All Singles Dance Rally, Bandera, TX, 2014

Max and I went to Boerne, TX, to visit our friend, Tom Cassidy.  Sadly, I must report that Tom lost his battle with lung cancer on May 13, 2014.  I'll miss you Tom, but I'll remember the good memories, especially of the travels out east in 2011-2012.

Tom Cassidy.  Rest in Peace.

Since I have posted about the dance rally in Bandera previously (check out my blogs in April for the past 5 years), I'm just going to post the highlights of this year.

After leaving Beorne, Max and I took a wildflower viewing trip and here are a few of the sites we saw.

The Texas Bluebonnets were blooming everywhere this year.

Everywhere you turn, there are dance halls.  Even the little town of Sisterdale, population can't be more than 100, has a dance hall.

Of course it was locked up and I could only look through the windows.  

They also claim a 'historical bar'.  It was early in the day and it wasn't open either.  I wonder what made it 'historical'?

On our way back to Bandera and decided to stop for lunch.  A number of the people attending the dance rally had come here for dinner the previous Saturday night, but I went to a dance at Leon Springs Dance Hall.  And last year, the group came out here, also, but again, I didn't make it.  So, this was my first time to visit this iconic bar and grill in Center Point, TX.

They have a small stage and dance floor.  When they have a band, it usually plays Jimmy Buffet style music.

They try to make you feel like you are in the tropics, instead of Texas, and they do a good job.  

The first evening dance of the dance rally was Super Heroes or Comic Book characters.

Wonder Woman and the Supermen and Superwomen.

Little Red Riding Hood's.

Pepper came as a real life hero, dressed in her Navy Dress Blues.  She got a standing ovation for representing all those real life heroes who are out there defending our country, in the past and still today.  

Just a few of the great costumes for Super Hero/Comic Book character night.

The dance rally isn't just about dancing.  One morning about 8 of us loaded up our bikes and headed to the Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch.  Lots of backroads to bike on.  We did a 12 mile bike ride.

And then we stopped at Alamo Springs Cafe for lunch.  If you've never been there, they have one of the best burgers ever.

This must have been during a band break, no one is dancing.  

Carleen's new boots and her boot bling!

Everyone, especially the ladies, always enjoy getting dressed up for one dance night.

The four seasons in toga.

I didn't know you could come up with so many variations of toga's.  

And so ends another great dance rally in Bandera, TX.

John T. Floore's Country Store

In 1946, this store opened as a bar, cafe, grocery and dance hall.  It is still in operation today, bringing in some of the best bands in the area.  Mike and the Moonpies were playing this particular Thursday evening and some 20+ of us showed up to dance.

They have a large outdoor venue, too.

Mike and the Moonpies.  Just a note:  this was in April 2014.  In May 2014, somewhere in the Ft. Worth area, Mike and the Moonpies had their van and all their equipment stolen.  Fundraisers have been organized and different people and companies have donated equipment and funds so they can continue their music.  I sure hope the thieves are caught.

Cowboy Mardi Gras, Part 2

The parade started at noon.  Margaret brought her pickup in around 8am so we would have front row seats.

The entire main street through town was packed.

It was only fitting that the Cowboy Capital of the World would start the parade (even a Mardi Gras parade) with horses.

They were coming fast enough, I couldn't get shots except from this weird angle.

About 1/3 of the way through the parade, my camera batteries died.  The parade lasted about an hour (and main street is only 4 blocks long).  There were floats for all the local bars, several of the ranchs and many other local businesses and community organizations.

These guys just wished they from from CNN.

There was even a wedding.  Held in front of the 11th Street Cowboy Bar and on horseback. 

 

All decorated and ready to party.

The dancing started early.

The first band of the day was Rusty Metoyer and the Zydeco Crush.

New costumes emerged.

The King and Queen of Cowboy Mardi gras, owners of the 11th Street Cowboy Bar and major sponser of this event.

Just a few of the costume contest contestants.

This group of ladies from the Ft. Worth area were in the top 3 winners.

The earlier bands were cajun/zydeco, but the Saturday evening band was Five Card Draw.  Really good and a great way to end a wonderful Cowboy Mardi Gras.  I hope this isn't the last one I attend.

Cowboy Mardi Gras-Bandera, TX

I wasn't able to be at Mardi Gras for Fat Tuesday, but I got to be at the next best thing, Cowboy Mardi Gras, Bandera Style.

I missed the Thursday celebrations, but made to the Friday afternoon party at 11th Street Cowboy Bar.  The Toman Brothers were playing, with a few real cajun's helping out with the spoons and the washboard.

Enough said.

Everyone and everything celebrates around here.

We are ready to party, Mardi Gras style.

Hey, here's another washboard player.

Reuben and the Revolutions, from the Houston area, played Friday night.

Saturday morning was the Gumbo cookoff.  Over a dozen gumbo chefs made their best creations.  I bought six tickets, but only tried five.  (I went back for seconds at one booth)

The decorations were festive.

But best of all was the costumes.

Before the parade, the revelers are getting ready.  On Friday afternoon, I helped decorate this float for the Cowboy Bar.  What a great bunch of people in this town!

I loved Kathy's boots.  She did it herself.

As I said, the costumes were great.

Chuck Levert was all ready in his costume.

This is part 1.  The rest of the party will be in the next blog.

Fredericksburg and Big Game Farms

One day, Margaret and I headed towards one of the best little German towns in Texas, Fredericksburg.  In addition to good German food, there is the Nimitz Museum, named after one of the town's own.

St. Mary's Catholic Church.  This building was finished in 1906.

Not as ornate as some churches I have been in, it was very beautiful.

The large pipe organ is located in the choir loft above the entrance.

The old St. Mary's Church was built in 1863, replacing the log cabin built when the parish was started with some of the first German immigrants in 1846.

The inside of the old church is much plainer than the newer church, but is still used as a chapel.

Although this building was completed in 1893, the congregation of the Holy Ghost Evangelical Lutheran Church trace their origins to the first protestant services held in 1846 by German immigrants.

Admiral Chester Nimitz was born and raised in Fredericksburg.  I have been to the museum several times before, but I always see something new each time.  It is the best WWII museum I have been to.

This large, life size bronze statue of Admiral Nimitz was placed in the plaze in front of the museum last year.

I knew there were large game farms located between Fredericksburg and Bandera, but I never expected to see this sight alongside the highway on my way between the two towns.