AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOW ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES

My son Gary Jr. took this shot of Bob and I just before I left Cleveland.
He is not a bad photographer - but he's no Gary Burnett Sr.

I spent a week in Austin, TX with my daughter Stephanie, her long time boyfriend and my grandson Joey. Who by the way, will be in the NFL someday. The three of them went out of
there way to make sure I got the full tour of Austin. Stephanie drove me around the city to
take photos, but since I was only there for a week we could not shoot every thing, but I did get a few good shots.

Even though we were a long distance from the city I still wanted to shoot the State Capitol and part of the Austin skyline. Steph tells me she will take me downtown later for some closer views.

First she wanted to show me the Colorado River, that's right The Colorado River in Texas. If you
ask the locals, they will tell you that theirs was the first. Since I didn't have time to do research I just have to take their word for it. If you find out which came first, please let the rest of us know.

This is one of the homes on the river, my daughter wanted me to tell you it was her house but we
know better, don't we?

From here Stephanie insisted that we go to the Oasis Restaurant, that sits high above Lake Travis to watch the sunset. The Oasis has been featured in national magazines and on television
so I had to see it for myself.

We got there and the place was packed and I was informed that it is a tradition in Austin to go to
the Oasis for a bite to eat and to watch the sun go down. We arrived at the Oasis about an hour before sunset so I found a good spot to set up my tripod and camera. Take a look at some of the shots I took of the view from the giant deck of the Oasis.



While I was snapping these shots the General Manager of the Oasis just happen to be walking by
and actually took the time to stop to talk and give me some of the history behind the sunset watching. So if you do decide to go to Austin, TX and visit the Oasis, make sure you say hello to
Mo Lasater / GM.

While Mo and I talked and waited for the sun to slowly set in the west, and believe me it was worth the wait.


As the sun finally set behind the hills, I was caught off guard when the people on the deck gave the sun a large and spontaneous round of applause. And as if to come back for a curtain call, the the sun really put on a show.




To be honest with you, I think they were applauding GOD, but that's just me.

Well I must turn in for the night, but I will blog you again in a day or two.

Thanks to all,

Gary and Bob

Bob is the white guy.....

TEXAS, NOT HOW I REMEMBERED IT...

Sorry folks for the long delay between postings, but for some reason I could not get into my
account from my daughters house in Austin, TX. I am now at the local Starbucks and starting
to get on with the blogging. I promise to update this blog every two or three days.No more delays.

I left Atlanta on the on November 20th, it's hard to separate the days, in fact it seems
like one very long weekend (what a great way to live).
I don't know how long it took us but when got to the Georgia, Louisiana border Bob needed a little break so I let him catch his breath before heading for Texas.

After another three days on the road Bob and I made it to the Louisiana, Texas border. I know what your thinking, "why did it take you three days to get to Texas"? And my answer to you, WHY NOT.

After about 5 or 6 more hours on the road we got to my daughters house in Austin.
Now I have to tell you, when I was in the Army (about 138 years ago) and stationed at Ft. Sam Houston, I said I would never come back to Texas
. Boy am I glad that little promise didn't hold up. Austin, Texas is not only beautiful and a great place to visit, according to my daughter and her family a great place to live. I was going to stay here for six month or so, but Stephanie (my daughter) said I had at the most 6 days.

See how happy my daughter and grandson are t see me.

OK...That's it for now folks I'm looking at the clock and it's time for my nap. So as soon as I can
I will be posting photos from around Austin and also form this great little Texas town name Lockhart where BBQ rules.

STAY TUNED....and thanks for keeping up.

Love you all,
Gary & Bob

MOMS' POUND CAKE

For all of you who loved my Mom's pound cake, I've just found out that the secret has been passed down. Anyway, if you thought that little slice of heaven was gone forever, fear not!!!!!!!!! The making of the pound cake has been passed on to . . . (you guessed it) GREGORY.That's right, our baby brother has been carrying this secret for God knows how long, and I'm
glad I could do my part to lift this burden from him, and I'm sure if you drop Greg a note or give him a call, he'll be happy to whip up a cake for you and ship it to you for a small shipping fee. (S0rry, Greg, I just felt they should know.)

ATLANTA- A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT

THIS IS MY BROTHER GREG

Greg is the youngest of 11 kids, but between you and me, he's still pretty old.

