The Savage Traveler: Winter Trip 2015: Bryan/College Station/P.E.T. Workshop--Part Two

Tue. Jan. 27: The noise from the freeway starts to crank up before 6:00 and a neighbor revving a diesel truck made waking at 7:00 pretty easy for us. Back at the P.E.T. workshop I started with seats again but spent most of the day drilling parts. Like the shop in Florida, they have a jig or a gizmo for nearly every job which means that even unskilled workers like me can step in and help with little training. The shop’s main welder (NOT an unskilled job!) had a stroke in November and is just getting back into action so they are behind with their metal parts. There are some on order from another Texas P.E.T. workshop but until they arrive the shop is approaching a standstill. Marv put together the cart’s wooden boxes with Mike. After we finished we returned to the campsite to read in the sunshine before making wraps for lunch. Afterwards we drove south and east to Washington-on-the-Brazos to the state park and historical area that was the home of the Constitution for the Republic of Texas. In a replica of the building where the representatives met to hammer out the new republic, a park ranger gave a very informative talk to the four of us present to listen. The now abandoned town site was once home to thousands of people drawn to a low spot in the river on the main trade route to Mexico for hundreds of years. The ferry that was built there was the only way to cross the river for decades. But when they refused to pay to have the railroad come to Washington, the once thriving town withered away to nothing. As townspeople moved away they dismantled buildings leaving hardly any signs of the bustling frontier town. It was a beautiful afternoon to walk around and read the many historical boards that help one to see the town as it once was. In another part of the park the state has moved a farmhouse from nearby Barrington Farm that was the home of Dr. Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic, who was instrumental in acquiring statehood for Texas. Outbuildings have been added and it is again a working farm. One man in period clothing was present to answer questions about the farm techniques and the heirloom livestock that are raised there. Although it was nearly 5:00 we went on to the interesting town of Brenham, the home of Blue Bell Ice Cream. We were too late to tour the creamery but we walked around the historic old town and found a Sweets shop where we could share a double dip cup. The sun set as we made our way back to the campsite, where Marv cooked some chicken breast in Caesar Salad Dressing and herbs for us to have over couscous. After an episode of Jeff Daniels’ “The Newsroom”, we were more than ready for bed!