Gypsy & The Navigator

Grand Canyon Caverns

Several months ago I had signed up for a Good Sam RV Rally at Grand Canyon Caverns, AZ.

It was about a 4 hour drive from Mesa north on Highway 17 and then north and west on Highway 89 and then west on 40 to Seligman.

The final portion of the journey is on Route 66.  There is a stretch of the highway that actually still stands alone as Route 66 going up and around from Seligman to Kingman.

 The day was cloudy and cool but it didn't detract from the new to us scenery out there.

Seligman really capitalizes on the Route 66 aspect.  But, I was a little confused by this sign that says "Norwegian Owned". 

Tourist season must be officially on.  No Vacancy.  Good for them.

Not sure I am craving what is on their menu.

And there are Burma Shave sign series on Highway 66.   Do any of you remember them?  They were a series of 6 signs along the road ending with Burma Shave. I loved reading them on road trips as a kid. What is interesting is that when they were actually out there Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada never had the signs.  The company felt that those states had insufficient road traffic to warrant posting them. So, whoever put these up as nostalgia put them up as a first for Arizona. 

• Does your husband / Misbehave / Grunt and grumble / Rant and rave / Shoot the brute some / Burma-Shave

• Hardly a driver / Is now alive / Who passed / On hills / At 75 / Burma-Shave

• If you / Don't know / Whose signs / These are / You can't have / Driven very far/Burma Shave

We have arrived.

 A mile from the highway is the entrance to the RV Park.  We go in to the office & they tell us to park anywhere.  No space assigned.  Just park anywhere you can fit among the trees & bushes.

Ok we find a wide open space.  We are supposed to be dry camping but there was an electric post and Walt put together an extension cord and with our normal cord we were able to have electricity.  Yay! We are in the boonies...........it is really dark out there and just off batteries not sure how much light we would have.

 This is the first rally we have attended and probably the last.  The location was fun and if we hadn't come we probably would have missed this place so that was good.  But, we had absolutely no communication from the Good Sam Group that was supposed to have put this together.  All information came from the Grand Canyon Cavern business employees.  They were nice and put on great meals that were part of the rally and offered any of their entertainment options.  But, the Good Sam Chapter people did not come out and interact with any of the group and there was no indication of any activities other than what Grand Canyon Caverns provided.  Many of the attendees had the same feeling and one couple even left a day early because they were so disappointed. 

The Motel, another restaurant, bar, miniature golf course and museum are located on the Highway, a mile down the road.   They have a shuttle ( a rickety old van but it gets us there) that we can take back & forth.  They are very proud of their Route 66 location.

They are trying hard to recreate the 50's & 60's when it was in its heyday as a roadside attraction.

Betty Boop seemed to be a favorite.

Of course, there were a few dinosaurs.  It wouldn't be a roadside attraction without them.

And if you need a saddle for that dinosaur they have that too.

 They have horses.  You can sign up and take a trail ride.

Walt was sure that this one could even carry him.  We actually might have gone for a ride but it was COLD and windy so that would not have been fun.

We had hail, snow and rain.  Luckily the moisture didn't last long but the cold temps did.

The highlight of the trip was the Grand Canyon Caverns.  It didn't matter what the weather was above. It is a constant 56 degrees, year round,  in the Caverns. 

These are the largest dry caverns in the United States, located 21 stories below the surface.  You are whisked down on an elevator.

Much better than the original way down. In 1927, a young woodcutter, Walter Peck, was on his way to play poker with his friends. Before reaching the game, he stumbled and nearly fell into a rather large, funnel-shaped hole. He continued on to the poker game. Once there he started telling his friends about a new, big hole in the middle of his trail. The next morning Walter gathered some friends. With ropes and lanterns, they went to explore the hole. A rope was tied around the waist of a local cowboy. He was lowered into the hole. By the time his feet touched the floor of the hole, 150 feet of rope had been let out. He found himself in a very large, dark cavern. Using the coal oil lantern, he began exploring. However, the only thing that excited him was the thought he had found a very rich vein of gold. As he’d cast the light from this lantern across the cavern it picked up some sparkles in the rock. He quickly gathered up a sack full of samples. He gave his signal, three tugs on the rope. Walter and the other men started pulling him back up out to the hole. Upon reaching the surface he excitedly showed the samples to Walter. 

Walter purchased the property and the Caverns in preparation for mining gold!  When the assay report came back, Walter was a mightily disappointed man. No gold was found — only lots of iron oxide or rust! Walter had spent his money on an empty, funnel-shaped hole.

Being a very enterprising young man, he soon came up with a brilliant idea. He would charge 25 cents to enter the Caverns. Visitors were tied to one end of a rope and lowered down by a hand-operated winch. These early tourists were expected to provide their own light source, usually a kerosene lantern.  Yep, the original dope on a rope. 

 Over the years improvements continued with stairs and bridges that had you climbing down & climbing back up ( 15 to 20 stories....whew) and finally in 1962 the elevator was installed.

Since the caverns are dry caverns without water there would be no hope of your survival down there for more than 3 days but you would be nicely preserved.  This bobcat died about 1850 but still has most of its fur. 

