not your every day experience although I'm  glad I didn't know about them until we were getting ready to leave. Trees growing in this man made swamp/ lake, beautiful trees in the park, all covered by moss.  Different then the moss we have in Seattle. It cascades down the branches hanging gracefully and blowing in the wind which is now picking up.  

Heading for Texas. Trying to look for the good in Texas.  I know it is there.  

Palestine, Texas April 1 and 2nd

After leaving Lake Bistineau we headed southwest around Shreveport and avoiding the freeways took some smaller less traveled roads on our way to Austin. This was pretty drive. Green rolling hills.

 It was late when we arrived in Palestine, Tx. and after looking in Woodall's RV guide we found the Bar S Ranch, a B and B which just happened to have a couple of RV spots.    Caroline,  owns at least 10 acres with 2 old western themed cabins for guests and a third place for "corporate people" to stay - a little house.  On one end was a piny woods and the other a wedding chapel for weddings and other events. There was a music stage, a pond for fishing, and vegetable and flower gardens.  It was an interesting place with antique rusted carriages, bed frames in the garden, cowboy relics all over, and an old windmill. The dogtrot house had bedrooms on one side, living room and kitchen on the other and a breezeway in between for the dogs to catch a breeze in the summer and stay warm in the winter.  Chickens were free range and she gave us some mighty fresh eggs.   She purchased the B&B from another couple who spent many years putting it together.

Caroline is  a retired mechanic from American  Airlines.   Actually she has had many jobs  -  taught health in the schools - but mostly involved with heavy work that 20 30 years ago was considered a man's job.   She spent time teaching some men in those fields how to treat women with respect " sometimes it took a court battle to do that."  Some of her stories reminded me of movies  with Jody Foster or Sissey Spacek just can't remember the name.
Spent 2 days at Caroline's then headed southwest to Austin.