OT-Texas Vacation

GregW

My family went down to Texas a week or so ago. It was an awesome trip to Houston to visit the Space Center. We also went to the natural science museum. Next up was San Antonio, we visited the Alamo, Spanish Mission's and the River Walk.

We made a side stop for lunch at Blacks Barbecue in Lockhart on our way to Dallas. Without any doubt, this was the best BBQ I have ever had. I had made a few attempts to cook brisket, that always ended in wondering what does everybody see in brisket anyway.

The brisket was moist and tender with great flavor, the point is my favorite. I also had a beef rib, it was also excellent. I had no idea brisket and the rib could be this good.

I had the good luck to meet the pit master Ken Black. He is a great guy and offered to let us take pictures with him and his mother. They said they have been in business 83 years and have four generations involved with the business. He gave us a tour of his kitchen and BBQ pits. I asked him what brand and grade of briskets he cooks. He said they were Black Angus Excel brand. He said he doesn't like prime grade, they are too fatty. His pit his built in an L shape with the fire boxes on each end. The vent chimney is in the corner of the L. I asked what temp he cooks at, he replied he doesn't know, they don't have a thermometer. He did say he never goes above 250 Deg on the pit temp. I guess that's from experience.

He uses Post Oak as would be expected.

I did forget to ask if he wraps the brisket, but I saw no wrapping paper in the pit area. He said he does 500 pounds of BBQ per day in the pit. The pit he is using was built by his father in 1949.

Ken Black also said that Aaron Franklin worked for him for a while. From what I had to eat at Blacks, I can see no reason to stand in line at Franklin. I can't imagine how anything could be better than Blacks, it is perfection on a plate.

Our trip was outstanding, and the trip to Blacks really made the vacation special.

If anyone wants to see the pictures, pm me and I will put them on Smugmug. I don't want to post Mr. Blacks photo and his Mom online with out his permission.

We finished the trip at Dallas. We went to Dealey Plaza, the location of the Kennedy assassination. The most remarkable thing about Dealey Plaza is how unremarkable the location is. It is still hard to imagine and accept that such a horrible event took place in such an ordinary place. I have seen all the videos and it always looked be such a large sweeping area. In reality, its really not that big of an area. It's worth seeing if you are a history person, but for me, I don't like seeing things like this, they are emotionally hard to see.

The last stop was the George W Bush Presidential library. It's about what you would expect to see.

All in all the vacation was great. The drive was pretty long, we logged around 3000 miles. I had no idea how big Texas is. It is unbelievably big. It was full of very friendly people that were very patient with tourist from Alabama.

Mickey

Sounds like a great trip. Love Alabama every time i pass thru. 

GregW

Mickey said:

Sounds like a great trip. Love Alabama every time i pass thru. 

Thanks @Mickey . If you come near Birmingham, Let me know and I will take you to lunch.

Mickey

GregW said:

Mickey said:

Sounds like a great trip. Love Alabama every time i pass thru. 

Thanks @Mickey . If you come near Birmingham, Let me know and I will take you to lunch.

Thank you very much. We are always on I-10 heading to Seaside in Florida. Most of the time spending the night in Spanish Fort being about 650 miles from Salado. 
But thank you. 

Carolina Q

Sounds like a great trip! I've been to SA three times. Saw the Alamo (drive by), but didn't visit. Enjoyed dinner on the Riverwalk and the shirtsleeve weather in December! This was long before I had any interest in BBQ. Therefore, I didn't make any effort to visit Lockhart. I don't think Q was a thing in Austin that long ago ('69 and again in the early '80s). Certainly not Franklin or the other "Aaron come-lately's".

And yes, Texas is huge!! My first trip, I drove home. Left SA at about 11 AM, headed for Virginia. As I recall, it was about 5-6 hours before we got out of Texas!! Don't even want to think about the drive from El Paso!!

MaskedMarvel

..... made me hungry ....

thetrim

Very nice recap!  I'm glad you had a great time!

lousubcap

Great write-up and adventure. 

