Fredericksburg Brewing Company on Main Street in historic downtown Fredericksburg, Texas. – photo by Joe AlexanderI made a drive through part of the Texas Hill Country up to Fredericksburg for lunch on Tuesday.
I stopped in at the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, the oldest operating brew pub in Texas.
You know you’re in Fredericksburg when the restaurant not only makes its own beer, but also made from scratch peach cobbler.
“Hier Wird mit Liebe Gekocht” means “cooking with love here”.
You can see where the beer comes from as you drink and dine at Fredericksburg Brewing Company.Fredericksburg is known for its peaches – so you can count on the peach cobbler at Fredericksburg Brewing Company.
Mural at historic Blackshear Elementary School on 11th Street on the east side of Austin, Texas.I spent part of a recent morning looking for some of the murals and other public art on the east side of Austin, Texas.
All of the art work here is on or south of 11th street and east of Interstate 35.
Blackshear Elementary School – Austin
Blackshear Elementary School – Austin
Blackshear Elementary School – Austin
Blackshear Elementary School – Austin
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Mural – Austin’s east side
Public art on the east side of Austin, Texas, celebrates the city’s musical heritage.
A plane takes off from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana. – photo by Joe AlexanderMy hotel was about a mile from the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
The afternoon before I headed home, I was killing time at the hotel as I saw a plane that had just taken off was ascending to the east with the mountains in the background.
About 24 hours later, I would be making a similar departure.
A plane takes off from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana. A plane takes off from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana.
The day I headed home, I ended up spending a few extra hours at the airport due to airline issues. (That’s a whole other story). So naturally I took a few more photos. Fortunately, the concourse has lot of really big windows.
You can see the Bridger Range as you look to the north. Those are the mountains in the background as the planes take off. To the south and southeast is the Gallatin Range. Both the mountains to the north and south of Bozeman are part of a cluster of six mountain ranges that make up the Gallatin National Forest The mountains of the Bridger Range, part of the Gallatin National Forest, as seen from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
The mountains of the Bridger Range, part of the Gallatin National Forest, as seen from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.The mountains of the Bridger Range, part of the Gallatin National Forest, as seen from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.I believe this is the Gallatin Range, as seen from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
Lake Coeur D’Alene, Idaho in the late afternoon in May. – photo by Joe AlexanderI spent part of an afternoon along the edge of Lake Coeur D’Alene that is near the downtown.
I didn’t have a perfect angle to photograph the sunset on the water, but it was a pretty place that was an easy walk from the downtown shops and restaurants.
I was here is the third week of May, but I have a feeling this could be a pretty happening area in the summer.
As a sidenote, I don’t think I have ever seen as many T-shirts and other swag with Bigfoot on them as I did in the shops in Coeur D’Alene. He seems to be very popular (or at least profitable) here.
Lake Coeur D’Alene, Idaho
Lake Coeur D’Alene, Idaho
Lake Coeur D’Alene, Idaho
This friendly looking moose wasn’t right on the lakefront in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, but he was only about a block away and looked like he wanted his picture taken.
Outdoor mural in downtown Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.I was wandering around Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, after I had walked over to the lakefront and then had lunch at Hudson’s Hamburgers on Sherman Ave.
I found this large mural overlooking a parking lot near the corner of 2nd Street and Coeur D’Alene Ave.
Sprague Lake Rest Area in eastern Washington State is about 40 miles west of downtown Spokane. – photo by Joe AlexanderYou hit the Sprague Lake Rest Area about a half hour before you roll into Spokane on Interstate 90. The long, thin Sprague Lake runs roughly parallel to the interstate for about six miles.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, this is a good place to fish for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, brown bullhead and channel catfish.
This part of the Washington state wasn’t as scenic as the western half of the state – but there wasn’t a lot of traffic and it was a pleasant drive.
Windmills (wind turbines) near Interstate 90 in central Washington State. – photo by Joe AlexanderI’ve always been intrigued with windmills.
The giant wind turbines that generate electricity in parts of this country don’t have the same kind of character as the windmills I sometimes still see that pump water in rural Texas.
But the contrast between the nearly all white wind turbines set against the terrain and sky can be dramatic.
These were near Interstate 90 and I know I was east of Ellensburg, Washington. Looking at Google Maps, it looks like the PUD Wind Farm and Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility are in this area.
The peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington State still had some snow in late May and are visible to the north of the Indian John Hill Rest Area along Interstate 90. – photo by Joe AlexanderDriving Interstate 90 through the western half of Washington State offers plenty of scenic views.
The Indian John Hill Rest Area about 200 miles east of Seattle a place to stop and take pictures, as well as stretch your legs and get a cup of coffee.
Indian John Hill Rest Area
Indian John Hill Rest Area
Indian John Hill Rest Area
Indian John Hill Rest Area
The peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington State.
Bridge 35 across the South Fork Snoqualmie River near North Bend, Washington, in May 2025. – photo by Joe AlexanderThis is the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River near North Bend, Washington, including railroad Bridge 35.
The South Fork joins the main Snowqualmie River just north of North Bend.
The Snoqualmie River is 45 miles long and runs roughly southeast to northwest in western Washington State and passes not from North Bend and Interstate 90.
The “Welcome to Twin Peaks” sign from the TV show was on the north side of the main river by the Three Forks Natural Area a mile or two north of North Bend and right across from where the South Fork flows into the Snoqualmie.
The South Fork Snoqualmie River near North Bend, Washington, about 30 miles east of Seattle, in May 2025.