Magnolia World

Today we enter the Magnolia World and officially become tourists. For one day, we are submersed in Waco, Texas and the Magnolia environment. Although it is after Labor Day and children are back in school, it was surprising how many people descended on Waco. 

Our tourist day starts with lunch at the original Magnolia Table location. Yes, there's a second now in the Silos area. Papa and I split their avocado toast. The avocado topping was excellent. Very well prepared. The restaurant itself is classy, even the restroom.

After a leisurely lunch, we checked out the Waco Suspension Bridge. This bridge, completed in 1870, was the first built over the Brazos River in Waco. At 475 feet, it was the longest suspension bridge west of the Mississippi River. Its purpose was to provide safe passage for cattle along the Chisholm Trail. After the Civiil War, millions of cattle were driven from Texas to Kansas where they were sold. It is estimated that up to 20% of the cattle did not make it across the river. Even with a nickle-per-head toll charge to cross the new bridge, ranchers embraced it. Today, there are large statues (27 cattle and 3 cowboys on horses) in the park at the bridge to commemorate the historic cattle drives. 

In the afternoon, Papa and I joined a small tour group. We covered over 30 miles of Waco, learning about the F5 tornado of 1953, several neighborhoods, parks and how the city has worked together to rebuild after natural disasters and economic downturns. Of course we drove by a few fixer-upper homes, too. After the two-hour tour, Papa and I strolled through the silos area on our way back to our motel for the night. 

Today, we finished the first-half of the first leg of Road Trip #4. So far, we still have energy and drive to continue. It's been a remarkable trip so far.

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