Wednesday Weekly May 30: Memorial Day Weekend

As with the last couple weeks, I've been working the contract job and helping install routers. I'm starting to travel a little bit further from Austin and see some of the countryside. It's given me a few ideas on places to travel in the near future when the project completes.

Culver's basket with bacon cheeseburger topped with melted American cheese, pickles, and onions alongside golden cheese curds in branded wrapper

For the week itself, it was very uneventful. I installed the routers and then just went home. Being that last weekend was Memorial Day weekend, I ended up getting Friday off also. This allowed me to have a four day weekend.

Twelve-pack cardboard carrier of Pabst American Pale Ale featuring red, white, and blue flag-themed logo design

I kicked that Friday off by going to Culver's with Victoria for our Friday lunch date. It was good getting a taste of Wisconsin in Texas!

Straight rural Texas highway stretching toward horizon under clear blue sky with scattered trees and utility poles along roadside

Being that it was Memorial Weekend, I decided to try some Pabst APA. The box was very patriotic.

Vehicle dashboard display showing Trip 1 statistics: 99.8 miles traveled at 42.5 MPG with 434 miles range remaining and 29,079 total odometer miles

On Saturday, Victoria and I headed to College Station. We planned to visit her mom's grave and put some flowers there.

Readfield Meats & Deli storefront sign with large red cow statue on top, advertising Memorial Day sale with USDA Choice sirloin steak at $5.99 per pound since 1960

It was very hot when we got to the Bryan-College Station area!

Layne's Chicken Fingers drive-thru restaurant exterior with white brick facade, triangular roof sign, and cars waiting at window

After visiting Victoria's mom's grave, we headed to Readfield Meat and Deli.

Sun Studio-themed waiting room featuring black accent wall with golden record label decoration and musical notes flowing across white wall

I got to try a beef stick there, but that was just my appetizer. We then headed to Layne's for some amazing chicken fingers.

Terry Black's Barbecue roadside sign shaped like meat cut silhouette against cloudy sky with trees framing the Austin, Texas establishment

After Layne's, we stopped at HEB and got some Hamm's beer. I was finally able to find it after trying a couple of different places. I'll be blogging about it soon. I loaded my beer into the trunk and then headed to Curious Collections Vinyl Records and More.

Rolling Texas Hill Country highway with gentle curves descending through brush-covered hills under partly cloudy blue sky

Victoria's Uncle Craig and Aunt Kathy met us at Curious Collections. We all ended up buying a little music and then going over to Craig and Kathy's house for a while to visit. Once we got done visiting, Victoria and I headed back to Austin.

Texas Hill Country two-lane highway winding through landscape of cedar-covered hills and golden grasslands under scattered white clouds

The next day Victoria and I went to Terry Black's Barbecue. We met my friend John and his wife for a late lunch. They were in Austin for a wedding, so it was perfect circumstances to meet up.

Similar Texas highway view showing undulating terrain with mixed vegetation of cedars and dried grasses stretching into distance

After eating, Victoria and I headed to FM 1431 and drove to Lake Buchanan. This is one of the most scenic drives I have found in the Texas Hill Country.

Tree-lined rural Texas road with dip in pavement ahead, surrounded by dense oak and cedar vegetation on both sides Lake recreation area with sandy beach access, families wading in water, vehicles parked along grass under clear blue sky Teal sedan parked at lakeside recreation area with calm water, scattered clouds, and people visible near shoreline in background Sandy beach cove with families swimming and relaxing along curved shoreline, tree-lined banks, and calm lake water Wide lake view with sandy beaches on either side, calm brown-tinted water, and distant shoreline under blue sky Active lakeside beach scene with swimmers, beachgoers, blue canopy tent, and parked vehicles along grassy shore under tree shade Tall sedimentary rock cliff face showing distinct geological layers in tan, brown, and gray tones with vegetation growing on top Elevated lake overlook showing expansive water body surrounded by dense green vegetation with distant mesa or plateau on horizon

It was hot and we didn't have our swimming stuff, so he stayed in the air-conditioned car for the most part. I started heading back but found a scenic lookout over Lake LBJ.

Late afternoon lake vista with sun reflecting off water surface, surrounded by dark green hillsides and distant mountains under partly cloudy sky Panoramic elevated view of wide lake or reservoir winding through dense green forest under blue sky with scattered white clouds Weathered concrete roadway curving past exposed sedimentary rock cliff with safety barriers overlooking forested valley vista All Spice Cafe Cayenne Habanero hot sauce bottle featuring illustrated face with glasses and mustache on cream-colored label

The pitstop at the scenic lookout was short. We then headed back to Austin, where we actually went to bed kind of early. Driving around can definitely take the energy out of you! In the whole scheme of things, this was another uneventful week. I have another week and a half of this contract job, so I'll probably start traveling a bit more then.

I was also able to review All Spice Cafe Cayenne Habanero Sauce. If you want some fire in your mouth, this is the stuff to try out!

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