Hi all, We had a nice hike today with perfect temperatures and only a little mud. Six TOWNIES forged the greenbelt today, protected by the Schnauzers Berta and Waldi from any errant squirrels, birds or possibly the dreaded butterfly. Fortunately, we, Jody, Paula, Kim, Carolyn, Leigh and I all arrived safely after a 4.1- 4.9 mile hike. Again, our hike trackers differ. Since we have some major food celebrations coming up, we decided to go with the 4.9 mile distance. TOWNIES never leave anyone behind and that was evident when several hikers helped Berta scale peaks of 2 feet.

It seems that this is a digression, but hang on. I am of German descent, 4th generation American and first to speak English as first language, but was raised in the typical German tradition of cleanliness and dedication to sweeping the streets and any soil that is not covered in flowers or grass. Yes, I do. Well, the Schnauzers were bred in the 14th century to hunt for ground animals as well as small game. It seems that they love to dig, resulting in multiple moppings of the floor a day. It also seems that they were bred with rounded feet to help with digging. Great. A blade of grass on the floor leaves me shaking with anxiety much less floors that are covered with muddy paw prints. Paula, a new Sunday hiker, suggested that I charge people to help mop floors as that could be an excellent workout, focusing on abs which is so vital during this holiday season. So true! Sign up now for a cross- training opportunity! I will give TOWNIES a discount.

Paula also noticed that the Schnauzers, a.k.a. Snouties, not completely trained, often went different directions around the trees, resulting in extra workout aptly named, Fighting With Nature. It took some time to untangle the Snouties I am still battling a broken toe and bandaged hand, all different stories for another time, so the TOWNIES helped during critical times today, allowing us to forge ahead. Does it really need to be pointed out that Paula, a new Sunday hiker, has come up with excellent ideas and observations, while the “old” hikers seem to have become complacent?

As one can see, I often have strange views of the world, but one thing is for sure….. TOWNIES are the best and we only survive with the help of family and friends and faith. I hope that you all have a happy Thanksgiving and know that you are part of my life that makes me grateful to be alive.

Until next time.. Blessings…. and Happy Trails, Marsha

Hi All, We had 7 TOWNIES today, Kim, Carolyn, Leigh, Jody, Janice, Paula and me, who were protected by the Snouties/Schnauzers, Waldi and Berta, as we traveled 4.9 miles, possibly 4.4, in perfect weather. It was a little muddy today, but the ground dries quickly. This is Texas, after all. 4.9 miles sounds better than 4.4 although 2 out of 3 trackers had 4.4. I am being led by the Snouties, so maybe my tracker is picking up the extra movement. Snouties are known for tracking scents and should never be left off leash in open area. They will chase a scent for 6-7 miles and may not ever return.

Thanksgiving blessings were shared and then the talk turned to jolly ole St. Nick and the approaching Holiday Season. I have not been very good this year, but am hoping for new weed eater cord. It seems that the Snouties are diggers so I sowed some bare areas yesterday with rye seed in the futile attempt to slow down digging and dragging in mud. There is a new sport in my house, Extreme Floors, where I vacuum and mop daily to try and beat the mud brought in by the Snouties. The Snouties are now bringing in the rye grass seeds, causing us to pause and list the odds of having rye grow in the house now.

We marveled at the changing of the leaves and the sounds of new birds that may be migrating to our area for Winter. We crossed paths with several other hikers and dogs and basked in the weather and friendship.

Until next time.. Happy Trails, Marsha

Hi all,  We had a nice hike today, anywhere from 4.0 to 4.9 miles, depending on whose app we believe.  I broke a toe yesterday,  yes, another story for another time, so my pace was slower, and I think we were closer to the 4.2 mark.  My Snouties, Waldi and Berta,  the Schnauzers, had their first TOWN hike and did well protecting me, Kim, Carolyn,  Jody,  Janice,  Phyllis, and Paula from a squirrel or two, a crow and a friendly collie.  I thought they would be tired but they are at home, playing Schnauzer Smackdown,  a wrestling competition that leaves one wondering who won and what the rules are.  We started at a brisk 32⁰, but warmed up nicely as we climbed mountains,  singing The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Music.  Maybe that was another hike. I forget.  Regardless,  we had a nice hike in near perfect weather, but with absolutely perfect TOWNIES.  TOWNIES are more than outdoor women, as we prove daily we are women who support each other and change the lives of members as we offer friendship and support.