 This is Gertie.  Her bones were found near the natural entrance.  She is an extinct giant ground sloth. This animal lived and died during the Age of Mammals, when the Woolly Mammoth and the Saber-Tooth Tiger walked the earth.   She stood 15 feet, 4 inches and would have weighed at least 2,000 pounds.  Her bones were donated to either the U of A or ASU (can't remember which our guide said) and because of the donation they created this replica to stand in the place where the bones were found.

Poor Gertie.  She really fought hard trying to get out.  Those are her scratch marks on the rock where she tried to get back out of the hole. 

The portion of the Caverns that is on the tour is HUGE.  We walked & walked and only saw a portion. Because it is a dry cave and there is no moisture no new formations are being made and what there are are not as spectacular as the wet caves but the size is what overwhelms you.  They have discovered more rooms and are working toward opening those up for tours.  Right now you can book a Spelunking tour and visit primitively with ropes and headlamps and display your bravery.

In July of 1961 President John F Kennedy gave a speech during the Berlin Crisis.  He warned that the possibility of nuclear bombs was frighteningly close.  He vowed to identify spaces in "existing structures both public and private that could be used for fallout shelters in case of attack".  Grand Canyon Caverns was one.  (Wish I could have gotten a decent picture but the area that the storage was in was huge and very dark)  Today supplies are still there and is still listed as a shelter and could be used if necessary.  If you want to you can bring your own supplies and keep them there if you feel necessary.  Intriguing era.  Spent some time listening to podcasts about the time and most interesting was Abo Elementary School in Artesia, NM.  Built underground as both an elementary school and a fallout shelter in the 60's.  

You can spend the night in the Caverns for the mere fee of $800.  That does include dinner. And it sleeps up to 6.   It is the oldest hotel room - the walls are 65 million years old.  It is the deepest hotel room - 220 feet below the surface.  It is the darkest hotel room -  they do give you control of the lights. It is the largest hotel room - 155 feet wide, 400 feet long and 75 feet high.  It is the quietest hotel room - nothing lives down there.......just you. 

Very interesting place.  So glad we got to see it.  

“Read.
Travel.
Read.
Ask.
Read.
Learn.
Read.
Connect.
Read.” 
― Dr. Seuss

It's A White Out!

We left Ruidoso heading back to Arizona. 

 

It was time for the claret cup hedgehog cactus to be in bloom.  

We stopped at the White Sands National Monument Visitor Center.

Walt had never seen the White Sands and again I hadn't been since High School.

Gypsy was on behind the Navigator and Walt wasn't confident that we could do the drive.

After having him read the sign in the Visitor Center that said the roadway was safe for RV's off we went.   ( I don't think he trusted my word............earlier after we were already headed down the highway I told him "Oh, sometimes they close the highway for missile testing for a couple of hours". )

This is like no place else on earth.

275 square miles of glistening white gypsum sand.

The reason that it is so easy to drive on is because only a few inches of top sand are loose.  Rainwater dissolves some of the gypsum and cements the sand grains together.  

This makes the dunes easy to walk on too.

Walt said it felt like driving after a whiteout in Wyoming. It does look like snow.  Even down to the piles on the edge looking like the snow plow had just been through. 

This is the largest gypsum dune field in the world.

Yes, you could be sure that the snowplow has just been through.  Pushed that dirty snow aside as it cleared the road.  We just couldn't stop comparing it to snow.

Beams of light?  Skinny whirlywinds?   

A truly surreal place.

Gypsum does not readily convert the sun's energy into heat so the dunes can be walked upon safely with bare feet, even in the hottest summer months.

A very nice morning excursion before heading on into Las Cruces to meet Charlotte, Carl, Sylvia and David for lunch.  That was a special treat.  

Then on through beautiful Texas Canyon into Mesa, AZ.  Time to see the family and enjoy that "dry heat". 

A Rainbow Of Color And Feelings On Regrets

While we were in Ruidoso we visited the Hondo Iris Farm.

It is just east of Ruidoso on Highway 70 in Hondo, NM.

It is very fitting that Iris takes its name from the Greek word that means rainbow.

Admission is free ( you can donate if you wish ) and you can wander through the beauty at your leisure.

Plants are for sale and there is help on hand if you have any questions.

When we were there they indicated that the garden was only about 15% bloomed out.

I can only imagine the blossom overload when it is fully bloomed out.

They have picnic tables so you could bring a lunch while enjoying the profusion of flowers.

They do have other flowers but the Iris is the star.

Oh so worth a stop if you are in the area.  If you have a garden and are far from home they will ship your choices to your house.  

I have found a few blogs of travelers that I follow.  

Most have amazing photography and thoughtful insights about places they have been and things they have done.

Recently one of the gentlemen posted what he labeled as his final entry.

 

He had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given only a few months to live.

He gave a brief synopsis of his life and ended with some profound thoughts.

He had lived what he called an average life.  He had graduated from high school, served in the Armed Forces, had a job, raised a family and loved traveling all over the USA.  

But what stood out to me is that he said he had regrets.  How many times do we hear people say they have NO regrets in their life?

