Sattler, Seguin, Luling, Gonzales, Texas

Our day started with these weird ducks in our yard. No idea what they are.

We have spent the morning in the truck in the parking lot of the Sattler Library. We took the backroads over and stopped at the dam overlook for a morning view of Canyon Lake. Now it is off for another day of adventures in the hill country. We might have to stop in Gruene for lunch!



Later: Well we did stop at Adobe Verde in Gruene, a nice little Mexican restaurant, and then a quick stop and shop at the general store.

Seguin was not on our planned route for the day but we stopped there when I saw they had a statue of a pecan on the courthouse lawn! They are noted as "The Mother of Concrete Cities" as a local chemist held several conrete production patents, which explains why they used concrete in more than 90 area buildings by the end of the 19th century. I am not impressed by concrete buildings. I prefer "home of the largest pecan."

But we did wander down to Starcke Park on the Guadelupe and found a nice place with roaring river rapids for Leon to have a nap. I reminisced about the kayak float I had with the WINs on the Guadelupe.




One of Texas' most historic cities is Gonzales. This is the "Come and Take It" town which houses a famous little cannon.We loved wandering around town looking for the Memorial Museum as we passed many old large homes. The citizens received a small brass cannon from the Mexican government in 1831 for protection from the Indians. Four years later when relations between Mexico and Texas turned sour more than 100 Mexican soldiers staged a battle to retrieve the cannon. The townspeople sewed the first battle flag of Texas which included a picture of the cannon and the words "Come and Take It." The Texans fired a shot and the Mexicans retreated. The confrontation was short it but played a big role in Texas' fight for freedom.

We also visited the Old Jail built in 1887 and used until 1975. It was a cold place where I would not want to stay. Included was a reproduction of the gallows that held the last hanging in 1921.
We found our way over to Greg's coffee and computer shop on the square and enjoyed a caffeine boost. Wifi was available but it was getting late and we were far from home.



Oil was discovered in Luling in 1922 and the fields still pump the "black gold." There are 184 wells within the city limits. The local folks got creative with some of the pump jacks and later the Chamber of Commerce commissioned an artist to transform some of them into moving sculptures. We were disappointed that many needed painting and weren't pumping.

Again we arrived home at dark. What a day!