3/4/13 Monday Jerry and I had a nice drive to Tyler to take Dylan home. We tried "Whata" Burger, Texas' finest, but it ain't no In-n-Out. I didn't know how to spell it just now and Jerry said "look at my shirt!" and there it was!! He's had folks all over the US running up to him and saying there is nothing like it!
Back to the blog! We also did a bit of shopping at JCP. Jean had his day alone while his mother-in-law was at Donna's sister's and Donna was working. He has been pretty ill and is on a chemo drug that makes him feel pretty awful. He took Monday and Tuesday off. Jerry also had the oil changed. We are at about 6,500 miles so far this trip. A quiet evening.
3/5/2013 Tuesday
On our way again after talking with Jean about Mayville geneology . We drove on road 287 to the 45 and north through Corsicana and into Rice. Beautiful back roads, lots of agriculture. Rice, Texas was where our little Casita was born!! Yep going back to her roots! We talked with the one man dept. Victor was great and came out to our house and we were able to ask all the questions we have been wondering about. We wound up buying a new faucet, inside door latch and he just gave us the screw covers we can use to replace the ones who have cracked with age.
Marshmallow's cousins
Wonderful Victor! They no longer make drawers like ours so he showed us a way we can make our own!
We checked out the new models and have pamphlets for any and all who might want one. Casitia has a referral program. Owners who show their trailers to someone who buys within 6 years will get a $200 check from Casita! Because ours is so old (1997) and we are not original owners, they said we could work something out and get some money to us.
We also got a personal tour of the manufacturing plant! Sooo fun. They complete 3 per day. I was taking pictures and got told I shouldn't. Trade secrets and all...But I got a couple!
The salesman/tour guide gave us two hats and a keychain when we left. Our job is to send a picture of our Casita in the Redwoods! Will do.
Back down hwy 45 and then the smaller road to Waco. Huge estates with Dallas-like homes, gorgeous gates (yep I want one). Then back on the Interstate (35) to Austin. We drove right into town and found a parking lot that we could pull through to use two spaces. $20.
I had been told by my cousin Jana to go to the bridge at sunset to see the bats soooo after asking a girl in a store, we walked down Congress Street to the bridge over the Lady Bird Johnson Lake.
Downtown Austin
The pretty pink trees I've seen for weeks are Eastern Redbuds!!!! I wonder if mine are blooming?
Under the bridge
It wasn't quite sunset so we walked under and were nearly run over by dozens of joggers in shorts and tank tops. We were in heavy jackets due to the wind and we sure weren't working up a sweat. I finally decided to go to the spot on the bridge the information board suggested and if on cue (cue the bats!) there they were!
You could watch them fly as several groups like starlings then so far away you couldn't see them anymore.
And then they were gone
Thousands of bats flying out from under the bridge. Even one of the joggers mentioned our timing was perfect! The bridge was built for the bats with narrow slats for them to sleep. It was amazing.
After that we decided to check out 6th street and the music scene.
We did get to hear a couple of good live musicians as we walked back to the car at about 7:30. We then decided we would Boondock again. So we headed west again. we took 290 west from Austin. In Dripping Springs we found a Home Depot. There were two young male employees outside and when we asked them if we could stay the night they laughed and said "people do!" so we did!
3/6/2013 Wednesday
A beautiful sunny day but 34 degrees! A gorgeous road is highway 290! Big ranches, cowboy themed buildings and stone buildings. Trees shorter with small palms in the underbrush and more rolling hills. Johnson City is named for LBJ's ancestors and was his childhood home. Ate a a cafe and felt it could have used the guy on Restaurant Impossible! Lots of goats and sheep and old buildings reinvented by local artists. This area is known for its fine wool and Mohair. Oaks and wild prickly pear....we are headed to the desert.
Down the road was Stonewall, named for Stonewall Jackson and was the location of the LBJ Ranch. Known for peaches and has lots of wineries. Iron and metal work and pottery shops. Fredricksburg was beautiful and quaint! It was settled by German immigrants and maintains that European feeling. Along the wide main street were old buildings with window boxes of flowers next to dilapidated log cabins and buildings with balconies as pretty as New Orleans. Would love to come back.
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