The Road Less Traveled - Saturday, October 30, 2021

On a cool Texas Hill Country morning, Bob and I set out on the 11k Welfare Cafe Walk. First, we had to check in at the Waring VFD Hall. We then drove to the now-abandoned Welfare Cafe where we parked to do our 11k walk.  

The first portion of the walk was along the Waring Welfare Rd., a two-lane, country highway with no sidewalks. When cars came along, we walked on the weedy shoulder of the road. In about 1/2 mile, we turned onto a gravel country road. And I do mean country. 

We had to let ourselves through two different gates designed to keep the "loose livestock" from wandering off. There were also cow guards to cross that had the bars on them. You know, the ones that make a lot of noise when you run over them.

Anyway, we had a beautiful, cool morning and very little vehicle activity on the road less traveled along Little Joshua Creek. Most walkers started at 8 am, but we took our time this morning to let it warm up a little bit from 53 degrees. The 9 am hour worked for us. As we were heading out, we met up with a group heading back.

This was a quiet, bucolic walk. A number of deer were out this morning, and we saw a flock of turkeys deep in the shadows of the trees. 

Little Joshua Creek was picturesque in the morning light. There was a side creek that came into Little Joshua Creek as well. Both creeks had small dams on them.

Little Joshua Creek. You can see the 
flood gauge on the side of the road.

Flash flooding is a big problem in Texas. When we get 1" to 6" of rain in a short period of time, it doesn't have time to soak into the ground. If it's raining hard and the creek starts to rise, heed the admonition, "Turn around, don't drown." It doesn't take much water to wash your car away with you in it! Looking at the creeks today, the word "languid" comes to mind. No roaring torrents here.

Here is the side creek. 

Another view of the side creek.

We took the road less traveled to the right.

Little Joshua Creek crossing.

Little Joshua Creek.

Time to be on the lookout for
loose livestock.

The way was nicely shaded!

A couple of big, old, dead trees. I'm 
hoping they support owls and woodpeckers.

Bob is working to get a gate open.

On the other side of this gate was our first staffed checkpoint. Our start cards were punched and we each had a slice of apple provided by the local club. I also had a cherry Tootsie Roll Pop which lasted all the way to the next checkpoint.

The cow in the photo below was very camera shy. I didn't think I got a picture of it, but lo and behold here it is. As soon as I raised my camera to take the shot, this young cow took off like a shot. 

I think the young cow ran to mama!

Lucky shot. This bird just caught breakfast!
I think it's an Eastern phoebe.

The cow family kept me in their sights.

Huisache daisy.

Bob is next to crystal clear
Little Johnson Creek

More walkers headed back.

The lower bridge is the freeway access 
road. The upper bridge is I-10.

At Joshua Springs Preserve, there is an event center situated on top of the mountain. They have weddings and other events up there. We have hiked to the top of the mountain before on the Joshua Springs Preserve walk. 

As we walked the freeway access road under I-10 to Joshua Springs Preserve, a Triumph car club drove by, oh, and one Triumph motorcycle as well. Somehow, a Corvette and a couple of other cars sneaked into the lineup.

Triumphs coming by us.

We had just a short jaunt from Little Joshua Creek's simple gravel road across the access road to Joshua Springs Preserve. Our walk had us go into the park, past the dog play area, and then to the restroom! Yay. That was our turn-around point on the 11k walk. 

Bob hugging the guardrail as we
walked along the busy access road.

As far as I know, we haven't
hiked the Nature's Edge Loop yet.

Heading back, re-passing the checkpoint.

Figuring out the livestock fence again.

These flowers were about the
size of your fingernail - tiny!

Miniature wildflowers.

Bob by Little Joshua Creek.

Me at Little Johnson Creek.

Cardinal flower (Lobelia Cardinalis).

Autumn meadowhawk dragonfly (?)

Great egret across 
Little Joshua Creek.

Great egret flying across Little
Joshua Creek.

Great egret landed on this side of
Little Joshua Creek.

We finished our walk on the gravel road, traversed the Waring Welfare Road, situated ourselves in the car, and drove back to the start point to stamp our Volksmarch books.

For lunch, Bob and I stopped at The Rim shopping center in San Antonio to have lunch at Bakery Lorraine. I had a turkey sandwich on rye that was really a turkey Reuben. It was delicious. Bob had a Cobb salad.

The Waring walks are both days this weekend. Tomorrow, I will pick up Andy Thomas in the morning and we will head back to the Waring VFD for the Zoeller Lane Trail walk. At 11 am, the Waring Volunteer Fire Department is putting on their annual fish fry. We will stay for that before heading back to San Antonio.

Thank you to Hill Country Volkssportverein Club for putting on these two walks this weekend. We enjoy attending this event every year.

Bob plans to ride his bike with Darren Medlin (Susan's husband) in the morning. Susan Medlin is in Kansas doing the county walks this weekend. 

On Wednesday, Susan Medlin and I leave for the Walk Around Florida (in Daytona Beach this year). We'll be gone a week. Bob and I did the Daytona Beach walks last year even though they had canceled Walk Around Florida in 2020 due to COVID-19.

That's it for today.