Category: Uncategorized (Page 8 of 46)

Hi all,

We had a straggling crew of 4 TOWNIES today, Jacque,  Effie,  Janice and Marsha,  who were protected by the energetic Sheba, our Canine Protection Team.   Sheba maintained  energy throughout the hike while we two-legged hikers struggled with heat and humidity over our 4.1 mile hike following the creek bed.  Our group today was small as the usual hiking group skipped with excuses of being out of state, recovering from surgery or recovering from COVID-19.  They were talked about on the hike but with wishes for quick recoveries and safe travels.   There was about 1.5 inches of rain in the greenbelt area this week which was enough to bring some fresh green growth and leaves that did not wither. There were no pools of water in the creek and the trail remained dusty. Yet, the rain did seem to bring forth blooms of the rain lilies and pretty little purple flowers, which we all felt was the botanical name of the pretty little purple flowers.  We did see a blue heron bird but could not find the mysterious limpkin bird which is reported to be visiting from lands far away.

It was a nice but taxing hike for all, but Sheba.

Until next time….. Happy Trails, Marsha

We had eight women join us kayaking on Lady Bird Lake, Thursday June 30 at 9:30am.  Six TOWN members:  Peg G, Kathleen C, Jacque A, Judy A, Effie K, me and Gail’s two friend from New Braunfels.  After we signed in and had a chance to meet everyone, we put in about 10:00 am.  It was a warm morning with no breeze.  We had a leisurely, I mean leisurely paddle, visiting along the way.  We went around Red Bud Island where there was a bit of shade.  We passed a few other boaters.  Lots of turtles and several cranes were spotted.  Despite the heat, it was quite pleasant to be on the water with everyone!  Afterwards, we all went to Maudie’s on Lake Austin Blvd. for lunch.  It was refreshing to be in air conditioning. A suggestion was made to start earlier in the morning.  Like put on by 9:30am to avoid the heat.  Good idea.

Stay well until next time, stay cool, hydrated and safe!  Gail P-C

Tammy M, Tammy (Also)L, Maria V, Sandy B, Bev T, Judy D, Marie W, Susan W, Eola L, and Mike D endured the heat while kayaking, eating out a few times, walking  a beautiful trail, bird watching, biking and a little sitting in the beautiful lake water this past weekend.  Sandy spotted a White-eyed Virio and heard a Chucks-wills Widow as we lounged in the 100 degree + heat un-deterred by Mother Nature’s brutality.

Three of our biker chicks showed off their electric marvels.  We made ice cream and ate enough chili dogs to keep us sustained.  What an amazing group of tough friends!  I would love to go back (in cooler weather).

Thanks and love to you All!  Linda B

Hi All,  We had a motley crew today, Jody, Kim, Carolyn and Marsha, who traversed 4.4 miles over easy terrain, following the creek bed, but made more difficult by the heat and humidity.  The 3-4 MPH breeze finally came to fruition at the last 100 yards of our hike.  Otherwise, it was hot and still with our banter only broken up by the sounds of the cicadas, announcing to the world that summer is here.  We did stop at the Gnome Tree, a burled elm tree that the gnomes sleep in at night, and the picture frame tree, that forms a perfect picture frame of hiking visitors. We saw some nice flowers, some purple things, that struggled with the heat, but still belligerently announced that they can survive the heat.  I am not sure that is the heat is actually worse this year or seems only worse as I age with more trips around the sun.  Regardless, we had a nice time and I am pretty sure that we solved all of the world’s problems in 2 hours.

Until next time….. Happy Trails, Marsha

Hi all,  We had 8 TOWNIES that started with us, Carolyn and cousin Melody, Kim, Effie, Debbie, Jenny, Jody and Marsha, but only 6 completed the hike.  We are still looking for Carolyn and Melody.  I will keep you updated if we find them! They may have left early as they were behind us being covered with our castoff sweat as we trudged 3.9 miles in the dry creek bed but very humid weather.  We saw squirrels, snakes and lizards and other crawling things.  Jenny entertained us with profound wisdom although none of us can recall the wisdom, but I am sure it was profound. I actually ran out of energy before the others and they were so gracious to agree to complete the hike a little short of our usual distance. What a team.

