4/5/2017 - 4/11/2017 Austin, TX @ McKinney Falls S.P. 4/5 – 4/11

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 

Tim and Linda Bunyan

From CA to AZ, to TX, we are now in the Texas capitol city: Austin in Travis County!  After moving into McKinney Falls RV State Park, a natural oasis within the city limits, we enjoyed a 5-mile bike path throughout the park.  This is conveniently located near downtown Austin and a great place to stay and ride bikes.

BROKEN SPOKE DANCEHALL
Tim led us to the last of the true Texas dancehall: "Broken Spoke". 
  Tim and I and Larry and Karen enjoyed the dance lesson by owner Ms. White.  We listened to Austin-based, country music band: The Derailers. 
This place remains in the family since the '60s, and the 'burbs' have grown up around it.  

We know we've experienced the real music scene by joining up with Karen and Larry at the Broken Spoke!

Our friends: Jim and Crystal Spencer just visited West Hill Country of Austin and recommended the original Salt Lick Barbecue restaurant in Driftwood, Texas.  This family-style open-pit filed with pork ribs and smoked turkey is world-famous and a delight for us!  

AUSTIN

We are on foot through the city streets of Austin to the awesome state capitol building where a marching band was playing on the grounds.  This National Register of Historic Places capitol building is unusually brown in color.....Texas brown and quite attractive.

I wear a sundress and walking shoes over the bridge at Lady Bird Lake to explore Austin City Center.

Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue at Auditorium Shores on Lady Bird Lake.

 I bought TIM a Texas hat as the store where Roy Orbinson's wife shops....of course!

The Sunset Capitol of Texas: The Oasis on Lake Travis is where we celebrated my birthday.  This 4-floors restaurant is designed by a dreamer and doer.  This is a perfect place to carve out today for my birthday!   Setting is on the hillside overlooking the beautiful Lake Travis.

The Oasis

Departing Austin, Texas for final stop in Texas: Galveston

Departing Austin, Texas for final stop in Texas: Galveston

4/3/2017 - 4/3/2017 Miles and Miles of Texas

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 

Tim and Linda Bunyan

Ozona, TX @ Chamber Commerce Lot on 4/3/2017.


The Texas highways are surrounded by mowed grass and as well kept as tales of the women of Texas.

With few competing demands and impulse, we embrace the Texas roadway.  After passing a flatbed filled with cars and a flatbed filled with a GMC RV  within 100 miles,
while listening to Willie Nelson's daughter broadcast on his radio station on the "Riddles and Rhymes Show" interviewing a blacksmith, we met up with Karen and Larry and headed onward on I-1- thru Alpine (Sul Ross State University).  Songs like "Easier as we get Older", and "Some other Time", and "Tell the World to Wait" on "God's Problem Child" Willie's Roadhouse Satellite Radio brought us into the green and many trees of the West Hills Country of Austin.  

Thru the miles and miles of Texas, we stayed overnight at the keen Chamber of Commerce parking lot in Ozona.
The next couple of nights at the Gallespie County Fair Grounds in the home of Texas German: better known now as the wine country of Fredricksburg, Texas.  Loved this place.  It is a green, small sophisticated town, and lots of wine.

4/1/2017 - 4/2/2017 MARFA, Texas

From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com 

Tim and Linda Bunyan

MARFA,

Texas is a destination huge in intrigue for us and one we planned for early on in designing our "2017 Travel Tour."


This town is in the middle of nowhere.  This is a strong reason we wanted to come to MARFA.
The unusual unfolds to us. 
Artists, Hollywood types, and adventurers are drawn to this art community created by New Yorker: Donald Judd.  

This hub displays huge outdoor installations 
like the ballroom: a building enhanced for musical venues and festivals.  


Marfa radio KRTS broadcasts a public radio format.

1955 James Dean on set here in film: 'Giant' starring Liz Taylor.

The "Tumble In" RV Park includes all the amenities with self-check-in at the tiny trailer at the entrance.  
Living alongside the railroad tracks, there is a comfort we are on the right road.

Prada Marfa is a sculpture by artists Elmgreen and Dragset a couple miles just off U.S. Highway 90 and 25 miles NW of the city of Marfa.

We could usually find Karen and Larry at the Horseman's Bar:  Basketeball Season on ON!

March Madness!!!

MARFA LIGHTS,observed U.S.Route 67 on Mitchell Flat east of Marfa,TX: will-o'-the-wisp.  ("Ya Had To BE There"!)