Wacko for Waco

After Houston, we headed to Waco.  Prior to this stop, I didn't know a lot about Waco, except that it was where a cult and Federal officials had a catastrophic meeting in 1993. I learned a bunch of things about Waco. It's in a really pretty part of Texas, rolling hills, trees, cliffs along the Bosque river. The Brazos river runs right through town. It's the home of Baylor University. It was on the Chisholm Trail, the overland route of cattle and mustang drives to Kansas. It is also where Dr. Pepper was invented and bottled. But, best of all, it is the home of Bill and Joyce Greene. Bill is another of Martin’s old army buddies and it was great to see them again. 


On to pics:

sunset over Waco Lake                          (pic taken from our campsite) 


We're such trend setters, haha. As I mentioned, Waco happens to be where Dr Pepper was invented and is now home to the Dr Pepper museum.  I'm sure it was a result of our visit that moved it past Pepsi to the #2 spot in the soft drink market!

This is the side of the building that shows where a tornado took out a good chunk of the building. They rebuilt, but couldn't get the same color stone. A living memorial that it takes more than a tornado to take a good Texas original out.

So, we weren't too sure what to expect in a Dr Pepper museum … but it was really fun. Here's an old soda fountain bar..

Poster from “a few” years ago …

something from the processing plant, not exactly sure what this did, maybe added gas??? but what ever it did… but I liked the look of it

crates just waiting for the magic elixir 

and it's off for delivery in the green truck

moving forward about 50 years and it's still being delivering in a green truck, but it is newly updated with all the latest features .

And check out this Dr Pepper peddle car.  I bet that made it on some Christmas lists!

After we had ice cream sodas, (some of the brave souls in our party used Dr Pepper, I was a chicken and had mine made with cream soda), we said goodbye and continued our exploration. 


Next stop the Waco suspension bridge and the Waco Chisholm Trail Heritage sculpture, Branding the Brazos, by Robert Summers commemorating the crossing of the Brazos River on the Chisholm Trail.  The Chisholm Trail is the overland cattle drive route from southern Texas across Oklahoma and ending in Kansas ( just in case you need an update).  

The suspension bridge.  The bridge was closed the day we were there for a wedding. Seems like a unique venue to me but I surely hope no one dropped a ring!

The Bosque River

Another sunset at our campsite, this time we shared it with our longtime friends, Bill and Joyce. I believe the last time we saw them was when they visited us in Vermont ... pre- kids!    It was great to see them again and spend some time rekindling our friendship.

more shots around Waco Lake 

ducks and heron

likely a female sleepy orange butterfly 



Up next: exploringing more of Texas; Fredericksburg, Luckenbach, San Antonio and Austin 

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