| Looking forward to transferring the gear to the Casita |
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We drove for 10 hours today from San Miguel to Austin and, unfortunately, we weren't able to fit in any sight-seeing or photos. But as we became bored, we started reading signs and we had fun observing that:
- Hwy 10 was a great road for covering a substantial distance and the speed limit was 80 mph. Even the fully loaded big rigs were passing us with ease. These roads are well-engineered!
- Gas is inexpensive here - $3.25 per gallon in some locales. But, of course, it should be cheap here; it's Texas!
- West Texas appears to still be suffering from a multiple-year drought. The grass remains golden and the creeks and rivers are dry or quite swampy. A church signboard in the small town of Harper read "Pray for Rain." One local told us that this is the fourth year of sustained drought. Only when we reached the Austin area, did the grass turn green.
- An anti-litter sign read: "Don't mess with Texas; or up to a $2000 fine" - and we believe it!
- Miscellaneous business and state signs of note: Dripping Ink Tattoo (in Dripping Spring), Deer Processing, Frog Pond Office Park, Six Shooter Wine Cellars, "Designate a driver, or meet ours" (THP), "Report Wildlife Violators" (does that mean wild, crazy animals?), "Drive Friendly...the Texas Way," and (in the wine country) Tuscany in Texas. All were observed in and around Fredericksburg, TX.
- In Fredericksburg, some of the businesses and street signs are actually in German (Deutsch), since the town was originally settled by Germans. It's interesting to see Strasse instead of St.
- Many of the family homes and businesses throughout western TX are decorated with metal Lone Stars, cutouts of Texas, and Texas state flags. Hmmm - in California we'll see a bear or two on a fencepost, but it's not typically there to celebrate being a Californian, unless it's representing our Cal Golden Bears.
Along the roadsides, the wild flowers here are in bloom with the famous Texas Blue Bonnets, yellow daisies and unidentified red and orange flowers - the impression - a rainbow of color on the median strips It must be gorgeous here in the spring, when they do get their normal rainfall!
Tonight, we're staying in a cute little Airbnb home in northern Austin, which is decorated in Central and South American folk art. It's festive and fun to relax here in this nice room. Tomorrow our goal is Corsicana, TX, near where (in Rice) we will pick up the trailer. We're very excited!
Nancy, Glad you're enjoying this part of the trip thru Texas ; it seems like a different country at times - dry counties = no liquor/wine stores. How do you like your Cassita now that it's fully equipped with your personal gear? I'm glad to see some lights on in your home: it looks happier and lived in. Enjoy the cheap gas AND buy a non-California gas can or 2.
ReplyDeleteAfter being in her for two weeks, we are really very pleased with how well-put-together she is. Her interior is well designed and spacious, even though she is so tiny. We're just learning to work around each other's habits so that we don't get in the other person's way. The bed is surprisingly comfortable and with our alternative down comforter, she's very cozy, even on the coldest nights. We're happy we bought the extra propane heater, since we tend to travel in colder places and it heats up the trailer w/in 15 minutes in the morning. The refrigerator (a Dometic) works perfectly for the type of food we eat (very simple) and the little two burner stove, which we've used almost every night and morning works quickly and is the right size for our pots. We're leaving the bed down right now and eating at the small side dinette which keeps things organized and helps us get out in the morning quicker. We're pleased we purchased the high axle and larger tires, since we love to drive back roads that tend to be a bit rough. We're very proud of the fact that she is so tiny, yet so efficient, especially when camping next to the other "beasts" in the campgrounds. We don't even use a generator (though we brought one just in case) since E is experimenting w/ solar power instead. I'm sure as we travel, we will learn about her peculiarities, but so far - we made the perfect choice for us!.
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