Central TX Roadtrip

Bill and I took the weekend before the 4th as an opportunity to go for a small roadtrip. I had to be back at work Monday (well, I didn't, but I'm saving the vacation days for later this year - something about a wedding....), so we only travelled Saturday and Sunday. I used to live in Killeen, TX back when Dad was stationed at Ft. Hood, so we used that as our midpoint of the trip. Wanted to see the old HS, the old house, etc. I can only say - you can never go home. Killeen has only gone downhill since we left in '88. That, or I just have much better memories of what the town was like. But still, I'm glad we went.

We decided to take only backroads for the trip and I have to say, that was the best decision. We saw such pretty country-side, lovely little towns, stopped at a yard sale, etc. Below the fold are the best photos that came out of the camera on the trip.

Bill and I beside Lake Whitney on Sunday. Lovely lake with lots of campgrounds around it - we'll be going back there!

The first stopping point on Saturday was when we passed by a park for the Chisholm Trail. Of course we had to turn around and snap some photos! Unfortunately, this is my best one:

Further on, shortly before leaving the complete edge of the Ft. Worth suburbs, we saw this water tower. It's just so odd, I had to snap a photo:

We stopped for a late lunch/early dinner in Hico, TX. What a little gem of a town! There is the cutest little store on their main street: Western Otter. The owner is friendly, funny, and quirky. Her husband prints up funny little sayings on tshirts and they sell an array of quirky items. Stop in if you're ever in the area!

The Koffee Kup has awesome desserts! And the food isn't bad either. :)

We spent the night on Ft. Hood in the guest lodging there - one of the benefits of having a retired military personnel as a fiance. ;) Sunday morning we drove around the base trying to find familiar things, but other than the 1st Cavalry Division Museum, not much was familar. A lot has changed in 18 years, including my memory. LOL. Anyway, one of the newer monuments was for fallen soldiers of the Iraq War.

We drove through Crawford, TX on our way back on Sunday. Yes, the "hometown" of President Bush and family. Population 705. We're not sure if that includes the Secret Service or not. ;)

This is Main St., Crawford, TX. Three storefronts (all selling Bush paraphenalia), the police station, and a barber shop. Across the road (where I'm standing) is a brand spanking new bank and to the left is a gas station. That's it.

We actually drove past his ranch. It's in the middle of nowhere and if there wasn't a HUGE black trailer across the road (gee - wonder who that was?) and two big orange signs in front of the drive stating "NO STANDING, NO PARKING", you wouldn't know it was their ranch. The huge plus of driving by there? Getting "lost" in some really pretty farm land like this:

Finally, a baby cactus on the shore of Lake Whitney.

Bill has more photos from the trip. I'm jealous of some of his shots. I have to remember that my shots only come out good when I focus in on one aspect of something instead of the larger area - that would be user error, not camera error - the camera (a new Panasonic FZ7) takes awesome photos. I'm working on it.

Posted by Jinglelady at July 8, 2006 05:29 AM | Traveling