Waco, Texas Day One

We drove all night after the Albuquerque show across eastern New Mexico and through Abilene and Lubbock to get to Waco, Texas.  For the most part everyone slept well and as the day grew brighter folks began tumbling out of their bunks to watch the countryside slide by.

Because we hadn't originally planned to drive straight through we had to change hotel accommodations for Friday night.  Fortunately, the folks at the America's Best Value Inn in Waco hustled to get our rooms ready early and we only had to wait for a little while in the lobby.

  

Robin and Vince in the lobby

Gannon keeps the music coming

Dave passes the time with his book

After we checked in folks went their own ways for lunch.  Mike O, Robin and I headed to a Mexican restaurant about five or six blocks from the hotel.

How did we live before cell phones?

Robin and I visited the Texas Rangers Museum which was located just across the highway from our hotel.  While we were there we ran into Hardy.

When we left Hardy was wearing a Texas Rangers badge which he said we couldn't get because we weren't Texans.  He said they saw something special about him and because of that they gave him the badge.  I tend to think the "something special" was money in the gift shop, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Our friend and Barter alum Maxey Whitehead drove down from Dallas to visit while we are in Waco, so Mike O, Hardy, Company Manager Rebecca Reinhardt and I went to eat dinner at Uncle Dan's BarBQ then grabbed a frozen custard at Katie's (voted Waco's Best Ice Cream for 2009).

Hardy, Rebecca, Mike O and Maxey.  Hardy looks like he's worried that someone might mistake him for an actual Texas Ranger.

We'll transfer to another hotel this afternoon before heading to the Waco Hippodrome for two shows - at 3 and 7:30 tonight.  Looking ahead at the forecast I think today's 75 degrees may be the coolest day we have for at least a week.  For all the folks back home in Abingdon who are watching for snow, I apologize.