Our first exploration in bonnie Betsy Buick, and she was waiting patiently at the DFW airport for sumbunny and their multi-suitcases. Passing by an inordinate number of Whataburger stands (without stopping), we made our way through the countryside to “our Texas homestead” on the banks of the San Gabriel River near Bertram.

A quick stop to stock our larder with steaks, wine and all the trimmings was all that stood in the way of our lovely evening in the country. The new doggie came through the fence to visit with BlueBoy, and he was charming — but his exuberance made us eventually long for quiet, patient old Max who has started on his journey to the next world.

In the hours of reconnecting and planning our venture across the country together, R produced a package of very old documents from his mother’s estate. The exploration of these set the tone for the rest of our visit at Bertram! The only time we ventured forth from our riverside retreat was to brave Austin traffic to purchase materials for archiving the old documents. The most fun was encountering a letter accusing one of the ancestors of having a horse in his possession that was marked with the brand of someone else–and a demand to produce a bill of sale or return the horse!

Two nights and one quiet day in Bertram, and then on to other discoveries. Sitting on the banks of the San Gabriel River in “our lawn chairs” — the same ones that we watched flood waters creep up around during the last visit! Sipping coffee and waiting for the sun to reach just the right spot in the sky, signaling our time to depart.

It was very hot.