Not So Hard Travelin' on The Lincoln Highway

Needing to drive from Jackson Hole to Austin at the end of this summer, we gave ourselves enough time to take back roads and to stop at some sights along the way.

Barely beyond the valley that is Jackson Hole, we stopped in Dubois so that I could nip into Wyoming Wool Works, a gem of a shop housed in the old Masons building, just behind The Opportunity Shop. Actually there are several shops in the building, but my favorite is Anita Thatcher's, which always has interesting local yarns and knits. Anita has a terrific eye and this time was selling trimmings from Pendleton blankets. I picked up this roll from the Glacier National Park blanket, one of their earliest patterns.

I've already used most of it up for this crocheted cat bed.

I like how it turned out but Sarah is still trying to decide if it suits her.

Back on the road we drove southeast to Independence Rock, so called because pioneers along the Oregon Trail hoped to arrive here by Independence Day, ensuring they would have enough time left to cross the Rockies before winter snows arrived.

From there we pushed on towards Laramie for the night, across miles and miles of open plains, seemingly empty except for wind turbines.

In Laramie we hopped onto I - 80 and headed east, but quickly tired of the heavy traffic and 18-wheelers and looked for an alternate route. And there, a mile or so to the north and running parallel to I-80, was US 30. Dedicated in 1913 and also known as the Lincoln Highway, US 30 was the first auto road to cross the continent, running between Lincoln Park in San Francisco and Times Square in New York.

Perhaps you are familiar with it from Wo0dy Guthrie's song Hard Travelin':

"And I've been hittin' some hard travelin', Lord

I've been walking that Lincoln highway, I thought you knowed,"

We drove most of the way across Nebraska along the Lincoln Highway, but fortunately it was not a bit hard for us in our comfortable, modern vehicle. Though I could imagine how hard and brown it might have been like back in the depression and dust bowl years, I found it quite beautiful, as much for the dense rows of nearly ripe corn marching across the undulating hills as for the sense of freedom that comes with seeing a wide open road stretching all the way to the horizon.

We did stop in several of the many towns along the way. They are spaced about ten miles apart along this section of the Lincoln Highway, and if our tour guide in the capitol in Lincoln was correct, it is because they were established along the rail line to service trains, which needed fuel and water every ten miles. They are all pretty quiet these days, but have a certain charm that elicits feelings of nostalgia for simpler days. 

Every town has its grain elevator, each unique in design, but all standing testament to a shared agrarian history.

In Gothenburg we stopped at this cabin which was once used as a Pony Express station. Sadly it is not open for visitors and information about it is limited to the plaques on the front.

Beyond exploring new places, road trips appeal to me for the quiet time I get when I'm in the passenger seat. I finished this pair of knee socks. And now that the weather is getting cooler in Austin, I may even have a chance to wear them soon. Just not for hard walking on the Lincoln Highway.

A Day's Jaunt in the Texas Hill Country

In the middle of August when central Texas temperatures reach well into the 100s, it is nice to look back on May's 80 degree days. Having been to San Antonio for an evening event and overnight stay, rather than brave I-35, we took the long and scenic route home to Austin. Our first stop was the General Store in Bandera where we picked up coffee, since it was too early for ice cream.

Just across the street I spotted Lavender and Sage Stitchery, the first yarn and needlework shop I've ever encountered with a saddle on the rail out front.

Naturally I had to go in for a look. And found this hand dyed yarn by Savvy Skeins, a Texas company.

The color, called "Boyfriend Jeans" contrasts nicely with a leftover from my stash, TeenyButton Studio's hand-dyed "Patisserie Party." And so I have been knitting these socks using the Flora Knee High pattern from Barb Brown's book, "Knitting Knee-Highs." This is the second sock, so I should be finished by the time cooler weather sets in.

But back to our little jaunt. Next stop was Comfort where we saw the tiny Gothic revival Comfort Community Church,

as well as the 1866 Treue Der Union monument, memorializing 68 men who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War.

The monument is fittingly located at the edge of a lovely park graced with beautiful live oak trees including this giant.

In the main part of town, we strolled along Main Street, which has a couple blocks worth of interesting old limestone structures.

I found Comfort's history as a center for Freethinkers fascinating.

Ready for lunch, we stopped at High's Cafe & Store, where we had a deliciously fresh meal. It's definitely on my list of places to visit again.

