Before leaving Cedar Park (suburb of Austin), we had a few things to get done to the truck, as well as visit downtown Austin. Long story, but had to take the truck to a Ranch Hand store to get a Legend grill guard to fit the dually…seems that the dually is a bit wider. Because of some misunderstanding, Truckfitters installed a FULL BUMPER LEGEND GUARD! They knocked of $500 so they wouldn’t have to redo everything. It appears that they would not be able to fit the regular Legend anyway, so we now have the full bumper guard…that isn’t quite wide enough, but does fit somewhat. We’ll be ready for the armadillos and deer now! No real worry on the armadillos. While in the area, we also added air bags for added control of our very heavy trailer. Just keep bleeding money as Shannon says.

We rode the MetroCommuter from Cedar Park in to downtown Austin. Visited the historic 6th Street district, which reminded us of Denver’s Larimer Street back in the 80s. We stopped in at Bangers on Rainey Street for a brew (104 on tap) and a bite to eat. After walking all over the Austin area, Connie managed to meet her Fitbit goal.

We needed an AC hookup because our residential fridge needed some power…the inverter doesn’t handle more than a day in the heat. So Tuesday October 13, we moved from Walmart…3 miles down the road to Big Oaks RV Park. Found a nice shady spot with about 1/8″ between the door side slide and the 10″ limb. We held our breath as the slide came out.

When getting ready to pull out on Thursday, discovered the front jacks would not lower. The more we tried, they would only retract, eventually fully retracting. Consequently, our trailer took a bow. Glad the truck wasn’t under the hitch! After calling Level Up support to no avail, managed to find an RV repair guy to visit. After he spent an hour with support. The park manager (Roger) and I suggested adding a little hydraulic fluid would help. Duh! Problem solved! Soon, we were hooked up and heading to Dripping Springs (what a fun name for a town). Somtimes…okay, often…pronounced Drippin’ Sprins.

Thursday October 15 we accidentally (stopped in at the Dripping Springs Visitor Center) found the Dripping Springs Ranch Park (DSRP), about a mile out of town. We stayed here for 5 days, mostly in solitude. but over the weekend, twenty plus rigs showed up. Rigs that haul sheep and double as campers. Parents and kids had a show weekend at the ranch. A great place for such an event.

Dripping Spring’s population is less that 2,000, but we found lots to fun things to do. We just happened (yeah right) to drive by the TwistedX brewery on our drive to the historic Salt Lick BBQ. Enjoyed their Chupahopra IPA before some great BBQ at the Salt Lick.

Dripping Springs hosted an annual Songwriters Festival where songwriters performed at various venues around town. Actually, this historic part of town is less than a block long. We listened to Shawn Byrne, Jefferson Clay, and Havilah Tower sing their songs at the Mazama Coffee Company.They were all very good. Nice treat. We didn’t partake, but strange that several of the coffee places (not Starbucks) in Texas that we visited, also offer beer and wine!
Next to breweries, we also seek out quilt and fabric places. Dripping Springs is no exception. Connie sought out some needed fabric at Valli & Kim’s while Ed enjoyed a walk over to the Barber Shop…no…not for a haircut, a beer on tap.After a wonderful 5 days in Dripping Springs, it was time to move on to San Saba; leaving Monday October 19, with an overnight stop at the Marble Falls (one of Ed’s favorite Texas towns) Walmart. Then off to the San Saba Golf Course RV Park. A great, quiet, and inexpensive place to stay with all the amenities we could want. Only about a mile from town. San Saba boasts it is the “Pecan Capital of the World”.

They take a lot of pride in town here. The RV park and golf course where we are is owned by the city, and they have several other nice parks and a quaint downtown area. Many of the old downtown buildings have been restored and are quite picturesque. One such building is the Wedding Oak Winery (tasting room), named after the historic Wedding Oak tree a few blocks from town. Another of our (Connie’s) favorite places is the San Saba Olive Oil Company.

We visited nearby (35 miles?) Colorado Bend State Park, our first assignment when we went full time a year ago. We met many fine folks while there, including Ranger Christine Clopton. We met her and her husband Jerry at the popular Coopers BBQ in Llano for supper. Pictured here with friend and Cooper employee, Mario. We view and select our cuts of BBQ off the grill (background); then they put it on a tray (yes, tray) to take inside to be weighed and wrapped…even if it is not to go. They give you butcher paper to use as a plate if eating there. Quite primitive, but good…and fun.

We missed seeing the Colorado Bend’s Superintendent and his family on our earlier visit to the park, so they; Kelby, April, and Canyon Bridwell, joined us for dinner at “our house” on Tuesday October 27. It was fun catching up and seeing how much Canyon had grown.

Saturday, Halloween, we’ll be heading off toward Houston and our new assignment at Brazos Bend State Park. Will have to get back into the job mode, but this time keeping an eye out for roaming alligators.

BREAKING NEWS:
We just found out that we are on the calendar to host at Big Creek Hatchery near Astoria, Oregon (one of Ed’s favorite Oregon towns) for June, July, and August next summer. Very exciting.