About That LBJ (January 15 - 21)

Dear Family and Friends,

Sunday was an overcast day so we decided to visit the Lyndon Baines Johnson ranch near Stonewall, Texas. LBJ is interesting to us because he was a Texan in the strongest sense of the word and we experienced his presidency as teenagers.

LBJ donated his ranch to the American people though Lady Bird lived there until her death in 2007. The The National Park Service runs the ranch with lots of help because it is still a working ranch with a herd of Hereford cattle descended from the President's original herd. LBJ did not want his ranch to become a "sterile relic of the past." The following pictures are some of the sights that we were able to see:

Bear and Roger are ready to tour the LBJ ranch.

                                       

The Sauer-Beckmann farm, on the LBJ property,  shows tourists how German immigrants in the area farmed. This newborn lamb was too cute to pass up.

The lamb's mother was not too happy with me being so close.

Those famous Texas Longhorns

Bison are raised on the property.

LBJ's parents convinced the local teacher to start him in school when he was only four years old. This precocious toddler could already read. As President, LBJ returned to this site to sign a famous educational bill into law.

This beautiful Hereford bull comes from LBJ's original stock.

When LBJ visited his ranch he would fly into Austin on a 707 and then take this Lockheed Jetstar to the ranch.

Looking at the back of the house, you can see Luci Johnson's corvette, given to her by her parents when she had her eighteenth birthday.

Looking across the ranch to the Pedernales River.

In front of the Texas White House. Notice the Austin Stone fence.

That Live Oak tree has been documented to be over 400 years old.

The tour of the home was outstanding! Our Park Service ranger has been at the ranch for over 21 years and knew Lady Bird as well as the daughters, Lynda and Luci. He had many humorous anecdotes to tell us.
LBJ and Lady Bird are buried in the Johnson Cemetery beneath huge Live Oak trees.

The rest of the week was spent cycling or working out at the resort facilities, walks and playing with Bear, drinks and dinners with new friends and touring the Hill Country. The following pictures are from our day trip to Medina and Bandera.

Oak Moss is evident in this Live Oak tree which is very common in the area.  This parasite has no cure and has killed many of the trees in the Hill country area.

                                       

This courthouse in Bandera is an example of the style of courthouses  found in many small town squares in Texas.

The 11th Street Bar found in Bandera is a famous country western saloon.

Next week is our last full week in Kerrville, before we head to Mission, Texas. In addition, we will have completed nine months of living in our Tour.  Thank you for checking in with us as we continue our journey through the United States.