Fredericksburg -- Mum & Dad Visit Texas – March 2007 (Part 2)

DAY THREE:  Saturday, 31 March 2007

When Mum & Dad had come down to visit the first time (back in March 2003), we’d finished our trip to Johnson City be driving just a little further westward to Fredericksburg, now we’d explore the city proper.  The drive out was very nice, and we passed the little restaurant near Johnson City that Mum liked a lot.  It’s called Hill Country Cupboard, and the sign says it has the “world’s best chicken-fried steak.”  It must be so, because the sign also says “nearly three dozen sold.”  Back in 2003, it was still “nearly three dozen sold,” too.

Once we arrived in Fredericksburg, what we thought was a single World War II museum was actually three different parts.  One was devoted to Admiral Chester Nimitz (who was born in Fredericksburg), one was sculpture garden with a lot of plaques dealing with those who served, and the last part was a recreation of a World War II-era battlefield (called the “Pacific Combat Zone”).  Additionally, there was a museum dedicated solely to the Pacific Ocean portions of the War which was in the process of being built.  As that wasn’t close to completion yet, we knew there’d be something for us to come back to another time.

We started with the Nimitz Museum, which was interesting in itself, as it focused specifically on the life of the man who became the great Admiral.  We didn’t spend much time in there, not because the exhibits weren’t interesting, but it was a nice day to be outside.  We decided that we’d work on the sculpture garden for a bit, and then head down to the battlefield recreation (as that had shows set to start at specific times).

In addition to the tranquil Zen-like Japanese Garden of Peace, there were many plaques showing ships and air groups which had taken part in the Pacific campaign (like the U.S.S. Saratoga, which had that hometown connection).  One of the most interesting things was the Ring of Presidents.  This was a picture of the past ten Chief Executives (starting with George H.W. Bush, and working backwards) who had all served in some capacity during World War II.

We were told the Pacific Combat Zone was only a “short distance” down one of the side streets, so it made sense to walk it.  The map they gave us was misleading, as it ended up being three blocks over, then four more down.  Had we realized that, we would’ve just driven over, and by the time we figured it, it just made sense to continue forward.  I didn’t mind walking, as it was extra miles on my pedometer, but this was not Mum & Dad had been expecting.

At the entrance to the Pacific Combat Zone was a replica of Little Boy.  As I stood in front of it, and showed that it was far longer than my spread-out arms, that gave a sense of how massive of a bomb this would’ve been with conventional ordnance.  Once we went inside the main building, there was a PT Boat, and light-show which simulated the sights and sounds of shelling.

Exiting the main building to the main grounds of the battlefield recreation, a guided tour showed us a Japanese tank, machine gun placement, and one of the pre-fab hospital buildings the Americans used during the campaign, among other pieces of equipment scattered about.  There were even empty shell casings embedded in the walking path.  It was more of a walking tour outside, which was a little exhausting after trekking the number of blocks we did to get here.

Once we’d seen what we’d wanted to at the Pacific Combat Zone, everyone else waited as I walked back to where we’d parked so I could just drive over to get everyone.  When we’d driven out here, Mum had noticed the number of wineries here, so we stopped at one on the way back so her and Lee could do some wine tasting together.  Dad and I watched them sample the various types.  I caught them trying to sneak some extra glasses from a giant cask also.

We ended the evening with dinner at Texas Land & Cattle, which was one place Mum & Dad liked to go when they were here. 

DAY FOUR:  Sunday, 1 April 2007

Today was just a day to hang at the house, as Mum we didn’t need to be doing something every day.  She was right, but I do like to be able to get out and about doing stuff.  Besides playing around in the back yard, the main thing we did today was to go to one Mum’s other favourite restaurants in Austin.  Located off of Barton Springs, we’d discovered Shady Grove back on Mum & Dad’s first visit back in March 2003.  It was a nice place we’d gone a number of times since.

No fooling, we really didn’t do much today.  There were a couple things in mind that we still wanted to do, but we thought he could logically hit them the next day when most people would be at work.  Besides, tomorrow would be Mum & Dad’s last full day here, as on Tuesday they’d be heading on to Tampa to continue their vacation. 

More information on the places we visited can be found at:

Hill Country Cupboard:  hillcountrycupboard.com

Nimitz Museum:  www.realestate-herber.com/nimitz-museum.php?fredericksburg-museum

Pacific Combat Zone:  www.fredericksburg-texas.com/cwt/external/wcpages/wcevents/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=4866

            Shady Grove:  www.theshadygrove.com