Day One is in the Books...as a success

I woke up early...even for this "early morning person"....It was still dark and with the cloud cover stayed that way until way passed 0700...I was antsy, ready to start this trip..NOW....the Bride was not even up yet....I had planned on doing a short walk, but was too preoccupied to even do that....Weather forecast was for a chance of rain between 10-12 this morning...I decided to leave at 0930 and try to out run the wet stuff...

(c)2015 Horst Kelly Photographer

So there I was...0730, cleaned up, hitched up, had my coffee...the wife and I had our morning interaction...By 0915, it was Hugs and Kisses and I was pulling out of the drive way...about an hour later I finally got on I-10 heading north...no rain so far and traffic was light...put on a Guy Clark  tune, you need to look him up, GREAT Texan songwriter...Down the road a piece I hit Comfort, Tx and took US-87 north to Fredericksburg...Boy was that town crowded...

(c)2015 Horst Kelly Photographer

 

....I didn't know one could buy so much stuff for Easter..Mmmmm. I took Texas 16 north and when my odometer read 140 miles I reached Llano...one turn onto RR152 and there I was at Riverway RV Park....sits on the Llano River..they are all pull through, very level, there is a conference room, library, and exercise  room with 4/5 machines....folks are super friendly...but the number one "standout" is Cleanliness....I have never seen a RV Park/campground that spotless...from the Grounds, to the office, bathrooms, and other facilities...and with Passport America its 15 dollars...and that rate is not for 1 or 2 nights..its for the entire stay and includes weekends and holidays...go figure.  There are a lot of oil folks with their 5th wheels..but all are friendly, quite and keep their area extremely clean...

(c)2015Horst Kelly Photographer

OK, I checked in, unhooked, called the Bride and off I went to search for Bluebonnets, Eagles and other stuff..I made a loop and drove 110 miles..no Eagles so far....lots of Bluebonnets are starting to come out...not a large variety of other  wild flowers...yet. Todays drive was more of  getting a feel as to what and where stuff was and the best time of day to photograph it....


(c)2015Horst Kelly Photographer



Got a shoot of one County Courthouse so far..Mason County CH...in Mason Texas...Here is a little History: Population around 2000....

History in a Pecan Shell

One of the first settlers in the area was Wm. S. Gamel in 1846. Fort Mason was established in 1851 and settlers were attracted by the protection that the fort provided from Indians. Germans moved into the area from Fredericksburg and even soldiers settled the town after their discharge. In 1858 the town received mail as well as the fort's supplies from San Antonio. The post office opened in town and the name was changed from Fort Mason to Mason that same year.

Fort Mason: The fort played no part in the Civil War other than being surrendered to Confederate forces in 1861. The Confederates didn't need it and the townsfolk appropriated much of the abandoned fort and equipment. It was reestablished in 1866 and then abandoned for good in 1868.

In the 1870's Mason County was the scene of a violent feud between German settlers and Anglo ranchers. Known as the "Hoo-Doo" War or the Mason County War - it was a nasty business of many killings with no one ever standing trial.

Mason became a stage stop after the war and it never did get a railroad - usually an very important milestone to a developing town. In 1923 Mason was the largest "city" in Texas without a railroad.

...there you have it...a quaint town with character....it still has most of the old structures....nice break to take a walk around....

From there I rode to Burnet, Marble Falls,  Kingsland and back to Llano...had forgotten to take a steak out of the freezer, didn't want to eat out...so I made a tomato  and cheese sandwich on Rye Bread..not bad...

(c)2015Horst Kelly Photographer

Called my wife and now just sitting here looking for tomorrows adventure...until next time... Happy Trails....I am one Happy Camper at this moment.....Horst sends