Tahitian Village was one of the areas that  was hard hit in the recent Bastrop Complex Fire with many homes lost, but there is a lot of activity and healing going on and it looked like most all of the homes that were lost have been leveled to the slab.  Some have even had slabs removed and are starting to reconstruct.

Lost Pines Nature Trail Photos

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Pines and Prairie Land Trust Photos

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Today I visited downtown Bastrop on some business and went in to take a look at one of the newest restaurants La Roux Fine Cajun & Seafood Restaurant at 912 Main Street.  The menu is awesome and they even serve frog legs and alligator.

A group of us are going to have dinner there before we go to the Homecoming Rodeo dance this coming Saturday night, August 6th, 2011 – Stoney LaRue is playing!  Right now you can get tickets for( wrist band entry ) for both  Friday  and Saturday at the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce for 25.00 per person.  Tomorrow night at the Rodeo grounds the barrel racers will be competing and that is free!  ( info www.bastrophomecomingrodeo.org )

Also tomorrow night, Thursday August 4th from 6:30 – 9:30 pm  at Texas Boot Company they are holding a party to raise funds for the Bastrop County Animal Shelter for three much needed swamp coolers to keep the dogs cool during all this heat.  There will be a Cowboy Cocktail hour at 6pm and a donation of dog or cat food is requested.  There will also be a fall fashion show, music, and of course time to shop.

This  Saturday  August the 6th, at the Paige Community Center on Main Street the Texas Forest Services will be holding a free workshop “WildfirePreparedness for Homeowners” from 2-5p that will help you learn to assess the wildfire risk on your property and how to reduce that risk.

And on  Saturday morning  August 6th, 2011, Frontier Bank is having it’s Cowboy Breakfast where there will be door prizes, old and new country music, photo opportunities  and they will be serving buisuits and gravy, pancakes and sausage, coffee, juice and water before the Home coming parade ( info 512-303-6000)

With the heat lots of people are turning to the Colorado River for some relief and Rising Phoenix and Bastrop Kayak have kayak rentals.

There is a Great Austo Museum in Rosanky just outside of Bastrop the Central Texas Museum of Automotive History Open Wednesday to Sunday 10-5 and Sunday 1:30-5 Admission is $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for kids. ( info 512-237-2635)

And did you know that there is a family friendly nudist club in McDade! Sure enough.  Called Sahnoans at Star Ranch a 111+ acre property that is heavilty wooded, offering ltos of shade under the trees, there is a covered pavillion and a large outdoor pool.  There is a playground and play house for children, grassy park and picnic tables.  There is day use, overnight cabins, and there are weekly and monthly rates.

If you are a pilot and you are looking for an excuse to take the plane out for a while on Saturday the 5th the La Grange Airport ( Fayette County ) is having it’s fly in and bar b que.  11 am to 1pm.  A 10.00 donation will get you brisket and sausage, potato salad, cookies and ice tea!  Lots of planes to look at and periodically one of the local car shows sets up.  You don’t have to fly in you can drive in too!

Bastrop and the surrounding area  has a lot to offer.  There is something here for everyone!

There are piles of them at the grocery stores.  People substitute regular desserts with the fruit.  People even create an refreshing and sometimes very potent cocktail/ fruit  (cut a whole in the watermelon and add your liqour of choice, chill, then cut up and serve to adults!)

With the watermelon harvests also comes celebration. Luling in Caldwell  County is having their four day Watermelon Thump June 23-26th.   There is something for everyone including a watermelon seed spitting contest along with food and entertainment for the whole family that goes on into the night with some great country bands.

In Bastrop County the little burb of McDade east of Austin out 290 is having their Watermelon Festival on Saturday the 9th of July.  McDade’s festival is not as big as Lulings but it is just as fun with a parade, car show, dance, and of course the big weigh in to see who grew the biggest  watermelon this season.

This is a great time for all of us horse owners to clean out our tack rooms and bring our old tack that has just been sitting around gathering dust.  I know I have some here at my paint horse ranch that I should box up to sell!

