Easterly Ho - - A Bit of History As We Travel

Copyright 2019, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

We are headed east after a different kind of winter in Cottonwood/Camp Verde Arizona.

We ran hard for three days and then stopped in an  area basically known as ghost towns.  We are staying in Alanreed, Texas.  Nearby is McLean, Texas, another town that has seen better days.  Cept in McLean we found:

Read all about it:

How cool is this?

McLean Texas, has several things going for it, this site, a couple of museums, one seems to be closed more than open, they have funding issues, federal funds that were keeping it staffed having been removed, and a great steak house where we had lunch, *groan*.

Tomorrow, we roll, eastward ho!

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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Stillwell Store Near Big Bend National Park

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

After our week in the Fredericksburg/Stonewell Texas area we headed for one of Man's bucket list places to visit ::  Big Bend National Park.  It would be a two day drive, first day to Fort Stockton, next day a much shorter ride to Stillwell Store and RV Park about 6 or 7 miles from the north entrance to the park. We had discussed where to stay and how far to drive each day with our traveling friends J & D.  J came up with a idea that turned into a GREAT idea, drive only to Stillwell, stay there at least one night, check it out and then decide what, when and where to go next.  Big Bend is large, no, HUGE, no larger than HUGE.  We had discussed driving from Fort Stockton to the north entrance and continuing on to Study Butte (on the west side of the park), but, we did not want to do that in the late afternoon not being certain of road conditions, how slow or fast we might have to go.  So, Stillwell it was.

Some of the scenery on the drive from Fort Stockton to Stillwell, noting this is the southern part of the Rocky Mountains.  It has been very dry, they have had a drought for 4 years.  Lots of beige, not much green.

The road in was a good one, smooth for the most part, a bit rolly polly, but, not rough or chucking.

Son # 1 asked me to describe Big Bend in 3 sentences, I did it in one word:  Geology.

Yep, it was another day for the U-turn.   The ranch road 2627 when intersecting with 385 had no sign for the Stillwell Store and Ranch, it had been taken down.  Lucky for us, friend J had mentioned the Hallie Stillwell Museum, and we saw that sign (arrow), but, not till we had rolled past the intersection.  J did not roll through, he made the turn,  Man backed Tana up to the intersection (no traffic, NONE) and we followed them into Stillwell.

Our first view of the campground:

No cell phones worked here, the air cards did not work here, there was NO telie here, no cable, but, the campground had fantastic wifi.  We were a bit concerned when the owner said, well, not sure the wifi will work, it was hit by lightening recently.  GULP.  Love the ironies in life, probably the fastest internet connection I have had in a LONG time!  

Here we are set up:

The Stillwell Store.  Love the bottle tree - - 

They sell gas:

Not sure you read that sign right??  Here, a closer look:

The owner said, you really should walk down the road a bit and watch the sunset, it looks promising this evening, so we did:

Yes, indeedy, J's suggestion to stop at Stillwell was a great one, we spent 3 nights there, enjoying the east and central parts of Big Bend National Park from there.  We also visited the Hallie Stillwell Museum, more on that soon, come on back, ya hear - -



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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Christmas in Comfort (Texas)

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

November 24, 2012

Friend Susan of Nolichucky Roots strongly suggested Man and I pay a visit to Comort Texas while we were in the Fredericksburg Texas area.  Then, she informed me it was the weekend for Christmas in Comfort.  She told me how it was such a quaint town full of antique shops and more.  Did not take a lot more to convince me that a drive down to Comfort was in order, I mean, who can turn down antiques, charm AND Christmas??  Not I!

Man and I took a leisurely drive down to Comfort, driving part of the trip on a small back road, quiet and scenic and very enjoyable.  He found a suitable parking spot for Jolly and we went for a stroll through Comfort.  Come join us on our walk, noting that we never left the downtown area, all photos shot within 4 or 5 blocks of the center of town.

Seriously, I would have loved to have this little jewel shipped to the stick built.

Craft vendors:

Decked out for the holidays.

A little entertainment.

Remember, I did say all these photos were taken within 4 or 5 blocks of the center of town.

Creative manner of announcing your retirement:

Nope, we could not walk past the food booths, I mean, really, look at that yummy stuff.  And, it was GOOD, home made and GOOD!

