Austin TX

Monday November 23, 2009

Campsite at McKinney Falls

Ben certainly gets an award for “Good Sport “ today. He did not even want to come to Austin – calling it a “hot bed of liberalism” ! Today we spent the day going to places Jane had selected… First Cabela’s the huge outdoor outfitter which was in Buda about 7 miles south of our campground. The store was nice and we spent an hour walking around looking. We ended up not buying anything. Ben was going to buy a hiking fanny pack but they did not have one to suit. Then we went across the way to a camping vehicle show room hoping they might have the USA map with states to fill in when you visit them. They had one but it was the type we do not want – has all kinds of writing and pictures on the states – we want one with plain color states. Also would like one of Canada as we saw this on one of the campers near us at Mustang Island.

Our next stop was a Jardine ‘s Foods, the factory and show room for this company that produces a variety of salsas, rubs, bbq sauces etc. They had tasting as well as a sales show room and ability to see the production line through glass windows. We tasted a while and bought a selection of wares. Our favorite was the Buckin’ Berry Sauce served over cream cheese – mummm good!

Next stop – into Austin and to South Congress Street – Allen Boots – where Jane hoped to find a red cowboy hat for grandson, Daniel, and a jacket or vest for herself. South Congress Street was all the tourist books said it would be – weird shops and eateries alongside stores like Allen Boots. We enjoyed the looking – did not buy boots – Jane found a pair she liked for $400 and Ben’s taste was a bit more extravagant – his find was over $1,000! We did find just the hat for Daniel and headed on to the next stop.

Allen Boots on South Congress Street

Lunch was next at an eatery/music venue called Threadgill’s. It was off South Congress right before the “Bat Bridge”. The food was very good. Jane had a veggie plate of salad, spinach casserole and San Antonio Squash Casserole. All were very good with the salad dressing honey mustard with jalepeno. Ben had a club sandwich with fried okra as the side – both good.

Our next venture was to drive to the Capital – we only drove around and took some photos since Jane is having some trouble with a knee today and just was not up to touring the capital and the Texas Museum. It is a beautiful capital building.


Texas Capital

We also got some photos of 6^th Street and the Driskell Hotel which is supposedly haunted. The tour of the night life on 6^th street will just have to be for another trip or another life!

The last stop of the day was at an IKEA store. There are few of these and Jane always enjoys looking around when we go to DC – so it was our last stop of the day. Jane says now she should have skipped this last stop as now her knee is really not doing well at all….

We are back at camp, resting and preparing to eat dinner and watch a WW II movie. Tomorrow we will head west to Johnson City TX and have a campsite reserved in Fredericksburg for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. We also extended our Friday/Saturday hotel to include Thursday…so we know we have locations to rest our heads for the Thanksgiving Holidays. Evidently Thanksgiving in TX is pretty big. I noticed on a school bill board today that they are closed Wednesday – Thursday – Friday for the holiday!