Kerrville, Texas 1/4 - 1/8

 January 4, 2021

We left Galveston Island and drove northwest to Kerrville, Texas to experience Texas Hill Country.  It was a beautiful sunny day, as we drove, we began to see billboard signs for Buc-ees. "Buc-ee's is a chain of travel centers known for clean bathrooms and many fueling positions." We passed so many billboards for it, starting at 100 miles away that it reminded me of Wall Drug.   Now, normally Jim drives until we hit half empty and then we refill.  Not today.

In order to experience the thrill of a Buc-ees we drove on empty (actually 2 gallons in the tank based on tank capacity and the amount we pumped in to get back to a full tank).

They do have plenty of pumps, including nicely spaced ones for RVs 

separate from the numerous pumps for cars closer to the store.  

It was a long walk to the bathroom, but I won't count it as a hike.

Buc-ees is huge and serves plenty of food.

You could also buy a $299 fire pit of $1,200 smoker a couple of the items I saw outside the store on my way in.  I have seen Buc-ees on CBS Sunday morning and after visiting one, I can say it seems like a large gas station, with a large store, not sure what the excitement is all about myself.

So back on the road to enjoy our packed lunch.

delicious ham and swiss on a tomato basil tortilla wrap.

After lunch we had a car in the left lane pull up next to us.  

The passenger rolled down her window and held up a sign that said Spare Tire with a down arrow.  Well, that can't be good.

So we pulled over to the shoulder and saw this.

and that is not how it should look.  So Jim pulled out the crank

and cranked the spare back up where it belonged.

There, that's better and did not take too much effort.

The tire did not show any damage.  Thank you guardian angels who had another

motorist see it, and care enough to let us know about it. 

And thanks to Jim for knowing what to do and getting it done.

Well that was it for the excitement on our trip today.

Here is the view from our current campsite by the Guadalupe River.

We have already met the neighbors, it seems like it will be a friendly place.

Rick and Diane from Dallas are on one side of us.

Carolynn and Larry from Minnesota are on the other side.

Warren is across from us (have not met his wife yet)

Howard is next to Warren oh and Mike walked over with his wine from down the way.

January 5, 2021

Today we took advantage of the trails here at our campground

and walked around and next to the Guadalupe River and a

fork off the river.

Here are some cascades going into the Guadalupe River.

This is a fork off the river that goes  right by our campsite.

some pampas grass along the bank

And later in town, Jim got a hair cut, he feels so much better.

January 6, 2020 

This morning I walked by myself while Jim go the laundry started.

It started off cloudy

but was blue sky by late morning

After lunch we headed for downtown Kerrville to walk the historic downtown.

This is the mansion of Captain Charles Schreiner, built in 1879.

"Captain Schreiner was born in Alsace Lorraine, France, February 22, 1838, and came to the San Antonio region in 1852. At the age of sixteen years Captain Schreiner entered the Ranger service, then when the Civil War came on he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served for four years serving in Captain Henry's, Captain Sansom's and Captain McFadden's companies, during 1854 to 1859.   In 1859 he entered the stock business on Turtle Creek, Kerr county, in a small way, gradually building his herds, acquiring land holdings, and thus expanding his interests as the years passed by. Ten years later, in 1869, he engaged in the banking and general mercantile business at Kerrville."

And right next door is his store.

"This is where cowboys bought their provisions for the Cattle Trails north,

early Kerr County residents banked here and bought supplies for their ranches.

Captain Charles Schreiner advocated sheep and goat production until the Hill Country

area became the most important wool and mohair area in the world."

This original Sears & Roebucks Catalogue mail order house was built in 1920.

The bungalow house was ordered and shipped as a complete kit and assembled on site. 

This home is across the street from the Sears house, I just love the porch.

After walking to 30 different historic places in downtown Kerville, 

we thought it was time for a snack.

So we headed to the old railroad depot.

"IN 1887, KERRVILLE WAS CHOSEN AS THE LAST STOP ON THE SA&AP RAILROAD. A WOOD DEPOT WAS ERECTED FOUR BLOCKS WEST OF HERE TO ACCOMMODATE THE LARGE INFLUX OF TRAVELERS AND TRADE. THE ORIGINAL DEPOT BURNED IN 1913. LUMBERYARD OWNER FRANK J. BEITEL SOLD THE SA&AP A PORTION OF HIS LAND FOR A NEW DEPOT. THE 1915 BRICK DEPOT'S DESIGN INCORPORATED ARCHED DOORWAYS AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE AND OPEN-AIR PLATFORM, A CENTRAL TICKET COUNTER, STORAGE AND TWO WAITING ROOMS WITH WOOD - BURNING STOVES. ORIGINAL WINDOWS WITH WAVY GLASS REMAIN. AFTER TRAIN SERVICE DISCONTINUED IN 1970, THE DEPOT SERVED AS A RESTAURANT AND RETAIL SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY."

Jim had a cappuccino with his carrot cake while I enjoyed a slice of chocolate cake with Bailey's icing.  Both cakes were delicious.

The cafe has a great tin ceiling, which looked original from the RR depot.

The last stop for the day was Boardwalk Pavilion which looks down at the Guadalupe River from downtown Kerrville.

Across the river is Tranquility Island and Louise Hays Park. "Community leader Hal Peterson declared: "Kerr County will build a park in a day," and the date was set: April 26, 1950. The land was rough and overgrown but it was no match for the estimated 2,000 workers who began work Wednesday at 7 a.m. Under much scrutiny from local and national media, at 7 p.m., the park was indeed completed--including concrete picnic platforms, tables and a performance stage, a miniature golf course and a children's playground."  Now that is some great community involvement.

  But more on all that later when we do the five mile river walk.

