Other thoughts by Ann

Of course, while we are RV-less, we have seen MANY RV sites inside the city or town limits, some within walking distance of some interesting things to do.  But noooooo Rv for us… We are seeing clouds from Hurricane Dolly.  All day there have been many fluffy clouds and the quality of sunlight has been very different, and as we came into  Austin, we saw three separate rain storms ahead of us, and it started to rain just as we got out of the car.  Very heavy, but very quick rain.  Now there are very dark clouds to the east.  A fabulous day at Hamilton Pool, a natural pool made by a source of water and then at the “other end” of the walk a bigger river, the Pedernales River, where we found a rock in the middle and just latched on while the water went by us.  So did a snake, swimming his way by, and then a red squirrel came to the water to drink.  The only signs of civilization were the sounds of some people laughing upstream and a wire across the river, upstream.  BEAUTIFUL. Back in Austin, time for a movie

July 20/21/22 – Fredericksburg, TX

Okay, so I know some of this has already been said, but if I don’t cover it my brain will get confused, so I’ll try not to repeat everyone.

Sunday the 20th we left Austin for Fredericksburg, and stopped for lunch and a little shopping and antiquing in Boerne, TX.

Dad met this dog.

Then we found some giant chairs, and the king and queen ascended.

We continued to Fredericksburg and went out in the afternoon to explore. Fredericksburg is considerably cleaner and tidier than San Antonio– classic small town– and reminded us a bit of Rehoboth. It might be the enormously wide streets (which originate in the fact that you cannot back up an ox and must take your cart all the way round).

We found the bead store, first, for mom, and she happily stayed for an hour or so picking out strands. Dad paused for a wine tasting, and I set off for the local yarn store, Stonehill Spinning. They were closed. On the way, I saw a mama squirrel and her baby bothering her.

Fredericksburg is full of old, interesting buildings built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s for the incoming German population. Those buildings now are mostly shops and boutiques, but their facades are still very cool.

We joined up again, went grocery shopping, and I met this cat.

Also I finished my socks that evening,

so I started another pair.

We passed Monday morning with more strolling, and found a few treasures, like this lighttree.

Then we went to the Fredericksburg Pioneer Museum, run by this adorable old couple whose family has clearly owned the property since the buildings were built in the late 1800’s. She wore a very prairie-esque dress, and he had lots of stories to tell us. It was fascinating, and they were very cute.

There were three antique spinning wheels on the premises, each in a different little cottage. Squee!

That last one is a walking wheel! I’ve never seen them in person before. Very exciting for the spinner-historian in me.

And in the end, Clint agreed to hold the sock.

Next morning we were up bright and early for an adventure. We went and climbed Enchanted Rock, which is the second largest hill/dome of solid pink granite in the country, next to Stone Mountain in Georgia. There isn’t a whole lot to say– it was fun!– so I’ll leave you with a collection of just pictures.

Phew. We came back and swam in the pool and took naps, and then headed out again around lunch time. I went to the Java Ranch to sit and work on my college writing seminar placement essay. Mom set off for the post office, which proved to be about two miles farther than she expected. Dad went shopping and had lunch at the local canned foods-jams-jellies-and-sauces store by sampling everything there on a cracker. Sarah stayed in and watched TV and read and napped.

We met up about four hours later for ice cream. Then we went back to the room for some TV and chill time before dinner.

… Where we saw this puppy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And dad made another animal friend.

Tomorrow we are going back to Austin to wait for the RV. We are talking about a 24-hour driving marathon to get the heck out of Texas, as, though we are enjoying it, we are all sick of the stationary-ness of it all.