KRATZMC

27 May, 2008

Well my friends and former co-workers, Tony “Tank” Delgado, John “Flynnstone” Flynn and Daniel “Dell” Harvey flew in for a four day visit. After picking them up at the airport, we headed to the Andice General Store for a killer hamburger. They were impressed with the burger, so I took them to the ranch for the nickel tour and to unpack.

We farted around at the ranch, shooting my bow and picked up my old Gold Wing at Bob Head trucking to use the next day. For dinner, we went for some Texas BBQ at Dukes in Georgetown but we arrived somewhat late so all the ribs were gone.  We settled for the brisket, sausage and roasted pork for our end of the day meal.

A quiet evening of conversation ensued for the remainder of the night, as we sat out on the porch and got up to date on the latest gossip and plan the next days events.

5 cent tour of Zeke’s Fantasy Land Ranch

Link to Duke’s

28 May 2008 Ride #1

The next morning I cooked some breakfast Tacos and we headed to Killeen because Flynn wanted to check out a local gun store. The Texas gun laws are virtually unchanged since 1968 and nothing like the Communist laws now enforced in California. Needless to say John salivated at the choices, prices and availability.

“Gun Nuts” has a new meaning in Killeen.

We then took some back roads in an attempt to hit Walburg, Tx but got side tracked on the back roads. There are no direction signs on these old county roads so unless you are familiar with them, navigating from small town to small town isn’t easy. I didn’t have my GPS with me so we ended up winging it, finally stopping at Doc’s One Stop in Jarrell Tx for lunch.

Checking the large scale road map which didn’t have Walburg on it, just the major roads.

Doc’s One Stop gas station, rest stop, store and restaurant.

Sirlon steak was the special and I always recommend sampling a local eateries specials. I figured there is a reason they got the be special in the first place and for $6 bucks plus change, we weren’t disappointed. Service at Doc’s is lethargic as the extremely rubenesque wait staff exhibits the enthusiasm of a three toed sloth on Valium but they are effective. The 161 mile ride was finished off with a trip to Round Rock Harley Davidson, so Tony and Dan could get some shirts for friends and family.

Round Rock Harley Davidson

We stopped in Georgetown at Bar None Coffee and an afternoon pick me up. Brad Watson, Blue Knight and retired DEA agent was at the coffee shop, so he got to meet my LEO buddes. We headed back to the ranch to relax and a Zeke style BBQ with chops from my own pig and followed it with an all night BS session on the covered porch.

The route, Ride #1

29 May 2008 Ride #2

This days ride was planned for Fredricksburg and visit the Museum of the Pacific War. We got an early start to make the most out of the day and to time our arrival for lunch at one of the German restaurants there. We got a light breakfast in Florence, Tx at El Charrito.

El Charrito, on Hwy 183 Florence Tx $1.90 breakfast Tacos

After eating, we made our way via back roads to Bertram and then Burnett, to visit the Air Museum at the airport. The Museum is operated by the Highland Lakes Wing of the Commemorative Air Force but I soon learned it was only open on the weekends. Oh well! We looked at and photographed the static outdoor displays and I even found a T38 with Holloman AFB tail markings. I worked on those T-38 for 3 years so I pondered if I had crossed paths with the one on display.

Museum…closed

T-38 from the 479 TTW Holloman AFB NM my old Unit

Republic F-100 Super Sabre. First fully operational supersonic fighter of the USAF

The boyz, Flynnstone, Dell and Tank on a M-48 Patton Tank

Me posing with the Zimmerman Pocket Rocket

We then left the Burnett Airport and continued to Fredricksburg via Johnson City, as Tony eyeballed the countryside for potential retirement retreats. We arrived in Fredrickburg with vigorous appetites and stopped at the

for lunch. They feature live music and nice outdoor eating areas with great ambiance. I highly recommend you have the root beer with your sandwich in lieu of the beer if you are riding. If you click on the photo above, you can find out more which will link you to their site.

Dell poses in the BierGarten (Beer Garden)

Usually graffiti isn’t funny but I thought this one on the wall of the Beer Garden was, as it seemed to fit.

Now for the reason we came to Fredrickburg, the Museum of the Pacific War, the Pacific War Theater and the Admiral Nimitz Museums. Without much commentary, here are some pictures from out visit.

The main museum

Captured Japanese Mini-Sub which contained the first Japanese POW of WW2, Pearl Harbor 1941

Bulk head door from the USS Arizona

US flag from the War thingy

M-3 Stuart tank which took a direct hit with Austrailian Crew 2 killed 1 wounded

5 inch deck gun

US 40mm anti-aircraft gun

The memorial museum donated by Japan in respect for Admiral Nimitz and the US Navy

Torpedo tube launcher typical of US vessels

The following are from the Pacific Theater Museum, which is used to feature live reinactments

Amtrak landing craft

Japanese tank in a prepared position

Japanese 25mm anti-aircraft gun called a “Pom-Pom” due to its unique sound

A typical Japanese bunker of the Pacific War era

Museum homepage and link

Taking a break

After visiting the museum, we headed back to the ranch and one last dinner at Smokey Mo’s BBQ in Leander Tx, one of my favorite local hole in the walls for BBQ. One last B.S session on the covered porch, marking the end of their visit to Texas.

The route 161 miles

30 May 2008

With their flight due to leave in the mid-afternoon, I decided to take the guys to the airport via Austin. We left in the late morning after sleeping in and I took them to Huts Hamburgers, where they were really impressed. We then went to the Texas History Museum, saw an IMAX film on the Grand Canyon and did some last minute people watching from the Starbucks downtown. All in all I think it was a great visit and bittersweet. It culminated a week of entertaining three separate groups of people and it was good to have my home back and be able to relax. Now I’m just waiting for your visit, so I can write about that too.