Until next time… Happy Trails, Marsha

What happens when you combine a lovely, cool, sunny Fall day with a beautiful Texas prairie setting and curious, fun TOWNies?  Well, I would say you get a sense of the joy that comes with friendship and time spent outdoors.  Joining in on the guided  tour of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower, led by Docent Karen Clary were TOWNies Carrie L., Bev T., Leigh Z., Sandy B., Mary V., Stephanie N., Jacque A., Adela R, Lois K., Christine N., Kathleen C.,  Phyllis P., Effie K., Marsha K., Jody R., Karen K, and TOWNie friend Paula T.

It was a busy day at the Center featuring a plant sale, Fort Landia, and in honor of Arbor Day, free admission!  Our Docent led us past the large cisterns pointing out the architecture designed to catch the rain water that is then stored.  And they did water all summer.  The tour opened into a meadow featuring Gregg’s Mistflower and Shrubby Boneset.  As the air warmed, butterflies began to emerge attracted to these two plants.  Our guide, Karen, has her degrees in botany and was able to fill us in on details of many plants like how Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon Holly) got its name…hint..don’t eat it and which shrubs are used for their caffeine in the making of tea which this plant lover will have to look up on the native plant data base on the Widflower Center’s website  All plants, rocks used in developing the settings and buildings are  Texas natives.

We continued our tour through the new installation of Fort Landia and through the Family Garden area.  Lucy Jonson dubbed the family area as the ‘yes garden’….meaning children are allowed to touch, jump and run with the only “No” being jumping in the stream….although toe dipping is on the “yes” list.    There is the Lynda library designed in the Texas star shape which can swing closed in wet, cold weather.  We concluded our tour in the Theme Garden.  Our docent, Karen, and the members of our group who lead tours at the Center and do other volunteer work there encouraged us to consider volunteering, to become members and definitely to return for a similar tour in the Spring  The group went in many directions to take advantage of the plant sale, the cafe with wonderful food and good service and, of course, the gift store.

Thanks all for making this such an enjoyable event!  Karen & Jacque

Hi All,  Today’s hike was one of mystery and terror as we kept losing two hikers.  One hiker, Carolyn, who shall remain unnamed, was leading our new hiker, Paula, but they kept getting lost although only 10 feet behind Effie, Jody, Leigh, Janice and Marsha. The trail was slightly different today as leaves are starting to turn and summer blossoms are fading away, but it is not that much different to cause that unnamed hiker, who has traveled that path many times, to cause such mystery on the trail.  But then again, the trail does change drastically each week and each hour. Fortunately, that unnamed hiker had homemade sugar cookies for us at the end of the hike, which made looking for her well worth it.  We didn’t know it at the time that she had cookies, so it was with great TOWNIE spirit that we looked for them and not from knowing that we were going to be richly rewarded.   One of our regular hikers did not attend today, so a couple of us had forgotten, or maybe lost the skill, that helped us find potties in the woods. We persevered and found appropriate bushes.  Several of the hikers had been on the TOWN outing at the Wildflower Center the day before, so we eagerly tried to identify plants and bugs.  We found some beautiful fuchsia plants, possibly amaranth, that beckoned weary hikers to come for a closer look and rewarded the hikers with a display of fuchsia flowers that cast a startling contrast to the creek bed that housed the plants.  It is possible that we had one hill today, but as we ascended in elevation on the way home from the creek bed, each few steps of incline revealed a noticeable increase in temperature. The humidity reminded us that Summer is not willing to let go entirely and allow Fall to offer us cooler days.

Until next time.. Happy Trails, Marsha

Hey TOWNies!

What a day we had hiking today!  We started with AnnaE, KimW, Kathleen with Mamie & Baby, and Jacque with Sheba.  Kim left us and returned to her car as her back was bothering her. It was a big dog day and by that, I mean large dogs!

