WACO, TX 9-14-2017

 Bee is running ahead of the storms and keeping us high and dry.  The love bugs welcomed us into Shreveport and waved good-bye as we left.  Good bye love bugs, just like that.  Apparently, they like hanging around in Shreveport, LA.  Chiggers hang around in Texas and they like to nip at your ankles.

Hi to Lindy and Rob from Mark!

Bee among the old beautiful trees
at North Crest RV Park

It is cooling down and there is a wonderful cool breeze.  Fall is in the air.  The sky is blue from one edge to the other over North Crest RV Park, an older park with lots of big elm and oak trees.  They are dropping their yellow leaves and the breeze swirls them around my feet.  Acorns plink onto our rooftop, tick tock, like an old grandfather clock keeping time.  Then the squirrels get into the act and play a little basketball with the acorns.  Thump, thump, thump.  And he scores!  Thumpity thump!  It is a fine time of year and a fine, quiet, tranquil, forested rv park.  If you are ever in Waco, Texas, stay here.  Mark (and you) will be happy you did!

Waco derives its name from a local Indian tribe and the town is considered the heart of Texas.  The Chisolm and Shawnee Trails passed through Waco and the Brazos River passes right through downtown.  Over the decades, cowboys drove millions of head of cattle along these trails heading to the northern markets.  Now, it is a big, busy city with a population of over 130,000 but there are still a number of old landmarks.  Among these is the old suspension bridge built in 1870, the first to span the Brazos River and upon which the cattle were driven.  An old cemetery is now an historic landmark with weather-worn stones the oldest of which we found was a person who died in 1813. 

 On a current note, we found Buzzard Billy’s, a restaurant with seating on the river.  It is famous for Cajun food such as catfish po’boys, jambalaya, gumbo, smoked black eye peas and the great Southern specialty, bread pudding containing pecans, walnuts and raisins and smothered in warm brandy sauce.  Of course, we ordered this to go so we could enjoy it with our coffee the next morning.

Morning has arrived.  Bread pudding and coffee are served on our patio among the leaves, trees and squirrels.  We had learned that there is an incredible sculpture on the west side of the Brazos River along the Riverwalk.  We were packing up and preparing to depart this morning when we realized that we had not seen this work of art.  We took a special trip back into town.  We are so happy we did this.  The sculpture, titled, “Branding the Brazos,” created by Robert Summers, is about a block long and is really a grouping of huge bronze sculptures.  Three cowboys drive a herd of 25 longhorns through the park near the original 1870 suspension bridge.  The enormity of this project took both of us by surprise and we stood and stared!  Here is a monument which must be seen!  How in the world do people dream up these ideas and then realize them?  It took the artist years to create this, understandably, and it was a big deal when the final sculptures were put into place.  I am deeply humbled by this artist and his work. 

Rob and the longhorns

Rob among the herd

Through the park

Lindy among the herd

Beautiful sculpture by Robert Summers

It is a short drive (maybe 200 miles or so) to Fredericksburg, TX.  For tonight, we will settle in and relax with a toonie in the pretty sunset.  Fredericksburg is populated by a pantload of Krauts.  Enough Cajun and Creole, let’s move on to bratwurst and sauerkraut; eine, swei, gsuffa!