Enthusiastic crowds welcome Bush back to Texas

WACO, Texas: After an enthusiastic welcome from thousands of cheering Texans in two cities, George W. Bush spent his first night out of office at his Crawford ranch.

Before flying in a helicopter to his 648-hectare ranch, the former president told about 3,000 well-wishers gathered at a Waco airfield on Tuesday night that he was glad to be back in Texas.

"It is a great day because we got to come home once and for all," Bush, with former first lady Laura Bush at his side, said as the crowd cheered.