Ribs & Rhythm Tour, 2013 ~

Labor Day weekend we headed west.  And so began our 2nd annual Ribs & Rhythm tour.  We met at Buc-ees, and it was a sweet homecoming.



Oh, how I love Buc-ees.  The land of fudge and jerky and all good things.  The one in Luling has dozens and dozens of bathrooms guarded by a Longhorn with a head of marbles.   Buc-ees: they are my people.  And my people shall be your people....go!!

Luling City Market. Can't beat it.  So far, the best in Texas.  I wrote about them last year so won't repeat, but it's heaven.  Lovely bones.  The end.



And then on to Fredericksburg, one of the meccas of Hill Country and a lot of fun to boot.  A few of our adventures, no particular order:

OK, who knew Circle E Candles had a showroom in Fredericksburg??  They are the best candles ever...they smell divine.   I chose Creme Brulee.

"Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas

With Waylon and Willie and the boys
This successful life we're livin'
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys"

Let me tell you about Luckenbach.  It's hot.  It's primitive.  And the visitors come from far and wide.  That's a small stage but there is a bigger dancehall.  God bless Waylon Jennings.

 After Luckenbach we headed for Alamo Springs Cafe, which has the #3 hamburger in the state of Texas.  In all it's glory:

Yes, that's it.  Charles was the only one of us who had THE prize winning burger, but everything we ate was delicious.  The drive to Alamo Springs was crazy...we saw dozens and dozens of deer.  Here, there, everywhere - they were jumping fences and crossing roads and Don loved it!


Huge homemade onion rings.  





Alamo Springs made us happy, happy, happy! (note, the fridge is red)




One day we set off for the LBJ Ranch.  Democrats! What the heck, we were in the neighborhood, we figured we might as well see the Texas White House.  It's a National Historical Park and you can drive through for free, just had to stop and get a pass.




The cattle are beautiful.  They're living the good life.






You can only imagine how many world leaders made the trip to the Ranch. I snapped a shot of a photo of these two.  Body language tells all, doesn't it?  There is LBJ in casual clothes, leaning forward, trying to make his point while Nixon, shirt and tie, sits back, listening.  Noncommittal.  Body language. 




We toured the first floor of the Ranch, it was only $3 per person.  The tours are limited to 12 people each so we got to ask lots of questions.  You feel a real connection to history.  

When we were in the kitchen, the Ranger told us that on the day JFK was killed, he and Jackie were expected at the Ranch later that afternoon.  He had requested pecan pie, and the cooks had baked 18 of them in preparation for the group.  I could just imagine those pies sitting on the counter, waiting for the group that would not arrive.  A somber day.  

Fredericksburg is just charming.  It's small but there's lots of fun around.  We hit these:

• WWII Pacific Rim war reenactment (the brothers-in-law)
• Shopping (the sisters)
• Rustling Rob's
• Cranky Frank's 
• Enchanted Rock State Park

And Clear River Ice Cream & Bakery.  This place is darling!!

Decorated in red retro malt shop style.  Elvis is alive and well there. 




So many kinds of ice cream, all homemade.  



Frozen hot chocolate...enough said.  



You can even have lunch/dinner there too.  No wonder Elvis sticks around.  




After we stayed in Fredericksburg for a couple of days, we moved on to San Marcos.  Had to check in to see the Drugstore Cowboys (a band) at John T. Floores and eat some tamales.  

Before long, it was time to hit the road and go home.  



Adios, Hill Country.   Until next time...