Austin, Texas and LBJ Ranch

After leaving the caverns in Carlsbad, New Mexico, we headed back to Texas to prepare for my upcoming Cochlear Implant surgery.  Rita and Bob, Judy's sister and brother-in-law, have now joined us so they can be witness to this special event.  

We took time to visit the state capitol in Austin.

The capitol building there is taller than the nation's capitol building in Washington, D.C.

We took the standard free tour.

The Senate Chamber

The House of Representatives has nicer, softer seats

Lyndon Johnson grew up in this home in Johnson City.

It's not far from the original Johnson Ranch his grandfather used as a base for driving cattle to the market in Kansas City, Kansas.

Lyndon's grandmother once hid under this house to escape marauding Indians.

The LBJ Ranch is 17 miles away in Stonewall, Texas.  It is still a working ranch today.  

Lyndon was born here and lived in this house on the ranch for 5 years before his parents moved to town.

                                  At that time, his grandparents lived right down the road.

The last time we were here Lady Bird was still living in this house. Today we were able to take a tour.

                                            The Johnson Family Cemetery

Air Force 1 1/2, as it was called, was able to land at the ranch and taxi right up to the house.  The President  spent about 1/5 of his Presidency here at the ranch.