Continuing with our Texas travelogue.
We ate very well during our visit. Before we even collected our bags on arriving at Austin we bought Schlotzky's sandwiches from their stand in the airport. Yum. My brother made an excellent fish stew on our first evening. We ate barbecue at Ruby's B-B-Q (an Elgin sausage sandwich and smoked chicken sandwich), Tex-Mex at El Mercado (brisket tacos and chicken verde enchiladas), more Tex-Mex at Morelia (Enchiladas de Mar and Mole Chicken Enchiladas [oh man were they good]).
Toward the end of our trip Faye and I went to Fredericksburg, a town founded by German immigrants in the 1850s. It's now a largely tourist destination in what is called the Hill Country. We rented a cozy cottage in town. It was larger than the photo suggests; it had a queen bed, sitting area, small kitchenette, two person Jacuzzi with separate shower.
The glass block window in the bathroom.
The first night there we ate an early dinner at the Fredericksburg Brewing Company. We learned only when our order was brought to the table that the portions were, well, enormous. I had the sausage sampler while Faye had the chicken fried steak.
The next day we went to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. Enchanted Rock is one of the largest exposed granite monadnocks in the US and is so named because the Indians believed it to be inhabited by spirits. Here's a view of it and neighbouring rocks from a few miles away.
The summit is reached by a short yet less than easy walk. We did that in 2005; here's Faye with Stella and my then-foster dog Dexter.
This time we decided to take the Loop Trail around the dome. It was a brisk day, a good day for a hike - breezy, mostly cloudy, temperature in the single digits Celsius. Here are a few sights. Along the trail.
Grass growing in a crevice.
Faye is pretty strong.
Rock literally exfoliates here.
A nearby granite outcrop.
A pond on the far side from the parking area and trailhead, with Enchanted Rock in the background.
Enough soil accumulates in crevices so that trees appear to be growing out of solid rock.
The trail winds long the aptly named Sandy Creek.
Those aren't ants, those are people on the trail to the summit.
We hiked about six miles and were happy to get back to the car.
On the way back to Fredericksburg we detoured onto the Willow City Loop, a very scenic and little travelled road. 'No Trespassing' signs abounded yet, I *think* the road was public. Several large pickups driven by what were likely ranchers passed us yet didn't stop us or pull weapons so I guess we looked OK.
Approaching a cattle guard on the road.
This is why the cattle guard was there - keep them from wandering too far, not to keep them off the road.
A scenic view.
Back at the cottage we did a photo shoot. You will have to go here to see it. We had a simple dinner.
The next day, back to Austin and a final visit with my brother and SIL. He made a Southern dinner - jambalaya and sweet tea pie. The day after that we flew home. Despite being delayed out of Austin thereby having a 17 minute connection in Nashville we and our bags made the flight to Detroit. After bailing Achilles and Stella out of the boarding kennel we got home earlier than expected.
It's good to go on holiday. It's good to get home.
Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy
Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles
I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .
Glad you had a good time and made it home safely.
Mr Kleb (01-13-2016)
Looks like a good time by all.
Mr Kleb (01-13-2016)
We'll be visiting family in Conroe this summer, and have a nephew in Austin. These gorgeous pics make me want to go now!
Mr Kleb (01-13-2016)
Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy
Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles
I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .
Oh the BBQ, that is a must have when you are there. Also a trip to the Oasis for sunset one day.
Mr Kleb (01-13-2016)
Oh although the food sounded good I couldn't eat it without a Rolaid slushie The landscape pictures are beautiful, you could print and sell for wall decorations.
Hidden Content
Coleman - CGC blk lab 6/02/97-2/25/08 adopted
Tootsie - choc lab 10/19/99-8/03/13 adopted
Bailey - CGC newf/fc 7/12/00-07/15/14 rescued
Ginger - BT 11/16/05 - 10/14/19 rescued
Sarah - blk lab 6/22/06 - 12/30/19 rescued
rescued felines - AJ - 8/00 - 1/11, Merlin - 5/20/05-8/23/21
Tucker - 8/3/10, Penny - 7/7/13, Toby - 6/14/21
Mr Kleb (01-13-2016)
Oh, the BBQ. Also went to a hole-in-the-wall place my brother likes. So many places, not enough time. Next trip - Cooper's BBQ in Llano and Kreuz Market in Lockhart.
Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy
Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles
I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .
what a lovely trip - the land is so different then here!
Ivy
Hidden Content
Mr Kleb (01-14-2016)
Beautiful country!
Thanks for taking us along with the photo journey.
A great trip but bet it's good to get home to Achilles and Stella.
Hidden Content
Kissing Bandit
Mr Kleb (01-14-2016)
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