Monday, March 28, 2011

West Auction Barn and Restaurant

The West Auction Barn off of exit 351 near West, Texas. The place has a lot of truck parking and a gravel lot. Over the years I have parked there many times and then eaten in the restaurant there. It has generally featured Chech style cooking and used to be a good 24 hour place where drivers could get a good meal anytime of the night. Now the parking is still there but the restaurant is closed at night and doesn't seem to be what it once was.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Port Bridge, Corpus Christi Texas

View from the Port Bridge

This is the view from the Harbor Bridge as you top it going eastbound out of Corpus Christi on State Road 35 heading towards Portland and Rockport.  That is the USS Lexington partly visible on the right. Surfside Blvd. runs along the beach. 

A beautiful spring day during spring break along Corpus Christi Bay. This picture was taken on March 16 this week and the city and beaches are full of spring break vacationers from all over the United States.
Lots of traffic in town, many out of state license plates and motel rooms, if available, were double the normal rate. 

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Moore Hotel, Moulton, Texas

Moore Hotel

Enlarge this picture and read about the Moore Hotel and local history surrounding the building and restaurant featured in the previous post.

Kloesel's Steakhouse Moulton, Texas

Kloesel's Steakhouse
This is the best and finest steakhouse and/or restaurant in Moulton, Texas. It is along the railroad and less than a block off of the highway.

There is a bit of history surrounding this place. It used to be the old Moore Hotel. My next post will tell you what you want to know about it. 

Farm with Silos

Farm with Silos

This is a very common sight up north in dairy country like Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and the midwest. You don't see many in Texas. But these were spotted along Hwy 21 near Bryan, Texas

Old Railroad Bridge

Railroad Bridge near Bryan Texas
This old style railroad bridge is along Highway 21 between Caldwell and Bryan Texas. You see quite a few of these in Texas, some abandoned and some still in use. 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Stephen F. Austin Monument, Angleton, Texas

Stephen F. Austin Memorial
This memorial to Stephen F. Austin is along Hwy 288 near Angleton, Texas.  In the picture you are looking north and a bit east along northbound US 288. The highway sign visible is telling of the upcoming Angleton exit.

Apparently it is about a 76 foot statue and was finished in January of 2009.  Here is a link to a closeup photo on Flicker and much more information.

Stephen F. Austin Statue

Here is another link from Roadside America that tells about this place.


Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Boats at Corpus Christi Bay

Boats docked at Corpus Christi Bay
From Ocean Drive another view of the harbor at Corpus Christi Bay. The picture seems a bit darkened and I actually used software to add a little light.  Then I realized that it was taken through my side window in the van which is tinted with the darkest legal tint available for driver side windows.  But it does show another view of Corpus Christi Bay.

Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas

Ocean Drive in Corpus Christi, Texas
A shot from Ocean Drive along Corpus Christi Bay in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Bay is to the left and not visible from this shot.

I always enjoy driving Ocean Drive if I get a chance when I am running around Corpus Christi. A lot of beautiful mansions and estates along this route but at places if you only go a block or so away you are in the poor part of down. I guess that is what water does to a neighborhood, especially if it is something the size of Corpus Christi Bay.