He didn't speak to particulars but said that he couldn't be pretentious enough to say he had led a perfect life with no regrets.  He quoted:

"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable."

Sydney J. Harris

That has been rattling around in my head for awhile now.  

Regrets............I have a bundle.  Maybe that should be my bucket list.  Cleaning up my regrets.  Do you make a list of those like you make a list of your blessings?

"Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets."

Arthur Miller

Heading West..................A Little Bit More Texas & A Little Bit of New Mexico

It was a misty Texas morning when we left Georgetown heading west on Highway 29.

It was time to make our way back toward Arizona.  But, there was still some of the lush Texas greenery and water as we drove down the road.

Tresa and Jerry had gone this way the day before and she messaged me that the flowers were amazing.

 Oh my!  She was right.

The flowers were everywhere.

It was a feast for the eyes.  And soon..........a feast of another kind.

Walt & Jerry talked to some people in Georgetown and they told them that Cooper's in Llano, TX was THE place for BBQ.

First you stop out at the shed and from cookers full of meat you make a decision as to what meat you want.  

Believe me..............this is not an easy decision.

 

 

I settled on the hugest pork chop I have ever seen.  Enough for lunch and 2 more meals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walt chose Prime Rib.  Enough for lunch and 2 more meals as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

  

You come inside and choose any sides you want and the rest is on the tables or the back counter.  All the beans, pickles, white bread and condiments you want.  You eat off your butcher paper place mats and finger lickin' good begins.  Yes, that was a feast.

Well fortified we were back on the road among the flowers. 

Miles and miles of flowers.  Always escorted by a parade of leaning fenceposts. 

 

It was a wonderful drive down a two lane highway with hardly any traffic.

 But soon the flowers are gone, replaced by the barren, rocky land that is Western Texas.

 There is no question that this is oil country.

 We stopped in Big Spring at an RV Park that was far enough away from the refineries that the air was odor free.  Not on our return list but a good place to rest, catch up on chores and use up some of that leftover food.

On toward New Mexico past oil wells slowly toiling up and down.

 Now in pretty New Mexico.  Poplar trees...........not sure why I had such a sigh of contentment seeing these poplar trees.  There must be a memory there somewhere.

A few days in Ruidoso.  Clear blue skies, mountain air and deer who spend their days in town eating all the fresh green leaves on any and every bush.   Walt had never been to Ruidoso and I hadn't been since high school.  Reminded us a lot of McCall, Idaho.

We spent an evening at The Inn Of The Mountain Gods. 

 It is in a breathtaking setting high up in the mountains overlooking the lake.

There is lots of pretty green with a golf course on site.

Off in the distance still some snow on the mountains.  

 Such a pretty place.  We enjoyed a nice dinner and especially the awe inspiring views.

 Another day we took a drive through "Billy the Kid" country. 

This is the  Torreon, a rock fort tower where settlers hid during Indian raids. 

 There were so many old, ramshackle buildings.  If those walls could talk.

Shaggy little donkey.  He was shy.  I could not get him to look at me.

Rugged mountain beauty.  We stayed in an RV Park a few miles out of Ruidoso and spent a very relaxing few days.

"Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery."

John Ruskin

 

A Trip To Waco And The Dr Pepper Museum

Tresa and Jerry left early from Georgetown on their way back to New Mexico.  We stayed a day longer and drove, on another cloudy Texas day, to Waco. 

 Waco is home to Baylor University.  We did a quick drive by (cause for the crooked picture) because we are always curious about the colleges that we watch play football or basketball.

The campus has pretty brick buildings and lots of green grass.   I understand that their library (Armstrong Browning Library) has the works of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning,  the acclaimed Victorian poets in it.  

This cemetery was right next to the campus. Not sure if it is affiliated but I thought it was so peaceful amid the shady trees. 

 Waco is the County Seat of McLennan County.  Another in a long line of beautiful Texas Courthouses but I think this one was the icing on the cake.   It has my number one vote. It is said to have been inspired by St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome.

 The dome really does look like it could be a frosted cake.  Splendid.

 The main reason for the trip to Waco was to visit the Dr Pepper Museum.  Waco is the home of Dr Pepper.

Going to High School in New Mexico I LOVED Dr Pepper.  (My mother used to wrinkle her nose & tell me I was drinking prune juice).

 After High School I moved to Idaho.  What??????? No Dr Pepper!

Then I met and married Walt.  We moved to San Diego, CA & Eureka!  They have Dr Pepper.

 What a treat.   And the best medicine ever.  If you have a cold or are achy and feeling out of sorts heat up a cup of Dr Pepper, add some lemon, sit in a bubble bath of hot water and you will be better in no time.  

Dr Pepper is a “native Texan,” originating at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store. It is the oldest of the major brand soft drinks in America. Like its flavor, the origin of Dr Pepper is out-of-the-ordinary. Charles Alderton, a young pharmacist working at Morrison's store, is believed to be the inventor of the now famous drink. Alderton spent most of his time mixing up medicine for the people of Waco, but in his spare time he liked to serve carbonated drinks at the soda fountain. He liked the way the drug store smelled, with all of the fruit syrup flavor smells mixing together in the air. He decided to create a drink that tasted like that smell. He kept a journal, and after numerous experiments he finally hit upon a mixture of fruit syrups that he liked.

