March 30, 2016

Wednesday, March 30

Left Fredericksburg, TX and headed to Big Bend National Park. First pictures are on the way to the park, beautiful drive and saw more Pumpjacks too (they are all over Texas).  Stopped in Ft. Stockton, TX to fix our picnic lunch and see the cute little town.  Then we drove into the Big Bend National Park and what an amazing drive that was--WOW!  Never could we have imagined what we were about to see.  Unfortunately, I know the pictures will not really give you our experience but you can get an idea of what we experienced.  After taking a scenic drive through some of the park it was time to stop for the day and check-in to the Chisos Mountian Lodge in the Big Bend National Park.  Took a short walk on a short trail and then went to dinner.  Sat and watched a beautiful sunset at 8:10 central time. 

Driving on I 10

Pumpjacks all over

Ft. Stockton

On  US 385 which takes us into the park.

March 29, 2016

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Left Conroe and started driving through the central Texas hill country.  First stop was the cute town of Brenham, which happens to be the home of Blue Bell ice cream.  Even though I am not a huge ice cream fan, the grounds were very pretty and nicely landscaped.  We did not see if they were giving tours; not even sure they are back in production yet.  Next little town we traveled through was Gruene, and oh what a cute town! Then we continued on back roads from Gruene to New Braunfels, and many other small towns to include one very small town, Luckenbach, TX.  Had to stop for a picture, the sign was almost as big as the town! Our stop for the night was Fredericksburg where Alan got to visit the National Museum of the Pacific War and the Admiral Nimitz Museum.  The home that Admiral Nimitz was born in is just across the street from the museum.  The native wildflower Blue Bonnets were in bloom all over the countryside!!  It is a very pretty time of year here; even though we had clouds and drizzle all day long.  

Blue Bell Ice Cream Plant 

Brenham

Gruene

Blue Bonnets

Fredericksburg TX

Awesome kitchen store!

Yes, there is a winery called Fat Ass!

Nimitz Museum, was originally his Grandfather's hotel,
 the Old Nimitz Steamboat Hotel.

National Museum of the Pacific War ~
attached to the Nimitz Museum

March 28, 2016

Monday, March 28, 2016

Left New Orleans, LA this morning driving through the Louisiana scenic bayou country side.  Stopped at Avery Island, and thanks to a friend we had a private tour of the Tabasco plant.  Next we went to Abbeville, LA and had an awesome raw oyster lunch at Shucks!  Abbeville is where Steen's syrup is made, a clan Stewart favorite. Then continued our drive on the scenic byways into Texas.  Planned to stay in a cute town called Brenham, but found out they were having their annual antique show and the hotels were sold out.  So we are spending the night in Conroe, TX. 

Alan & Mike on Easter Sunday

Stewarts & Rouens

Bag of red pepper mash being unloaded.

Barrels of the red pepper mash with a cover and then salt.

The red pepper mash sits in the barrels in this room for 28 days.

Lid for barrels, has a vent so gases escape but nothing gets inside the barrel.

Red pepper mash sits in these barrels for 3 years.

Yummy lunch!!