5/9/2009 - Malfunction Junction

Saturday featured little hope for meaningful convection in Texas, but that didn't stop us from damaging our livers at various spots around the Lone Star wasteland. We began the day at the Holiday Inn Express in Brownwood, TX, and later grabbed some tacos, taquitos, and other assorted Mexican dishes at a restaurant in Brady, TX. After the filling lunch, we moseyed on down to Junction, TX where we hoped and prayed for convection to no avail. We ended up spending much of the afternoon enjoying the nice breezes in the Junction City Park. We did accomplish quite a bit while at the park: tire rotation on the van, football golf, frisbee golf, swing jump distance competition, marveling at a one-legged skier behind a jon boat, and watching -- in awe -- the local kids joust along a very unsafe river dam setting. We ended the night by grilling out at the Days Inn, which overlooked the Llano River.

We all sit down to enjoy a fine Mexican meal in Brady, TX. Surprisingly, those are beers, not margaritas.

Adam in a confused state about what this mural is "suggesting".

NASCAR-form tire-change operation at the Junction City Park.

Endless fun on the town swing set.

Trying to get the whole "walk on water" thing down.

"Wow, look at all this water."

One-leg Steve skiing (on a surfboard) behind a Jon Boat.

One-leg Steve's friend high-fiving the fisherman. Weirdo.

Texas-sized turds they grow in the water down here. I mean, everyone knows that everything is "big" in Texas.

View from our hotel balcony ... overlooking the Llano River.

Professor takes to the grill.

Fail.

Easy peasy.