Week 22 - Austin Texas - June 1 - June 5, 2023

The big trip to Austin is "on" - Austin and Natalie/Clay, here we come...to sample and enjoy all of the food and sites that Austin has to offer.

THURSDAY- we left at 6:00am  and had no trouble with traffic or with TSA!

Our first stop upon arrival in Austin was at Torchys

.....which has really good, yummy and unusual tacos.

We started working on a puzzle that night which took us a couple days to finish.

FRIDAY-our destination was Waco...and, who knew........Baylor Univ is in Waco.  On the way we stopped at Round Rock Donuts (in Round Rock, Texas....duh) to sample their famous donuts.

There was some excitement because members of the local minor league baseball team were delivering orders to customers (hmmm...I thought they were employees of the store dressed up in baseball uniforms.).

But...wait....across the street was a Hawaiian Shave Ice place!

Our destination in Waco was the Magnolia Market which is like a destination shopping area/sit in the shade place/eat lots of good food place.  The items for sale all had the look of "homemade", "hand spun", "at home on the farm".  You want candles, linen, dishes, furniture, it is at Magnolia Market.  On the flip side was often the word, "China,"  We wanted to go first to the Magnolia Table which is only open for breakfast and lunch.  Really nice!!!! We didn't think we'd get in before they closed, so we ordered some Magnolia Biscuits (which are, quite possibly, the best biscuits anywhere)  - just in case we didn't get to eat inside.

Surprise -we did get in.  No one was hungry, but we didn't let anything so silly bother us.  The interior was uniquely designed - not luxurious but very unique and comfy.

We headed to the big store

There are these big silos.  My guess is that this place used to be a dairy farm (so they needed silos) and the farm was turned into a retail "farm" store....the silos are props.

We had a grand time looking at everything, buying some things, and enjoying it all.  On the way back to the car we got some donuts/cookies/baked goods.

SATURDAY - For lunch we went to Cava's which is like a Mediterranean Bowl (like a burrito bowl, only better).

Saturday night we went to Faith Partridge Hank's home.  She was one of Bev's roommates at BYU and they travelled together in Europe.  She has an incredibly big and luxurious home - did I say big?  Each bedroom has it's own full bathroom and there's a play room and an exercise room, and a movie room and a double decker deck....and a pretty good view.

On the way home we went to a donut place...maybe an ice cream place...I think it was a fry bread place with incredible toppings.  Dark...lots of lights...nice temp.

SUNDAY - the Colorado River (not the real one...but one in Texas) runs through Austin.  some time ago someone built a dam, and the resulting lake is called Lady Bird Lake.  Kind of nice - paddle boards kayaks, jet skis, fishing, and super duper expensive home on the riverside.  There is a ten mile round trip hiking/biking trail, incorporated with parks and courts, and everything recreational you can imagine.  We walked on a portion of the trail before church - lots of people, interesting dogs, slow and fast bicycles, strollers and us. 

Over the river and under the freeway

A game of quiddich (possibly misspelled)

Lots of unusual plants (unusual to an Oregonian)

Had just enough time to get to church and miss only half of the sacrament.  Different look on the outside.

but inside, it is just the Henrici building

Sunday afternoon our combined efforts packed up about a quarter of Natalie's stuff.  She only has two months before the move, and she had started nothing.  She can now play no games or do puzzles or read a book or do any sports or use bulky kitchen appliances.

Sunday evening we met up with Clay's three sisters who live in the Austin area.  Had pizza and pies and lively conversation.

On the way home we went to Covert Park which is a really big knoll right along the river - there are great views.

Bev picked out her house which was directly below us.

We caught the sunset

On the way home we stopped for some.....probably ice cream.

MONDAY -  was our downtown day.  The highlight was going to a jewelry store called Nina Berenato.   The current popular style is permanent bracelets.  There were four to choose from" #1 #2, #3, and June.  Bev and Jess got three strands, Natalie got two....and I chose one strand of June.

We wandered uptown.  Checked out some beautiful boots I wanted,

But I'd spent all m money on a bracelet.

We went to an interesting donut shop called Salty's.

We met Clay at the best bar-b-que ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Harry Black's Barbeque!  But - on the way to the barbeque, we stopped at Amys which has really good icecream.

It was so good - I could cut my brisket with a dull spoon

Across the street from the best barbeque ever there is a huge city park.  It was once the site of a 91 acre brick factory which made bricks for the state capital building.  A group of civic minded citizens procured the park and developed this massive downtown greenplace.  We walked around and enjoyed the views.

What a Four Day Weekend!! I ate myself into a coma.  Got back to Natalie's apartment.

Drove to the airport.  Endured a long flight back. Got home at 1:30 am.

Great Memories!!!