Saturday and Sunday Shenanigans - June 8

Saturday: As we exited our fifth wheel (5er) into the early morning, we were literally "up with the birds." It was 6:00 a.m. and the birds were chirping, squawking, cheeping and very active. Our destination: north San Antonio to do a 10K (6.2 mi) Volksmarch.

In south Texas, the afternoon temperature ranges between 80-100, so the Volkssport Association does early weekend morning walks to make sure walkers finish before the day is too hot and/or humid. Today's walk had a start time of 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. We started at 6:45 a.m. when it was a pleasant 72 degrees.

The walk followed a major city street (Blanco), then wandered through beautiful neighborhoods with street names such as Deer Crest, Doe Crest, Cloud Top, Dawn Crest, Eagle Point, Summer Creek, Hidden Timber Wood, Lariat Rd., and Country Club Ln.

Sunrise over Quarry Market.

Quarry Market shopping center.

Photos from our Volksmarch...

"Dry" rock waterfall.

One of the neighborhoods we walked through.

Beautiful homes, trees and landscaping.

Crape myrtle trees in bloom.

As we walked through the neighborhoods, we noticed that making your team affiliation known is common on the curb by your address. We saw Texas A & M (photo below), Longhorns, and a couple of others.

This home cheers for Texas A & M.

Almost five miles into our Volksmarch.

Water run-off area.

Lanceleaf coreopsis?

White sweet guara (Guara drummondii)

Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum eleagnifolium)

Flood-retarding structures in background.

Anyone know what this flower is?

Purple sage

Beautiful home with circular drive.

Yellow elder (AKA Esperanza, Yellow Bells)

So ended our neighborhood jaunt with 6.2 miles under our belts so far. We headed home. I took a nap and Bob went to work.

At 2:45 p.m. we met the San Antonio Hill Country Hikers for "Hike-Brew-Burgers" event.  We were off to explore Senator Frank Madla Park Conservancy near Grey Forest, Texas. The group met at Helotes Public Parking lot. Not much parking is available at Madla so our leader thought it best to consolidate into as few cars as possible. A short drive later, we arrived at Madla Park. A group photo was taken by our hike leader and then we were off.

Thankfully most of the trails were in shade and we had a breeze. The afternoon sun didn't bake us too badly. We started off on the Jon Allan Trail, hiked to the top of the hill, down the other side, and switched over to Warbler Way Trail. Shortly, we were back at the parking lot. After the group decided to keep hiking, we headed back to Warbler Way, took the East Bank Trail, then doubled back on the Jon Allan Trail. We were going around in circles. All told, the park isn't very big. We did two miles.

Beer and burgers were calling to us from Floore Country Store in Helotes. Helotes, Texas, is a historic town with quaint antique stores, restaurants and curiosity shops. But the main attraction is Floore Country Store which is really a restaurant/bar/dance hall. It's a good place for lunch on a hot day, for sure.

The first three photos below were taken in Helotes while we waited for everyone to show up at the public parking area.

Clover Belles in Helotes, Texas.

Colorful birdhouses.

Helotes water tower.

Nature's beautiful symmetry.

White coreopsis.

Madla Park - start of hike.

And off we go!

Texas Hill Country.

Greg - our leader at start of Jon Allan Trail.

Trail through the woods.

Heading to the top of the hill.

Trails are marked with these signs and orange spray paint on the trees.

Coming back to the start point.

Returning back out on Warbler Way - East Bank trails.

Giant Coneflower and Lemon Beebalm (Monarda citriodora)

Group deciding what to do now...hike some more.

Heart-shaped stump.

Beautiful sky today.

Another meeting - decision: time to eat!

Floore Country Store in Helotes, Texas - you can't miss it.

To find Floore's, just look for all the signs.

History marker in front of Floore Country Store.

An old Ford. This looks like something from Disney Pixars "Cars."

Inside Floore Country Store - be sure to check out the rafters.

Where you place your order.

Here's part of the group.

This tasted so good, mine's a third gone already.

The rafters.

The night's musical entertainment wouldn't start for a few more hours. We finished our food and headed home.

Bob picked up his son, Randall, from the bus station around 10 pm. He is visiting for the weekend from Austin. After Bob picked up Randall, they walked all over downtown and along the Riverwalk. Randall is staying in a motel just around the corner from our RV park.

Sunday:  Bob picked up Randall. They went Mission San Jose, then returned to the 5er for a breakfast of pumpkin pancakes with warm cinnamon applesauce and fried eggs. Bob washed the breakfast dishes and Randall and Bob loaded laundry in my car. They headed out to Boerne and I did laundry and vacuumed.

My plan this afternoon was to go to the San Antonio Folklife Festival, but the temperature is in the mid-80s and humid! Ugh. There is also a threat of rain until 7 p.m. I want to stay in our air-conditioned unit.  It's almost 4 p.m. and the festival closes at 7 p.m. By the time I ride the bus and walk over to the festival, it's not worth going. I will add this to my bucket list for 2014 and plan on going at 8 a.m.

Randall and Bob will be coming home to watch the Spurs and maybe we'll get some pizza. We'll see. After the Spurs game, Bob will drive Randall back to Austin.

Welcome to two new followers: Julie Whitney (no blog given), and Aleshia Clarke who writes a blog of the same name.

That's it from San Antonio, Texas.

Travel Bug out.