Selling spaces are going to be $10.00 each for a 20 x 20 space.  It will open at 9 am and the booth spaces are first come first serve.  The Swap will open at 10 am to the Buying public.  No livestock is allowed at this swap ( but you can bring pictures and information! ).  All dogs will need to be on a leash.

The booth sales will benefit the 4-H horse club and they will also be selling concessions and raffle tickets during the Swap for an Egiptian Arabian gelding from Arabians Ltd.  The raffle will be held at the Brush Poppers  Horse show which is scheduled for April 16th, 2011.

Check out the The Brush Poppers 4 – H club or call 512-545-6974 with questions or to reserve a sapce.

Hope to see all of you  there selling and or shopping!

Held at Riverbend Park at the Colorado River and Highway 71 there are lots of events planned including a parade in downtown Smithville, a Fun Run, a Bike Show, Swap Meet, live music, Texas Hold ‘Em and more.  There is (limited ) camping on site but lots of B & B’s and hotel/motels in the area.  If the rally doesn’t keep you busy enough there and lots of things to do and see in and around Bastrop County and the towns of Bastrop and Smithville. Gates open at Noon  March 18th.  $15.00 gets you a three day wristband!

Smithville Texas is preparing for the 5th annual Thunder on the Colorado bike rally for those of you who prefer a different  type of horsepower!

The Ride will start Friday March 4th in LaGrange at the Fayette County Fair Grounds. Saturday and Sunday are Round Robin Rides. Monday everything moves to River Bend Park in Smithville. Then Tuesday is another Round Robin Ride. Wednesday everything moves to Texas Boot Company in Bastrop, Thursday on to Elgin to the VFW, Friday out to the Lorraine Ghost Town, and Saturday from the Ghost town on in to the Travis Expo Center and Rodeo Austin. The daily rides range from approx. 11-21 miles.

I saw a copy of the Texas star Trail Ride Menu and it looks awesome. All Lunches and dinners are extra on top of the ride registration and the food ranges from sandwiches to stew and Shepards Pie for lunch to Burgers, Steaks, King Ranch chicken and more for dinner…YUM!

Sounds like a ton of fun!

Who enjoys Lockhart BBQ

With a population of approximately 14,237 (per 2009 census ) the City of f Lockhart has four BBQ restaurants  and it has been said that those four restaurants serve approximately 5000 BBQ meals per week.

Either 1/3 of the populatio eats  BBQ once a week or people visit Lockhart for the BBQ ( which is my bet!)  Either way it is a pretty good indication that Lockhart is the place to go when you are craving BBQ.

Where to find BBQ in Lockhart

There are at least four BBQ restaurants in Lockhart to consider when taking a day trip for BBQ but don’t rule out others that you may find on your own!

In alphbetical order ( which is only fair….)

Blacks BBQ located at 215 North Main, Chisholm Trail BBQ at 1323 S. Colorado, Kruez BBQ at 619 N. Colorado, and last but not least Smitty’s BBQ at 208 S. Commerce.

How to get to Lockhart

From Austin you can take 183 directly south from Austin, from San Marcos you can take  the Lockhart exit ( Highway 80 )  to Highway 142 into town.   If you are a pilot you can always fly in to the Lockhart municipal airport!

I love the Bastrop sign that is at Hassler Blvd that was built a couple of years ago.

And of course the historic entry to the Bastrop State Park

and the golf course are both well known right off of Hwy 21

The Bastrop Fire Deparment downtown has a wonderful bronzed statue that is very eye catching

The Bastrop Courthouse is such a lovely old building

The new Bastrop City Hall on Loop 150/Chestnut was under construction that day but is now finished and a lovely addition to Bastrop

One of the great downtown restuarants in Bastrop is Gracies

Here is a view of Fisherman’s Park from the old Iron Bridge in Bastrop on Loop 150/Chestnut

Downtown Bastrop proudly displays it’s banners promoting it’s location in the heart of the Lost Pines

And here is a view of Bastrop from up on Hwy 21 looking back towards the Colorado River valley and the town of Bastrop

Bastrop is such a great Texas town and has so much to offer.  If you are interested in Bastrop County information and  Real Estate opportunities be it buying or selling, please contact me!