Wednesday, July 07, 2010

A Piney Fourth





In this edition of Rick's Cafe, Sandy and Rick decide to get away for a one day vacation, a more or less improvised spur-of-the-moment trip for the July 4th holiday.


The ever ingenious Sandy quickly finagles our lodging: a "limited use" mini-cabin on the lake at Buescher State Park near Smithville, Texas. "Limited use" turns out to mean no bathroom, although there is a common bath/shower building about a hundred feet away.


That's roughing it! Sandy's no dummy, however; we do have A/C, lights, electric, bunk beds, and a small fridge.


The lake view is idyllic. Another one of Sandy's wonderful finds!



As darkness falls we are treated to a an eerie symphony of toads, a rather noisy affair that lasts most of the night. I managed to capture a little snippet of the free concert on my camera's video (the sound is the interesting part):





Morning of July 4th arrives and we get an early start on our way.


Goodbye, Mini-Cabin 1! We loved you well.




We take a leisurely drive through the scenic trail to the adjacent Lost Pines State Park.



I don't know how the pines got lost here in south Texas. Sandy says Indians brought in seedlings. That's as good a theory as any I can come up with.


Another short drive brings us to the bustling metropolis of Flatonia.

















Anytown USA, July 4th
(actually it's Flatonia, Texas):


From Flatonia, we scoot along Hwy 90 to the little town of Praha, a Czech settlement dating from the mid-nineteenth century.The pride of Praha is the Catholic Church of St. Mary's.



St. Mary's Praha had its centennial in 1955!



Some interior views of St. Mary's - Praha



















About the same time he Czechs made their way to Praha, a Moravian settlement was founded at Blum Hill (later High Hill). St Mary's at High Hill is about a fifteen minute drive from her sister church St.Mary's Praha.





Interior views of St. Mary's at High Hill























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