Sight seeing near Austin

 First we headed west from Austin to the "Hill Country".  This picture makes it look flatter that it actually is.  It was fun just going on back country roads.  We couldn't get lost because we were not trying to get anywhere in particular.  We enjoyed the live oaks which have different leaves than the scalloped leaves that we usually think of as oak trees.  Also pretty neat were the big cedar trees and Cedar Forests.

Of course there were Texas sized cactuses.  (Cacti?)  The prickly pear were over 6 feet tall.  The Yucca were proportionately big.

We just happened upon the Pedernales Falls State Park.  It was almost a series of swimming pools where no swimming was allowed.  The next several pictures are of the Pedernales.

 Note the big rock that got stuck in the hole.  I am glad the water wasn't that high while we were scrambling around on the rocks.  There were signs all over saying to climb in case of flash floods.

 When you look up the river, you mostly saw rocks.  Note the pot holes and if you look carefully, you can see some falls between the rocks.

A verboten swimming pool.

A view from a higher vantage point.

While we were wandering around, we came across a pink granite rock quarry.  It is based on the biggest granite dome in the US.  It was neat that we happened to find this, because it was the source of the granite that was used to build the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin.

 A busy, noisy place.  

 The capitol building is an impressive structure.  This is some of that pink granite!  We had to go through security manned by the Texas Rangers to get in to the Capitol.  It is tall!   The bottom stories are about 20 feet each.  The state senate meets in one wing and the house meets in the other.

This is the dome from the third floor.  Note the circular staircase going up above the dome.  If you are afraid of heights, this is no place to be.

This is looking down at the floor from the third floor.  The five circles represent different flags that have governed Texas.  Spain, France,  Mexico, The confederacy, and The USA.

We had to take this picture for Ruby.

 Reder has a ranch.  Ruby does too!

If you visit Texas, you need to get a picture of a Texas Long Horn.  These guys were at the Jardine General Store.  This place, between our hotel and downtown Buda (Byooda!) really smelled great!  They make really good hot sauce like Peach Jalapeno.

After Erin and Rich's wedding we met Dale and Gail and Dale's brother Bud and his wife Shirleen in San Antonio.  We got to see the Alamo and learn a little history.

 Originally established in 1726 (?? or something like that) it was rebuilt after the battles to look like this.

 This is a huge old live oak tree in the court yard.

San Antonio is famous for its River Walk.  We played tourist and took a tour on a boat like this.  In the evening we enjoyed dinner with the Westendorfs along the River Walk.

A good trip.  And we got to see a wedding too!