We drove to Houston Tuesday evening and slept at my sister Carol’s. The Super Shuttle arrived at 11:25 Wed morn and swept us to Bush Airport, where we checked in and experienced the usual injections, inspections, detections, infections, neglections, and selections. With plenty of time until our 3:45 take-off, we enjoyed a healthy lunch of …
Looks like a pretty day to drive to Houston. What have I forgotten?
Nothing but flowers . . . Hike – Pitch – Float Thanks for looking!
I can think of many ways to tell a story, but it seems that every story involves telling how the story came to be, and those story clusters intertwine. Linda and I celebrated our fifth honeymoon with a journey back in time. Our annual custom is to sleep in a historic hotel or bed and …
Oftentimes, some of the most remarkable historic figures remain little known. What single person could you name who was born of noble lineage, witnessed the American Revolution, founded a Louisiana town, owned large tracts of Spanish Texas, participated in the first Texas Revolution, saw the birth of the Mexican Republic, was a client of Texas’s …
Living up to my “Back Roads Scholar” title, I go off the beaten track to find tucked-away spots lost to the speeding traveler. Last month, I was headed to Canyon of the Eagles for a camp-out. In Bertram, I turned north to bridge the Russell and North Forks of the San Gabriel River and find …
It’s as if the gods suddenly threw a switch. With a signal from beyond, springtime is bursting forth in Central Texas. One of my favorite harbingers of the fresh season is the Texas Live Oak (Quercus virginiana var. fusiformis), which exhibits an unusual behavior this time of year. My tour clients from the west or …
Three distinct Austin characteristics—government, education, and art—I directly trace to the city founder’s personality and activities. Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, a descendant of Georgia Huguenots, came to Texas in 1835 to study history. He soon became immersed in the Texas Revolution, assuming a significant role at the Battle of San Jacinto as an expert cavalryman. Elected …
Although everywhere in Central Texas remains hot and dry, late July was a good time to take a staycation in Fredericksburg, one of our favorite Hill Country towns. I went with Linda to this very German place for a miniature family reunion and to conduct tour research. My 89-year-old Uncle Elmore resides in Fbg in …
After a busy holiday season from All Hallow’s Eve on, which consisted of many walking tours, drives, and celebrations, this year’s end found us exploring an area 60 miles due east of Austin. My wife, Linda, had discovered Carmine on an arts retreat last March and wished me to enjoy it, too. The journey opened …