However, Monday the 11th, the temp began to rise and we ventured out. We wanted to revisit Fredericksburg, and so we took off on a 100 mile loop that started by heading east on I10 to the little town of Comfort. Advertised as "An Antique City", we found that they meant that there are several antique shops along the short Main Street!
Moving north on US 87, we sneaked into Fredericksburg ready to check it out. Unfortunately we found that many stores and restaurants were closed, either because it was Monday, or because the tourist season is not in full swing just yet. Back to Kerrville, where we found a restaurant advertising "A Taste of the Hill Country". Yeah! Well, maybe not....Donna ordered a Reuben sandwich that came with 6, count 'em, 6 slices of corned beef, and I ordered a Chicken Fried Steak that even my Cardiologist would approve of, given that it was approximately the size of a silver dollar....OK, we tried BG's....
Today, the 12th, Lincoln's Birthday, we decided to explore a bit more of Kerrville. We drove into downtown to walk about just a bit and came upon PAX Coffee and Tea. Thinking that we could get a warm drink (it's still only in the low 50's during the day) and talk to some local people about what to see and do, we popped in, only to be greeted with "we're closing!" What? early in the afternoon? No...forever! Well, we got a cup of coffee (to go) and kept looking.....
Just a few miles northwest of Kerrville, in the hamlet of Ingram, lies a beautiful park with a most unusual centerpiece: Stonehenge II!
In 1989, Kerr County native Doug Hill had a large stone left over after a backyard project. A neighbor, Al Sheppard, took the rock and stood it on end on his property outside of town. An idea was sparked, and soon other stones and monoliths were found or created out of concrete and the two men recreated a 60% sized Stonehenge. After visiting Easter Island, Sheppard added Moai head statues to the collection. After Shepherds death, the entire project was moved to the grounds of the Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram. Not exactly what would be expected in a small town in Texas!
Donna and Sasha took a break from their walk. Sasha thoroughly enjoyed the wide open grassy park! The original limestone block that started the whole thing can be seen behind Donna.
Stonehenge II is located along the banks of the Guadalupe River, and provides a beautiful and quiet place for contemplation.
A variety of trees grow along the Guadalupe, including this one whose bark has an extremely abrasive appearance.
Taking a bit of a detour on our return to Buckhorn Lake RV, we happened onto "The Empty Cross".
This Sculpture Garden celebrates a fundamental, bedrock religious faith found in very few places these days. A statue of Jesus Christ greets the visitor and invites a walk toward the centrally located cross. Just in front of the 77' tall cross is a large statue named "The Returning King", showing Jesus returning to Earth and engaging in a final, apocalyptic battle with the forces of evil.
The Carbon and Cor-ten steel cross weighs nearly 70 tons and is anchored in the bedrock of the mountain. It is the centerpiece of The Coming King Garden and can be seen for miles.
Located at approximately the same latitude as the country of Isreal, and roughly midway across the US on I10, it is both a beacon and a symbol for believers.
The statue of The Coming King is a magnificent bronze and stone piece by Max Greiner, Jr, of Kerrville.
Whatever one's religious beliefs, this remains an awesome tribute to a higher power.
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