Summer Relief

...passing thru windmill country on the way to Ruidoso, NM...

...geocaching....

 

...geocaching is a free real world treasure hunt, using a GPS or smartphone to follow clues and coordinates to locate a treasure (geocache)....you are to sign your name and trade trinkets and leave the geocache as you found it...they are located everywhere....we began searching for them after a quick session led by a park ranger in a state park...we have enjoyed the activity in most all the places we camp...

...a drive thru the Hill Country...

 

...off the Old San Antonio Road, is an abandoned tunnel that was originally part of the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway Co. that operated from 1913-41...now it is the home for up to   3 million Mexican free-tailed bats...we were there during the day so we did not get to see them emerge from the tunnel...it was a great hike to the bottom...another time....

 

...just two blocks from the tunnel is a wonderful spot to relax and grab a bite to eat and drink an ice cold beer...on weekends, they have bands out on the back patio.....

 



 

...Bill did manage to eat all of his burger....

...Texas Napa Valley...

...Napa Valley has nothing on Texas...oh my, so many wineries, so little time....

 

 

...the William Chris vineyards is a rather new winery....the tasting is held in an old farmhouse...located in the city of  Hye...they have plans to put Hye on the map with dance hall, BBQ in the old Post Office known for LBJ mailing his first letter and swearing in his Post Master General there...the Hye Market was a very interesting place featuring tasting of wine, bourbon, bread, balsamic vinegar, beer and gelato...a ways up the road was Becker Vineyards, our favorite...where after many sips of wine everyone became your friend...he he....

...Hill Country Wildflowers...

 

...this morning, as I was walking along the road outside the park, I saw the beautiful flowers the Texas Hill Country is famous for...I saw all of these within the mile walk...what a beautiful world we live in....

...The Texas White House....

 

...the LBJ Ranch is about 14 miles west of Johnson City...it is a self-guiding driving tour...if you have a driver that can keep up with the CD...he he...it tells the history of the ranch and highlights sites along the way...

 

 

...the first stop was at the one room Junction School...Lyndon attended at age 4...

 

 

...the next stop was the family cemetery...generations of Johnsons are buried there including President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson...

 

 

...driving the ranch road became a challenge for our dear friend Johnny when the cattle would not move off the road...after a lot of yelling, honking and laughing and inching our way along we continued to the Texas White House....

...LBJ's actual roadster with gun holders and bar in the back was on display...below is the picture of the bridge he loved to take visitors on making it look like he was going under water....

 



 

 

...at the time Lady Bird was living on the ranch, our friend visited the ranch many times...he had some very interesting stories to tell...

...a dome of pink granite...

...Enchanted Rock is the second largest outcropping of granite in the US...first, being Georgia's Stone Mountain...I fell for the "summit Trail" a path to the top only 0.6 mile trail...yeah right...straight up...he he....beautiful area...would love to return and try again!!!!