Thursday, February 13, 2020 - Day 1 of Exploring the Area - Luckenbach and Fredericksburg, TX

Thursday, February 13, 2020 - Day 1 of Exploring - Luckenbach and Fredericksburg, TX

After getting the coffee started this morning I finished up Wednesday's blog post. When Dean got up, we talked about what we should do today.  We have three days to explore the area.  I made a list of some things to do/see in the area a few days ago.  We decided after he'd reviewed the list we would go to Fredericksburg and Luckenbach, possibly Comfort if there is time.  

Dean and I spent several days near San Antonio a few years ago.  We decided to take a drive to Fredericksburg one afternoon.  We happened upon the Fredericksburg Trade Days and spent a couple of hours there.  After driving down through the historic business district  we decided to look for Luckenbach on our way back.  I've always loved Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson's music and just wanted to see it.  We did finally find it, but it was already dark and it sounded like quite a party going on.  That's not what we were going for, so we passed it by and headed back to our campground.

We left Bentley around 10:15.  It was a beautiful day and although it never reached 70 it was a clear day, with a slight wind.  Just enough you needed a jacket but not uncomfortable.

Approaching Luchenbach - the signs says Luchenbach Town Loop

Entrance to the Town Loop - what little loop there was!

As we came around the loop we saw the country store.  After parking, our first stop was the restroom facilities, which turned out to be a good thing.  As I was washing my hands, a woman walked over and turned on the hot water and let it run.  She commented she always did this so it would be warm, and then commented that she worked there.  We visited a few minutes before I went outside to meet Dean.  Just a short distance away, there was a kissing booth, set up as a prop for pictures.  We were looking at it when she walked out.  She asked if we'd like for her to take a picture of us - well, sure!  So here is our moment in the kissing booth!

I had to brighten this picture up a bit.  Too much shade to get a really good picture.

We enjoyed looking around.  We walked into the store/bar/entertainment building.  There was a store in the front area with all kinds of trinkets, t-shirts, etc you could buy.  I should have taken pictures of their pets - a large rooster that was sitting on the counter, crowing away, and a black and white cat that was laying on a bed of something soft.  Right now I can't even remember what it was - and now I wish I had taken pictures of both.  

We could hear someone singing in the back, so we walked on back to listen.  There were a few benches around the room so we set and listened to a couple of Valentine Day songs by the musician.  He was really good and the songs were very touching.  I enjoyed just looking at the pictures on the wall, the signs, etc.  I loved all of the police, sheriff, and military badges that were attached to the walls.  There were pictures of many people plastered on nearly every inch of the walls - including Willie, and Don Williams.  I'm sure Waylon was in there somewhere, but I couldn't look at all of them due to the people sitting on the benches that made it difficult to get too close.

The post office section of the store.

We walked to the back room as I wanted to look around.  I enjoyed looking at the pictures on the wall, where I could.  We enjoyed the music before we left.  Here are a few pictures of that area.

We became part of their "History Book".

Loved this stove that was keeping us warm.  This room might have been 12 x 12.  Seating was a bench along one side of the bar, and along the wall between the bar room and the store.  If you enlarge this picture you will see some of the police badges attached around the door.

Outside the store was this display of license plates - none from Kansas😞

A little information about Luckenbach.

As we left I took this picture.  Starting tomorrow there is a 3-day event going on.  I'm glad we visited today.  There were a couple of RV's on site, one pulled in while we were having lunch.  I'm not sure if they were arriving early to get a good place, or a vendor there for the weekend event.

After leaving the store, we returned to the truck, where we ate the lunch I packed for us.  This is our attempt to keep our dining budget in check, after putting a huge dent in it while we were in Mission.  We parked not too far from the restroom.  Wouldn't you know, they were pumping the septic tank out; so we moved to the large parking area that was all but empty, to enjoy our lunch in a "no smell" area. 

From Luckenbach, we headed back to Fredericksburg where we enjoyed walking through the historic downtown area.  I'm not sure if it was the day or month we visited before, but today it was not busy at all in comparison to our last visit.  The sidewalks were full of people then and today it was a pretty slow day, which was a perfect day for us to visit as neither of us are fond of crowds.  While Dean was searching for a place to park, I was searching online to find the closest restroom.  After locating one, we drove through most of the shopping area, where we found the perfect place to park our dually - a side street with curb parking.  We began our walk, first crossing the street.  As we neared the point where they indicated the restroom was, we could not find one, so we continued our walk toward the other end of this shopping area.  

When we reached the library, we stopped to see if we could use their restroom facilities, and the lady at the desk pointed across the hall to a swinging door, where they were located.  

The former Gillespie County Courthouse, which is now the Public Library.

I loved these beautiful wooden doors at the library. 

We walked into a number of businesses, although we didn't find anything we couldn't live without, we both enjoyed looking.  At one of the stores while Dean was looking around the lady at the counter asked me where we were from.  When I told her Kansas, she asked where in Kansas?  After I told her, she let me know she was originally from Scott City, KS.  What a small world - even though there are several miles between the two.  I visited with her the entire time Dean was looking around.  She told me she followed some RV blogs since many of their customers are RVer's, and she would love to do that one day herself.  

As we continued our walk, we crossed the street, and I snapped this picture of Admiral Nimitz, located outside the National Museum of the Pacific War, and the Admiral Nimitz Gallery.

I had to take this picture of "Grandma Daisy's".  My great-grandmother's name was Daisy.

For my daughter - a big St. Louis Cardinal fan!

And my son, a Dallas Cowboy fan!

A very interesting metal sculpture...

I saw this beautiful dress and immediately thought of our granddaughter Dacy.  She would look amazing in this dress.

Market Square.

Beautiful tree located at Market Square.

City Hall & Fire Station

Pretty flowers on our walk.

After returning to the truck, we started our drive back toward our campground. As we neared Kerrville I was finally able to take a picture of this huge cross on a hill.  We noticed it right away the first time we drove by, but the angle didn't allow me to get a decent picture.  

After a short drive, we happened upon one of those Texas Stop Signs - Dairy Queen.  We decided we would stop, as required, and wouldn't have much for dinner tonight.   We ordered the Heath Caramel Brownie blizzard.  As we were eating them, Dean commented this does not taste the same as we've had in the past.  It was Lots of chocolate, and while he likes it, he'd prefer something with less chocolate in it.

We discovered later she had made us a Choco Brownie Extreme blizzard.

While ordering at the counter I noticed this flyer:

I was looking through it while waiting on our blizzards, and realized it was where I had seen the cross on the hill as we entered town.  I told Dean I wanted to visit this before we leave the area.  It is FREE to visit the Prayer Garden.  

Here is the link if you would like to learn more about it.  I am looking forward to visiting it tomorrow.  

As we returned to our RV Park, I took a few pictures:

The road to our site.

He was at our site when we returned.

Beautiful little chapel they have at the park.  The sun was shining through the window - I wondered if they had some stained glass in the back windows - there was none in the front.  Dean said it's like God is just shining through it.  

Beautiful trees withe the RV park behind it.

Johnson Creek behind the RV Park

Our site - 72

What a beautiful day it was!  The weather has been perfect!