Haven't Left Texas Yet

 We prepped the day before we headed out for Kerrville. The drive was uneventful, and checked-in without incident.

Kerrville is a small town, spread out. The big attraction is a drive to Fredericksburg, about a half hour drive up the road. Fredericksburg was founded in the mid 1800s by German immigrants. The downtown area still has many of the original structures... which are now stores and restaurants for the abundant tourism.

Still Dooley's... different prices.

Was the Fredericksburg Bank.

For those who enjoy wine and beer, there are multiple tasting rooms downtown. Here was something one didn't see in California...

That's right, drinking alcohol while wandering the streets, it was mighty fine wine too.

The first drive to Fredericksburg was more than wine tasting, we actual walked a part of the Pacific War Museum. Thanks to spring break we were not able to go in the main museum.

The portion of the museum that was free to visit had one of the two remaining PT boats in existence on display.

This PT boat had some history after the war was over. The military had decided to sell the boats for scrap. The government removed all the weapons before they went up for auction. A gentleman on the east coast bought one a boat, and turned it into a day charter fishing boat. After he retired and turned the boat over to his family, they sold it to the museum.

In another area was a display from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

After we wandered through we headed for lunch and back home. Tomorrow we will return to see the main museum.

There was a lot to see in the main museum, probably two days worth of artifacts and stories. The museum is broke down by campaigns.

Here is a pictorial of our visit.

Replica of the bombs dropped on Japan.

Some of the electronics Carol's dad worked on. A lot the the bridge equipment I worked on during my time in the Navy. No... the artifacts are from WWII ships. Because of the quality of engineering and design, a lot of it is still used today.

This tank took a few hits during its time in Europe.

We spent a good part of our day at the museum, so we headed back home to rest. You can find more information at: https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/

Today we chose to visit the LBJ ranch and museum. The president and his wife deeded the ranch to the the National Park Service for education and conservation.

This was the state park that contains the dwellings of German immigrant families that settled in the area. The working farm was the residence for the Sauer-Beckmann Family. There are chickens, sheep, and a cow. There is a barn, blacksmith shop, original house, and the newer home.

Master bedroom in the new home.

Livingroom couch in the new home.

Canning room in the new home.

Blacksmith shop.

Plowing tools.

Tack for the animals.

From this working farm we drove to another original home that the Danz family lived in.

Supply store house with root cellar.

The main house.

More information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lyndon-b-johnson

It was a short jaunt across the river to the LBJ ranch.

Before visitors arrive on the ranch, they can look at the school house that LBJ went to school at. With COVIDS, these buildings are closed to the public.

Further up the road we stopped at the reconstructed home the LBJ was born in. He and his wife had it reconstructed for a place for guests to stay at.

This is a view of the back of the house.

Across the street from this house is the family cemetery for Johnson family.

Leaving the parking area we drove the tour route of the ranch. The ranch itself is a working ranch with cattle roaming freely.

At the end of the driving tour we stopped at the hanger and "Texas White House". Visitors can walk through the hanger... it also functions as the gift shop. Outside of the hanger is the plane LBJ used to travel between DC and Texas. LBJ jokingly called the plane "Air Force 1/2".

Before COVIDS visitors were able to walk through.

Because the president wanted to spend as much time as possible with his family so... lots of communications equipment was installed, and towers were put up. Before he was president the ranch only had one phone line... after he became president... something like 14 lines on the ranch.

The best we could do was walk around the "Texas White House".

As you can see from the only window accessible for pictures. They appeared pretty down to earth folks.

Between the hanger and the house is a covered collection of their cars. All the out buildings were closed.

We finished the drive tour and decided to hit a restaurant for lunch, not something you do in that small community... we did find food in a little "big town".

Making it home, we began preps for moving on... to Victoria Texas,