Contributing to the trip report was AnnaE who has been volunteering for our mid-term election:  We talked about voting and that this election is having a low voter turnout and how important it is to vote AND encourage everyone to vote! In that spirit, early voting ends this FRIDAY, November 4. The Travis Elections site has all the information including ability to see your specific ballot, wait times, what ID to bring, etc. They also have a phone # to call with questions. Voting mega centers are open till 9pm on Friday. If you want more information about the candidates, vote411.org has that. Again, please vote and encourage others to vote.  I voted at my local library – Old Quarry –  last week and Kathleen was heading that direction after we hiked, it was so fast and efficient there;  we discussed Halloween, costumes, and candy; social media – Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest, Neighborhood, & more;  the difficulty of renting an apartment when making lower salaries; Texas Coral Snakes and the phrase “red and yellow kill a fellow, red and black, ok Jack”;

Come join us!  It is never dull!  Jacque

Hi All,  We had a large herd of TOWNIES today, Kim, Carolyn, Jacque, Jenny, Paula (new hiker), Leigh, Jody, Debbie, Effie, Kathleen and Marsha, who covered 4.4 miles in almost perfect weather. We covered 4.4 miles in a little slower pace, as I had slight accident with a knife yesterday, but then again, that is another story for another time. We TOWNIES forged across challenging terrain as Jenny begged for hills. I am sure I recall hearing that but no one else seems to recall that request. I must say that I heard no complaints today but did  hear “observations” which I was assured were not complaints. I am not sure of the distinction but there must me some fine line that is hiked by TOWNIES who have not ever “complained”.   Since Paula was a new hiker, we had a variety of landscapes that included haunted trees, appropriate for Halloween, breath-taking landscapes that left most hikers bent over trying to catch their breath, the picture frame tree, the gnome tree that offers rest for forest gnomes at night, and the caves where bootleggers stash their stills. I am sure that must still be occurring as I lost several hikers who went to look for some libation at those caves. Fortunately, Sheba, the Wonder Dog, kept us on task and focused on important things like chasing squirrels. It seems that some TOWNIES can rival Sheba in the squirrel department.  It was a perfect day with perfect hikers.

Until next time… Happy Trails, Marsha

Hi all,  There were 6 TOWNIES,  Kim, Leigh,  Jody, Debbie, Effie and Marsha,  who traveled 5.7 miles today over dusty trails and pungent creek beds,  releasing the notable scent of evaporated creek water into the air. It was a scent that should not be worn.  The humidity returned today but there were some fall blooms.  We were protected by Waldi, Wonder Dog, for the first two miles as I am getting him familiar with hiking and commands. His baby sister, Berta,  is terrified of the leash but did join us for about 30 feet.  She is adorable but fearful. One can only imagine….. It is a good reminder that we help friends and those we love. How wise Berta is, to remind us of what friendship means.  The TOWNIES also reminded me that hills are anything above a 4′ inclined.  Mercy was rampant today as the highest hill was 4′, hence the longer distance.  TOWNIES Singers were on display upon return,  belting out a stirring rendition of Happy Birthday, a moving tribute.

Until next time.. Happy  Trails, Marsha

Hey Hikers!  Well, we were certainly the hot hikers today.  KimW, KathleenC with Baby & Mamie, and Jacque with Sheba met in the parking lot at TC with the temp at 46 degrees.  Long pants or tights and long sleeves were in order.  The recent rains added to the creek moisture, but our shoes did not get soaked.  We chatted pretty much nonstop about:  twin mattresses, how thick can they possibly be and needing a foot stool; custom fit orthotics, shoe inserts for back pain, high arches, flat feet, foot pain, and Dr. Scholl’s; where to travel next – Scotland, Ireland, Arizona, Minnesota, or northern Costa Rica; stubborn dogs names Sheba Louise; Fiona and her health; coyote season and dog protection; River Place – no charges for hiking during the week, the need for sticks, how few hikers were on the trail, and 6 miles felt long; eye issues – torn retinas, how cataracts form, why some newborns have lens issues, Macular Degeneration, and glaucoma; various Texas State Parks and very different they are, where to go camping next; the Meetup Women Over 50 group and their activities. Guess that’s about it.

 Come join us!  It’s never dull!  Jacque

Greeting, We started with 10 enthusiastic hikers and returned with 6 not so enthusiastic hikers to complete the 2+ hour and somewhere in the vicinity of 3.678 miles:) We started on the Pecan Flats Trail and returned on the Lake Trail. Actually, this was a good hike exploring different elements of the park, from climbing on the outcrops of granite to the scorched area from the 300 acre park fire there in 2018. We enjoyed wonderful views of the lake and the hill country including a castle as we chatted and got acquainted with each other. Luckily, we enjoyed a nice breeze for much of the hike as it was still warm.

Thank you all for your participation and patience. It fun for me and I enjoyed meeting Phyllis, Stephanie and Noemi for the first time.  Hope to see you all again soon in the great outdoors!  Jenny

PS – the 4 missing hikers returned safely to their campsite a little early