The weather was hot and muggy, and uncertainty about rain kept the group to a minimum: Carolyn (not usually seen this far south), guest Debbie, and leader LindaF.
On Lady Bird Lake, cool breezes alternated with the warm and humid air. As we paddled slowly west toward the Tom Miller Dam, the lake was wide, flat, and unbelievably empty. Because of the humidity, a haze was forming in different pockets. The water felt unusually lively, and approaching the dam, we saw why — the current was pouring around the spot under the Emmett Shelton Bridge where the rocks are close to the surface and we must turn to the right. We turned around.
The air was quite thick, and our voices seemed to carry to each other without any effort, an unusual effect.
We saw five Great Blue Herons. And as Carolyn reminded us, no telling how many we didn’t see. Carolyn’s photo is below. The heron is sharing a rock with a turtle. Note the height and greenness of the trees in the second photo. The water is high and seething.
On our return, we slipped past the Rowing Dock and waited a bit to see if someone was going to walk the slackline set up between two pillars under the Lamar bridge. There are several Google entries for this new entertainment, and if you are thinking of trying it, the City has some guidelines which you can find online.
LindaF
