Lavender Fest

Another great Chapter U ride took place today in Blanco and the surrounding countryside. Brandy and Richard Watson, Charlie Brown, Bert and Linda Navin, and Brad and I met Dale and Diane Goree at the Sunset Cafe to have breakfast before sampling the treats of the annual Blanco Lavender Festival. We were sure sorry to miss meeting up with Bill and Jane Johnson making their way up from south of San Antonio!

Dale and Diane Goree were sure great to count the number of Wings moving into the parking lot and then make sure there was a table ready for us when we entered the Sunset Cafe! Our timing was good as there was still room in the parking lot to park all the Wings! We sure had a great time catching up and eating...or eating and catching up! Everyone said the food was good...the quiche lorraine I had was wonderful! After a lot of food, talking and coffee (Charlie Brown asked for it intravenously!), we then wandered out to the town square which was full of vendors selling lavender products, crafts, and jewelry! I didn't know they made so many products from lavender and it sure fun trying out samples of lotions and food goodies! The riders sure were patient as the co-riders wandered and considered and enjoyed the great-smelling vendors!

From there we headed out to the Texas Lavender Hills Farm 5 miles outside of Blanco. With all the recent rains, the countryside still has some die-hard wildflowers and it sure is nice to see green grass and full watering wholes! After a scenic ride, we pulled into a lavender farm, walking a short distance up a hilltop that provided not only magnificent views but more goodies to sample, more lavender products to consider, and some great seating under wonderful shade treats to sip, eat and chat! Good thing there weren't any hammocks otherwise I'm not sure when we would have left! We were glad to be there on a Sunday morning as one of the workers stated there had been 2000 visitors the day before...talk about crowded hill country roads!

Winding our way back to San Antonio, we stopped at Edge Falls which provided a great (and unusual) water backdrop for our Wings. A leisurely pace brought us back home from the hill country with thoughts that this was a fun and unusual way to spend a Sunday morning. If you never have gone to Blanco for the annual Lavender Festival, you should go sometime as it is a unique treat.

Jill Severe

Richard & Brandy Watson talking to Charlie Brown Jill Severe with Dale & Diane Goree