University of Texas, Austin

This is where Billy went to college (and worked night shifts at the hospital - crazy, long, tiring days!!!!). So we took the opportunity to visit it at night, when it wouldn't be hot or crowded.

The campus is graced by huge, beautiful trees everywhere.

The central building with its 307' clock tower. It was at the top of this tower, back in Aug. 1966 (what a year, eh?!), that the sniper, Charles Whitman, killed 14 people (and this was right after he murdered his wife and mother) and wounded 32 before police exterminated him.

Also known as the Texas Tower.

Bill in front of the school co-op/bookstore.

Revisiting the Engineering Building.

Bill's dorm room - still looks in good shape from the outside.

The Texas State History Museum. Love that Lone Star!!!

Texas' capitol building. Pretty nice, huh?! (in B&W)

Billy out in front.

Some art stuff in between the capitol building and the campus.

This was a church nearby. I just liked the effect that my little point & shoot had. It actually did pretty well, considering it was darn dark, and I just had it set on it's low light mode. You wouldn't like most of these photos if you wanted a real look, but if you're good with a sort of artsy effect, they're fine!

A bit more about Georgetown

Georgetown itself is a nice mix of new modern-day city and old, historic town. Just a bit north of Austin, it's close to all those big city amenities, but it's also removed from the worst traffic and overdevelopment.

The top of the Georgetown/Williamson County Courthouse.

One of the neat old buildings.

I loved all the old staircases on the outsides of the buildings.

It was such a charming little town square but kind of sad as many of the buildings were vacant, businesses apparently recently shut down.

The courthouse again.

The Chisholm Trail - official cattle drive trail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chisholm_Trail

Gee, these little Winnebagos sure get around!! (remember the other one being held up by the giant in NM?)

At home in the RV and in Georgetown

I really enjoyed our stay in Georgetown. It felt like home - not like San Diego, but like home. And speaking of home, despite the frustrating parts of our new RV (parts not working right, etc.), we are loving the freedom it's providing us, and it really is a plush wheeled palace! It's not your old squishy camper! It's really pretty roomy - we got this specific floor plan to maximize as spacious a feel as possible. Overall, it has a very nice look, both inside and out. Bill's job of outfitting it with desk and computers and extra drawer/storage space has worked out perfectly, and with my wall hangings and blankies - and a good layer of dog hair - it truly feels homey and comfy. And lastly, and most importantly, the animals have all become accustomed to the various disturbing RV sounds and motions and have also all discovered their favorite day & night places to hang out and sleep. Well, maybe except for Scratty, who nowadays has trouble during our moves. Most likely cued by the slide-outs being brought back in, Scratty will jump behind the couch and wait out "the storm." She won't come out till we're truly settled down again. Stops for gas or lunch won't bring her out...unless a cat walk is advertised and a leash dangled behind the couch! That will bring her out for a rest stop stroll - after which, she heads straight for the couch again! We're not sure why she developed this moving day fear - she wasn't that way at the beginning.

Here's Tractor, helping his dad with packing for his trip back to SD.

The windshield area: one of the many good look-out/snoozing spots in the RV.

Roadside grape hyacinths.

They got THAT right!!!

That little orange kitty is Bill's Tractor for sure!! :)

Scratty, showerside.

Nothing beats fresh warm water off the shower floor! Mmmmm!

Is he driving or just watching squirrels and waiting for the driver??

Sometimes, when we walk the dogs, people will ask us "Is that the Driver Dog?" They see him sitting at the wheel of the RV too...

Home in Georgetown.

Fun with the clouds (and the back of a side mirror).

Berry Springs, Revisited...

Since Billy was back, we needed to take him to see Berry Springs! We left the kitties home, and Bill took the dogs, which allowed me to bring the big Canon!

Was wishing I had my long lens with me when these huge flocks of who knows what (cranes? storks? roseate spoonbills??? I thought I saw a pink shade to their wings...!) flew over. There had to have been hundreds of birds that went over in two or three different batches, yakking as they went...

The End.

Stuck Truck

On the 13th, we had a good visit with Tommy Potts, a special friend of Bill's from his "interning at the hospital during college" days. I was hungry afterwards, so we stopped at McD's for some quick chow. Unfortunately, there wasn't anything quick about that stop because then our truck wouldn't start!! And of course it was after hours and on a Saturday, so getting a rental car was made that much harder! So, it became quite the logistical maze. Bill called Good Sam, and they found a tow company and repair shop nearby. But the only rental car companies that were open were at the airport, so after several calls, I finally found a taxi that could pick us up and deliver us to the airport so we could get our rental car. Ugh. Not what we'd planned on doing that night! And the problem the truck was having was one we'd taken it to the Encinitas Ford dealers for. They'd kept it nearly a week and hadn't been able to figure out what was wrong with it! Revolution Motors had very good reviews, and we had high hopes that they'd do well by us. The good news is that our truck worked fine when we picked it up and for quite awhile after that. The bad news is that we spent a lot of money there, and still our truck died on us again a little over a month later - for what was obviously exactly the same problem (more on that coming...!). We finally made it home at about 10pm to pee our poor dogs, who'd been waiting in the RV for us...!

Berry Springs & Bill's back!

March 12th, I took all 4 kids to the Berry Springs County Park, just a short ways from our Georgetown RV park. One of the most beautiful county parks I've ever seen!!!!

Nice entrance, eh?

Doggies got to go on the first walk (hey, I only have two hands/arms!).

Meeting the donkeys.

Paved paths, and...

dirt trails.

Pretty pond flower.

Beautiful creek crossing.

Oh look! Who's that?

Next: kitties' turn!

Neato old place!

oooo scary!!!!! BIG eyes!! The kitties loved their park experience, all except for the donkeys... We didn't even get very close to them, but Scratty managed to pull out of her harness she was so freaked out! Thank goodness Mommy's good at grabbing her tail!

All recovered. Felines in flowers, and Spring/Love is in the air!

Heading home. Tractor admires the scenery and Ouray. He really looks up to his big brother, literally and figuratively!! He thinks Ouray is soooo cool!! (and Ouray thinks Tractor's an OK little brother!)

And while Tractor is generally braver, Scratty decides she wants to check things out too.

Back home, later in the afternoon, their Dad's back - and he and his little Tractor hang out.