FREDERICKSBURG, HILL COUNTRY, LBJ RANCH

WE LEFT HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 AND STAYED IN GREENVILLE, TEXAS FOR THE NIGHT. WE LEFT GREENVILLE AT 9:15 AND ARRIVED IN FREDERICKSBURG AT 4:00.

 

 

 FINALLY, WE WERE IN HILL COUNTRY!! WHEN WE WERE IN SAN ANTONIO LAST YEAR I HEARD ABOUT THE HILL COUNTRY AND HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS.

 

 

AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL!!!

WE WENT TO DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG, IT IS SUCH A QUAINT  LITTLE  TOWN!!

 

 

 

 

FULL OF LITTLE SHOPS WITH SUCH UNIQUE ITEMS!!

 

AFTER THAT WE STOPPED BY THE LOCAL  VERIZON STORE  TO SEE WHAT OUR  OPTIONS WERE  FOR GETTING INTERNET SERVICE WHILE WE ARE AT THE CHRISTMAS TREE LOT.  A NICE YOUNG MAN, MICHAEL,  HELPED US AND EXPLAINED A MIFI TO US. WE ENDED UP BUYING THE MIFI FOR $50.00, WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS REASONABLE AND ADDED $10 A MONTH  FOR THE DATA PACKAGE. WE WERE HAPPY!!!

 

THE NEXT DAY WE HEADED FOR THE LBJ RANCH!!  LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON, WAS OUR 36TH. PRESIDENT. IT WAS JUST A SHORT DRIVE.

 

 

WE WENT ON A TOUR OF "THE TEXAS WHITE HOUSE".

 

 

 

IT IS A MODEST HOME, BUT VERY NICE AND IT SITS ON THE PEDERNALES RIVER. THE GUIDE SAID THIS WAS  MRS. JOHNSON'S FAVORITE VIEW. I  CAN SEE WHY!!   THE PEDERNALES RIVER IS RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WHITE FENCE.

 

 

IT WAS HARD TO IMAGINE THIS WAS A PRESIDENT'S HOME....I EXPECTED SOMETHING MUCH MORE GRANDEUR!! BUT, LBJ LOVED TO ENTERTAIN AND SPENT ALOT OF TIME ON THE RANCH DURING HIS PRESIDENCY AND ENTERTAINED IMPORTANT DIGNITARIES.  HE WOULD DRIVE THEM AROUND THE RANCH IN HIS WHITE CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE.

 

 

 

 

 

 HE WOULD SHOW OFF HIS PRIZE HEREFORDS,  STILL RAISED ON THE RANCH.

 

 

 

 

PRESIDENT JOHNSON DIED AT HIS BELOVED RANCH IN 1973.

 

THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. JOHNSON ARE BURIED IN THE FAMILY

PLOT ON THE RANCH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ONE OF THE LOCALS WERE VISITING THE GRAVES WHILE WE WERE THERE, SHE SAID MRS. JOHNSON VISITED LYNDON'S GRAVE EVERY DAY WHEN SHE WAS AT THE RANCH. SHE LIVED HERE UNTIL HER DEATH IN 2007, SPLITTING HER TIME BETWEEN THE RANCH AND AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHERE HER DAUGHTER, LUCI  LIVES. 

 

 

WE ENJOYED TOURING THE RANCH.

 LBJ AND HIS FAMILY,  WERE ONE OF MY FAVORITE PRESIDENTS.

 

 

 

 

I REMEMBER READING ACCOUNTS OF THE TEXAS WHITE HOUSE AND THE JOHNSONS, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE THE PRIVILEDGE OF VISITING THEIR HOME. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

WE DECIDED, SINCE WE HAD TIME, WE WANTED TO SEE MORE OF THE OZARKS, SO WE HEADED TO HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, WHICH IS SORT OF ON THE WAY TO SAN ANTONIO. HOT SPRINGS IS NICKNAMED "THE SPA CITY", AND PROMISES THEIR HOT MINERAL WATER WILL RELAX AND REJUVENATE YOU. JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED, BEFORE WE START SELLING CHRISTMAS TREES SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

IT WAS ONLY A FIVE HOUR DRIVE FROM BRANSON.

OUR CAMPGROUND IS LOVELY, BEAUTIFUL SHOWER ROOMS AND LOUNGE AREA, AND BEST OF ALL A DOG PARK RIGHT ON LAKE HAMILTON.

WHEN WE WENT OVER TO PLAY THIS WAS OUR VIEW.........

WE DROVE TO DOWNTOWN HOT SPRINGS AND AS WE GOT OUT TO GO INTO THE VISITOR CENTER, WE NOTICED  ALL THESE FOLKS FILLING WATER JUGS.

