Hi TOWNIES!

What a great time we had last week at McKinney Falls SP!  Plus, an excellent member turnout made it even more fun to visit, eat, laugh, and enjoy the park!  Our January gathering at McKinney Falls for camping and our Holiday Party is a tradition of many years.  Why?  The park is close to Austin and allows our members to come to the Holiday Party just for the day or we can camp for the week.  Constance Whiston describes our TOWN Austin group as starting in the winter of 1997, over 25 years ago, and we can thank her and three more women for the fun we had last week!  Amelia Greene, our newest GOLDEN TOWNIE, worked with Constance to start our group.  Per Constance, “the greatest gift to the Austin Chapter of Texas Outdoors Woman Network came when Amelia Greene volunteered to create a membership roster and newsletter.  Not long after Amelia stepped in, we began taking membership dues and had a new web site (thanks to Amelia)!”   If you’re interested in reading the history of the early TOWN groups, check this link               https://townaustin.org/wp/town-history/ .

The camping began Wednesday, January 11th and grew to 8 members in RVs, 3 in tents, 2 in vans, and 6 staying in 2 cabins.  Wednesday evening, five of us enjoyed dinner at a nearby Cabo Bob’s, a favorite destination of SusanW’s.

We had our first hike the morning of Friday, January 13th, led by JanetFB.  Nine of us (carefully!) crossed the Lower Falls while sharing hands, managing the large rocks, and hiked a portion or all the Homestead Trail.  And it was well worth the effort!  Due to high water, it’s been perhaps 4 – 5 years since we safely crossed the Lower Falls.

Friday evening LindaBW arranged reservations for seventeen of us to eat at Casa Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina.  And the dishes and beverages (!) were very tasty!  And I thank Linda for all the calls she made and dealing with our separate checks issue!

Saturday, January 14th, we met at the Dining Hall about 9 am to set up tables and chairs.  Members began delivering pot-luck dishes and desserts.  TOWN supplied plates, plasticware, and beverages.  We offered two hikes: one at the Lower Falls for those who were not at the park Friday and the second along Onion Creek.  So, JennyF and KathleenC led 12 hikers on the Homestead Trail.  And eight of us walked a portion of the trail along Onion Creek.  Three of us continued to the Rock Shelter and then toured the Smith Visitor’s Center.  I asked the Park staff what year Onion Creek flooded the Visitor’s Center and was told 2013.  Water from the creek entered the Center at a 2 – 3 ft. height.  Onion Creek crested at 41 feet that year!  When standing on the patio at the Center, that is so difficult to picture!

We planned to begin our potluck between 1 – 2 pm.  So, after hiking, members were warming food, and organizing the potluck dishes including desserts.  EffieK was accepting new member and renewal applications.  Our potluck dinner had a wide variety of dishes and plenty to eat – hors d’oeuvres, salads, soups, veggies, BBQ, breads, sodas, water, chocolate popcorn, cookies, and more chocolate.  We certainly did not leave hungry!

Following our dinner, we began the White Elephant Exchange.  I heard someone say candles were very popular gifts this year.  As usual, there was lots of stealing items.  It’s fun, whatever you end up taking home!

The Gear Exchange items were very popular as usual.  It seems we had more donated this year than last.  Tuesday, I delivered all the remaining items to Austin Pets Alive (APA) Thrift Store.  The staff was quite pleased with the variety and amount and thanked our group.

Clean up was led by CarolC.  She is a Super Woman with a broom moving trash to the cans!  Don’t get in her way!  (Leaving the Dining Hall trashy would have cost us an extra $100.)  After storing tables and chairs, a few of us played games for a while, then closed the Dining Hall.  And a big, sincere thank-you for everyone setting up tables and chairs, then taking them down and cleaning.

We then adjourned to Eola and SusanW’s site 42 for a lovely, warm campfire built by Susan.  It was indeed relaxing to just sit and visit.

The forty-one members and guests attending the week and/or the Holiday Party were:

AngieB, BevT (with Chico), CarolC, CarolJ (with Jellybean), CarolynD, CarrieL, ChristineN, CindyS, DanielleB, DianeN,

EffieK, EolaL, FloM, GloriaB, Heather, Jacque, JanetFB (with Jilly and Barnie), JennyF, KarenK, KathleenC,

KellyC, KimF, KobyF (with Daughter Mikayla), LindaBW, LindaF, LorettaD (and Sister Gale), MarieW, MariaV, NancyL,

OletaS, PegG, SandyO, SandyS (with Silkie), SharronH (new camping guest), SheliaG, SusanW, TaskinaC, and TracyP (with Aunt Beth)

Thanks so much for attending, cleaning, leading hikes, and birding, sharing, and assisting others set up tents.  We laughed, visited, enjoyed eating, etc.  We know how to have a fun time!

I loved seeing each of you and am so looking forward to the event in 2024!

Jacque

Your President