Jenn Dolari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

(Day Before Yesterday's) Adventures in Texas, Parte the Finale

After the skirmish site, we had a lot more time than we expected, so we headed out to do the Three Sisters Tour.

If you find yourself in the western Hill Country, you owe it to yourself to do the tour. While I tend to focus my Hill Country trips to the Austin/San Antonio/Fredericksburg triangle, it's 60% history, 40% beauty. The Three Sisters Tour is 90% beauty. I consider it the most beautiful part of the Texas Hill Country.

From Leakey, take Ranch To Market Road 337 (Sister #1) to Camp Wood, from there north on Texas 55 to Ranch to Market Road 336 (Sister #2). Turn right at Texas 41 and again on Ranch to Market 336 (Sister #3).

Fill up in Leakey, cause once you leave Barksdale, you're not seeing any towns for a LONG time.

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I prefer Mayonessa. Mayonnaise if that's not available. I can tolerate Miracle Whip. Then there's this abomination....

(Yesterday's) Adventures in Texas. Parte the Fifthe

All that's left of the former Edwards county seat, Vance. Love that old directional sign, sadly, not long for this world.

(Yesterday's) Texas Adventure, Parte the Fourthe

After the fight site, we hit Leaky. Despite being the county seat, I like to say it's so small that downtown only takes up the left side of the road. That also has the added benefit of being true. Not all of Texas' 254 counties HAVE to exist.

Steph's family has land out here. I can see why. It's beautiful.

More pics soon. But right now, bed.

Today's Adventure in Texas, Parte the Thirde.

After reading about a fight between thirty two settlers and natives, as told thirty years after the fact in 1890 (meaning the fight was in 1860), I tried for several years to find this site. I'm 90% sure this is it.

The keys were "a peak in front of a mountain range" "crossing a creek at a fork" and "Seco Canyon." There were several places whefre these fit, but this one fit best. My only real concern is that the article mentions that they visited a site "two miles above the Bandera Road"which WASN'T the site, and this site sits about three miles above FM 470 (Or the old Bandera Road).

The Story is at https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth466442/m1/3/zoom/?resolution=0.5&lat=6286.38456464337&lon=1981.1479523671396

The map is at https://maps.app.goo.gl/AzaMaLbidq7dxkkz8

And the pictures are below!

Love me an old movie theater. In Hondo, Texas.

Today's Adventure in Texas, Parte the Seconde.

New Fountain is not too far from Quihi. While it looks bigger and more populated than Quihi, it's actually far more spread out. The only vestiges of downtown are what seems to be a hotel and attached general store, both long closed, and a church, which is still active. New Fountain got it's name from a spring that popped up here just as the spring at nearby also-ghost-town Vandenberg dried up.

Quihi, continued....

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Today's Adventure in Texas, Parte the Firste.

Quihi is a tiny little town in an out of the way part of Medina County, between Castroville and Hondo. Despite being fairly old, founded in the 1850s, there's not a lot here outside of the general store, historic gun club, a nice church and a collection of old German style pioneer homes.

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That was my nickname in high school.

There is hope for rural Texas, yet.

The Great Annular Eclipse of 2023. Spent with my adopted sister and adopted family. ❤

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The Great Annular Eclipse of 2023. Spent with my adopted sister and adopted family. ❤

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The Great Annular Eclipse of 2023. Spent with my adopted sister and adopted family. ❤

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"When I was a child and the road was dark
"And the way was long and alone
"My heart would lift as I turned the bend
"And saw the lights of home."

It's watching you....

Today's Texas Food: Burger Boy

Whataburger may be the best in Texas, but Burger Boy is the best in San Antonio.

Obligatory post to make my Seattle friends and family jealous.