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OldSchooling on the "Lone Star Trail"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . San Antonio River Walk

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San Antonio River Walk
or Paseo Del Rio, is a 3 mile stretch of beautifully landscaped waterfront that features many of San Antonio's most spectacular hotels, restaurants, night clubs, bars, shopping centers and businesses.

It is noted as one of the most dynamic "tourist attractions" in the entire state of Texas

"tourist attractions" - not my cup of tea.​
 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Blue Star Brewery

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The Blue Star Brewing Company Restaurant/Brewery
established on the southern reach of the San Antonio River in 1996, near the King William Historic Home District​
 
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Christ Lutheran Church of Elm Creek, building was built and dedicated, 1887

San Antonio BMW Club members Paulmul , Jackie and I walked through the cemetery to read the Church historic marker. We noticed all the kids and young peoples graves, and even with our uncertain economic times we felt we were lucky to live in this day and age​
 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Texas Painted Church Tour

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Dubina's first church was built in 1876 was destroyed, like many of the other churches in the area, by a hurricane in July 1909. Rebuilt in 1912, it survived a fire that all but destroyed the town.

Dubina Texas (In Czech the word dub means oak grove) and the Saints Cyril and Methodius Church is one of my favorite churches of the "Texas Painted Churches Tour​
"

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Vines, oak leaves and angels color the sky blue ceiling. The original paintings were whitewashed over in the 1950's. In the 1980 the restorers uncovered the old designs and repainted the interior.

The "Painted Church story" - the new immigrants had no resources like stone or the sculptors to do the interior decoration of the churches, so they hired painters to decorate the churches.

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Dubina, Fayette County, Texas. . . "Piano Bridge"

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"Piano Bridge"

Following the road ( County Road 480 ) past the Dubina Painted Church, I found this bridge the locals call "Piano Bridge"

Some say it's named after it's musical sound as you drive over it - technically it is a "piano-wire truss."

built in 1885 by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio. One of the few remaining iron bridges in Fayette County, Texas




 
Texas Painted Churches - Shiner Painted Church - Shiner Texas

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Shiner Church :thumb Shiner Texas
built in 1919 and painted in 1945

Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church
One of the 15 Painted Churches of Texas
& on the National Registry of Historic Places.


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Of the some 20 painted churches in Texas, 15 are listed on the National Register of historic sites.

Most of the Painted Churches were built in small farming communities, which had large populations a century ago, but today, most of them are nearly ghost towns. The only remains of the community are the well maintained churches in their old world charm.

I missed the painted Church St. Stanislaus, in Anderson and one near Planterville: http://www.smsj.org/index.php

marker at the church in Praha, "lost almost all it's adult male population during WWII".

It seemed that every Texas town that I rode through, had a Dollar General, Subway, Dairy Queen and a WhatAburger franchise.

Most towns also had a Mexican Restaurant and a BBQ pit.
I stopped at a few BBQ pits. I was told by many, that the following BBQ were some of the best Texas BBQ:
Cooper's in Llano or Mason
Black's, Kreuz Market, Smitty's or Chisolm Trail in Lockhart
Luling City Market - Luling
Louie Mueller's in Taylor
Gonzales Food Market - Gonzales


 
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . Bluebonnet Season - Shiner Texas

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A typical plant is about 8 inches tall, and the colored part of a bloom is about 4 inches tall.

each stem has 5 leaves - representing the five points of the Texas Lone Star

Bluebonnets are native to Texas, and just grow wild

The plants grow during the winter
bloom end of March, first few weeks of April.

The best bluebonnet seasons:
after winters that are very cold and very wet
the more miserable the winter - the more beautiful the spring

very cold conditions help the seeds germinate



 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .German settlement of High Hill

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German settlement of High Hill

Nativity of Mary, Blessed Virgin Catholic Church

built in 1906 of the Classic Gothic Revival style

interior is lined in wood,

protected by a brick exterior resistant to fire and storms


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OUTSTANDING pictures and report!! WOW...I HAVE to get to some of those roads!! Thanks for sharing!
 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Freyburg Methodist Church

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Freyburg Methodist Church

From Handbook of Texas Online website---"It was founded about 1868 by Germans and named for a town in Germany"

Open Plan Gothic style

These churches are a piece of European history in Texas.

 
Saint MaryÔÇÖs Church of the Assumption, Praha Texas

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Saint MaryÔÇÖs Church of the Assumption, Praha

most of its parishners are of Czech decent

Praha, the Czech spelling for Prague, must have reminded early residents of their homeland.

This church was built from native stone brought by oxen from a nearby village.

The artwork was done by a Swiss artist and remains in its original condition.

This church has stood unchanged for over 100 years.

1895 murals on the tongue-and-groove ceiling

painted vaulted ceiling, the work of Swiss-born artist Gottfried Flry




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. . . . . . . .St. John the Baptist Catholic - Ammansville Texas

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St. John the Baptist Catholic - Ammansville Texas

opened in 1890

Destroyed by the hurricane of 1909

the church was rebuilt

few years later it was destroyed by fire

and had to be rebuilt


pretty in pink
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. . . . . . . .Oldest Lutheran and worlds smallest church

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BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH
ROUND TOP, TEXAS
Established 1867

one of the earliest stone churches built in this section of Texas

has been used for services continuously since its construction

today it is the oldest Lutheran church sanctuary in Texas​



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Round Top - Warrenton, Texas

- In a state that prides itself in everything being big

- World's Smallest Catholic Church​
 
. . . . . . . . Texas Painted Church Tour - Bluebonnets

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each stem has 5 leaves - representing the five points of the Texas Lone Star

Bluebonnets are native to Texas :thumb
kinda like weeds in Wisconsin :dunno

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Oldschooling on the "Lone Star Trail"

Jim, excellent photos and narrative. Great to see our state in the prime time of the year. I hope you are planning on coming to the BMW Texas National Rally this weekend on Lake Belton. The info is on the MOA website. I would be proud to buy you a beer or three. My wife and I will be there in our GSA/sidecar rig, look us up.

Carl
 
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