Fredericksburg Regional Tour “Everything’s Fine in 2009”
By Judy Larmeu CPS/CAP
WOW! This is the first Regional Tour both Larry and I have attended and we’re glad we did. It was exciting, fun, and educational. Our Region #100 was among the 11 Regional Groups participating in this tour. Here are a few minor details to whet your appetite for the next Regional tour that you should attend.
Since it was a long trip our tour organizer, Charlie Froehlich, suggested that we make it a two-day venture. A wise idea. We also combined the travel with our Bayou State Group meeting, which was held in Conroe, Texas, on Wednesday. Wednesday’s weather was overcast, but on Thursday we experienced winds gusting to 49 mph (35 mph winds are tropical storm force) and it was difficult keeping those 7 beauties on the road. Jay and Pam and Mrs. Ruby, Charlie and Ardie, Chester and Mary Lou, Jason and Lois, Paul and Lodell, Fred and Dot, Larry and Judy, and Walt and Penny represented our group.
Fredericksburg is built on German heritage and the town is beautiful architecturally and the people are very friendly. We ate at an authentic German restaurant and the food was delicious (especially the dark German beer), but the German Potato Salad was sweet and tasted more like dessert.
On Friday morning after registration we were on our own, so Charlie lead us through the Willow City Loop – a 13-mile loop around some awesome, hilly country. The wind had died down and the sun was out and it was a gorgeous day for driving.
We learned a lot about cactus too. For example, Fred told us about having been served a form of pané Prickly Pear which took his breath away (literally) on the first bite. He said the consistency of the leaf (devoid of stickers and outer skin) is that of open cells and it took his breath away like inhaling ammonia. Larry told of a Mexican treat – the “pod” beneath the yellow or pale pink blooms are boiled and eaten (he hasn’t tasted them) like a delicacy.
AT 1:30 it was back to the hotel for the Region’s tour of Mike and Jody Tomforde’s Crabapple Creek Ranch. Mike has a fabulous collection of vehicles – a chromed Jeep, a customized Pontiac/ElCamino combination, a Ferrari, a VW, a Nomad Wagon, a child’s pedal car, etc., etc.
This was the beginning of our afternoon because after viewing Mke’s cars, we also were permitted to visit the main residence and a one-story and a two-story cabin and the barn. The main house started out as an 1850’s log cabin and is now the center of the limestone house. The one-story “Gaust Haus” was a smokehouse and larder; the two-story cabin was located down the road and later moved. The barn was originally built as a residence and is now used as a garage and storeroom. The chicken house is now the potting shed, firewood storage, and during hunting season is used for hanging deer and other game. There are approximately 1,000 acres with two miles of Crabapple Creek, deep valleys and views overlooking Enchanted Rock. There is a tennis court, swimming pool, and even a putting green on the property.
Following this tour we had time on our own, then returned to the hotel for a boxed dinner and ice cream social and inspection of some of the 100 plus vehicles in the parking lot and of course, stories.
Saturday dawned bright and sunny, but the breeze had again picked up a bit. We were on our own in the morning, but had a self-guided driving tour of the Texas Hill Country followed by a stop at the Kerrville Dairy Queen for a pick-me-up snack (everyone had a $2.00 coupon). We met at noon for lunch and vehicle judging followed by meetings all at the Farm Bureau. Our Group was presented with a plaque (see picture) for the “interest, dedication, and support of our RG-100 ‘COONASS’ friends for making the trip.”
At 5:30 p.m. we returned to the Farm Bureau for pre-banquet live music, the banquet, and trophy presentations. Raffle drawings were held after the trophies were awarded, and the entertainment concluded the evening’s events.
Bob York, South Central Director presented Bayou State Region a certificate in honor of the Group’s anniversary.
For our return trip, we again decided to make it a two-day venture. This time, we stopped in Beaumont where we had a wine tasting social in our room and a pizza party in the inn’s dining room. Monday morning after a hearty breakfast of eggs, biscuits and gravy, waffles (in the shape of what else – Texas), cereal, etc., we continued our trek home.
The trip itself was uneventful with no major vehicle problems. All in all it was a fun-filled, success. You need to get yourself ready for the “April in Paris” Texas that is tour – April 8-11, 2010, sponsored by the Dallas Regional Group.