Join us March 5th through March 13, 2010, as we ride The Original Texas Star Trail through Fredericksburg, Luckenbach, Stonewall, Johnson City, Blanco, Fischer, Wimberley and Driftwood. Each year, about 300 people take part in the 112 mile ride. It's the experience of a lifetime, and one you will not forget. We cross 40 cattle guards through more than 20 hill country ranches, including the LBJ Ranch.
Friday, March 5: Fredericksburg
*Gather at Gillespie County Fair & Festival Grounds on Hwy 16 S.
*3:30 pm: Check-in/Registration begins. MUST HAVE ORIGINAL NEGATIVE COGGINS PAPERS.
Saturday, March 6: Fredericksburg to Luckenbach -- 17 miles
*9:00 am: Ride out.
*12:30 pm: Lunch - Manchaca Fire Hall Kitchen.
*5:00 pm: Arrive at camp.
*6:00 pm: Dinner—Manchaca Fire Hall Kitchen.
*8:00 pm: Wagon Medallion Presentation/Dance at Luckenbach Dance Hall. Band: "Dusty Britches & the Rhythm Ranch Hands."
Sunday, March 7: Luckenbach to Stonewall -- 13 miles
*8:45 am: Church service on horseback.
*9:00 am: Ride out.
*11:45 am: Lunch - barbecue at Halpin Ranch.
*3:00 pm: Arrive at Woodrose Winery campsite.
*4:00 pm: Shooting Exhibition/Winery tours and wine tasting.
*6:30 pm: Dinner — Barbarita Chicken Ranch.
*8:00 pm: Live music.

Monday, March 8: Stonewall to Johnson City -- 14 miles
*9:00 am: Ride out. Tour LBJ's Texas White House @ Lunch break.
*5:00 pm: Arrive at 5 Hands Ranch campsite.
*6:00 pm: Dinner — Ronnie's Barbeque.

Tuesday, March 9: Johnson City to Blanco -- 18 miles
*9:00 am: Ride out.
*5:00 pm: Arrive at Yett Memorial Park. RV hookups $25 per night.
*6:00 pm: Dinner — Barbarita Chicken Ranch.
*7:30 pm: BENEFIT RAFFLE - Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Wednesday, March 10: Blanco to Fischer -- 15 miles
*9:00 am: Ride out.
*4:30 pm: Arrive at Cowboys for Jesus campsite.
*6:00 pm: Dinner — Cowboys for Jesus Church.
*7:00 pm: Church service/Christian entertainment. Everyone welcome.

Thursday, March 11: Fischer to Wimberley -- 17 miles
*9:00 am: Ride out.
*5:00 pm: Arrive at VFW Grounds.
*6:00 pm: Dinner — Manchaca Fire Hall Kitchen.
*8:00 pm: Dance at VFW Hall -- "David Vogel's Music Machine."

Friday, March 12: Wimberley VFW Rodeo Arena
*10:00 am: Play Day at VFW Rodeo Arena -- Ranch sorting and wagon driving
*6:00 pm: Dinner -- Manchaca Fire Hall Kitchen.

Saturday, March 13: Wimberley to Driftwood -- 17 miles
*9:00 am: Ride out.
*1:00 pm: Lunch -- Manchaca Fire Hall Kitchen.
*5:00 pm: Arrive at Camp Ben McCullough. Overnight camping, $10/night; RV Hookups, $15/night.
Cattle call will be at 6:00 am daily and riders will move their rigs at 7:30 am daily, unless otherwise specified. Chartered Bus provided back. Dinner is included in cost of ride Saturday through Friday. Weekend rate includes 2 lunches and 1 dinner. Each rider is responsible for his/her own breakfast and lunch each day, except Saturday & Sunday lunches, which are included in cost of ride. Each rider is responsible for his/her own dinner Friday, March 6th, & Saturday, March 14th. Beverages will be provided at lunch each day. Fee: $150 week, $65 weekend, $30 daily rate Monday through Saturday. Driving route for moving rigs differs from riding route. Detailed routes provided at registration.

