29 Lago Vista

     January 5

     The next morning breakfast wasn't scheduled until nine.   While we waited for breakfast we loaded the trike so we would be ready to get on the road.  We hated to rush such a nice breakfast but we had an appointment in Georgetown to have our new tire installed.  Seventy five miles per hour speed limits made the trip to Georgetown go quickly.  Central Texas power-sports turned out to be a real find for us.  The tire was half the price of  the dealers in San Antonio and the service was amazing.  We had a liquid tire balancing solution put in that they installed in the Georgetown police cycles.
   Early on this adventure we had received a very nice email from Dave and Susan in Lago Vista asking if we would like take a little break and spend a couple of days with them?  Sue and I had graduated together and had only got to see each other at class reunions.  One of the things we were curious about before our stay was if they were football fans?  Our Minnesota Vikings were still in the playoffs and we didn't want to miss the game.  A phone call before we arrived solved part of the problem.  I inquired if they were foot ball fans and if they would be watching the game.  "Oh yes, we spent 23 years in Wisconsin and we wouldn't miss the Packers."  ( could be a tough evening for one of us.)  While on the phone she inquired at to dietary requirements or anything we didn't like to eat.  My normal answer was "those salty little fish"  today I just replied "crow".   Unfortunately the Vikings forgot to pack a quarterback for the game so Ruthie and I ate a lot of "crow" that night.  Dave and Sue were gracious hosts and winners.  I think Ruthie took it harder than I did.  The stay was a great fit.  We had fun and enjoyed staying with them.  They are volunteers in the community ( you have to admire people who give back.)  and we both went our separate ways and met back at their home between outings.
      On one of our trips we visited the Bob Bullock Texas History museum in Austin TX  It has displays that show how Texas came to be.  Very intesting.  It would hard not to be from Texas and have a real love of the state's history.  The only thing I thought was missing was a section devoted to the Texas Rangers,  I know Ruthie's father would be disappointed.  Ranger Walker is his favorite. I don't think we will tell him.
    Ruthie drove to the museam that day so I took a couple of pictures as we sped along.

They call them fly-overs and this one has a penalty lane.

  This one interested me becasue they indicated they would send the toll fee by mail.  I figure if the same post master handled the toll addressing that handled our forwarded  mail from Mn.
 We wouldn't' see it until next years trip.
   On the way back to our host's we stopped on the outskirts of Austin to have a short visit with Ruthie's nephew.  He also gave us some more travel ideas, thanks James and Stephen!
  A little interesting note.  As I was looking up the spelling of the museum today (Feb 3rd)  I seen that a Texas singer and musician was killed on this day in history.  Should this be a trivia with a follow up post?  Famous recording artists, cornfield, Clear lake Iowa, Moorhead Minnesota, The Big Bopper, Richie Valens, Waylon Jennings, winter Dance party and "The day the music died."   That's plenty of hints, answer in next post.  
     Our hosts showed us around the area in their vehicle and one trip in their golf cart.  We learned of Sue's dislike for the small cedar trees that are every where in this area, the pollen they give off causes cedar fever and works on everyone's allergies.  She also has a problem with the deer that are every where,  Here they are more like sheep.  Small and not tame enough to pet, but just a nuisance, they are attracted by the green grass around residential areas and golf courses.  

   On our way to their home we had noticed ( if we looked at a map once in a while we would have already know.)  that the really hill country is on the west side of highway 35.   I suppose it has something with road construction.  Lots of hill scenery here.  The drought keeps raising its ugly head around here.  This is a graphic example taken from their car's (not boat) navigation screen.  They have driven down to show us the park that was by the shore of Lake Travis and as you can see we have driven down where the water used to be.  At the time we were there the lake was down 51 percent and they are contemplating cutting off the water supply to the rice farmers down stream

1. desert comparison
2. and to see if Ruthie checks captions? 

     We stayed longer than two days at Dave and Sue's and left on the 9th.  What great hosts, they took us to a local restaurant called Cheddar's for a great meal.

 .   No comment on the caption from Ruthie either it is Okay or she missed it. 
      Our gracious hosts.
     We received a little over five inches of rain the last two days.  Everything helps but they need much more.  The next morning it was threatening rain and they asked us to stay, how nice.  We are not fair weather riders and suited up and were on our way. 


Maps Grrrrr
     As you probably have gathered I'm still learning the map part of this deal.  Here is a link to our route from Natchitoches Louisiana thru Lago Vista Texas Click here please!
    While we are talking maps, a little refresher.  From time to time we get an email or phone call asking where we are?  Anytime you feel compelled to know our location you can go to Gypsy Tracks from the home page and it will show our last location.  For your convenience I will provide a link now.  Click  "Me"  to see where in the world those two rascals are!