March 15, 2003

Saturday, March 15, 2003 Temple, TX to Abilene, TX

On Saturday morning, I returned to Burnet. It turned out to be a 75-mile drive from Temple I would have been better off spending the night closer to Austin.

Click here for the Burnet County Ride

I finished my ride feeling great. Since the sun hadn't quite set, I wandered around town and took a few more pictures.


As the sign in front of this gazebo notes, Burnet is the " Official Bluebonnet Capitol (sic) of Texas." Not merely homegrown boosterism, this title was conferred by an act of the state legislature. Alas, the only bluebonnets I saw in Burnet were those painted on the store in the background.	The rock shop near the gazebo in Burnet had this amusing sign.

Satisfied but a little tired, I managed to drive a few more hours. On the way to Abilene, I drove through Cross Plains, where Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian, once lived.

This confusing pair of signs stood ahead of a " Y" intersection somewhere southeast of Abilene (possibly at the junction of SR 206 and SR 279).

Artist of the Day: Townes Van Zandt - Van Zandt was an exceptional songwriter and an engaging folk performer, but he never sold many records. His powerful songs became hits for others, particularly " Pancho & Lefty" (Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson: " All the federales say they could have had him any day..." ) and " If I Needed You" (Emmylou Harris and Don Williams). Van Zandt's " Tecumseh Valley" is one of the most heartrending songs I've ever heard. Anyone curious about him should check out Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas, a great performance with an excellent selection of songs.

Honorable Mention: Guy Clark - Clark is an appropriate choice with Van Zandt since they were good friends. A skilled and prolific songwriter, Clark has a solid cult following. The Highwaymen had a hit with his " Desperadoes Waiting For A Train." Clark, Van Zandt and Steve Earle joined forces for a benefit concert in 1995 that was released as Together At The Bluebird Cafe.

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