Deep in the Heart of Texas

Since this week Austin hosts about a billion people for SXSW, we got out of town for our own Texas adventure!
1. Saw Crazy Heart
2. Drove to Johnson City, the boyhood home of LBJ. Listened to nothing but country music on satellite radio. Stopped at the Visitor Center and learned a little more about this President.
3. Stopped for BBQ @ Willie's Those are actually "chicken butts:" chicken tenders, stuffed with jalepeno, wrapped in bacon, and oak grilled. Dip them in ranch dressing, of course!
4. We were delighted to know that Luckenbach was only .25 miles away, so we decided to check it out. TOTAL SCORE! There was a biker rally! Too embarrassed/scared to pull out my camera.
5. Next, left Luckenbach for our original destination -- the LBJ Ranch/National Historical Park. Since Lady Bird's death in 2008, the ranch is undergoing quite an overhaul. You can go inside & tour the Western White House, with more rooms opening in a few months.
I thought his 1-room schoolhouse was particularly interesting. As a little one (4 yr old), LBJ would wander down the Pedernales to the schoolhouse looking for his friends and relatives. His parents petitioned that he be admitted since he was already able to read, and the teacher obliged. Years later, he can back here and signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act into law with his teacher sitting next to him. Every US President since then has renewed the act, with George W. Bush making changes to it and renaming it No Child Left Behind.
6. Left the 2200 acre ranch and headed back to Austin, listening to nothing but country music on satellite radio.

Twas a very good day.