The Texas Trail Roundup - Saturday, February 23, 2019

For the past few days, I have been wrapped up in preparations for the Texas Trail Roundup (TTR), a three-day walking event in San Antonio, Texas. We have a cadre of volunteers who are working hard to provide a good experience to walkers from the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and I'm not sure of the other countries. 

This is the third year we've hosted the TTR. Our goal is to be admitted into the IML (International Marching League), a cousin to Volkssporting. This is the year we will find out if we meet all the criteria to be a world-class walking city for the IML. If we pass with flying colors, in future years IML walkers from all over the world will come to walk with us. There could be upward of 200-400 IML walkers joining us. How exciting!

Through my blog, you'll see just one person's TTR experience. Hopefully, you all will post about your experiences and share your photos. I see some of you have already done that on the TTR Facebook page. Thumbs up to you.

Last week, Susan Medlin and I checked the 5k walk to make sure it was the right distance. On Thursday afternoon this week, I marked Friday morning's 5k walk. Luckily, there were no new construction projects or detours. It took me three hours to put up 62 arrows and a few streamers. Downtown walking sure has a lot of turns!

I learned that the traffic light poles onto which I affixed the arrows are quite big around. In order to put up the arrows with shrink wrap, I had to hug the poles tightly. It was an interesting task. Sometimes I had to ask tourists or workers to help me get the first round of shrink wrap around the arrow on the pole. (Bob said when he did his light poles, he used his forehead to hold on the arrow while he used both arms to put the shrink wrap on. That bright idea never occurred to me.)

San Pedro Culture Park extension.
(The new Frost Bank Tower is on the left.)

One large, new construction project going on in downtown (which didn't affect our route) is an expansion of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park. I took a photo of it while I was marking the trail, and in 2020 I can take a comparative photo from the same place to see the difference when it's completed.

On Friday around noon, I took all the 5k markings down. No one had tampered with them and I recovered all the arrows. It only took me 1-1/2 hours to remove them. 

The TTR opening ceremony was well underway by the time I tried to sneak in the door. The room was packed and spilling over into the hallway. We had a few speakers (who I missed), and then a high school cheer squad and drum corps infused our group with their energy. It was a good send-off!

Cheer squad.

One of the drummers.

A very full room!

Saturday morning at 6:30, I was a greeter and pointed people in the right direction to sign in. 

The marathon and half-marathon walkers were heading out early so they could finish by 5:00 p.m. The half-marathon (21k/13 miles) walkers were bused to the start point at Mission Espada and they will walk back to the Holiday Inn. The marathon walkers started at the Holiday Inn and walked to Mission Espada and back. 

After the greeter gig, Bob and I walked the 5k though King William Historic District, to the Guenther House, and then through the Blue Star Arts Complex. It was a fantastic day for walking with a temperature in the high 60s/low 70s. A nice breeze kept us from overheating as we walked.

Here are photos of the King William Historic District...

Fancy birdhouse in someone's yard.

Riverwalk Architect Robert H. H. Hugman's home is in King William Historic District. He saved the San Antonio River from being paved over when he proposed an urban park with shops, restaurants, and apartments, along with a path along the river. The rest, as they say, is history. But there's more to the story. Apparently, Hugman was not an easy man to get along with. The city ended up giving the contract to someone else. Look up the history for more in-depth information.

Architect Robert H. H. Hugman's home.

The plant below made me do a double-take. I'm pretty sure it's a poinsettia. It's growing as big here as they grow in Hawaii!

Poinsettia.

Mountain laurel.

Below is a portion of the Riverwalk that goes past The Guenther House, which is a great place for breakfast or lunch (no dinner). The restaurant is located in a historic home that was part of the family who owned the Pioneer Flour Mill. Let's just say that the crepes, waffles, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, croissants, and strudel are excellent. If you don't want to eat a meal there, you can go into the basement of the house and shop at the bakery. On the second floor is a gift shop with kitchen items and flour products: pancake mix, etc.

The Riverwalk.

A block-long mural on South Alamo Street
near the Blue Star Arts Complex.

More of the above mural.

See below for a photo of the dam by the Blue Star Arts Complex.

The San Antonio River behind the dam.

 Yesterday, Bob Alton and Jim Tree marked the marathon route for today on foot. This afternoon they are taking the markings down. Those guys are real troopers. Susan and Darren Medlin marked the 21k route yesterday and used bikes to do it. Darren cleared the 21k route this afternoon, while Susan marked the 21k for Sunday. I am in awe of the people with that much energy! And, we have other volunteers marking and clearing the 5k and 13k trails Saturday and Sunday as well.

Tonight is the Mixer at 6:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn. We will have what I believe are called "heavy hors d'oeuvres." That means you can make a meal out of what's offered, things like meatballs. Sounds good to me. I bet everyone's going to be very hungry after all this walking.

Tomorrow, I will be a greeter again from 7:00-11:00 a.m. Then Angie and Bob from Traveler's World RV Resort are joining me for a 5k walk downtown. I'm looking forward to walking with them.

Thank you to Susan & Darren Medlin, John & Susan Ives, Ellen Ott, Pat Gunter, Pat Roberts, Heinz & Priscilla Johnson, Gerry Kamicka, Jim Tree, Bob Alton, David Prewitt, Mike and Kathy Schwencke, Joe & Susan Noonan, Joanne Forinash, Herb Laing, Erin Grosso, Wayne Henry, Mike Jones, Caryl Swann, Tony & Nancy Paulsen, Diana Battan, Linda Goodman, Karen Winkle, Cindi Myers, Samanta Sanchez, Gary & Marietta Pritchard, Andy Thomas, Deanna Repp, Marian DeVaul, Mike Hermes, Jack Magness, Laurie Stiteler, Kim Fluke & spouse, Ed Roberson, Maggie Riggs, Robin Fennell, Reuben & Marta Knape, Jill Troyer, Sheri Logan, Nan Camino, Dee Hoedecke, Carol Obianwu, Nellie Aguirre, Carol Talpey, Dora Pfledging, Dave Sheppard, Deborah Carter, Helen Hull, Robert Theiss, Derrill Rothermich, Donnie King, and anyone I may have inadvertently missed. You are all part of the team that keeps things running smoothly like a Swiss timepiece. The Texas Trail Roundup appreciates all the hard work and effort you have donated to the event! Bravo/brava.