This is one of the original machines for cleaning the glass bottles.  They had great movies about the original processing and techniques.

 

The origin for the name is unclear. The Museum has collected over a dozen different stories on how the drink became known as Dr Pepper.  But, looking at one of their original ads maybe my mother was right in saying I was drinking prune juice. 

Dr Pepper's slogan in the 1950s was "the friendly Pepper-Upper," which led the brand into the 1960s when it became associated with rock and roll music and on Dick Clark's American Bandstand TV show.  

We enjoyed our tour of the Dr Pepper Museum.  I especially enjoyed the TV room that you could select years and watch their television ads for that time frame.  Fun..........brought back memories of the different eras. 

Then I convinced Walt for one more stop at my favorite Texas Fast Food place.

Taco Cabana.  Fast, tasty, and a nice salsa bar with chipotle sauce on it.  And the cutest little sopapillas for dessert.  

Thanks Waco for another Texas memory.   

"Saying you're from Texas makes you kind of proud."

Kay Bailey Hutchison

Georgetown.............Home Of The Red Poppy Festival

Our first night in Georgetown the sky was Poppy Red.  A hint of what was to come.

The houses in Georgetown are surrounded by Red Poppies.

 Georgetown is a pretty little city with a population of about 50,000.

Georgetown is the Red Poppy Capital of Texas.

 Red poppies have been a part of Georgetown’s landscape for over seventy years. 

They grow naturally in yards, in street and highway right-of-ways, in vacant lots and park lands.

Red poppies reseed themselves from year to year.

Seeds from poppies in Europe were sent to Georgetown right after World War I.  Henry Purl Compton (known as “Okra”) who served in the American Expeditionary Forces sent them to his mother.  She planted them at her home which is now 507 East 7^th Street.  From there, they were spread (by birds, bees, and people!) down the river and over much of Old Town.

 

 In the 1980’s organizations like the Red Poppy Garden Club, City of Georgetown, and the Williamson County Sun began the preservation and spread of poppies all over town by giving away and selling millions of seeds of related American species.  Only experts can tell the difference between the American species and the original poppies from Europe.

Much of the inner neighborhoods of Georgetown are like stepping into yesteryear.

The homes have been lovingly restored down to the last detail.

This is the John Leavell House named after John Leavell who was a wealthy dry goods merchant who led the first hook and ladder company of the Fire Department. 

Whether large or small they are well taken care of with pretty yards.

This home was built for Dr Cody (some times call the "Grand Old Man") and Mrs. Martha Cody. Dr Cody was a long time professor at Southwestern University for 37 years - he stared out as a mathematics professor and later became Southwestern Collage's first dean.  

The Gus A. Booty House. Mr Booty was a successful merchant and realtor and was involved in the founding of the Texas Fuel Company which was later renamed Texaco.

Although new development is encircling the original town Georgetown continues to manifest respect for its heritage and its commitment to preservation. 

We enjoyed walking and driving around the historic homes in Georgetown.  There were so many that it was hard to choose which pictures to include.

A few pink poppies snuck in with the reds.

The historic downtown area has been well preserved too.

The Masonic Lodge has some very interesting details.

The building are in good shape and have active businesses in them.

Some of the old houses had been made into businesses.

Much of their window art combines their love of the Texas Longhorn with the Red Poppy.

Not red poppies but definitely following the red theme.

Tresa and I loved window shopping at this Boutique.  We couldn't bring ourselves to go inside.  Too tempting at sky high prices. 

Georgetown is the County Seat of Williamson County.   It is undergoing restoration but is another example of those great Texas Courthouses.

It is the center of the downtown plaza. The plaza is the destination for visitors and residents.  It is the place to be for the Red Poppy Festival. 

We were fortunate to be there during the Festival.

 This three-day festival is three days of non-stop fun and attracts nearly 45,000 visitors each year.

Their brochure says "Come early and stay late."  We did just that on Saturday.  First stop some of the delicious pastries at Galaxy Bakery.  

Then it was time for the parade. So impressed that a small town Fire Department could put together a Pipes and Drums Corp and they were great.  They perform at many events across the state.

A performance by the Sun City Georgettes.  Georgetown was selected in 1995 as the first ever Sun City in Texas. Georgetown is considered to be one of the best places to retire in the nation because of its fairly warm climate year round, close proximity to both the countryside and Austin, great shopping and dining and  excellent medical care.  I loved Georgetown and the only down side I could find was the humidity.  It wore me out but they say that you get used to it.  

It wouldn't be a parade without horses.

The parade also included the cars from the car show. 

The cars were Walt & Jerry's favorite part of the parade.

There was a lot of picture taking going on.

There were some unusual entries.

Look at those cut out flames.  Love it!

 This one was festooned with many a red poppy.

 

Are you starting to notice?   There sure were a lot of red cars in the car show.  

Then it was time to see what the booths had to offer.  Cart after cart of these beautiful bougainvilleas were brought in and as soon as they came in they were sold.  Tresa and I decided it must be an every year thing because people were waiting in line for them. They were gorgeous.

