Texas Hill Couuntry

Today, we passed thru the Prairies and Lakes area of TX entering the Hill Country.  That is exactly what it was.  Up one hill and down another.  We had a few things against us...a quartering headwind, water tank almost full of fresh water, cruise control ON, and after a while with rising sunny temperatures the a/c running.  We drove 250 miles averaging 8 mpg.  GRRR  J was surprised when the truck RPM's jumped to 3500 on a hill.  He laughed and said the truck is getting broke in this trip.  LOL

Here is Austin, TX, in the distance. Traveling west on Texas 21.


With bridges over bridges and more bridges, the Sunday traffic was picking up as we drove thru construction of more roads and bridges.  J was not a happy camper after the quiet, less busy country roads.  But, Lilly (as I have named my phone GPS) got us thru Austin in no time.

Here at Dripping Springs we entered the Hill Country.  The Texas hill country is a 25 county region of Central & South Texas.  It starts just north of Austin and continues south to San Antonio.  It has rumpled terrain with wooded canyons cut by spring-fed rivers.  This hill country is punctuated by a large number of limestone or granite rocks and boulders and a thin layer of topsoil, which makes the region very dry and prone to flash flooding.  The hill country is home to yucca, prickly pear cactus, cedar scrub, and the dry SW Texas live oak.

Finally, after almost running OUT OF GAS we made it to our destination at Blanco SP, Blanco, TX. Thank goodness for the 2.5 gal. can of gas we had in the truck.  The low gas warning bell dinged and J got nervous as we had about 13 miles to go before a gas station.  So, this little dab of push water got us to town and Valero at $1.46.9 per gallon.  WHEW!
A stickler for patches, I collect ones of places I really like.  As to what I will do with my collection? I'm leaning towards the idea of creating a wall hanging of places I've been I really like.  Below right is the one lane road that crosses the Blanco River to our campground up on the hill.  Campers are cautioned to be weather aware with readiness to evacuate in a flash IF conditions present themselves.

Our campsite #15 with w/e is on the sunny side of the campground which is nice with the cool nights. We have a covered picnic table and large spacious site with elbow room.  Last night J had a good laugh.  After dark we were going to walk up to the shower house to shower.  Well, I had not had a good look at the area.  J forgot his towel returning to trailer to retrieve.  I continued on with my flashlight to go to the WRONG lighted building.  LOL  It was a picnic shelter of some sort.  So, making my way back to the highway, I stopped listening for J walking down the road to the shower house behind me.  I heard those flip flops as he hollered at me...."over here".  LOST AGAIN!  Making it to the correct building, he told me I had to use a shower code to get into the shower.  Dear me!  So, code in mind, I took my shower and told J I would be OK to return to trailer when done. Ha! Thank goodness my honey looks after me as when I came out the shower house I took the correct left turn down the road forgetting that the road goes into a Y and I took the right leg of the Y instead the left leg and was on the WRONG road.  After a few steps with J about to pop giggling at my little light bobbing along, he again hollered at me, "Where are you going?  Are you lost?  You are on the wrong road."  DANG!  So, had to turn around and walk more steps to hit the right road home.  J laughed and laughed and laughed.  But, then he did have to admit....He did the same thing.  So, I, too, laughed.

This morning we went exploring and fishing.  First stop was for me to enjoy the animals.  Here they come just a running.  Goats.                                               Here is Bucky Llama.  Look at those teeth.

 

 Memorial Day Weekend, 2015, the Blanco River raged faster than Niagara Falls.  Blanco, 48 miles west of Austin, was whalloped by this surging river destroying 15 homes and killing 20. Several hundred homes were damaged with flood waters.  Folk were caught off guard due to poor forecasting.  River gauges downstream at Wimberley measured the river at 40 feet -- shattering an 86 y/o record -- before being ripped away by the current. Today one can see the evidence of the high water with trash high up in the trees and trees taken down by the strong currents.  Below you can see the twig trash high up in the tree to give an example of how high the water went here at Blanco, TX. Final reported crest was at 43 feet.

 Falls with swimming area near one lane bridge to campground.

 Looking across the Blanco River where our campground is located.

Ducks...I love their color.










This is how J fishes....leaned up against the big cypress. He did catch one small bream.

 Lower falls...

 Our trip to town was full of history and good food.

Cochise once occupied this area until run west by the folk who settled here in 1853.  They were pioneer stockmen, former Texas Rangers, immigrants & their families.  There were 300 families who first came to settle this area creating the town of Blanco.

The courthouse was built only to operate 4 years due to its county central status.  According to Texas Law, the county seat and courthouse had to be within a 1 day horse ride.  When Kendell County took part of Blanco for their county, it threw the town of Blanco off center for the county.  Thus, the county seat moved to Johnson City, TX.  Now this beautiful building houses the Visitor Center.

 The Old 300 BBQ Restaurant was named in memory of the first 300 families who settled this area.  All their last names are on an interior wall of this restaurant. 

Our shared lunch was awesome.  Angus beef BBQ, 1/2 BBQ chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, awesome sweet and spicy sauces, & water with lime.  I would recommend this place.

Water was served from the old white scales.

 Last, but not least, a washing table for those who eat the country way...with their fingers.  Awesome!

 Back at trailer we took rest of this day off.  I playing "catch-up" with my blogs and J resting as we head out again come morning.  Take care until another blog.