Texas - south & west to Tucson, Arizona

We left Dallas after a couple of days due to advancing cold weather and headed south to pick up our mail in Livingston. From there we headed to the state capitol of Austin because as true Texans we needed to see where our laws are made how our taxes are spent. We should have looked on the internet since we weren't allowed into the Senate or House but we did see some beautiful 8 pound door hinges engraved "Texas Capitol". With all the closed doors in the building that contract must have been worth a few dollars. There were other impressive building including the State of Texas Museum which traces the state's history from the time it was part of Mexico, then a country, a territory and eventually a state in 1845.
We left Austin after a couple of days and headed to New Braunfels to visit with Mike a friend of Bill's from high school. It was good getting together and we closed the roughly 40 year interval pretty quickly. He took us to visit Gruene an old German settlement which has become a yuppified center of Texas country & rock music.

After a couple of days in New Braunfels we set out for San Antonio which we remember from our first visit approx. 7 years ago as a very lively, energetic multi cultural south Texas city. Unfortunately it rained the 2 days we were there putting a thick damper on the energy. We did walk the downtown and despite the weather enjoyed the architecture, Mexican food, Riverwalk and last but not least we must remember the Alamo.

After San Antonio our aim was to visit some French friends Herve & Susan building a home in west Texas near Marfa. Unfortunately he needed to be back in France and she was very busy with catering obligations so it was not to be so we stayed on the highway for the next 2 days arriving in Tucson on Jan. 17. We're staying at a very large and active campground in southeast Tucson until Jan 24, swimming and crafting in 75F and bright sunshine every day.