Round Rock, TX with the Barkers

Our oldest friends Harvey “Hoss” Barker and his wife Janet offered to let us stay with them during the Audie Rose upgrades. We’re now in Round Rock, TX living in their home and visiting some of the local Texas sites.

According to Wikipedia: Round Rock is a city near Austin, Texas. It’s known for its outdoor activities and historic sites. The Round Rock, a large stone in Brushy Creek, marks the site where wagons made low-water crossings in the 19th century. Nearby, Chisholm Trail Crossing Park has plaques detailing the city’s cattle-driving history.

Keith discovered the Round Rock accidentally when he made a wrong turn coming back from an oil change on our Honda. The area nearby has older homes build of river rock and is quite interesting.

While visiting Waco last week, Ilene and Keith dropped by Magnolia Market. That’s the business owned by Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame on HGTV. The market is really a large building next to the famous grain bins, a large open area with picnic tables and food trucks, and the bakery next door.

We didn’t go into the bakery for one of their famous cupcakes since the line was around the block. But we did learn that the bakery truck behind the market sells the same cupcakes as the bakery…with no line! OK, the selection isn’t quite as extensive but…

Ilene picked up a tea towel and we had just enough time to drive over to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum across the highway.

The Hall of Fame offers dioramas about the history of the Texas Rangers, several displays on famous rangers and weapons displays. We started the tour with a 45 minute video on the history of the rangers. We highly recommend watching it if you visit.

The film introduced us to Sam Bass and A.W. Grimes, two roads here in Round Rock. Seems Sam Bass was an outlaw who shot and killed deputy A.W. Grimes in Round Rock. Texas Rangers witnessing the shooting managed to kill several of Sam Bass’ gang and wound him enough so that a couple days later the outlaw perished for his nefarious deeds.

Interestingly, one of the other witnesses to the altercation was con man “Soapy” Smith. Seems Soapy met his demise on the dock in Skagway, AK in 1898. One of our stops on the cruise we took with the Barkers back in 2014. It’s a small world after all!

 

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