OF COURSE, I COULDN'T STAND IT, I HAD TO WALK OVER AND TASTE THE WATER....CUPPED MY HAND TO GET A DRINK AND THE WATER WAS HOT!!!

CONTINUED ON TO THE VISITOR CENTER AND GOT SOME TOURIST INFORMATION, AND FOUND OUT, YES, MOST OF THE WATER IS HOT, THERE ARE A COUPLE COLD SPRINGS. THE LADY WHO WORKED IN THERE SAID,  ALOT OF THE RESIDENTS GET THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM THESE WATER STATIONS, BECAUSE THE WATER TASTES SO GOOD. WE FOUND OUT THAT WHEN WE LEAVE THERE AND WALK A BLOCK WE WILL BE IN HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, THE SMALLEST NATIONAL PARK IN THE U.S.

HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK CONSISTS OF HISTORIC  BATHOUSE ROW.
THERE ARE ONLY TWO BATHHOUSES OPEN.

 THIS IS THE  QUAPAW, THIS IS WHERE THEY HAVE THE  PUBLIC BATHS, WHICH IS WHERE WE BATHED. THERE WERE FOUR POOLS IN VARYING DEGREES OF "HOT".
THEY RANGED FROM 93 DEGREES TO 104 DEGREES. WE ENJOYED ALL THE POOLS, BUT 104 WAS A LITTLE TOO HOT AND 93 WAS A LITTLE TOO COLD. THE 101 WAS THE MOST COMFORTABLE FOR US.

IT WAS WONDERFUL AND RELAXING! THEY SERVE  YOU ICE COLD MINERAL WATER. YOU CAN STAY AS LONG AS YOU LIKE. WE WERE THERE THREE HOURS.

WE BOUGHT SOME JUGS SO WE COULD TASTE THEIR WATER.

TOOK IT HOME AND LET IT COOL OFF.....IT IS THE BEST WATER I HAVE EVER TASTED.

HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS IS ALSO PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON'S HOME.

WALKING DOWN BATHHOUSE ROW I NOTICED THERE WERE HOLLY BUSHES....WOW! BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES FROM FLORIDA.

AND THE BIG LEAFED  MAGNOLIA TREES, I HAD FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT THEM!

THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK A RIVERBOAT RIDE ON LAKE HAMILTON.

THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT AND THE VIEWS WERE GORGEOUS!

WE LEARNED A LITTLE HISTORY OF  LAKE HAMILTON TOO!

AS WE WERE LEAVING THE RIVERBOAT, I NOTICED THESE GROWING!!!

BANANAS!!

SATURDAY MORNING, WE WENT TO A FARMER'S MARKET, BOUGHT GREEN BEANS, HOMEMADE PLUM JELLY, CUCUMBERS AND TOMATOES, ALL ARKANSAS GROWN. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS!

WE ALSO FOUND FRESH PECANS AT A LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET. THEY ARE SO FRESH, ARKANSAS GROWN, OF COURSE!

WE VISITED HOT SPRINGS MOUNTAIN TOWER, RISING 216 FEET.

THE VIEWS DRIVING UP TO IT WERE AWESOME!!

THIS IS RIGHT DOWNTOWN HOT SPRINGS.

DUALLY LOOKED LIKE A SPECK FROM THE TOP.......

THERE WAS AN ELEVATOR TO THE TOP....THANK GOODNESS!!

WE FINALLY FOUND THE WIND......WE COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW UNWINDY ARKANSAS IS......WE ACTUALLY COULD PUT OUR AWNING OUT ON THE RV ALMOST EVERY DAY. FROM UP THERE, WE COULD SEE HOW LARGE LAKE HAMILTON IS, IT JUST KEPT GOING ON AND ON!  LAKE AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE!!

WE DID ALOT OF "TOURIST STUFF", BUT WE SPENT SOME OF OUR DAYS RELAXING AT THE RV,PLAYING WITH MAGGIE AND MARLEE IN THE DOG PARK. WENT TO THE MALL ONE DAY FOR A WHILE.

ONE DAY I TOOK IN BUCKSTAFF BATHHOUSE, THEY ADVERTISED PERSONAL MINERAL BATHS.

I HAD A PERSONAL ATTENDANT, I SPENT 20 MINUTES IN THE MINERAL WHIRLPOOL BATH, THEN INTO THE SITZ BATH, THE STEAM CABINET WAS NEXT, AND IT WAS A CABINET, MY HEAD WAS JUST STICKING OUT. I DID NOT LIKE THIS, IT WAS WAY TOO HOT FOR ME!   I WAS THEN WRAPPED IN HOT TOWELS FROM HEAD TO TOE...AHH.................. SO RELAXING!! THE FINALE WAS THE NEEDLE SHOWER, WHICH, WAS VERY REFRESHING!!! BLESS HIS HEART, DARRELL RELAXED ON THE PORCH WHILE I TOOK MY BATH!