January 7, 2021 

Today we headed off for Fredericksburg, TX.

To see the Pacific War Museum.  It was placed here as Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Admiral Chester Nimitz ,Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, commanding Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II.  

Here are some of the things we saw, that interested me.

"MODEL. 42 HARLEY DAVIDSON WLA

The model 42 Harley Davidson WLA saw extensive use during World War II. It was based on the Harley Davidson "W" series from the late 1930s. The WLAs were initially ordered by the U.S. Army, although the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps eventually adopted the bikes. They were primarily used by Military Police and messengers. The WLA had a 45 cubic inch side valve engine.

This WLA was restored over a period of ten years and loaned to this museum by George E. Glass."

"Brown and white striped seersucker cap worn by Erma Butler Plough 

when serving as an Army nurse in the United States."

Packed away I have the family photos that show my Mom wearing a 

cap like this while serving as an army nurse in Burma during WWII.

"THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST

To boost American morale, President Roosevelt wanted to strike the Japanese homeland. The challenge was the limited range of carrier aircraft, which would require sailing too close to Japan. 

The U.S. could not risk losing a carrier in a mission of such limited purpose.  Captain Francis S. Low, Admiral King's operations officer, suggested a long-distance mission using medium bombers.

Doolittle and the B-25

The Doolittle Raid, also known as the Tokyo Raid, was an air raid on 18 April 1942 by the United States on the Japanese capital Tokyo and other places on Honshu during World War II. 

It was the first air operation to strike the Japanese archipelago.

Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, a pilot and aeronautical engineer, was selected to lead the attack. Doolittle chose the new twin engine B-25 Mitchell for its bomb load and range. He thought the aircraft could launch from beyond Japanese patrols.  A Navy pilot instructed Army volunteer pilots on short takeoff techniques on land airfields. Only Doolittle knew the purpose of their training until they were well out to sea. The pilots would only get one shot at a carrier take-off.

The exhibits in this museum are large and multi-media.  There are film clips of actual footage, memorabilia, still photos and lots of verbiage explaining first the history of Japan's military and then all of the different battles on the numerous islands in the Pacific.

note the bomb hanging from the ceiling

The Jeep

"American factories manufactured nearly 2.4 million trucks of all descriptions for military use, including large numbers of 2-1/2 Ton trucks, the famous "deuce-and-a-half," and the equally famous "jeep."  The jeep was originally designed by American Bantam in Butler, Pennsylvania. The first jeep was delivered to Camp Holabird, Maryland, on 23 September 1940. The Army called it GPV (General Purpose Vehicle), Pilot Model, or Number One.  The jeep was an immediate hit, used in every war theater because of its versatility. Jeeps transported everything from officers to wounded Gls to light artillery. Josef Stalin was especially enamored of jeeps and requested thousands."

Not sure how this soldier got thru this swamp.

"Trench art of a F4U Corsair Fighter plane, made from brass shell casings and other ordinance components by MSgt. George G. Majirus, 3rd Marine Division, motor transport NCO while serving on Guadalcanal in 1943"

This emblem from PT Boat Base No. 5 on Adak Island seemed appropriate especially after reading this:

"...a mass of slops and stinks and pestilence; of scum-crested lagoons and vile swamps inhabited by giant crocodiles; a place of spiders as big as your fists and wasps as long as your finger, of ... tree-leeches ... scorpions ... centipedes whose foul scurrying across human skin leaves a track of inflamed flesh... By night, mosquitoes came in clouds - bringing malaria, dengue.... And Guadalcanal stank. She was sour with the odor of her own decay...”- Private Robert Leckie

The museum was a lot to take in.  The war is not an easy subject and after three hours here I had reached my limit.  However, there was one more piece to be seen on Admiral Nimitz himself at the hotel his grandfather once owned.

"PURCHASED BY CHARLES HENRY NIMITZ, SR., IN 1855. BY 1860 THE NIMITZ HOTEL WAS ESTAB LISHED, HOSTING FRONTIER TRAVELERS AND PROVIDING A HOME FOR THE LARGE NIMITZ FAMILY. EXPANDED IN THE 1870S TO FEATURE A STEAM BOAT SHAPED FACADE"

Okay, time for some food and some entertainment.  One of the campworkers here at the campground, Warren, recommended we go see Slim Bawb play at Hondo's on Main.  

This is Hondo's  Everyone seemed to follow protocol for CoVid, the tables were spaced apart, everyone wore masks and we sat in the back far from the stage and singer.

The bar

"A welcome and familiar sound on stages of various size in the Texas Hill Country, Bob “Slim Bawb” Pearce has spent decades (and several self-produced albums) honing an engaging blend of blues, country, funk, folk, and Cajun mixed together so seamlessly that he’s practically his own genre at this point."  He has two Grammy Nominated Albums for Best Americana in 2018 and 2015

We enjoyed his set, check out his music on line.

The girl in the hat was another patron of the restaurant and that's all I know about her.

January 8, 2021

After yesterday's trip, today is a stay home day, but that doesn't mean we can't go on a hike.

Come join us and see what we see

 the water is spilling over a long rock ledge

fly fisherman doing his thing

We walked past the campground to a park area that had some trash along the river's edge.

 First we found a little plastic bag to put the garbage in, then a ripped up 13 gallon bag, then a good hefty bag and finally a construction grade bag which was the universe telling us oh there are more beer cans over there you can use this bigger bag.  Now when we hike here again it will be even nicer.

We ventured beyond the trail which meant ducking under a few branches.

Now these are tall, even if I am a short reference point.

Here is the crazy route we walked today. The starting point is our campsite.

The spike away from the river is when we brought the trash to a dumpster in the park.

Thanks for coming along with us.