Early April in Texas means lots of wild flowers, thank you Ladybird!
So Linda and I took off for the hill country, which has the best
wild flowers around. On our way down, we ran through Georgetown,
just so we could try the Monument Cafe.
This eatery was included in a little book of great Texas Cafes which
the Shaws gave me at Christmas.
My plan is to try 'em all! It was busy at lunchtime, so we sat at the counter.
Yum! That was GOOD! Now on to New Braunfels!
We have long admired the old historic Faust Hotel, just off the square.
But until this trip, we'd never stayed there.
It was built in the 1920s, so it has a cool Art Deco vibe!
It was built in the 1920s, so it has a cool Art Deco vibe!
After settling in, we poked around town and relaxed a bit.
One of our favorite spots is in the basement of the Prince Solms Inn,
a jazz lounge called "The Uptown Bar"...but it's in the basement, get it?
Sad to say on this visit, the Uptown was closed.
(These pictures are from an earlier trip!)
So instead, we headed out to the Gruene Dancehall.
Some of the flowerpots outside the hall.
And some Flower Children inside! Actually, there was a good crowd,
but they didn't make it into the picture!
Next morning outside the Faust
We couldn't leave without at least one photog with Reese,
our Hostess with the Mostest!
And a big shout out to Jack "Skeletor" Bosman.
Thanks for snapping the picture, Jack. You're the Boss, man!
photographs just don't do 'em justice. But here's a try...
We were only a half hour away from San Antonio, so we headed down there
just to check the scene of the Doobie Brothers hit from 1973:
"When the sun comes up on the sleepy little town, down around San Antone..."
Yep, we're talkin' bout China Grove! Oh-Oh-oh China Grove!
If you don't know the story about Tom Johnston
writing this song, ask Linda.
Then on to Seguin, just because. When we rolled into town,
the first thing I see is the headquarters for the Woodmen of the World.
As far back as I can remember, my Dad was a member of this fraternal organization,
and when he would get his monthly magazine from these guys
I would flip to the last page for the jokes!
Quaint little burg, but since it wasn't mealtime or bedtime, we kept moving.
West this time, to Blanco. We've been here before, but we're always looking for
something new. We stopped at the City hall, and a couple of ladies there put us on to
the Chess Club. They assured me you didn't have to be real smart to get in!
It's just a simple farmhouse on the highway,
that you could easily miss, if you didn't know where to look.
(Look between the Sonic and the Dollar General store!)
Great food, and we struck up a conversation with a regular
who told us about "the Willow City loop" just north of Fredericksburg.
So on to Fredericksburg!
We've stayed at the Peach Tree often, and they always take good care of us.
After checking in, we headed out to the Willow City Loop.
It's just a little ranch road that winds its way across a few private ranches.
It's still early, but the moon was already up. See it?
That some ironwork on the gate. Can you read the top ?
(Take Me Back to my Sweet Texas Home)
It just doesn't get more Texas than this.
I know it's a cactus, but I can't help singing,
"M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E"
Then we discovered this stretch of fence that had these
"decorations" on every post. Ball caps and boots!
I counted.... 113 in a row. Wow!
We had been recommended to Harry's Bar. This was near
the end of the Loop, and it's probably more of a biker's bar on weekends.
At midweek, all the Harley riders are back at work.
Harry's backyard, complete with hammock.
And the parking lot. Inside, their motto is:
"If you want something we don't have, bring it, next time you come!"
Linda always knows where the best flowers are!
This is a seed farm just outside of Fredericksburg.
And on to Llano.. . say, this building has a catchy name!
At lunchtime we tried this place for BBQ, Laird's. Since it's in Llano
(the same town as the original Cooper's Olde Tyme BBQ), you might overlook it.
That would be a mistake!
It's run by this pit master Kenneth Laird and the Missus.
We ordered inside, then took a table on the porch.
"Wall of Fame" which was covered with magazine stories, about Kenneth
and his BBQ. Since they're famous, I had Linda take another picture!
Then we headed to Lampasas, where we stayed the night.
At dusk, we where just driving around town and spotted this family
taking the backroads through Hamilton.
I can't drive down this way without at least one stop at Storm's.
Think a small town version of Griff's!
The Pie Peddler wasn't open when we strolled by,
but we couldn't resist their sign: WiFi Plus Pie!
What more could you want?
Actually, if you had eyes like Savannah,
you could read "Glen Rose"on that water tower.
Texas in the spring...it's awesome!
