Elizabeth’s Journal

Road Trip to Fredericksburg

Last Wednesday, we (Joy, Brian, Jonathan, and myself) took a road trip to Fredericksburg for the day. I wanted to take some back roads on the way out, partly because there was the potential we might get there quicker than going south of town and taking Hwy 290 all the way, and partly to show Brian & Joy some of the true Texas Hill Country landscape. You don’t really get much of a feel for it driving on the highways.

I succeeded beyond my wildest dreams! As planned, we took 360 down to Bee Caves (2244), took that to Hwy 71, and then from there took the Hamilton Pool Road (3238, I think) out to 962. After that, my plan went awry as the little county road I’d hoped to take (CR 169) was unmarked. I think I know where I should have turned, though, so next time I might try it again (sucker for punishment). Luckily I knew from driving between the farm and Lawrence in Kansas that these county roads are often unmarked or go by many different names, so I was prepared for failure. Being stubborn and unwilling to retrace my steps, we continued on 962 and eventually ended up at Cypress Mill; as you can see from the link, it ain’t a big place, folks. From there we took CR 301 to Hwy 281, which took us to Johnson City, and then we hopped onto 290 for the rest of the way into Fredericksburg.

The drive was wonderful. It certainly gives you a sense of how large the distances are here in Texas, and—I am not making this up—every single place we passed for miles on CR 301 was a ranch. And there was nothing else around. Not even any cars! Every now and then I grew concerned that I’d strayed onto someone’s property and was going to end up at the front door of a house, but eventually we’d pass another residence or set of ranch gates and I’d be relieved for a while. The road was paved the whole way, which was a plus; no lane markings, though, and just barely big enough for two cars. We crossed the Pedernales River and a couple of times on CR 301 had to cross a stream. I looked very suspiciously at the water before venturing forth in my Honda Civic, but it was less than half an inch running over the road so I deemed it okay. But with any rain whatsoever, it would be unpassable for a normal car. The second area where I had to drive through water also had a big hole on the other side where the road was on its way to being completely washed out. Most exciting.

We had a great time in Fredericksburg: had lunch at the Fredericksburg Herb Farm, and then drove back to Main Street and went in lots of shops. Even I did! My tentative plan had been to find a local brewery with a beer garden and hang out in there with Jonathan, but we all ended up staying together. Jonathan had a great time all day and was a joy to travel with, and Brian found some new additions for his honeypot/bee collection. I found the best kitchen store—Der Kuchen Laden—I’ve ever been in (even found a coffee grinder there to replace mine that had packed up that very morning), and upon reflection I’ve decided that it’s a good thing it’s not any closer to Austin.