Until next time….. Happy Trails, Marsha

Hello all,  Today our TOWNie hikers included Jacque, Carolyn, Kim, Jody, Leigh, Effie, fearless leader Marsha and sweet Sheba, our only canine companion, completing the 3.8 mile trek.  It was a really lovely morning, not too hot and as usual the camaraderie and natural surroundings were awesome and energizing.  We looked at plants, discussed travels, work and boyfriends.

Thank you TOWNies for, as always, lifting my spirits!  Until next time, happy trails …  Effie

Kathleen, Dawn, and Anna, along with pups Baby and Mamie, hiked at Turkey Creek on Wednesday.  Although it was already warm and humid, the shady trail was inviting and Anna regaled us with her report of her recent trip to Peru to hike the Inca Trail. The ongoing drought means fewer wet creek crossings, although Mamie did find a few pools suitable for splashing.

Hope you will join us next week!  Kathleen

Efficient work in checking in resulted in all six of us, at one moment, being in the boats and in the water, at 6 pm. Debbie B with guest Nancy G, Stephanie N with guest Mindy B, and guest Debbie W with Linda F, heading east into the wind toward Barton Springs.  The lake was crowded, with a great variety of boaters as well as boats.  Green fronds waved in the clear deeps under us.  Instead of graduated sizes of turtles along the tree branches over-hanging the water, it was small kids next to older kids, then teens, sister, mother, then Dad at the sturdy end.  Daredevils jumped off the bridges, missing us.  We went right up to the outflow of the pool, thronged with near-naked swimmers in the very cold water.

Stephanie reports on our conversation:  “Cool new movies were discussed, latest concerts, and how volunteering seating people at venues results in free entertainment!  One of our ladies is a yoga teacher.”  Quote from  Stephanie’s father: “Hark! There they go –  I must hasten after them, for I am their leader!” (for Linda, leading from the rear).  Stephanie was also responsible for our post-paddle entertainment, as she showed us how her Thule Hullavator lifts her 24-lb. boat on to the roof of her car, with minimal effort.

Best wishes to those who were unable to join us due to lingering illness, we hope to see you on the water soon.

Next paddle is Wednesday morning at (new time, a little earlier) 9 am on Thursday  16 June, led by Diane,  next evening paddle is 22 June led by Gloria. And the next in Maria’s Kayak Adventure series is at Emma Long Park 7 July, 4-7.

Hi All,  We had a nice group of TOWNies today, Kim, Effie, Carolyn, Debbie and Marsha, who traversed the dry greenbelt for 4.45 miles, seeing dust rise and scuff marks left from our boots over very dry land.  There was no water in the creek, but we shed sweat and ended up looking like wet rats.  We thought that was a more appropriate description rather that we glowed or glistened. That just didn’t seem to capture our images when we finished.  The land was dry and the creek was dry, but we did still hear a few chirping birds, see some lizards and gaze at the vegetation that seemed surprisingly lush.  We also heard the locusts, or cicadas, so it is officially summer regardless of what the calendar says!

Until next time…. Happy Trails, Marsha

We came to paddle at this park on July 13^th of last year and it seemed like there are a lot of houses that have been built on the shore opposite to the park since that time.  Lisa M. was already parked when I drove in.  Linda F. came with me; and Phyllis P. put her boat in a different side of the park and met us in the water.  We took off before 9:30 am and paddled for 3 hours.  The water was crystal clear.  I could see the floor of the river at any time during our excursion.  Even though it was not windy, there was an undercurrent that produced a lot of little waves.   A couple of motorboats kept speeding up and down the channel making bigger waves.  We all enjoyed bumping over these waves, just as if we were in the ocean.  I would not trade the experience of being in my kayak for fast ride in a motorboat.

After lunch, we (Linda and I) did some exploring and drove around looking at the other side of the park.  We found a sand beach and decided to get in the water.  It was TOOOO cold to get any deeper than the hip.  I am sharing the pictures that I took at this spot.

MariaV