jan 11, 2012

Jan. 11, 2012

Das ist Fredericksburg, Texas!   We arrived around two PM this afternoon in this charming German town in the middle of the hill country in mid Texas.  The day has been beautiful with warm temperatures and pleasant breezes to enjoy when we stopped along the way.  I have decided that Junnie does not need to go to check on the trailer, he has just trained us to stop about an hour into the day.  If we don’t stop soon enough for him, he starts mewing and keeps it up until we stop and then he’s fine for the rest of the ride.   It must be that he has trained us.  Nothing else makes any sense.  After all this time he knows we did not leave the trailer behind.

Unfortunately we did not have time to stop and see the town.  It is difficult to find a parking spot toting a trailer behind a truck.  They use “strassa” for street, and  “haus” for house in many areas, along with Bavarian Haus Restaurants,  German meat markets, and Amish vegetable grocers.  The architecture has a definite European and Victorian influence.  The RV park is nice and has a wonderful handicap shower and bathroom available.  Not all campgrounds are as well equipped for those who have challenges doing things.  Dan’s doing the laundry at the moment.  He takes such fantastic care of me.  How blessed I continue to be in my life.  No complaints!

Evidently the weather in this area must be a lot like the climate and weather in Beaufort.  There is an abundance of Live Oak, Cedar, Sycamore, Pecan, pear pads and Yucca growing in the sections we drove through today.  We also saw some Tamarack trees like the ones in Beth and Julian Arrington’s front yard.  Some people call them Tamarisk, so I’m not positive which they are, but grew up hearing they were the ‘rack ones.  Pittosporum abound, too, as well as Crape Myrtle.

We left I-10 at exit 477.  I’m not sure how many more miles we have in Texas.  It’s hard to believe we’ve been for over 477 miles.  We drove about 50 miles on 290 to get here and then a few miles south on 16.  I am so glad we have an RV book that gives good directions on how to get where we’re going.

As we drove down 290, we were surprised to see wildlife in the Live Oak forests munching on the grass.  Dan saw an antelope, but I missed it.  We both saw lots of goats and black faced shorn sheep.  The fences have changed from just horizontal wires to goat/sheep fences.  They are considerably taller than the cow fences and have a wire grid.   Several ranches were goat and sheep ranches, but we also saw an Emu who walked along the fence as we slowed so I could get a good shot of him.

There were a great number of dead Live Oaks because of the drought they have had.  We had seen large numbers of Cedar trees with deep burn orange foliage and asked what type they were.  We were told they we dead.    You know how grey dead Live Oaks look.  Now, translate that shade of grey to pasture lands of those who were not fortunate enough to be able to irrigate the land.  I do not think I’ve ever seen grey pasture lands before.  We passed several church bulletin board signs asking for people to pray for rain.

My sister is in a convalescent center and is receiving physical therapy.  Gene  says she is still very weak;, but has a good attitude and is eating much better.  Thanks for your prayers; please continue.

Blessings,

Touring Texas Travelers