For our
first trip of 2017 we decided to take a trip to Texas. We flew into Dallas on a
Saturday afternoon. Upon arrival we immediately headed south. Our destination
for the night was Austin. We went south on I-35 before getting off near the
city of Milford. We continued another five miles and entered Hill County near
the city of Mertens. In town we headed east on Highway 22, went about one mile,
then crossed into Navarro County. From there we turned around and went back.
We then
headed towards Waco. As we traveled down Highway 31 we got off to try and pick
up Limestone County. According to Google Maps there was a parallel road that
ran by Highway 31. And there was. But it was a dirt road through a field. And
unfortunately it ended before we reached the county line. Google Maps had
failed us. We doubled back and found an alternate route – through another field
and a very rickety wood bridge. But we crossed over. No county left behind!
After
leaving Limestone County we got back on the highway. And it was a straight shot
to our hotel, the Homewood Suites by Hilton in Austin. Along the way we picked
up McLennan, Falls, Bell, Williamson and Travis Counties.
On Sunday
we had a full day planned. We started it by heading west. Our destination was
the Lyndon Baines Johnson Ranch. We drove through Hays, Blanco and Gillespie
Counties before arriving at the home of our 36th President. We took
the tour of house and encountered the free roaming cattle. The house tour is
fascinating and well worth the $3.00 admission.
Once we
left the ranch we headed to San Antonio. Heading south on Highway 87 we entered
Kendall County. The road briefly crossed into Kerr County as well. As we
approached San Antonio we took a detour on the north side near an area called
Fair Oaks. In a wealthy residential neighborhood (filled with dozens of
non-spooked deer) we crossed into Comal County. Our next stop was the Alamo. So
we entered Bexar County – a county that we had been to four years earlier.
After
leaving the Alamo we took the boat ride and had a late lunch on the River Walk.
With full bellies from our Mexican meal, we headed south. Our destination for
the night was Corpus Christie. We took I-37 all the way down. We picked up
Atascosa, Live Oak and San Patricio Counties. We made a brief stop in the city
of Mathis so we could drive an extra five miles and pick up the bonus county of
Jim Wells. Our last new county of the night was Nueces County – where our
Corpus Christie hotel (the Embassy Suites by Hilton) was located. We spent the
night at the Embassy Suites by Hilton.
On Monday
we headed to Padre Island National Seashore – and Kleberg County. We took a
stroll down to the beach and ended up stumbling upon a bunch of sea turtles that
were being put back to sea after being rescued. Before we left we had to do the
obligatory drive on the beach as well.
After
leaving Padre Island we started our long drive back north to Dallas. We crossed
Corpus Christi Bay and after crossing into San Patricio County once again, we
continued north into Aransas and Refugio County. We stopped at the Burger King
in Refugio to pick up some lunch for the road. Incidentally the restaurant has
a trough for a urinal. From there we ventured onto Highway 202 to briefly enter
Bee County before Turning north and heading into Goliad County. Just prior to
going through the city of Goliad, we pulled over to see the Presidio La Bahia –
location of the Goliad Massacre during the Texas Revolution.
Our next stop
was outside the city of Bastrop. We sought out the location where one of the opening
scenes from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was filmed. To get there we drove
through Dewitt, Karnes, Wilson, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Caldwell and Bastrop
Counties. We’d heard there was a barbecue place there – just like in the movie.
But it wasn’t open. And it didn’t appear to have been open for awhile. But it
was very cool – complete with green van and all.
For our
final stretch back to Dallas we criss-crossed through Central Texas picking up
Lee, Burleson, Milam, Robertson and Freestone Counties. We stopped in Corsicana
to eat dinner at Chili’s. From there we headed straight to our hotel – the Embassy
Suites by Hilton Dallas Love Field.
When it
was all said and done we’d picked up 36 new counties. What’s next? Well that remains
to be seen. We are tentatively planning a long summer road trip – possibly through
the northwest U.S. But that’s not yet set in stone. I’m sure we’ll have a few
weekend road trips before then too. But the locations are not yet known. So stay tuned!
NEW COUNTIES - 36
TOTAL COUNTIES FOR 2017 - 36
ALL TIME COUNTY TOTAL - 1557
7/17/17 UPDATE: We recently realized that in putting our county list together, we had inadvertently failed to include two counties that we had previously entered. On a summer, 2014 road trip, we went to Disneyland in California (Orange County). And upon leaving Disneyland for Las Vegas, we entered Riverside County as well. So even though it says 1557 total counties in this post above, the actual number at the time was 1559.
7/17/17 UPDATE: We recently realized that in putting our county list together, we had inadvertently failed to include two counties that we had previously entered. On a summer, 2014 road trip, we went to Disneyland in California (Orange County). And upon leaving Disneyland for Las Vegas, we entered Riverside County as well. So even though it says 1557 total counties in this post above, the actual number at the time was 1559.