Our last stop was Old Tunnel State Park. The tunnel, used by the Fredericksburg and Northern Railway until 1942, is now home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats and became a state park in 2012. Since we were there during the day we didn't get to see the bats emerging, so this is another place we'll have to visit again.

The other nice thing about a drive in central Texas in springtime is, of course, the amazing wildflowers. Here's a shot from Travis County to give you an idea of just how spectacular it can be.

Road Trip!

When my daughter invited me to drive with her from Ithaca, New York, to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, I jumped at the chance. It gave me a rare opportunity to spend time with her, and a chance to enjoy a quintessential American experience: the road trip.

We covered over 2,200 miles in three and a half days so she would arrive in time to start her summer job with the National Park Service. It made for a tight schedule, but we still fit in visits to two friends and a couple of sightseeing stops along the way.

Our longest stop was at Badlands National Park, just a few miles south of Interstate 90 in the southwestern part of South Dakota. Eager to stretch our legs after hours in the car, we jumped out at the first parking lot and hiked the Door Trail into the beautiful, but forbidding landscape.

Having only visited the Badlands once before, briefly and on a grey morning, I was surprised at how colorful it is, and how lushly green the surrounding plains are.

We were delighted to see quite a few big horn sheep, none of which seemed bothered by gawking people or cars rolling past.

Since it was so late in the day we drove the Badlands Loop Road, then headed back to I-90 and Wall Drug for dinner.

Wall Drug is an unabashedly touristy spot, but the only option for many miles around, and worth a visit for the sheer spectacle of it. If you want a momento of your travels, you can certainly find one here. 

On our last day we crossed Wyoming, watching the prairies give way to mountains.

Our final stop before reaching Jackson Hole was in the tiny but colorful town of Dubois. The barista at Perch Coffee House kindly pointed us down the street to the local yarn shop, Wyoming Wookworks. I knew it existed because I had seen a lovely blog post about it, and it is definitely worth a visit. Anita Thatcher, the proprietor, gave us a complete tour.

It is crammed full of all kinds of wool and crafty items. You can buy yarn, much of it locally sourced,

and all kinds of finished items, from handmade saddle blankets

to small gifts.

And then it was over the Togwotee Pass to Jackson Hole and the really big mountains! I've flown in to Jackson Hole many times, but I have to say that there is something special about driving in and watching the landscape slowly unfold in front of you.

One other important benefit of a road trip in which you share the driving with someone else: time for knitting! On my flight from Austin to New York I cast on a new sweater, the cropped cardigan from Vogue Knitting's early fall 2014 issue. I have already finished the back and am halfway through both front pieces.

Wishing everyone safe travels on their summer adventures!

Austin's Trail of Lights

The Trail of Lights is one of Austin's great holiday traditions. Held in Zilker Park since 1965, it now boasts two millions lights.

Start at the tree on the opposite side of Barton Springs Road from the main part of the trail to take in the giant Christmas tree. It's made of lights attached to one of Austin's old Moonlight Towers (click here for more info on those).

Underneath the lights you can enjoy local treats, including Amy's ice cream.

Then head over to the main trail. You can't miss the entrance,

or stray from the trail. It is definitely well marked!

The displays are fun and funky.

Some have a distinctly Austin flavor, like this bat tunnel.

And the brightly lit trees seem to stretch on and on.

Up close, they look otherworldly.

There is even a big Yule log towards the end of the trail, which naturally made me think of toasting marshmallows for s'mores. Of course, the fire was so far from the barrier that no one could possibly have a long enough stick. Instead I went for the Lucky Lab Coffee Co. homemade s'more pop-tart. Yum!

Since the event is in the evening, it can be quite chilly. Lucky for me that I had a newly completed knit hat to keep me warm. I have to apologize for the creepy picture. This owl was the only available model when I was taking photos! Anyway, the pattern is an old one from Vogue Knitting, though I had to modify it by knitting the pattern section twice instead of once to ensure it was roomy enough to accommodate my hair.

If you want to take in the Trail of Lights, tonight and tomorrow night are you last chances before it closes for the year, so hop on over. Hint: park under the MoPac Bridge adjacent to Austin High and walk across the pedestrian bridge to Zilker if you want to skip the lines for parking.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and all the best in the new year!