Happy Halloween!
I gave Andy Thomas, our friend (and Texas Volkssport Association secretary), a ride to Waring Hall for the walk today. We had a little adventure on the way there. As we tried to get onto I-10 from I-410 in San Antonio, Texas, the whole freeway was at a standstill. There had been signs warning that I-410 was closed at Ingram, but that was miles on the other side of I-10. We were only about 1/2 mile from I-10, but in ten minutes we did not move one car length toward the I-10 ramp.
There was an on-ramp to I-410 a few feet behind me and a whole bunch of us backed off the freeway and onto the access road. From there, we took surface streets to find our way to I-10. We lost about 20 minutes of our morning trying to get around whatever was going on at the freeway interchange. We had an hour-long drive to Waring.
Fall is in the air! This morning's temperature was a chilly 47 degrees F. in Waring. The temperature in the Hill Country is about ten degrees cooler than in San Antonio. Gloves would have been nice because my hands were quite cold.
When we arrived in Waring a little after 9 am, the Volunteer Fire Department was setting up for the Fish Fry which would take place from 11 am to 3 pm. The Fish Fry is by donation only. They put out Firemen's boots and you put whatever money in the boots you would like to donate.
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| Waring Volunteer Fire Department setting up for their annual Fish Fry lunch. |
Andy and I signed in for the walk and set out in the historic area of Waring (about four blocks). Then we walked on country roads for the remainder of the time.
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| An old windmill from Chicago's Aermotor Co. |
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| Waring's historic gas station and general store. |
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| Old advertising signs on the side of the general store. |
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| The Waring Schoolhouse. The first wing was built in 1891. |
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| Waring Church. |
That's it for the town, except for the homes and a post office. I don't know what the population is currently.
We followed the walk arrows and streamers out into the countryside. Birds were chirping, we had a slight breeze, and plenty of shade from the trees lining the road. Andy and I took a small detour to get photos of the Guadalupe River. The cypress trees lining the river make beautiful reflections.
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| Cypress trees along the Guadalupe River. |
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| The Guadalupe River. |
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| Andy coming off the bridge over the river. |
From the road alongside the river, we turned off onto a road through farmland. We never did see Zoeller Creek (which the road is named for)!
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| Maybe a ruffed grouse? |
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| Wow! There were a lot of people behind us! |
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| We hadn't seen anyone for the first mile of the walk or so and then, boom, a whole slew of people! |
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| Linda and Pat volunteer at the first checkpoint. |
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| The Texas Hill Country. |
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| The cow grate has a sign that says, "Whoa, Nelly!" |
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| A chukar. (Thank you to Garry Speir for the I.D.!) |
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| Just a long, straight road to our checkpoint. |
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| The hay is all neatly rolled up. |
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| Now we're back along the river. |
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| The Guadalupe River. |
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| This historic block home is getting a large addition! |
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| Country road. |
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| More walkers coming toward us. |
After the paved roads, we turned off into pastureland and walked on a grass road. It felt nice and soft under our feet.
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| Grass road. |
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| The walk marker had a pumpkin decoration on it. |
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| This was a pretty feather. |
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| Mullein (Verbascum thapsis). |
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| Ellen Ott and Louise at the second checkpoint. |
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| There's a lot of lamb and beef on the hoof here. |
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| This cow has an interesting face. |
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| I love this big log home. |
As we walked this morning, Andy and I kept hearing gunshots. When we arrived at the sign below, we realized what we had been hearing.
Like horses back to the barn, Andy and I didn't waste any time getting back to the fish fry, which was now open. We had a very good lunch and then headed home.
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| The Fish Fry put on by Waring's Volunteer Fire Department. |
I should mention that the line for the fish fry was a block long by the time we drove away. People come from far and wide for the VFD Fish Fry!
This was another really good walk put on by the Hill Country Volkssportverein club.
Glad you were able to take Andy with you. Cute write up. That pretty-faced cow was doing a pedestrian count and wondering what the heck, maybe a sale in the area or Halloween goodies! Old country roads give you time to think.
ReplyDeleteI used to run over cattle guards, but think I'd be like Andy now. Footing is everything. And, soft grass would be nice today after pounding pavement 2 days in a row. My right heel is quite sore and I'm hoping to do another LA county walk on my way home. Possibly Jennings.
Thanks, DJ. I was watching my footing on the cattle guards pretty carefully, too. When Bob and I were gate guards in the Texas oilfields in 2012, I was on night duty. One night, I was closing the gates and one of my feet slipped off the cattle guard and my body dropped about two feet down into the hole. Thankfully, I did not hurt myself too badly, just a scrape down one leg. Those things are no fun to fall into!
ReplyDeleteLOL on your comment about the pretty-faced cow doing a pedestrian count! Good one.
Enjoy whatever walk you do on the way home.
Susan
The ground bird looks like a chukar. Probably an escapee from the shooting range, I.e. a missed shot.
ReplyDeleteYes! Thank you. I looked up chukar and that is the exact bird.
DeleteI'm thinking the other bird photo is a ruffed grouse (maybe?).