Cow Bridge, Statue Walk and H-E-B

 Location: Airport Beach Campground (COE); Waco, Texas

First, Waco is on my list of "good vibe" places. I guess I need to post that list one of these days. I'll also post the list of places that I expected to be good vibe places but fooled the heck out of me. By the way, a "Wow" place does not mean it's a good vibe place. I don't think I'll post the list of places that were bad vibe, bad ju-ju, jinxed, spooky, haunted, feeling of Rougarou nearby, being hunted, uncomfortable. I won't post that list because to do so gives that side power.

This road pick is a typical road in this part of Texas. I don't remember if it is a Farm to Market or State Highway.

This is my third time in Waco and my second time in this campground. In fact, the campsite I'm in is the same one I was in back in January of 2020. I'll post the addresses to those old posts. Back then I explored the Dr. Pepper Museum, Texas Rangers Museum, Mammoth National Monument and the Old West Suspension Bridge. This time I revisited the Old Suspension Bridge because it was near the Waco Sculpture Zoo.

https://gozatravels.blogspot.com/2020/01/two-so-so-museums-campground-pics.html

https://gozatravels.blogspot.com/2023/03/tornadoes-medicine-and-laundry.html

https://gozatravels.blogspot.com/2023/03/cracker-barrel-exploit-texas-rangers.html

https://gozatravels.blogspot.com/2023/02/civilization-at-waco-texas.html

https://gozatravels.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-waco-bridge-from-old-west.html

That's Freedom and Liberty on the left. Same campsite from 6 years ago. 

Looking back at the campsite while on a walk. That's Liberty just past the dumpster. :)

These shelters were closed. I'm not sure why. They looked to be screened shelters for a tent or gathering. 

The Waco Suspension Bridge, once the longest suspension bridge west of the Mississippi River, was built back in 1870 to cross the Brazos River. Sidenote: as per some locals, it is pronounced Bray-zos not Bra-zos. They made it clear that people who say it the wrong way are usually Yankees. They weren't using the word "Yankee" in the friendly, kidding manner like I do, so I quickly said I was from Louisiana but knew a lot of good Yankees. That ended the conversation. As I walked away, I looked over my shoulder and said, "I'm headed to the walkway along the Bra-zos." At least they laughed. 

Anyway, back to the bridge. Back in 1866, The Waco Bridge Company, was granted a 25-year charter that said no other bridge or ferry could be operated within five miles. So, with that in their pocket, the company build the bridge and started charging a toll. After public outcry about having to pay a toll, the bridge was sold to the county in 1889, and it became a free crossing. It was finally closed to vehicular traffic in 1971, and it became what it is today, a pedestrian crossing and tourist attraction. Apparently, the suspension bridge is also the home to a few homeless people that I saw this morning. None of them were pan-handling, but I started to give one of them some money but before I did, he pulled out a nice smartphone and started scrolling. It was then I decide, he probably was probably living the lifestyle of his choice not in one by circumstance, so I put the money back in my pocket.

"Branding the Brazos" sculptures of life-sized longhorns and cowboys. 

Looking down the centerline of the bridge.

 Waco has done a great job at developing things along the banks of the Brazos River. They have a nice concrete walkway that has some memorials, such as the fallen policemen memorial. It runs for a mile or two. Apparently, it is pretty popular because I saw a couple of dozen people on it at 8:00 this morning. Some were jogging, others just walking. I didn't jog; I came to see the statues of animals called the Waco Sculpture Zoo. It was nice and worth the walk, but I rank it in third place of the other similar statue gardens I've explored. If you're curious, the first place one is in Loveland, Colorado and the second place one is in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Just a couple of the statues along the walkway.

These are positioned like they are walking into the zoo.

I can't remember when the last selfie was taken. But, I couldn't resist this one. In the background is an elephant the "thinker pose" sitting on a thinking bench. Doesn't get much better. 

In my opinion, there are two main things that every visitor to Texas must see to believe. First is Buc-ees (think Texas-sized gas station with super clean bathrooms lots of things to buy and eat). The second is H-E-B grocery store. You can find anything in there and it's reasonable priced and fresh. I made the mistake of going in there hungry on day 2 and came out with $60.00 worth of "ready to cook" meals, some soups and fresh fruit. I wish there was one near my homebase in Louisiana. 

H-E-B also has the cheapest gas in town at $3.80 per gallon. So, on my way back to the campground this morning I was topping off my gas tank in preparation for leaving tomorrow. Just as my gas pump passed $5.00 on the way to $30+, I overheard a young woman tell the cashier, "$5.00 on pump 5". Now that's a sign, uh? Her paying for $5.00 just as my pump passes $5.00. We all know that with the price of gas, $5.00 will only buy you a little less than 1 1/2 gallons. Pump 5 was next to mine. After I finished pumping my gas, I handed her a twenty and said if you need more gas, use this. She refused at first, but when I said, "or use for whatever you need and pay it forward when you can", she looked through her back glass at a child in the car and said thank you as she took the bill. It was the creation of a nice "silent echo", and it seemed as if all was well in the world at that snapshot in time.

Ya'll take care of each other. Maybe I'll Cya down the road.