Time "Marches" On - Tues., March 1, 2016

I am determined to bring my blog up to date. We now travel back in time to March 1. Susan and I met at Crownridge Canyon Natural Area for a 10k Volksmarch up around the canyon then into a new neighborhood next to the natural area. The walk was quite hilly.

The Crownridge Canyon Volksmarch route was changed a little this year. We used to do more of the walk on a busy street, but now it goes from the natural area over one block, then we climb the hill up into the new neighborhood.

In March, the bluebonnets were just starting to bloom

Redbud tree in full bloom

Once we left the natural area, we headed up into The Heights of Crownridge. We really wanted to tour an Open House or the sales home; however, it was not open on a Tuesday afternoon. We satisfied our curiosity by looking in the windows. Nice digs.

All new construction

Looks ready to move in

This one is occupied.

Buttercup (Rananculus macranthus)

With that, we each headed home. Another beautiful walking day.

Picture-perfect Texas Day - Monday, April 27, 2015

At the end of April we were having some beautiful spring days. Susan and I took advantage of a warm, sunny morning to hike 5k in Crownridge Canyon Park. It was warm to start, but thankfully most of the 3 miles was in the shade.

Attractions on this hike are the wildflowers, rustic trails, beautiful tile work at the info plaza, and hilly scenery. If you do the 10k (6 mile) walk, the second half of the route takes you up into the hills past some beautifully landscaped mansions. We opted not to do the second 5k today.

Indian blanket

Penstemon

Rose mallow

Picture-perfect walking day

Sensitive briar

Our hiking trail at Crownridge Canyon

Lots of shade

A very pretty spot

Butterfly on Indian paintbrush

Bluebonnets gone to seed. These are the seed pods
that will bring flowers next year.

After the walk, Susan and I headed our separate ways, feeling energized from our morning walk.

Travel Bug out.

Great Thanks for Life - Thurs., Nov. 28

Happy Thanksgiving to you, your families and friends. Enjoy your day of thanks.

Many thanks for:
1. Bob who is the love of my life going on 32 years.
2. Mom who raised me to be an independent, enthusiastic, spontaneous person - children live what they learn.
3. Our two sons, Randall and Michael, who have chosen different paths, but both are happy and well adjusted.
4. Our families: brothers, sisters, in-laws,  nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, step-children, and step-parents. Much diversity can be found in one family.
5. Our lives in Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Texas...we have lived in beautiful areas in lovely homes. We have hiked, walked and explored all of them.
6. Our current home on wheels allowing us to live "on the road." Life is now a big "road trip."
7. Our jobs: It's nice to have food, gas, heat, money to go out to eat, to travel and try new things.
8. Our health: This allows us to keep doing what we love.
9. Wildlife outside our windows. Love to watch the birds and squirrels. On our road trips we have also seen deer and bison outside our windows.
10. Our cats: They are so entertaining and so loving. I can't imagine a home without cats.
11. Beautiful weather, like today, expansive blue skies, high swirled clouds, cool temperatures, and a slight breeze.
12. Natural beauty: flowers, waterfalls, autumn colors, mountains, deserts, rivers, the ocean and canyons.

13. Food to sustain us.

14. The mental capacity to make choices in our lives.

This morning, Bob, Randall and I walked 5K (3.1 mi.) around Crownridge Canyon Natural Area. Bright blue skies with swirled, white clouds framed the day. 

After our walk, we had Thanksgiving Dinner at the RV Park Rec Hall. 100 people socialized and ate. Very nice meal with our RV Park family.

Here are photos of our day...

Bob & Randall - Crownridge Canyon

Randall & Bob - Crownridge Canyon

Me with my warm hat - fleece flaps cover ears & neck.

Gorgeous day!

Love the lines of the clouds.

Fall colors.

Bob & Randall - it's cold out!

Thanksgiving at the Rec Hall.

A whole table for just desserts.

I hope you all are happy and thankful for your lives.

Travel Bug out.

Cold Canyon and Dallas Buyers Club - Sat., Nov. 23

A couple of weeks ago on a Volksmarch meetup, I met Susan M. We hit it off and agreed we'd walk together. Since then she was on a trip to Florida. She's back in town and we did a 10K (6.2 mi) walk today at Crownridge Canyon Natural Area.

A cold walk, I might add. It was 40 degrees F. when we started at 10:15 a.m. In addition there was a chilly wind blowing.

Our first 5K was in the trees in the canyon where we were relatively sheltered. (Every other time I've walked in the canyon and through the Crownridge neighborhood it was 80-90 degrees in spring or summer.) Today we dressed in layers and had hats and gloves. Our attire was appropriate for the weather so we didn't get too cold.

Amazingly, many flowers are still in bloom or, should I say, blooming again.