WE JUST WALKED AROUND HOT SPRINGS THEN, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY.

 

THIS IS THE GRAND PROMONADE, IT IS BEHIND BATHOUSE ROW, IT LEADS UP TO THE MOUNTAIN TOWER. I WAS REALLY GLAD WE DROVE UP, IT IS QUITE A CLIMB!!

WE ENJOYED OURSELVES IN HOT SPRINGS AND BRENDA, THE VERY NICE MANAGER OF THE RV PARK,  INVITED US BACK TO WORK FOR THEM. I WANTED TO GO VISIT LBJ RANCH BEFORE GOING ON TO SAN ANTONIO, SO AFTER SPENDING TEN DAY HERE,  IT WAS TIME TO GO!!

A LITTLE TIME OFF

 

WE ARE HEADED TO SAN ANTONIO TO SELL CHRISTMAS TREES AGAIN FOR HOLIDAY HILLS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE UNTIL NOVEMBER 9, SO WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO VACATION. WE DECIDED TO GO BACK TO BRANSON, MISSOURI AND SPEND MORE TIME. WE ENJOYED IT SO MUCH IN APRIL, BUT WE COULD ONLY STAY A WEEK. 

WE LEFT FOR BRANSON ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 8 AT 9:00. WE HAD PLANNED ON STAYING ONE NIGHT ON THE ROAD, BUT IT FELT SO GOOD "TO BE ON THE ROAD AGAIN" WE DECIDED TO DRIVE THE WHOLE WAY.   WE GOT THERE ABOUT 7:00 P.M . WE WERE TIRED AFTER DRIVING 9 HOURS, BUT AT LEAST IT'S WARM HERE!! WE ARE STAYING AT BRANSON STAGECOACH RV PARK AGAIN, WHICH IS NEAR TABLE ROCK STATE PARK.

WE WALKED THE WALKING PATH AT TABLE ROCK ALMOST EVERY DAY. IT WAS INVIGORATING!! THE TREES ARE TURNING AND MAGGIE AND MARLEE LOVE WALKING THE PATH. AS THE SIGN SAYS "YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN MISSOURI STATE PARKS, THEY DO NOT CHARGE A FEE TO ENTER THE PARK, WHICH ALSO WAS REFRESHING.

 

 

WE MOSTLY JUST TOOK IT EASY HERE, WE WEREN'T INTERESTED IN GOING TO ANY OF THE SHOWS. I STARTED COOKING AGAIN, WHICH FELT GOOD AFTER NOT COOKING ALL SUMMER. WE SAW A SIGN ADVERTISING THEIR GRAPE AND FALL FESTIVAL, WE HAD TO CHECK THAT OUT.

 

 

 

IT WAS FUN, WE HAD LUNCH AND THERE WAS MUSIC, NICE AFTERNOON.

 

 

WE FOUND A DOG PARK FOR MAGGIE AND MARLEE.

 

 

 

 

THEY HAD A BLAST.....WE WERE THE ONLY ONES USING THE PARK!

 

 

 

MAGGIE HAD TO MAKE UP HER OWN GAMES, AS USUAL!!

 

 

WE SAW IN THE PAPER THE "BALLOONS OVER BRANSON  FESTIVAL" WAS GOING TO BE HELD  OVER THE WEEKEND, SO WE DECIDED TO STAY FOR THAT. IT STARTED FRIDAY EVENING. WHEN WE GOT THERE THERE WERE NO BALLOONS. THEY NEVER BROUGHT THE BALLOONS OUT UNTIL IT GOT DARK.

 

 

 

THE BALLOONS ARE BEAUTIFUL LIT AND THEY WERE GIVING TETHERED BALLOON RIDES.

BEFORE WE LEFT BRANSON WE WANTED TO WALK THE WHITE RIVER TRAIL, WE HAD WALKED THIS IN APRIL.

 

 

IT IS JUST A WALKING TRAIL THROUGH THE OZARKS....IT WAS SOOO...... FUN!!

 

 

 

AND TIRING.......WORE MYSELF OUT AND MAGGIE AND MARLEE!!!

 

WE ALSO VISITED THEIR FISH HATCHERY.

 

 

HUGE TROUT!!

 

 

ONE DAY WE DROVE OUT TO SILVER DOLLAR CITY, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING A CRAFT FAIR OUT THERE, BUT NOT THIS DAY......THEY WERE CLOSED!!

 

 

 

WE ENJOYED THE AUTUMN LEAVES HERE, WE HAD ENJOYED THAT IN IOWA, IT WAS LIKE ENJOYING TWO AUTUMNS!!

 

 

 

WE WERE STARTING TO GET "HITCH ITCH". SO IT WAS OFF ON  ANOTHER ADVENTURE!!