Routine in Houston

Location, Houston, TX

We are in our Huston routine. We use the mornings and early afternoons to do computer stuff and read, Clyda does some scrap booking and I have been scanning old slides on to a hard drive. This slide scanning looks like a life long project. We also run errands in the morning. Yesterday we went to Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Costco. Today we went to H.E.B. for groceries and then to a used book store. I love H.E.B. It is the premier grocery store in this area I think. There is also a Kroger’s and a Randall’s nearby. All have their good points.

We each got in a walk although the wind is blowing but the temperature is 62 degrees. It would be real nice out if the wind wasn’t blowing.

I am using the Wifi here in the RV Park. It is run by Tengointernet which is a Good Sam company. I have used it in a couple of other parks on this trip. It is of course a pay service. I bought a months worth for our use as it was cheaper than the weekly rate. So far, we have had a good connection.

Happy birthday Ivy!

Location, Houston, TX

Happy Birthday Ivy!

Today is the big 9th birthday for our granddaughter. We were here for her birth 9 years ago. Hard to believe that much time has passed. More on the birthday celebration later.

We arrived in Huston Monday morning after an easy drive from College Station. It did rain most of the way but mostly sprinkles. We wanted to get checked into Traders Village before the big Sunday swap meet crowds arrived. Fortunately, we did arrive early as the crowds later in the day were the largest I have seen.

The change in temperatures was much appreciated after the cold up north. It has been cloudy and over cast most of the time with very brief sunshine in the afternoon. Today however, we are back to the old ways with rain and possible snow showers later today. Hopefully, it will all stay to the north of us.

We plan to be here for three weeks before going south for a week of camping around Rockport and then heading west for home.

George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library.

Location, College Station, TX

A much warmer night last night. We are in a short warming trend right now but it will moderate by this weekend. It has been over caste all day today which keeps the night temperature up some.

We visited the George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library today. It is an impressive building located on the west side of the Texas A & M University campus.

The inside is laid out in a series of partial circles which chronicle Bush’s life. It is well done with a surprising amount of materiel displayed. The red rug was a gift from Kuwait after its liberation during Desert Storm.

Outside of the library is a statue which represents the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. The horses are depicted jumping over the wall signifying the dash for freedom. The Berlin wall came down during Bush’s time as president.

We spent several hours touring the museum.

We will watch the Olympics on TV again tonight.

College Station, home of Texas A & M University

Location, College Station, TX

We left Fredericksburg on Sunday and drove east on Hwy 290 to Johnson City and then north on Hwy 281 to Evant before turning east on Hwy 84 to Waco, TX and the Riverview RV Park on the southeast side.

It was a little disconcerting to drive the road to the RV park as there was water standing everywhere from all the rain the week before. It was very cold when we arrived so I rushed through the setup.

We drove back to town and through the Baylor University campus where our daughter-in-law Diane went to college. It is a very nice campus.

We were close to down town so Clyda suggested we go to the original Dr Pepper bottling plant. I thought it wasn’t open on Sunday but people were going in so we did also. For a $5 fee you can do a self guided tour of the old plant. Afterwards we had a fountain Dr Pepper in the little refreshment area. I think there was more syrup in this drink than normally found in a can of Dr Pepper as it was quit good.

On Monday morning we drove north to Greenville. The Temperature stayed in the 30’s all day. We parked in Bill and Marilyn’s driveway and partook of their hospitality for the next three days. We always enjoy spending time with them.

The temperatures at night were 28-29 degrees and in the 40’s during the day. We kept a small electric heater on most of the day in the RV so it wouldn’t be so cold when we went to bed at night.

Still snow in the neighbors yard this morning. It is what's left from the 10.5 inches last week.

This morning we drove back south to College Station where we will be for 3 days. College Station is the home of Texas A & M University and also the George Herbert Walker Bush Presidential Library. We will visit it tomorrow.

Texas driving.

Location, Fredericksburg, TX


What’s with Texas driving? The first thing you notice when you exit a freeway is the quick and sometimes sharp exit to a frontage road paralleling the freeway. As you exit you need to watch for traffic on the frontage road coming in on your right while trying to maneuver into the correct lane to make your turn up ahead. It really throws people the first time they encounter this. Entrances to a freeway are the reverse of the exit maneuver again from a frontage road.

Another Texas traffic oddity is the practice of driving on the shoulder on a two lane road where no passing is possible. Slower traffic moves to the shoulder which is as wide as a regular lane, while traffic passes. This also takes some getting used to as the shoulder in some places is not wide enough to drive on especially when encountering a bridge. It is more like Russian roulette.

I won’t even try to explain how to get from one side of the freeway to the other at an underpass. That one really throws people the first time they encounter it.

It is hard to get moving in the morning here as the sun doesn’t come up early in the central time zone. It has been 8 AM most days before I am up. Of course, it is also cold so that keeps me in bed longer.

After getting going this morning we drove to Kerrville to visit the Western Art Museum. We had tried to do this on one of our first trips to Fredericksburg years ago but it happened to be closed that day. Our recollection was that the museum was a cowboy museum; however, it is an art museum. Nothing spectacular on display but then again we didn’t pay for admittance as the local grocery chain H.E.B. paid for all of February.

A large bronze casting in front of the museum.