Trumpet vine

Susan M. with Agave angustofolia 'Marginata' (I think) .

Our steps were brisk and we finished 10K in 2 hours, 10 minutes. To replenish our energy, we had lunch at Taco Cabana. Bob met us at the restaurant and we had a great conversation about many topics.

After lunch, Bob and I went to see "Dallas Buyers Club" with Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner. This movie will not be everyone's cup of tea, but we thought it was a very compelling movie. Matthew McConaughey plays an electrician and wannabe rodeo cowboy who contracts the HIV virus. His doctors give him 30 days to live because he is very sick.

This movie is based on the true story of Ron Woodruff. Matthew McConaughey lost 50 pounds to play this character. We are inserted into Ron's life just before he finds out he has AIDS. Hard-partying, heavy drinking and drug use are wreaking havoc on his health.

Once he comes to terms with the fact he indeed has HIV, he reads about AIDS research and alternative treatments. At first, he thinks AZT is the drug that will save his health. Later, he goes to Mexico and brings vitamins and protein back into the U.S. which he then sells through a Dallas Buyers Club. Clients pay $400 a month for membership, then receive their vitamins for free.

He runs afoul of the USDA and IRS for importing unapproved "drugs." His club gets raided. Undaunted, he travels to Japan, Israel and other countries to find the medications he needs to help him survive.

If you do not like strong language or movies about homophobia, AIDS and death, this movie will not be for you.

In the evening, Bob took me to Random Event Center in Boerne where we shared a Sam Adams Cherry Chocolate beer. For dinner we ate fish and chips from Hippie Momma's food truck at Random.

Bob's son, Randall, the bartender

Prosit! Samuel Adams Cherry Chocolate Boch seasonal beer.

Many, many beers on tap!

Mary, one of the Random owners

Will Owen Gage playing live music at Random.

We thought we'd be able to watch the Blazers play the Warriors tonight because the pre-game show was on one of the big-screen TVs; however, as soon as it was time for the game to start, the station cut off and showed that we would have to pay to view the game. Oh well.

Home was beckoning. We were cold and tired.

Tomorrow we may go to Austin with Susan M. and her husband, Darren. We want to do the Capitol Volksmarch. It all depends on the weather. Forecast calls for 70% chance of rain and very cold temps.

Good night from the kitties and me.

Sunnie and Bowie

Sunnie and Bowie

Walkabout Two-fer, Part 1 - Wed., May 8

The realization hit me that over the course of two years I have written 500 blog entries as of today. Wow!

What a day I had! I was busy from sun up 'til sundown. Bob made sure I was up and at 'em at 6:00 a.m.

My first event was a 10K (6.2 mi.) walk for American Volkssporting Association's (AVA's) World Walking Day. The local volkssport club staffed registration at Crownridge Canyon Natural Area starting at 7:30 a.m. Because of heavy rush hour traffic, I got there at 8:10 a.m.

The first 5K of today's walk followed the loop hike through Crownridge Canyon and the second 5K went through The Heights residential area in the hills northwest of San Antonio. I love walking through the woods. You never know what you're going to see. Today's prize sighting was a pair of painted buntings. I also saw four wild hen turkeys. Not bad.

Green Milkweed Vine or Pearl Milkweed (Matelea reticulata)

Rain lily with pale green spider on the lower left petal.

Beautiful red seed pods.

Yes, the volksmarch took us on the Level 4 part of the natural area - the Upper Canyon Trail.

Upper Canyon Trail

Upper Canyon Trail

I'd like to mention that San Antonio is very focused on putting in parks and greenways. It's a good thing they provide natural areas. You can see in the photo below how the new homes are coming right up to the edge of the natural area. Many of the hill tops have active home construction projects.

Painted bunting.

Painted bunting. I had to zoom in to get these shots.

Painted bunting's back colors.

Fields of firewheels (Indian blankets).

That ended the first 5K of this morning's walk. From the natural area, the walk followed city streets up into a very nice neighborhood (at the top of the hills).

Exiting the natural area on foot.

Hen turkeys.

Magnolias in bloom.

Cacti in bloom.

Beautiful snapdragons!

Coral bean flowers

The Heights neighborhood.

Beautiful pottery on the porch.

Honeysuckle in bloom all over!

When I finished the walk, my route home passed where Bob worked. It was lunchtime, so I thought we could have lunch together. I stopped by and Bob and his co-worker, Randy, went to lunch with me at Indian Palace Buffet. We had a good time talking and eating. I love Chicken Tikka Masala and Naan bread. I had two plates of excellent Indian food.

Randy at Indian Palace Buffet restaurant.

From there, I headed back to the 5er (fifth wheel trailer) and took a nap. Boy did that ever feel good. I slept for two hours.

This blog is long enough. I will continue my walk-about two-fer in another blog.

Travel Bug out.