This is my first time visiting Atlanta and if it wasn't for my brother Greg, I would not be here

now. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful and very clean city.
I am having a great time with my brother, he is the best host ever, and lots of fun to be with, and
like me, he likes his alone time. So I am not going to wear out my welcome. We spent time eating
at some of the great places to dine in the city. The first place we went to eat was the Varsity.
The Varsity is the largest fast food restaurant in the world. I saw it on the Travel Channel so I had to go.
If you saw it on the Travel Channel, it is a lot of fun to go see it up close and personal. But frankly the food SUCKS!!!!!!!!. The fries and onion rings are made fresh and are to die for.


See, I told you my brother was a great host he even cooked breakfast for me, Turkey Beacon
and all. I don't know who makes it but they should be put in jail for calling it Beacon.I guess
that's why Greg has about 2% body fat and I'm happy.(just kidding Greg).

We also spent time taking some photos of the Atlanta Skyline mostly from Gregs' balcony but we
did manage to get out and take a few.



This is Gregs favorite building and the the few from his living room.


And I had to do at least one thing that Bob wanted to do..............

So here's Bob, checking out The President Carter Library, I went to smoke my pipe.

Ok gang, I'm posting this and I'll get back to you in a day or two.

Take care
Gary

Headin For Atlanta

I forgot to mention on my Day 1 post............ I wore my Browns T-shirt on the road yesterday and
so many people stopped me to talk about the game. It was nice to hear positive things about our
Browns again. In fact, I think I'm going to ware this shirt for another week. My son tells me that
as long as I change my underwear every day, I can keep on the same t-shirt and jeans until they
start standing up on their own (my kids a class act).

I'm on the road again, headin for Atlanta, GA to hang out with my brother Greg. (The photo
of the road above isn't really the road I'm on, it's just a neat road shot).

I am finding out that when you decide to do an adventure like this, you have to stop thinking destination, and start thinking one day at a time. Some days you,ll do 400 miles and some days
you'll do 20 miles, but every day will be a new experience.

While driving south on I 75 just outside of Lexington, Kentucky I started seeing signs to
visit Berea, Kentucky a college town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
On the edge of the Daniel Boone National Forest. If you are not in a hurry, you can spend a
day in the Berea, Kentucky area just taking in the sites.

I spent a couple of hours in Old Town Artist Village.

This is the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky and it is worth the stop with lots of shops and Artist Studios.

Here's Bob outside my favorite shop in Berea,I really was not going to stop here but Bob insisted. It's the Fudge Factory.


This is Mary the owner of the Old Town Candy Kitchen Fudge Factory. Now just in case my doctor (Dr. Kirsh) is reading this, I didn't buy any of this wonderful Pistachio Nut Fudge that
my new best friend Mary is holding, but I did have a sample and I can tell you, if you like
Pistachios, you'll love this fudge.






To work off that little sample of fudge, I walked
around Old Town and enjoyed the arts and the shops.





Before I make post this, I have to tell you about Sandy, who I met in the shop she owns, called
I LOVE MY STUFF CRAFT GALLERY. I walked into her shop wearing my Browns t-shirt.
You know, the one I've been wearing for three days now, and that's all she wanted to talk about
was the Browns. I really think I could have sold her my shirt.

Well, I am in Atlanta with my brother Gregory, but before I start the next blog post, I have to take time out to see the Ohio State Game.

So give me a day or two and I'll show you some photos of the Atlanta Skyline.





Love you all........

Gary Burnett Sr.

Day 1 / November 8, 2010

OK, I am finally on the road, after several years of talking about it, the time has come.
Before I go on, let me just say that these last two weeks have been the most stressful
of my life. I don't care care how long you plan and think about a total lifestyle change
such as this, there are always things that will come down to the last few days. Things
like getting rid of the last of you stuff,

Photo by Mary

making sure the mail is going to your sons house and that the direct deposits are going
to the right account.

I have had a steady week of butterfly's but as soon as I packed my car and backed my car
out of the driveway, all of the butterfly's were gone. It all turned back to excitement. And
then I stopped for gas, $2.99.9 a gallon twice what I paid the last time I drove across the
country. But since there is nothing I can do about the gas prices I'll just keep on keeping
on.

I am on my way to Atlanta, GA to see my brother Greg, my granddaughter and a friend from
high school.

Today I dove for about 6 hours for Cleveland to someplace called Dry Ridge, Kentucky. I had
to get a room and get settled so I didn't miss Dancing With The Stars.

No photos today, maybe in the next day or two.

OK, OK!!!!!!!!!! I did not take any photo today, but here's a couple that I took in my sons
house a few weeks ago.



and here are two I shot at Sandy Ridge Nature Walk in North Ridgeville, Ohio



Thanks to all of you following my adventure, I will do my best to update every two days or so.

Thanks again,

Gary and Bob