Oh, those pots.  Good thing I don't have a yard.  These are spectacular.

This pretty young lady was kind enough to let me take her picture.  She definitely personifies Red Poppy Days.  And everything in her booth was a feast for the eyes. 

The evening entertainment was set up on a stage next to the Plaza.  Walt scored a bench (not this one) that was facing the stage at a pretty close range.  Between the four of us we were able to keep it saved for several hours until the bands began.

 First up were Roland Waits & The Wayward Travelers.

By now the crowd was getting pretty thick.

Next up were "Two Tons of Steel".    Texas Country Band of high energy country music.  

A broken leg didn't stop this lady from enjoying the show.

And the grand finale...............John Michael Montgomery.  He sang all of his hits so there was a lot of sing-a-long.  Great show!  Long day but oh, so fun.  We came early and stayed late. 

"Poppies... Poppies. Poppies will put them to sleep. Sleeeeep. Now they'll sleeeeep! "   Wicked Witch of the West

A Few Texas Sights and Attractions

Frequently with Jerry or Walt driving we would head out on the road to see what we could find. Tresa and I were ever on the lookout for flowers but there was much more to see.

We saw this large structure off the road and had to drive over to see what it was.  Wow, a covered football field.  Safe to practice or play no matter what the elements. Texans LOVE their football. Surrounded by wildflowers.

A trip to Round Rock was in order.  Its claim to fame seems to be that it is home to Dell's Corporate Offices.  Tresa and I thought the center of the street parking was interesting.

 The Round Rock is in the middle of Brushy Creek and marked a convenient low-water crossing for wagons, horses, and cattle.  The Chisholm Trail crossed Brushy Creek at the round rock, making a safe place for moving cattle. 

Our most memorable moment in Round Rock was at Round Rock Donuts.  It is listed as a "must do" in Round Rock.

By the time we got there their inside lobby was closed and only the drive through was open.  Since we had been walking to visit the downtown area our vehicle was several blocks away.  That didn't deter Jerry.  He walked through the drive through and had a donut for each of us.  Good Job Jerry.  They were delicious.

When we were moving from Braunig Lake to Georgetown and driving 60+ mph down I35 we saw this huge structure and wondered what it was.  Tresa and Jerry had seen it too and were curious about it as well.  So on a rainy afternoon that left outside activities out we backtracked to soothe our curiosity.

It is a Buc-Ee's Convenience Store in New Braunfels, TX. 

It opened in 2012 and is the world's largest convenience store.  Those are only one half of their ice machines.  An equal amount is on the other side of the door.

It has 68,000 square feet inside. The store features 120 fuel pumps, 83 toilets, 31 cash registers, 4 Icee machines and 80 fountain dispensers.  It offers all the normal things that convenience stores do along with a full-service deli, coffee shop, exterior tunnel car washes, Texas-themed specialty gifts and food, and products catering to hunters and river rafters.

There are no congested aisles and the employees were clean cut and hospitable.  All Buc-ee's are open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.  But, the one thing you won't find at a Buc-ee's is a lottery ticket. They say it keeps faster paced service.  They now have 30 locations in Texas. 

 

The ladies bathroom is HUGE.  Like a mega airport terminal bathroom.  They say that sometimes when they are really busy they post an attendant in there to direct you to stalls that are open.  I am speaking only of the ladies room but Jerry took a picture of the endless line of urinals in the mens.  I should have had him share it so I could have posted it. 

So if you see a Buc'ees while you are in Texas STOP.  Fuel up, go to the bathroom, take a look at their interesting and large assortment of anything and everything  and step up to the screen to order some yummy food, pick it up at the counter, pay at the friendly check out and you are on your way.  

And they are the Burma Shave of the 21st century.  They have freeway signs not only in Texas but I understand in Florida as well.  Must be headed that way.  Some of my favorites:

• "Restrooms So Clean, We Leave Mints on the Urinals"
• "The Top Two Reasons to Stop at Buc-ee's: #1 and #2"
• "Don't worry, P happy"
• "Epic Flush"
• "Don't stay thirsty my friends."
• "Worth the Wait"
• "The Eyes of Buc-ee's Are Upon You"

Where are the Falls in Marble Falls? 

Tresa and I had both seen photos in the Texas brochures of Marble Falls.  On our drive to see them we were told at the Visitor Center that we would need scuba gear.  They are underwater.  Flooded when the river was dammed up.  We still don't understand why the pictures were there if they were no longer visible.  I guess because it says that they are revealed every few years when the lake is lowered. 

 They do have a lovely park by the water so that is where we headed.

It was green and lush and a perfect place for a picnic lunch.

 Gnarly old oaks to add to the ambience.

 And my preference for a must have at a picnic is a squirrel instead of ants.

It was a lovely, quiet place for lunch.

Apparently a good fishing spot too.

If you can't find the falls you can find flowers. Bubbly little clumps of Blackfoot Daisies.

And hillsides completely covered with blossoms.

It is hard to believe the abundance of the wildflowers.

We were also able to stop at the Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge.  This pretty view is from one of the bird blinds.

