Fredericksburg, TX, March 2024.

We made it to Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country after our stops in Nacogdoches and Houston.

Keith Risch diagnosed our dash AC problem in minutes and fixed it in less than a day. It was a frozen clutch on the AC compressor. And it was very little more to get a new compressor and clutch than just the clutch so we did that. And he discovered that the electric fan for the evaporator radiator wasn’t working either so that got replaced. When he was all done we had 59° air blowing out of the dash vents.

And we had a nice visit and dinner with Rudy and Carolyn in the SE Houston area. Then lunch with Scott and Carol and Bill and Joyce way up on the north side. It was good to see all of them.

Then we drove across the southern part of Houston on I10. No issues. In places, it is 5 or 6 lanes wide each way but we just get in the second or third lane from the right and stay there and get through it. We have done it several times, more often than not on a Sunday. And usually with no big slowdowns for accidents, one time for maintenance.

We drove to Columbus TX on I10, stopped to fill up with fuel, and drove toward Austin. This leads us past Bastrop where the TV show “Iron Resurrection” is made. We like the transformations they do on cars and the personalities of the program. We always say we should stop but don’t. But it is fun to know they are on our way.

It is like stopping in Laurel, MS, where “Home Town” is produced. We like this home renovation show more than most. Maybe next winter on our way to Orange Beach we will stop.

The traffic across the South part of Austin is slow, with lots of stop signs and never-ending road construction. We made it through without going on the toll section like we did last year.

Fredericksburg is much like it has been many times in the past for us. Spring-like. Warm sunny days, cool nights, occasional overnight rains, sometimes a bit of thunder and lightning, even the chance of a bit of hail.

Many of our regular friends here are no longer in the park. Mike and Jackie bought a house and sold their coach. Norm moved to another park near Kerrville but still comes to Fredericksburg for lunch once a week and does his grocery shopping at the Fredericksburg HEB store.

Peggy is still here just across the road from us.

She recently turned 90 and is witty and as sharp as a tack. We go out to lunch once a week or so, we have coffee in the morning a couple of times a week, and we give her a hand with her laundry basked on laundry day.

The coffee regulars, Bob, Maureen, and Molly.

The drier-than-normal early spring kept the wild flower competition suppressed and the more than usual rain brought the wildflowers out earlier than usual.

They are abundant everywhere, especially on the Willow City Loop drive.

We saw just one of the pair of ostriches along the way.

And many examples of why it is called the Hill country. It is quite majestic.

We head to the dog park at Lady Bird Johnson City Park about three times a week so Maggie can get some running in. She chases a knotted rope throw toy, she is insistent that I throw it.

She stands at the ready or runs out a ways and turns and waits.

And brings it back, usually, dropping it in front of me, sits down and waits for a treat.

Sometimes she runs out ahead while I throw it and she doesn’t see where it goes. She looks at us and we point and she goes where we point and she finds it.

This is mostly new for her and she does pretty well, not perfect but we are surprised how well she is doing.

When she is starting to get tired she takes the throwing toy and heads for the nearest shade. She wants to keep playing but it is her way of letting us know it is time for a break.

Her best buddy, Scooter, has been down in Florida for the last three months. Scooter’s Mom, Luann, sent this picture.

Scooter is three months older than Maggie and about the same size. And just like Maggie his favorite spot for a nap is curled up under a piece of furniture. In the coach it is my chair. At home, the dining room chair. We though this was pretty funny. Maggie remembers Scooter. We get quite a reaction when we say his name. They will be reunited in a month or less.

March came to an end in Fredericksburg. We have been here often so no new major adventures. We are visiting with friends, go out to lunch a couple of days a week, lots of walks with Maggie and a bike ride or two. We do Wordle every day, read, follow the news because it is hard to avoid. We are not on a vacation, this is just where we are for a while.

The trees were starting to leaf out when we got here and most are full now. The pecan trees are always the last and even they have the start of their leaves.

Springtime in the Hill Country has always been pleasant with abundant wild flowers, greening trees, warmer days, and still cool nights.

It is starting to warm up some at home but Brown is the dominant color for another six weeks.

More Later, Much Love,

Maggie, Susan, and Roger