Lots of things in Texas remind you of the size of the state.  For me the 75 mph speed limit on country roads is one of the most impressive.  

The_Stache

lousubcap said:

Great write-up and adventure. 

Lots of things in Texas remind you of the size of the state.  For me the 75 mph speed limit on country roads is one of the most impressive.  

I also LOVE the signs on their interstates that clearly state "Left Lane for Passing Only"!!!  Wish the rest of the country would do that. 

smbishop

Great write up, thank you for sharing.  Glad you enjoyed your visit so much.  Agree with what you said about Dealey Plaza, when I moved here, I felt the same way..

Acn

I had a former coworker who was very fond of announcing that the distance across Texas was greater than the distance from the eastern tip of the state to the Atlantic, and greater than the distance from the western tip to the Pacific.  For me what really stands out is the amount of ridiculously empty space.  A couple of years ago we drove from San Antonio to Big Bend NP, and it really struck us as amazing that in the 2nd most populous state in the country there was still stretches where you need to get gas at every opportunity, because it may be 60+ miles before you see another, and if that one is out...

TEXASBGE2018

Acn said:

I had a former coworker who was very fond of announcing that the distance across Texas was greater than the distance from the eastern tip of the state to the Atlantic, and greater than the distance from the western tip to the Pacific.  For me what really stands out is the amount of ridiculously empty space.  A couple of years ago we drove from San Antonio to Big Bend NP, and it really struck us as amazing that in the 2nd most populous state in the country there was still stretches where you need to get gas at every opportunity, because it may be 60+ miles before you see another, and if that one is out...

I've read somewhere you could give every person in the country a half acre of land here to live on. If that puts it into perspective of how large the state is.

Hook_emHornsfan_74

If I am not mistaken, The drive from El Paso to Texarkana is the same as Texarkana to Chicago.  I live in west Texas.  Usually about a 4-5 hour drive to any major city.  8 hours to Houston.

gonepostal

That road trip from Alabama to Texas is on my bucket list. I really need to make it happen in the next year or two. But i plan on standing in the line!

lousubcap

@gonepostal - when you make that trip reach out to @The Cen-Tex Smoker as he has great local knowledge.  I got solid mid-course guidance correction from him and had a great brisket bender week in early June.  And yes, Franklin's is definitely worth it for the line experience and the groceries.  Shoot me a PM when you are putting this together as I have a few insights to offer. 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

lousubcap said:

@gonepostal - when you make that trip reach out to @The Cen-Tex Smoker as he has great local knowledge.  I got solid mid-course guidance correction from him and had a great brisket bender week in early June.  And yes, Franklin's is definitely worth it for the line experience and the groceries.  Shoot me a PM when you are putting this together as I have a few insights to offer. 

Come on down! 

Carolina Q

This girl's a ditz, but here are samples of Lockhart TX food from Smitty's Market (prime  rib), Kreuz Market (brisket) and Black's BBQ (beef ribs). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqoTceiFhhs

My vote is for the ribs!

gonepostal

lousubcap said:

@gonepostal - when you make that trip reach out to @The Cen-Tex Smoker as he has great local knowledge.  I got solid mid-course guidance correction from him and had a great brisket bender week in early June.  And yes, Franklin's is definitely worth it for the line experience and the groceries.  Shoot me a PM when you are putting this together as I have a few insights to offer. 

@lousubcap I already have Hotel Eleven bookmarked from reading some of your adventures. Talking to the wife about this now. Hopefully next year and i'll definitely hit you and Centex up for advice!

GregW

The_Stache said:

lousubcap said:

Great write-up and adventure. 

Lots of things in Texas remind you of the size of the state.  For me the 75 mph speed limit on country roads is one of the most impressive.  

I also LOVE the signs on their interstates that clearly state "Left Lane for Passing Only"!!!  Wish the rest of the country would do that. 

Alabama has just passed a "Left Lane for Passing Only" law.

It's sad that a law has to be passed to make people do what they should have been doing all along.

