Waco

Waco

Waco is known for many things. Baylor University. The Brazos River. The state drink of Texas was invented here. So there's a Dr. Pepper museum. The Texas Ranger museum is here. That's the Police Rangers, as in Lone Ranger, not the baseball playing Rangers. Waco is known more recently for being the place where the Branch-Davidians made their home (although in fact, despite the media associating Waco with that notoriety, Mount Carmel is not in Waco, it is far from Waco's city limits). You would think Waco would not want too much attention paid to that unfortunate incident. However, in the Waco Visitor's Center that incident is shown on a timeline display of significant Waco historical events. There is a huge city park in Waco, called Cameron. Among many attractions in Cameron Park there is also a zoo. The park is heavily wooded. The Brazos River runs through Cameron Park and Waco. And in this park are what many in Texas consider to be the best mountain bike trails in the state. Lots of elevation changes, steep cliffs of limestone, huge trees, lush jungle-like greenery and a beautiful river. With the tallest structure being the 22 story Alico Building (shown in photo above), downtown Waco is nothing notable, except for the river running through it with several unique bridges, sort of like a small scale version of Portland, Oregon. Without the mountains and volcanoes.

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The Waco Suspension Bridge is the centerpiece of downtown Waco's River Walk. The River Walk extends for miles on both sides of the Brazos.

A Texas State Historical Marker tells the story of the bridge.

A close-up look from the south side of the Waco Suspension Bridge. The Waco Suspension Bridge was built in the 1870s, designed by the same engineer who built the Brooklyn Bridge. 5

The switchbacking access ramps leading to the Brazos River Walk.

Now we are on the River Walk and can see several of the bridges across the Brazos, sort of looking like the bridges across the Williamette River in Portland, Oregon.

This bridge was behind us in the previous scene. This was the bridge built with public money when Wacoians grew tired of paying the suspension bridge tolls. It is now a one-way bridge into downtown Waco.

Eyes on Texas has witnessed Texans who drink Dr. Pepper morning noon and night. At the Dr. Pepper Museum there is an old-fashioned fountain where an old-fashioned soda jerk will make you a Dr. Pepper the old-fashioned way, with a squirt of syrup and a spray of soda water. However, to the Eyes on Texas tastebuds, the old-fashioned method did not make Dr. Pepper taste any better or solve the mystery as to why this flavor is so popular with Texans. Maybe it goes well with barbecue. Or whiskey.

No. This is not a look at the aforementioned 'not notable' downtown Waco. Rather it is a re-creation of old downtown Waco called the 'Governor Bill & Vara Daniel Historic Village.'

The above saloon is no longer functional as it is in a dry zone.

In the final two photos we are looking down on the Brazos River from Lovers Leap in Cameron Park. This is in Waco just a short distance from downtown. The foliage is very lush and jungle-like. Cameron Park has what many consider to be some of the best mountain bike trails in Texas.

Time to leave Waco. Must come back when we can hike Cameron Park again.

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