Touring Waco

Our on spring RV trip, we stopped off in Waco, Texas, to check things out.  We happened to be there on a Sunday, when most of the shops, etc., were closed, so we decided to do a little touring around the city of Waco and the surrounding area and save the shops for Monday.

We didn’t realize that the historic Chisholm Trail went through Waco.  The Chisholm Trail was used in the post-Civil War era to drive cattle from ranches in Texas to Kansas.  It’s named the Chisholm Trail after Jesse Chisholm, a half-Cherokee trader from Tennessee, who created the trail to get his good from one trading post to another.  And, the Chisholm Trail crosses the Brazos. River at Waco.  To read more about the Chisholm Trail, you can just click on this link - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chisholm_Trail.  

For those of you who happen to watch the HGTV show “Fixer Upper”, the view of the Waco Suspension Bridge is a view that is seen often as a lead in to segments on the show.  In 1868, the Waco Bridge Company started building this suspension bridge.  It was finished in 1870 and opened to allow pedestrians, wagons and cattle herds.  It was a toll bridge and special rates were given to “frequent crossers”!   People began to complain about the tolls, and in 1889, the bridge was sold to McClennan County, who turned around and gave the bridge to the city of Waco.  Today, no cars or other automated vehicles are allowed on the bridge – it’s open to foot traffic only.

Outside of Waco, we discovered a small little church is the community of Rock Springs.  I think it’s still used today, but I guess we missed the Sunday services.  So, instead of a number of people outside the church, we got to enjoy a lovely peaceful view of this scenic church.

And, of course, we found a quilt shop!!  Now, to be honest, we found it on Monday, but I thought I’d include it with this blog post about touring Waco.  I have an idea of the quilt these fabrics will become, too – the pattern is in the book!

And, yes, we did end our tour day on a high note – or, at least, a red note!!  We got to sit outside and enjoy some wine along with the Texas hill country scenery!

Enjoy!