I will say the the driving in Texas was easier. On a lot of roads, maybe all, trucks couldn't be in the left lane at all. That made the traffic flow a lot better.

I didn't drive on any toll roads, but I think some of them may have a 85 mph speed limit.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

GregW said:

The_Stache said:

lousubcap said:

Great write-up and adventure. 

Lots of things in Texas remind you of the size of the state.  For me the 75 mph speed limit on country roads is one of the most impressive.  

I also LOVE the signs on their interstates that clearly state "Left Lane for Passing Only"!!!  Wish the rest of the country would do that. 

Alabama has just passed a "Left Lane for Passing Only" law.

It's sad that a law has to be passed to make people do what they should have been doing all along.

I will say the the driving in Texas was easier. On a lot of roads, maybe all, trucks couldn't be in the left lane at all. That made the traffic flow a lot better.

I didn't drive on any toll roads, but I think some of them may have a 85 mph.

We do have a few 85mph toll roads around. The toll  road from austin to Lockhart (130) is one of them. Going 90 and getting passed is a trip. 

GregW

gonepostal said:

That road trip from Alabama to Texas is on my bucket list. I really need to make it happen in the next year or two. But i plan on standing in the line!

Next trip I want to go to west Texas. It might be worth flying and renting a car to get around in. My trip was probably a longer drive because I came home through Memphis in order to avoid the storm in Louisiana.

I probably would wait in line at Franklin's, but I can't imagine it being better than Blacks, but who knows, it could very well be.

GregW

Carolina Q said:

This girl's a ditz, but here are samples of Lockhart TX food from Smitty's Market (prime  rib), Kreuz Market (brisket) and Black's BBQ (beef ribs). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqoTceiFhhs

My vote is for the ribs!

She is indeed something else. Not a picture of polish and manners, but that may be the appearance she's after.

Botch

The_Stache said:
I also LOVE the signs on their interstates that clearly state "Left Lane for Passing Only"!!!  Wish the rest of the country would do that.  

Utard has similar signs but they're not enforced, to my knowledge.  
 
I've driven across Texas only twice; from Albuquerque (Kirtland AFB) to Montgomery (Maxwell, for Squadron Officer's School).  This was March, April?  I hit OK City and headed south, a gas station attendant asked me where I was heading and warned me of a bad snowstorm in TX; the skies were clear and I stupidly pressed on.  Eventually, snow, then blizzard, and I had to exit the Interstate as it was closed, and drove to a local town where I was told to go to the local church, the Red Cross had cots set up in the basement.  Car got stuck before I got there.  
At the time I was just recovering from Shingles, and weighed 15 lbs less than normal (and in those days, I couldn't spare 15 lbs).  Cots were taken, and I spent most of the night on a metal folding chair, ugh.  Next morning I continued on to Alabama, and the storm had left large orbs of ice stuck to the interstate, have never seen that before or since; car shook badly and I figured my brand-new computer was toast (I later discovered the lead balance weights on all four wheels on my Saab were gone!)  Was late reporting in, but so was 1/3 of the SOS Class of '89C, because of the storm.  
Took a more southernly route back home, and that's when I realized just how big Tejas really is!  I enjoy long-distance driving, so it was cool  
One of my first bucket list items when I retire next year is a motorcycle trip to Lockhart, and sample barbeque for 3 or 4 days; looking forward to it!  

Legume

Love the stories Botch!

theyolksonyou

Botch said:

The_Stache said:
I also LOVE the signs on their interstates that clearly state "Left Lane for Passing Only"!!!  Wish the rest of the country would do that.  

Utard has similar signs but they're not enforced, to my knowledge.  
 
