Departing from South Padre Island after 4 fun days of sun, wildlife, sand, and the WORST tap water I have ever tasted (!), we headed due north. Our caravan of two did make a stop in Kingville to see the King Ranch (duh) - the largest ranch in the continental US, before traveling on to New Braunfels, situated between San Antonio and Austin.
Our aim was to explore the famed Texas Hill Country, with its bountiful wildflowers, rivers and rolling hills. Fortunately, the weather was perfect; sunny with a slight breeze. Though the Hill Country is quite a large area, our highlights circuit followed a path west from New Braunfels, then clockwise through Bandera, Kerrville and on to Fredericksburg.
Bandera's Claim to Fame
While there's not much to the town of Bandera, it is situated on the gentle Medina River, with lovely little parks and friendly locals.
Medina River flora & fauna
Kerrville, TX is a short drive north and townsfolk are already ramping up with preparations for the popular singer songwriter fest (AKA Nashville West) held during the whole month of June. Apparently, it is the mecca for those passionate about writing and performing American Folk Music, with meet & greets, jamming, collaborations and talent scouts.
However, the real reason for driving the highways and byways of TX Hill Country in April is to feast our eyes on the famous wildflowers. And feast we did! Everywhere, alongside big roads and small, around yards, businesses and fields, grew a handsome variety of these colorful beauties.
Texas State Flower - Bluebonnets and more!
Lady Bird Johnson's favorite region of America the Beautiful
Vibrant Mixture
Greener grass, Redder Poppies
Fredericksburg seemed to be the floral epicenter, with zillions of roadside flowers to enjoy and wild seed farms cultivating even more seeds for purchase, for those home gardeners with a multicolored thumb.
Fredericksburg's most famous son, Admiral Nimitz, WWII Commander of US Forces in the Pacific theater. His statue and museum on main street with another museum on the next block chock-full of memorabilia and weaponry from World War II battles against Japan.
While we were still in South Padre, I realized that our Hill Country tour would take us quite near Austin, where two sets of cousins reside. It was our good fortune that both of them were available to meet up with us at an expansive country barbecue restaurant called "The Salt Lick". The place only takes cash, is BYOB (coolers of beer!) and does a bang up business. We ate family style (of course) at picnic tables and had a delightful evening catching up with one another and introducing them to our travel friends, Ken and Susan Hunt.
Maria and Roger Stewart
Bruce and Ellen Thelen
Yours Truly
Despite all the jokes that New Mexicans make about Texas, we had a wonderful time enjoying their beautiful wildflowers and scenic byways.
Barbara & Paul
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