Luckenbach is my favorite place in Texas. The place sort of represents an ideal, thanks to the song, of rejecting mainstream and focusing on what’s important in life. It may all be a bit hokey, but the “town” maintains its charm for me every time we visit. Sit back with a Shiner Bock and listen to a few people sitting around having a simple, unplugged, and outdoor, jam session. I could sit there all day, every day, and not get sick of it. Luckenbach would probably suffer terminally if it were located any closer to Austin, but as the country hill town tourist mecca of Fredericksburg is the only thing really nearby, it’s always been just a small group of people there when we’ve visited.
We did a driving tour of the LBJ ranch, which was very nice. It would have been even better if the bus were running better and would actually idle. The deer were probably the highlight of the ranch. They were everywhere, as if they had stumbled in from a warzone, the rest of Texas, and landed in the only place they wouldn’t be shot or run over.
We found a nice little campground out in the sticks, pulling into our spot overlooking the river just as the sun was setting.
All the windows are being replaced, but sometimes even the cracked and badly tinted window gives a nice view of the world rolling past.
It’s little surprise the bus isn’t running great at the moment. Decades old spark plugs covered in black from running so rich. Obviously the entire engine needs a good once over, but when you are driving cross-country on a timeline you just have to do what you can manage along the way to keep you moving. I couldn’t even get all eight plugs out. At this stop I managed to get four. At another, I got two. I wouldn’t be able to crack the last two until we were situated days later. Meanwhile I was constantly fiddling with the old Holley four-barrel.
Longhorn Cavern. This was a nice cave. Not spectacular, but nice. For us, the memory that will endure will be of our guide. She ruled her group like a nun teaching a classroom full of unruly sixth graders. If she had a ruler I have no doubt she would have whacked some knuckles. She certainly had us on our best behavior.
18 Comments on “Luckenbach and Chill”
And now I’ve got Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the basics of love) rolling through the days soundtrack in my mind.
That’s a good thing. 🙂 Happy Holidays from me, Sherlene & Taco!
That song plays in my head for at least two weeks on either side of Luckenbach. 🙂
We had a 70s GMC van in the 80s. Never ever was able to change 2 of our 8 plugs. Put lots of miles on it cause it was our travelling camping unit. Had a huge bed, a closet and ice box, completed with shag carpet on walls and roof of course.
Does your Holley have a solenoid that shuts down the fuel when the ignition is off? That might not be getting juice when the ignition is on?
Also, you’re writing about my back yard. Glad you’re enjoying it.
No, I can both hear the electric fuel pump kick on, and see the fuel flow through the filter.
Oh fine! Now I want to be in Luckenbach right now!
Pack up and go!
Listening to The Highwaymen concerts now… superb! Goin’ to Luckenbach, Texas with Waylon and Willie and The Boys…
Great choice of playlist.
I’ve been following your adventures since 2012. I think I envy your kids the most. I can’t imagine what it must be like growing up in an environment like that. I fully expect some Nobel Prizes, Academy Awards, or World Cup Championships in their futures.
Those plugs don’t owe anyone anything anymore. LOL! Safe travels!
Yep, they’re retired and living on a golf course now. They earned it after putting in their forty years for the man.
Aw dang. Good luck!
This solenoid would be located on the carb. It stops fuel from flowing thru the carb’s idle circuit into the intake when the key is off. I don’t know if Holley used them, but when they’re disconnected (even when key is on) the engine wants to die rather than idle.
I’ll never forget wandering into Luckenbach mid-afternoon (admittedly to get pics of the Ural in cool spots!) and hearing someone play. Before long, it was me and just three others getting a concert with Luke Nelson and I assume some members of Promise of the Real working through some new music. His dad apparently showed up that evening. Always a surprise at Luckenbach!
Yes, that’s another great thing. You never know what might happen. Those two guys in the middle of the last pic showed up from Colorado to play Luckenbach for the first time. We sort of chuckled to ourselves when we saw them arrive, thinking boy this kid went all out with the cowboy harido and everything. They were brimming with excitement, and they got up there and played, and sounded amazing doing it. I’m sure that day will be a story they’ll tell the rest of their lives, playing at Luckenbach, and we got to see it.
Post Arizona – which direction is that bus headed? We’re in our truck/camper and headed down to Baja in a few days. Any chance you guys might be headed down that direction?
Just lovely, to see the growth of your young’uns thru the lens… goodonyas! It’s what keeps me going, as mine are now raising their own! Click…click! Oh Poppy please! Ha
Probably the Power Valve in the accelerator Pump. It usually ruptures when there is a backfire on an old Holly. Do yourself a favor and find an Edelbrok 500 -650 cfm new or used. Very user friendly and set it and forget it kind of thing. You will spend more in time and money screwing around with 75 year old technology.