All in all a very pleasant days drive.  Good friends, good scenery and good back roads. 

“It is fun to have fun but you have to know how.”  Dr. Suess
 

You Can Never Visit Too Many Gardens.....Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

 When you enter Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center you are greeted by this unusual sign that is a quote from Lady Bird.  In case you can't read it it states as follows:  "My special cause, the one that alerts my interest and quickens the pace of my life, is to preserve the wildflowers and native plants that define the regions of our land - to encourage and promote their use in appropriate areas and thus help pass on to generations in waiting the quiet joys and satisfactions I have known since my childhood."    

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is located in southwest Austin, TX. 

Lady Bird Johnson, our former first lady, and actress Helen Hayes founded an organization in 1982 to protect and preserve North America's native plants and natural landscapes.   First it was named the National Wildflower Research Center and later the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 

See those eyes peeking out.  Three baby owls were on a ledge near the entrance.  They had drawn quite a crowd.  They had even set up a table with information and a gentleman would provide binoculars so you could have a closer view.   

Walt and Jerry opted to go to this garden and I think they enjoyed it. These beautiful flowers are from a water plant in a pond near the entrance. 

This Center has become one of the country’s most credible research institutions and effective advocates for native plants.  Not to mention one of the prettiest I am sure. 

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has one of the largest rainwater harvesting systems in America.  Some of the water storage tanks are metal.

Others are built of native stone.  Both types add to the beauty of the park.

The San Antonio Observation Tower is also a 10,000 gallon cistern and was used as a vertical landfill for debris generated during the Wildflower Center's construction.   You can climb to the top for a birds eye view of the garden.

From the top you can look out over pathways, meadows and a forest of trees. 

 There are spectacular specimens of large live oaks with wildflowers growing all around.

 The meadows are filled with native grasses and wildflowers and ringed by trees. 

The Meadows are filled with Central Texas wildflowers and there are rainbows of colors in the fall and springtime. 

 I love the intense color of Indian Paintbrush. 

Though it was nearing the end of the season for bluebonnets there were still quite a few blooming here. 

 

 What a perfect example of the many textures, colors, and shapes of native trees, shrubs and grasses.

There are several water features in the garden.  This one had a dramatic waterfall and the rock work walls included caves for children to run in and out of.  

 50 shades of green.

 Leaves of three, let them be.

 The plantings create a healthy ecosystem for butterflies and other insects.   

 It was a magical afternoon.  So nice to leisurely wander the paths with friends and appreciate the inspiration of the landscape.

"I have always been a natural tourist. Lyndon used to say I kept 'one foot in the middle of the big road'. Wherever I go in America, I like it when the land speaks its own language in its own regional accent."  Lady Bird Johnson.  

Amen to that.  The more I travel the more I appreciate the differences of each of the areas and they do indeed speak their own language. 

 

 

 

 

 

Austin and the State Capitol

Austin is the capital of Texas.

Buildings that had made up most of Austin's skyline were modest in height and somewhat spread out. This is partly due to a restriction that preserves the view of the Texas State Capitol building from various locations around Austin.

This is all changing as evidenced by the many construction cranes that were visible in the downtown area.  It has been listed as the second fastest growing city in the United States.   

I love looking at old architecturally detailed buildings and frequently when I see the towering skyscrapers of today I wonder if anyone will look at them in a hundred years and exclaim how beautiful they are but every now and then there is a new one that I think will fit the bill.  This is one of them in downtown Austin.  It is the Frost Bank Tower.  The base of the building is honed limestone while the main portion of the building is blue low-e glass. The only other building clad entirely of this glass is the Reuters Building in New York City.   The day was cloudy and dark and it was gorgeous but I looked at pictures of it on a sunny day.  Wow! 

Texas downtowns are graced by vibrant green trees.

Magnificent Saint Mary Cathedral is now squeezed between downtown buildings.

It was completed in 1884 as a church and in 1947 it was designated as a cathedral.

The rose window with its elegant branching pattern and stained glass makes it appear full of energy and light. 

The Texas State Capitol is MASSIVE.  Hey, everything in Texas is big........but it is an understatement for this building.

 

Tresa and Jerry looked great way out in front of the building but the building is so huge that only a portion of it shows. 

While the building is mostly built of the Oak Hill limestone, most of this is hidden behind the walls and on the foundations. The building is faced with sunset red granite because the limestone had a high iron content and when it was exposed to the elements it developed rust stains. 

 Each side has the three story wing and the total square feet for the capitol is 360,000.  This doesn't include the extension that is completely underground.

It was completed in 1888 and is the largest State Capitol Building. 

 The central Rotunda is impressive and provides entrance to every part of the Capitol.  The Texas Star is actually 8 feet in diameter. 

On the walls of the Rotunda are paintings of Texas's former Governors and past presidents of the Republic of Texas.  These continue up for four floors of the Rotunda. 

The floor of the Rotunda, as well as most of the floors throughout the Capitol, is made of terrazzo. 

