Ron's Mom, Elsie Hofmeister from Winter Haven, Florida, has a weakness for elder hostels and likes to plan one in conjunction with a family visit if possible. Elder hostels are for those who are young at heart, but over 60 years of age. It is usually a week long event often held at a university, and includes classes and tours on one or several subjects. She picked the Texas History hostel which was held in Austin on the campus of the University of Texas, March 2 to March 6. Ron and Barb asked her to stay a week after her classes so they could show her around.

Part of the hostel program was a trip to the LBJ Ranch. They knew which day she was coming and asked their supervisors if there was any way they could be scheduled to work and
actually drive her tour bus. Although it meant juggling the schedule some, Sally Armstrong pulled it off. 

Barb was the bus driver that day and was at the Visitor Center early to greet the tour group. She made sure that Elsie got the front seat on the right of the bus—a special seat. The first stop on the tour was the LBJ birthplace and Ron was the guide there. As the group walked up to the home and son and mother recognized each other, both beamed and took time out for hugs before the presentation was made. Elsie said she was so proud of both her son and
daughter-in-law and felt like a celebrity for the remainder of the classes at her hostel. Everyone asked her questions about Ron and Barb's lifestyle and so on.

Ron picked his Mom up at the university at the close of the hostel and brought her out to the ranch. She was a good sport and spent the first night in the motorhome with the couple. She got a kick out of the cows looking in at them all the time and enjoyed an early morning walk to get a close look at some of the other wildlife at the ranch.

Saturday the 7th, they packed suitcases and went to the Summit Coast to Coast Campground (CCC) at Canyon Lake where they had rented a little log cabin. Their thinking was it would be more comfortable with more room. It was too primitive though and was really less comfortable than the motorhome. But the four days there weren't wasted. They spent Sunday afternoon at Barb's Aunt Genevieve's house in Austin where she prepared a delicious dinner. Cousin Mary and her husband Bill were there too. 

Good friends of the Hofmeisters, Ed & Laurie Waples, live at Canyon Lake and they took the trio on a first class tour of San Antonio which included the missions, the River Walk and then a trolley ride to the marketplace. 

Another day the trio visited New Braunfels and Gruene. Gruene was especially fun because of the interesting old buildings and the general store where they sat at the counter and ordered ice cream cones. 

They moved back to the LBJ Ranch on Wednesday, the 11th and spent two nights there. From that location, they visited Fredricksburg and included a delicious German dinner at the Bavarian Inn. A good part of another day was spent visiting the Admiral Nimitz Museum also in Fredricksburg. It details his life and WWII in the Pacific. At the ranch, Elsie had fun just relaxing and enjoying the cattle and the fresh air.

While at the ranch, they also visited the famous town of Lukenbach and Ron took his Mom to the living history farm which is a part of the LBJ State park.

On Friday the 13th, they packed suitcases again and went to The Ranch* CCC in Spicewood (northwest of Austin). On the way (well just a little out of the way), they visited the Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls for lunch. Barb says they have wonderful pies and she should know. 

The stone cabin at The Ranch  was clean, spacious, pleasantly rustic, comfortable and afforded the most breathtaking views of Lake Travis. The kitchen was complete with every tool, pans, dishes and included a micro wave. 

Saturday evening, Liz and Don Ryding (volunteers at the LBJ Ranch) came out for dinner. Elsie had known the Rydings from when Don's brother was her minister many years ago. After dinner, they had fun playing dominoes.

During the day at The Ranch, they listened to the birds, music on tape, played games, talked, read, walked and just soaked up the relaxation of it all. 

Elsie said it was a wonderful vacation. She got to see the beginnings of the Bluebonnets blooming, and got a hint of why Ron and Barb love the Hill Country so. Every time they were out riding, she wondered where every one was. Unlike Florida, there is little traffic. 

Ron said, “It was fun to share our lifestyle with her, and I loved seeing her enjoy new things. And the very best of all, I didn't have to go to Florida.” 

The couple hopes she will come again next year when the wild flowers are out. 

* Editor's note:  As of 1994, The Ranch is no longer in the Coast to Coast Campground
system. It is now open to the public.