Ho Ho Ho, spin your partner - - 

Thanks Susan for the suggestion, we had a wonderful afternoon in Comfort!

THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Thanksgiving Day, Giving Thanks, Getting Surprises

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Thanksgiving Day, yours truly cooked, yep, I really did.  I know, quite the shock.  I did a traditional turkey meal, with some adjustments, turkey breast, and no yams or sweet potatoes.  SHOCKING!  LOL

Our friends J & D set the table, and I must say, they set a very nice one indeed.  No photos of the food, we were all more interested in eating it, not taking photos of it!

After our meal we went for a nice long leisurely walk, towards the Pedernales River.  We decided to walk down to this bridge/dam and investigate it closer:

I was surprised and delighted to find this plaque:

Here you can see where it is on the bridge/dam:

On our return trip to the campground, via a different street, cause Man really hates to go back the same way he came, we found:

Zoom in a bit:

I swear, you never know what you will find on a simple walk after a good meal.  The Johnson ranch is just about 2 miles from the campground, so I suppose we should not have been so surprised, however, we were. It was fun and interesting, sometimes seeing makes more of an impression, eh??




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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: When in Texas

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

I hear strains of "These boots are made for walking - - - "

* All photos taken in less than 10 minutes one afternoon in Comfort Texas.
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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: A Day in Fredericksburg and Luckenbach Texas

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

November 20, 2012

After a morning of taking care of business in the rigs, J,  D, Man and I headed for Fredericksburg for a late lunch and to just walk around town and take in the sights.

First stop, lunch, and what a lunch it was.  The Spätzle was delish!

After a leisurely lunch and a walk around the gardens snapping photos we stopped near the Vereins Kirche where there were holiday decorations. You can learn more about the Vereins Kirche and the museum and history here.   (Love the roses and the holiday decorations on the building, not sure I will ever get used to Christmas in the south, no snow, no ice, no frozen body parts.  Roses blooming and holiday decorations and lights.  WOW!)

I had spied this pyramid on the way to lunch and I just had to have a photo for our German D-I-L.  It stands in the lawn near the Vereins Kirche.  We would visit again at night.  The area was beautifully decorated.  You can read all about this pyramid here, the first extra large pyramid in the US.

After taking loads of photos we took a ride over to Luckenbach Texas.  If you are ever in the area, you must drive over, REALLY, you must!

Out back this evening there were a number of pickers entertaining, Yep, they were good!

Every town in Texas has a cowboy:

We enjoyed a great lunch and a variety of sites, German holiday decorations and cowboys and pickin'.  Another great day in Texas in the fall.



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THE Trip, THE Encore' :: San Antonio Texas

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

November 21, 2012

The four of us, Man, J, D and yours truly, made a day trip to San Antonio from our campground in Stonewall Texas.  Yep, a long trip down and back.  When we arrived in San Antonio we found a good parking spot without too much issue and it was inexpensive and it was right beside the River Walk.  Score!

We walked along the River Walk, heading for the main section by the Hilton Hotel intending to see the Alamo, enjoy the River Walk, lunch and taking lots and lots of photos.  Mission accomplished.

Walking along the River Walk, yes, we took one of those barge rides. What a wonderful way to see San Antonio and hear some of the city's stories.

The buildings and bridges are great things to photograph:

Even the stair wells get pretty flowers, LOVE these.

We were in San Antonio the day before the holiday parade, the decorations were exquisite.

This is the Nix Professional Building, it's shape changes as the barge moves along the river, a great example of optical illusion.  At one point the building looks like a triangle, then as the barge moves, it looks flat like this.  Love optical stuff, don't you?

We had lunch at Mad Dog's British Pub.  Really!  LOL  Man and J and D had English food, and I had, Mexican.  This pup is actually a piece of statuary, he greets you at the entrance.

Another beautiful stairwell, love the tiles on the risers.

Flowers, November.  Not in Michigan let me tell you!  LOL

The Alamo, no photos allowed inside, such hallowed ground.

The epitome of San Antonio, color, the River Walk, good food, dining by the river, perfect!

I realized I could visit San Antonio and the River Walk many more times before I felt it was everyday or boring.

It sure did not hurt that we had good friends with us, and great weather.  Truly, a nice day all the way around!



* Man and I visited San Antonio in 2005, I blogged about the visit in two posts, one here and one here.  We visited the Missions then, we did not this year.

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