Hill Country Tour

All the kids and grand kids gathered at the homestead this past weekend, sort of a last hurray for the 50th wedding anniversary. It was an event-filled weekend that included a quick visit to Minute Maid Park for a Pirates v Astros game (for part of the family);

and a Saturday morning wedding in Boerne (for others).

Then the whole clan packed up for a couple of days of sight-seeing in the Texas Hill Country.

We have visited many of the attractions in the Hill Country; for many years we drove through Johnson City, Fredricksburg and Kerville on the way to a church retreat, stopping to picnic, or to take in the wildflowers, but it has been a while since we had been in the area, and except for a camping trip, had never over-nighted in the area. We bivouacked in Fredricksburg and hit the highlights.

Fredricksburg - long a tourist destination, the town is now almost totally dedicated to the tourist dollar. There is an official historical district, but almost every building on Main has been turned into a gift shop, or art gallery, or eating place. Inns, B&Bs and Cabins take up most of the rest of the real estate not given over to fruit orchards and the newcomer to the Hill Country: wineries. Strolling the historical district is best done on days not as hot as this past weekend, so the best thing to do is hit the pool.

Enchanted Rock - when we were trekking, we would come here for shake-downs and crew-leader training. I could climb to the top of this thing 25 years ago. This time I watched the younger folks summit.

Cooper's BBQ in Llano - what else needs to be said?

Some took the tour at the LBJ State Park. Since the death of Lady Bird, Johnson's home on the Pedernales is now open to the public, and the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredricksburg is world class.

Back to Austin and an anniversary celebration of fajitas at Papacitas. Life is good.