I've driven across Texas only twice; from Albuquerque (Kirtland AFB) to Montgomery (Maxwell, for Squadron Officer's School).  This was March, April?  I hit OK City and headed south, a gas station attendant asked me where I was heading and warned me of a bad snowstorm in TX; the skies were clear and I stupidly pressed on.  Eventually, snow, then blizzard, and I had to exit the Interstate as it was closed, and drove to a local town where I was told to go to the local church, the Red Cross had cots set up in the basement.  Car got stuck before I got there.  
At the time I was just recovering from Shingles, and weighed 15 lbs less than normal (and in those days, I couldn't spare 15 lbs).  Cots were taken, and I spent most of the night on a metal folding chair, ugh.  Next morning I continued on to Alabama, and the storm had left large orbs of ice stuck to the interstate, have never seen that before or since; car shook badly and I figured my brand-new computer was toast (I later discovered the lead balance weights on all four wheels on my Saab were gone!)  Was late reporting in, but so was 1/3 of the SOS Class of '89C, because of the storm.  
Took a more southernly route back home, and that's when I realized just how big Tejas really is!  I enjoy long-distance driving, so it was cool  
One of my first bucket list items when I retire next year is a motorcycle trip to Lockhart, and sample barbeque for 3 or 4 days; looking forward to it!  

Are you and fishless related?

littlerascal56

I really want to move to Austin, but wife won’t leave Kansas cause of the grandkids.  We are planning a trip to Ft Worth in September to see my brother, then she wants to see Waco..and go to Skip & Joanna’s Business.  I told her it might be a “letdown”, but she still wants to check out the “silo’s”! 

JohnInCarolina

TEXASBGE2018 said:

Acn said:

I had a former coworker who was very fond of announcing that the distance across Texas was greater than the distance from the eastern tip of the state to the Atlantic, and greater than the distance from the western tip to the Pacific.  For me what really stands out is the amount of ridiculously empty space.  A couple of years ago we drove from San Antonio to Big Bend NP, and it really struck us as amazing that in the 2nd most populous state in the country there was still stretches where you need to get gas at every opportunity, because it may be 60+ miles before you see another, and if that one is out...

I've read somewhere you could give every person in the country a half acre of land here to live on. If that puts it into perspective of how large the state is.

That is correct.  Then you can move all of those same people to Alaska, where they can each have over an acre of land. 

YukonRon

True John, however a significant portion of those acres would be under snow and on mountains and mountain sides. An area with over 3 million lakes, of which only 3200 are named lakes, would also reduce and restrict the available land to offer.
Lot of area, for sure.

Thapco

Just watched the video on Lockhart and noticed Blacks claimed to have and started the first beef rib barbecue in Texas, what did he say, 10 years ago.   Video must be 40 years old because we ate good barbecue beef ribs off a pit in the mid 70/s at a place in Humble off 59.  I had had them before but this place had them as a regular menu.  He later retired and closed down and moved to Palestine and had a place there but have not heard from him in 10 or 15 years.

Blacks needs to quit saying he brought it to  Texas

DoubleEgger

The_Stache said:

lousubcap said:

Great write-up and adventure. 

Lots of things in Texas remind you of the size of the state.  For me the 75 mph speed limit on country roads is one of the most impressive.  

I also LOVE the signs on their interstates that clearly state "Left Lane for Passing Only"!!!  Wish the rest of the country would do that. 

It’s a law around here (recently passed). The only way you’ll get a ticket is if you’re holding up a cop on his way to a doughnut shop or a piece of azz though. 

GregW

littlerascal56 said:

I really want to move to Austin, but wife won’t leave Kansas cause of the grandkids.  We are planning a trip to Ft Worth in September to see my brother, then she wants to see Waco..and go to Skip & Joanna’s Business.  I told her it might be a “letdown”, but she still wants to check out the “silo’s”! 

We stopped in Waco to see the silos. It is a tourist trap. We managed to get away with about $30 in wood Christmas ornaments and a $8 quart mason jar of Alabama sweet tea.

I would have never believed a sweet tea company from Montgomery Alabama would be selling sweet tea at the silos. It proves you can sell anything, and for a huge profit.

There was even a trailer selling Popsicle's from Steel City Pops from Birmingham Alabama.

Vendors are coming from great distances to get in on the action.

I was a sucker for buying the mason jar tea, but is was about 95 Degrees.