Fairview Park 10K Volksmarch in Austin, TX - Tues., July 23

When we do our Volksmarches we really get to know a city. Austin is no exception. Our Volksmarches here have taken us around Lady Bird Johnson Lake to Barton Springs Pool, through downtown and the state Capitol, into SoCo (South Congress district), and now into the Travis Heights/ Fairview Park neighborhood. All of these walks have been delightful. Austin is a mixed up city, but in a good way: charming, surprising, bohemian, athletic, friendly, and authentic. We tasted Austin and it is a good blend of flavors.

Today's walk focused on the history of south Austin and the different types of architecture to be found. Again, there were murals, interesting places to eat and shop, and lovely neighborhoods.

Here we go, off on our walk ... We noticed this neighborhood has a thing for chickens. Asked a resident out walking her dog what was the relevance of the chickens on signs and large chicken yard art. She said she didn't know, just that chickens are currently "hip." Alrighty then. Our walk started and ended on SoCo (South Congress), the cool place to be.

Business sign by a chicken food trailer on South Congress.

Ms. P's Electric Cock Fried Chicken food trailer.

People love little trailers - even mural painters!

Bat garage? Part of Doc's Bar and Garage.

From South Congress, we headed into the neighborhoods. Fairview Park in South Austin was originally designed for the wealthy in 1912 by Newning, Swisher and General Stacy, but it didn't take off until the 1920s when Travis Heights was built next to it. The development was a mixed neighborhood with mansions, smaller homes and apartments. Today it is considered one of the best places to live in Austin because of easy freeway access and close proximity to South Congress shopping and eateries.

Quite a hairy cactus!

Victorian home - The Academy (1889)

Craftsman-style home.

Pueblo Revival-style home (1937)

We then crossed a small creek and headed toward Little Stacy Park. A great plus to this walk is that it is nice and shady through most of the 6.2 miles.

Bob on footbridge over Blunn Creek.

Big Stacy Park

Big Stacy Park

Big Stacy Park - SHADE!

Most of the rest of our walk was spent on Travis Heights/Fairview Park neighborhood streets. The walk  focused on historic architecture. We had two pages of written history of homes in the area provided by the Colorado River Walkers Volkssport Club. We can't believe how quickly our 10K walk sped by as we read all the materials provided.

Reuter House - Spanish Colonial Revival style (1934)

People here love their yard chickens.

Love this old truck!

Quirky entry with neon address.

Neighborhood LittleFreeLibrary. Good idea.

Here's what it looks like if you want to make one.

There's the all-pervasive chicken again.

Inviting entryway to a home complete with pond.

Arts & Crafts Bungalow

Ultra modern home.

There's even REAL chickens. I felt like I was on Kauai in Hawaii.

Bright paint job. I like it.

Yes, this house is lavender and had lavender flowers in the yard.

Gingerbread cottage.

A periwinkle-colored house.

From the neighborhoods, we finished our walk on South Congress (SoCo) looking in the store windows and enjoying the quietness before the shops opened at 11 a.m. We also passed by the enormous Texas School for the Deaf.

I love these shoes!

Hey Bob, you're my butter half.

Texans love their big boots!

Art in a store on SoCo.

After our Volksmarch we headed to Hamilton Pool. It was 10 a.m., so there was a chance we could make it in before they filled up. They only allow 75 vehicles in at a time. (This is on a Tuesday, remember, not a weekend.)

On the way to Hamilton Pool Preserve, we stopped at Taco Cabana for a scrambled egg and potato breakfast burrito with a bottle of orange juice. This is our go-to food after a morning Volksmarch; it completely replenishes and refreshes us.

This blog wore me out and it's pretty long. Hamilton Pool Preserve will be a separate, shorter blog. Look for it shortly.

Travel Bug out.