The seals on the floor trace Texas history by representing the six flags that have flown over the state. The seal in the middle represents Texas as a Republic with its single white star and oak and olive branches symbolizing strength and peace. Directly below this seal is Texas in the United States. The other seals represent Texas under Spain, Texas under France, Texas under Mexico, and Texas under the Confederacy.

On the second floor is the Governors Reception Room.  The sign said he was in.  I wonder what I could have asked him if I had dropped in. 

The spiral staircase is off limits to the public and is 160 feet above the floor. 

Everywhere you look there are wonderful architectural features.

The paint details are highly decorative.  

The grounds cover 22 acres and there are fountains and many monuments to see.

It was a dark and dreary day so most of the photos of the monuments did not turn out for me. 

The fence around the ground has a double layer of that famous Texas Star.  

"Texas will again lift it's head and stand among the nations. It ought to do so, for no country upon the globe can compare with it in natural advantages." - Sam Houston, War Hero, General, Indian Friend and President of the Republic of Texas.

A Little Bit Of Rain Can't Keep A Gardengoer Down...San Antonio Botanical Garden

Yes, there are raindrops on the photo.  Tresa and I couldn't miss the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. Tresa was prepared with an umbrella..............I just used my hoodie.  

It really was just a light rain and again made all the plants and flowers glow.

The San Antonio Botanical Garden is a 33 acre non-profit garden.

Tresa and I oohed and aahed our way through the lush plantings.  Walt and Jerry opted to stay out of the rain and miss the garden.

The gardens are divided into native trails, formal and display gardens, with several architectural elements.

The garden site was a former limestone quarry and waterworks area owned by the city. 

The San Antonio Botanical Gardens officially opened to the public on May 3, 1980.

Beautiful fountains and rock work walls abound. 

The Lucile Halsell Conservatory was a misty sight on this rainy day.

The greenhouses surround a central courtyard filled with lily ponds.

The greenhouses each include different types of plants.

Some had warm loving tropical plants.

 Another was filled with palms.

The "most photogenic" award must go to the greenhouse that was filled with orchids.

They appear so fragile in all their waxy looking glory.

 Amazingly they are quite hardy.  Walt gave me one years back and I was able to keep it alive until it sold at our estate sale.  (It lived in our shower window) I wonder if it is still happy.

 So exotic! 

 The garden has what it calls WaterSaver Lane.

There are several small cottages with examples of drought tolerant gardens.

 I think the spring rains made this one really grow.

There are acres of green.

 The birds didn't seem to mind the rainy day.

There is an overlook tower that on a clear day you can see downtown San Antonio.  We just got a misty image.

All very well done with a nice variety of plants.

There was a group at the garden for a rehearsal for a wedding on the next day.  They were well equipped with umbrellas and optimism that the next day would be fine.  ( It seemed clear the next day so all should have been well.)

Despite the rain it was a wonderful afternoon in the garden.  So fun to enjoy it with Tresa, a fellow flower lover. 

"How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and the heat,
In the broad and fiery street,
In the narrow lane,
How beautiful is the rain!"
-  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Rain in Summer

Tower of the Americas.................A Personal Challenge

The Tower of the Americas is a 750 observation tower located in HemisFair Park near downtown San Antonio.

The tower was designed by San Antonio architect O'Neil Ford and was built as the theme structure of the 1968 World's Fair.

The Tower was the tallest observation tower in the United States from 1968 until 1996, when the Las Vegas Stratosphere Tower was completed. 

It is the tallest building in San Antonio.

The Tower is located in the middle of Hemisfair Park.

The parks lushly landscaped areas and dramatic, cascading waterfalls offer a refreshing retreat from city streets nearby.

For a fee ($10 for seniors)  you can ride this elevator to the observation deck. 

This is where the personal challenge comes in.

I am deathly afraid of heights.  Riding 750 feet up in an elevator enclosed in glass that allows you to look out as you go up is scary to me.

Many years ago I rode up the elevator in the Space Needle in Seattle.  It is 605 feet and I rode up and back down with my back to the glass and once up I stood as far back on the observation deck as possible and waited while Walt, Kevin and Cynthia took in the sights.

 Doing the traveling we have done I have felt like I have missed some things because of my fear of heights so I've decided to start doing some things that I normally would avoid due to that fear of heights.

When the trip to Texas was in the planning the ride up the Tower of Americas was on the "to do" list. The carnival is for the San Antonio Fiesta.

I am proud to say I rode all the way up facing the glass with my eyes wide open.  I have to admit that I only looked straight out...............not down on the way up but on the way back down I was able to look down a bit.  This is the Alamodome.  The Spurs played there for 10 years before moving to the AT&T Center.  The Alamodome hosts many different sporting events, concerts and conventions. 

Once up on the viewing deck I was able to walk around and take pictures of the views around San Antonio.  

There were times that I felt a little light headed and unsteady on my feet but the longer I stayed the better it was.  

The day was quite cloudy and at times there were raindrops so the view was not as good as it would have been on a clear day.  But, it was still pretty and interesting to try and pick out things you had seen from the ground.

Overall an enjoyable experience and a base for my next challenge.  Baby steps.

Once back down we went to the 4D Theater on the ground floor for the "Skies Over Texas" experience. It takes you on a high flying trip over many Texas landmarks, lets you see Friday night high school football ( fall in Texas revolves around high school football) & a space shuttle at NASA.