After lunch we drove north of Fredericksburg to Enchanted Rock State Park. This is a granite dome much like those in Yosemite National Park. Unfortunately, this was not the weekend to visit as it is Valentines weekend and Presidents day, hence a three day weekend with the park jammed with boy Scouts, and families camping and hiking. The entrance fee was $6 each and every parking spot was filled.

We got one of the last spots and decided to hike the shortest trail to the summit. This trail is only 0.6 of a mile but most of it is up. The summit is 1825 feet and is a classic dome. Clyda made it to the base of the dome and decided to stop while I went up further to take a few photos. There really isn’t much to see except more Texas brush and post oaks in all directions.

Crossing the river on the way to the Rock.

The Rock.

Seepe up hill from here.

Looking back down.

We returned to town and topped of the fuel tank in the truck and picked up a few groceries at H.E.B.

More Olympics tonight.

Burger Heaven!

Location, Fredericksburg, TX

Today was burger heaven, but more on that later.

The rain stopped shortly after we arrived at Fredericksburg RV Park but it was cold. The temperature hovered at 36 degrees until we went to bed. It was 33 when we got up this morning. It stayed in the forty's all day but the sun did come out in the afternoon.

After breakfast, we slowly got our act together and headed out for the day. Our first stop was at Wal-Mart to get some photos printed. They were so un-busy that we had the prints in 8 minutes. Probably a record.

We topped off the fuel tank in the truck at $2.71 per gallon and then drove to the Wildseed Farm east off town on Hwy 290. We have been passing by this place forever as there are no plants growing at this time of year. This place is more than plants however. The architecture of the buildings made from recycled wood is spectacular. The farm grows and harvests all kinds of wild flowers and these are packaged for sale. They also sell lots of garden “gee-gaws”.

There is a small restaurant and a wine bar in one of the buildings and a large outdoor area used for gatherings. Oh, there are 8 cats on the premises as well.

On the way back to town we stopped at a store which had lots of large western style antiques. Inside were two western chuck wagons. One looked to be authentic with lots of tools and boxes attached to it. The other was a recent copy made by an Amish craftsman while authentic looking, lacked the ageing and attached tools. The owner told us that the authentic chuck wagon had been recently sold to a local ranch.

Jail for sale, 2 cells, $6500. This one is sold. 

The August 2009 edition of Texas Monthly featured and article on The 50 Best Burgers in Texas. The number 3 place is near Fredericksburg. It is called the Alamo Springs Café and is located 10.5 miles south of town on the Old San Antonio Road next to the Bat Cave. No kidding!

We drove down in mid afternoon for a late lunch hoping for less of a crowd. There were people but no crowd. After getting our own drinks and table service we got a table immediately. The building is nothing to write about, just a building. It was moved to the site from Fredericksburg according to the owner who by the way, is related to the people who started In-and-Out Burger.

Everything is ala carte so we ordered an appetizer of breaded portabella mushrooms (on a recommendation from a neighbor table), a burger to which lots of extras can be added (we shared), and a basket of fries.

The burger was excellent. Meaty, tasty, and half was enough. No dinner tonight I think.

This is another Texas institution I can check off my list. I think a repeat visit is in order the next time we are through here.

We did check out the bat cave viewing area but the bats are not here until April. It is a nightly happening to come watch the bats leave the cave to feed about dusk.

After checking out a few stores in downtown Fredericksburg, we returned to the RV and prepared to watch the opening ceremonies of the winter Olympics.

Rain and cold!

Location, Fredericksburg, TX

We have made a great leap east in the last two days and now are at Fredericksburg RV Park. We have made this our home park for the last several years as we pass this way. I am looking forward to eating at the Alamo Springs Café tomorrow. It was voted the third best hamburger in Texas recently.

Our trip from Deming to Balmorhea, TX was uneventful. It was very cold in Deming when we left in the morning. We passed through El Paso about 11 AM which is about the best time as the traffic isn’t too bad. In fact, I think there was only about a third of the traffic as other years. The economy I guess.

This trip we decided to stay at a different RV park than the State Park at Balmorhea. We used Passport America and stayed at Saddleback RV Park east of Balmorhea. There is not much at the off ramp but a greatly diminished gas station, a truck parking lot in the back, a defunct bar and the RV Park. Pay at the gas station and choose a spot for $10. The RV Park was well kept with water, electric and sewer, long pull thru sites, and lots of space between sites. Certainly ok for a one night stop.

It sprinkled during the night but was only overcast in the morning as well as cold. About Ft Stockton we ran into the rain. Not much rain, just enough to use the wipers occasionally. Until we got near Junction, TX where it did come down and lasted until we turned south towards our turnoff on Hwy 290 to Fredericksburg. The temperature today never got above 40 degrees as we traveled. At one point it was 34 degrees within 20 miles of here. I expected snow at any time.

I had calculated that we had enough fuel to get to Fredericksburg but forgot about all the hills on 290 so I stopped in Harper and put in $20 worth. I probably should have filled it as the price was $2.869 per gallon. I think it is $2.77 or so here.

I set up in the rain which was mostly sprinkles so not to bad. The TV said that it is all snow to the north of us. I hope it goes away before we leave for Greenville east of Dallas on Sunday.