Real Ale is a great destination for a day trip in the Hill Country. Our facility is located just minutes from the Blanco town square and the Blanco River. Currently our tasting room is open on Fridays from 2 - 5 pm with tours starting at 3 and 4. If you have a large group please give us a heads-up. For directions and more information, please call 830.833.2534 or send us an email
See you soon!

Ben Beckendorf was born in Austin Texas in the 50s. Texas was already in the groove of the Blues - with the likes of T-Bone Walker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Freddie King, and many more. Little did they know another bluesman had been born. Ever since he knew what a guitar was, Ben wanted one, and in 1964 Ben picked up his first guitar and never put it down. He learned all kinds of music - He liked the Blues, Jazz, Rock, Folk, & Pop. He listened to his music heroes with a yearning ear. In 1968 Ben wrote his first song ( Beautiful Day-which he still plays for live audiences) and has since written and recorded over 800 songs in many different styles and textures. Ben paints a very vivid picture with his lyrics, and his guitar sometimes seems to speak in words instead of notes. He writes songs for everyday people about everyday things. His melodic ballads can touch and soothe even the most stringent hearts and his rock and blues tunes produce irresistable rhythms with backbone beats. Ben started his first band in 1967, and has played and toured with bands,worked in studios, written, recorded, produced, and engineered ever since. Ben has made the beautiful Hill Country of Fredericksburg Texas his home for over forty years.

Spring Break at the Pioneer Museum means old fashioned fun for the whole family!
All week you will enjoy historic crafts, activities, and demonstrations. Try your hand at quilting, stoking the forge at the blacksmith shop, making rope, or biting into a biscuit cooked in a Dutch oven over an open campfire. Stroll through all of our historic buildings, and stop for fresh-baked goodies at Elsie’s Country Store.
Spring Break activities take place during regular museum hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless noted.
Schedule subject to change - please call 830-990-8441 to confirm daily activities.

Living History Program
This popular living history program uses objects from the museum`s education collection to bring World War II to life for visitors as re-enactors demonstrate the weapons and discuss the tactics and strategy that won the war. The Pacific Combat Zone is located two blocks northeast of the museum complex on E. Austin Street between Elk and Lee.
Three programs each day: 10:30 am, 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm

Children of all ages are invited to come make old-fashioned, 1900s kites. We will supply the materials and enthusiasm to help the kids let their creations soar. Kites from home also welcome. Some areas are accessible for the mobility impaired. Donations gratefully accepted. 1:30-3:30 PM 830.644.2252.

Spend Saturday afternoon at the Torre di Pietra Winery and gift shop located ten miles east of Fredericksburg, Texas on US Hwy 290 in the Texas Hill Country. Come and enjoy our wine, shop for unique gifts, and relax to music in the piazza, patios and enclosed pavilion. This Saturday: Spare Parts. "All the songs we play were popular at one time or another," explained Graham Pearson, who rummaged through existing bands to put the new group together. "They’re the kind of songs you sing in the shower, dance to in the kitchen. A little bit of country & western, rock and roll, swing, Motown, blues. Mainly, we just play stuff you kind of recognize but haven't heard for a year."

Enjoy great music and a great selection of gourmet Texas cuisine at Hondo's on Main! Tonight Gary Claxton!
Classic Country, esp. 60's country. Rock and Roll. I like it. Gospel, blues, punk, classical. All kinds of music really. Gary has been singing in clubs in California, Nashville, and Texas for the past 20 years. He's been fortunate to have been in some good bands. Since moving to Austin he's played with Heybale at the Continental Club every Sunday nite for the past eight years. In case you don't know about the band it includes guitar master Redd Volkaert(Merle Haggard) and piano man/ cosmic cowboy Earl Poole Ball(Johnny Cash Band). I consider myself the luckiest vocalist in Austin to have logged in so many hours of musical enjoyment with these guys. There are fleeting moments at each show when I close my eyes and believe we are playing the best country music on the planet.