The seats and floor rock & shake, air blasts, water sprays, and something tickles your legs.  It was all fun except for the rattle snake.  I was sure it had gotten me.  

 There were new baby ducks in the water.  I really enjoyed the beautiful grounds of the Hemisfair Park around the tower. 

Great cities have great downtowns, and great downtowns have great urban parks.  I think San Antonio is a GREAT city.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Antonio Missions

San Antonio has several other missions besides the Alamo.   We visited two of them.  This one is Mission San Jose' y San Miguel de Aguayo. 

It is known as the "Queen of the Missions".

It is the largest of the San Antonio missions.

It has been extensively restored.

Spanish missions were not churches, but communities, with the church the focus of the community. The rock work is so pretty, even on the wells.

 Mission San José shows the visitor how all the missions might have looked over 250 years ago.

The mission was founded in 1720 several miles south of the Alamo.

Its imposing complex of stone walls, bastions, granary, and magnificent church was completed by 1782.

At its height, the community contained about 350 Indian converts, sustained by extensive fields and herds of livestock.

It was the model among the Texas missions and gained a reputation as a major social and cultural center.

 

Much of what is visible today at Mission San José was reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s.  The detail work is amazing.  

The church is still used for services today.  The gold glitters on the altar. 

The paint and plaster on the interior felt like a Moroccan design to me.

A huge iron chandelier is centered in the dome.

The stone friary is attached to the back wall of the church and housed the religious leaders.

The ruins of the friary are examples of the wonderful rock work.

Indian quarters, constructed from limestone, each consisted of one room and a kitchen and, by 1768, were located mainly along the walls.  There were ovens and wells for their use in the interior courtyard.

Walt and Jerry checked out one of the larger wells.

This is the granary and I was so impressed by how pretty it was.  Iron chandeliers and painted arches.

The mission grounds were declared a national and state historical site in 1941 and operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department from 1941 to 1983. On November 10, 1978, San José Mission became part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. 

The second mission we visited was Mission Concepcion.

Its full name is Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepción de Acuña.

It was dedicated in 1755 and appears much as it did over two centuries ago.

The major exception to how it looks is originally colorful geometric designs covered its surface, but the patterns have long since faded or been worn away.

Since it was built directly on bedrock, it never lost its roof, or its integrity.  This prevented much deterioration.

It has a more primitive feel than Mission San Jose.

The interior roof is vaulted with a dome and the painting is in good shape.

Mission Concepcion has many ironwork pieces that show the artistry of the original builders.

There are several iron crosses.

The stones used in construction on the grounds are unusual.  The limestone and travertine that the church was constructed of were quarried from a quarry just outside the mission grounds. 

In the late 18th century the complex went into decline and the surrounding palisades, cells, blacksmith shops, granary and many other important and outlying structures were either demolished or scuttled for the stone.  

Despite their ugly appearance these stones have structurally stood the test of time while smoother and easily faced limestone works of nearby missions have begun to crumble and buckle under the pressure. 

Mission Concepcion was designated a National Historic Landmark on April 15, 1970 and is part of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. 

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Yay.......Friends Come To Meet Us To See The Sights

We were so happy to see Tresa and Jerry.

They came over from New Mexico and met us at Braunig Lake RV Park just a few miles south of downtown San Antonio.

Tresa and I love wildflowers and we are on a never ending hunt for them.

Luckily Jerry and Walt like to drive country roads so Tresa and I were able to find so many fields full of flowers.

I am astounded by the variety of wildflowers that we have found.  I was really naive.  I came to the Texas Hill Country thinking Bluebonnets were what I would find.  Bluebonnets and SO much more.

 Most of the days have been overcast and gray but the flowers still glow. 

There has been some rain but it has not interfered too much with our plans.  Usually it is in the evening or when we have indoor plans.

The rain has kept everything green and more and more flowers are popping up every day.

You can find the best things on the back roads.  Fresh Strawberries.

   

Those strawberries were from Poteet, the Strawberry Capital of Texas. We missed the Strawberry Festival.  It was the week-end before.  But, we were told that it was not a good year for the festival because many of the strawberries were ruined this year because the rainy spring had made many of them mildew. Hope their harvest is better next year.

Driving the back roads in Texas is where the unexpected beauty becomes expected.

The ponds are full, the creeks are meandering, the rivers are running and the lakes are on their way to full.  Those of us from the desert are overwhelmed by all the water and the green lushness. 

We never know what will be around the next bend.  Thanks Jerry and Walt for searching out all those hard to find roads and being able to read the maps to get us to the next beautiful place.

Update........................I am VERY behind on the blog.  Excuse #1 - Too many places to see, too many things to do leaves no time to sit at the computer.   Excuse #2 - That darn computer.....my fault entirely.  Note to self - don't download anything from sites you don't know.  Thanks Kevin for bringing it back to normal.   Stay tuned for more Texas and New Mexico awesome sights.  
 

"Excuses change nothing, but make everyone feel better." (At least me) 

Mason Cooley 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mason Cooley