Zoeller Creek Trail 10k Volksmarch and Waring VFD Fish Fry - Sunday, October 31, 2021

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.

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.

An old windmill from Chicago's
Aermotor Co.

Waring's historic gas station and 
general store.

Old advertising signs on
the side of the general store.

The Waring Schoolhouse. The first
wing was built in 1891.

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.

Cypress trees along the Guadalupe River.

The Guadalupe River.

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)!

Maybe a ruffed grouse? 

Wow! There were a lot of people
behind us!

We hadn't seen anyone for the first
mile of the walk or so and then, boom,
a whole slew of people!

Linda and Pat volunteer at
the first checkpoint.

The Texas Hill Country.

The cow grate has a sign that
says, "Whoa, Nelly!"

A chukar. (Thank you to Garry Speir
for the I.D.!)

Just a long, straight road to our
checkpoint.

The hay is all neatly rolled up.

Now we're back along the river.

The Guadalupe River.

Andy carefully crossed a cow grate.

This historic block home is getting a
large addition!

Country road.

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.

Grass road.

The walk marker had a
pumpkin decoration on it.

This was a pretty feather.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsis).

Ellen Ott and Louise at the 
second checkpoint.

There's a lot of lamb and beef on 
the hoof here.

This cow has an interesting face. 

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.

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. 

Hill Country - Wed., Apr. 9

When we arrived in Texas in April 2012 we were pleasantly surprised by the hills. Being from the Pacific Northwest, our impression of Texas was flat and hot with lots of sage and scrub. Southwest Texas fit that description. But then we went to Big Bend National Park with its mountains, and the cliffs across the Rio Grande in Mexico.

As we traveled east, we encountered mesas and lots of hills. North and west of San Antonio is the Texas Hill Country, an area we have grown to love. The area is filled with live oak, mesquite, and cypress trees, springs, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, limestone, pink granite, small charm-filled towns, and wildflowers (in season).

A few of my favorite towns in the Hill Country include:

1. Fredericksburg: a town settled by Germans, with much of the German influence evident today. In Fredericksburg you will find:

• National Museum of the Pacific War. What's that you say? Museum of the Pacific War in south Texas? Why, oh why, would it be there? Because someone named Admiral Nimitz grew up in Fredericksburg. The admission to the museum includes two days because it is such an extensive collection, starting with the factors leading up to WW II, going all the way through WW II, all the theaters, then the signing of the Japanese surrender on board the USS Missouri. 

• Vereins Kirche/Pioneer Museum

• Maibaum (May pole)

• Wild Seed Farms: one of the nation's largest working wildflower farms. Spectacular blooming gardens in the spring, fun gift shop.

• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
• Gillespie County wineries and vineyards

   2.  Comfort: a town settled by German free-thinkers.

• Many antique stores
• Treue der Union Monument

• Old downtown streets filled with historic markers on the buildings

Comfort, Texas

• Joshua Springs Preserve: Picnic areas, river, walking trails, event center

   3.  Wimberley attractions

• The Blue Hole: A gorgeous swimming hole, frequently ranked as "One of the 10 Best Swimming Holes in Texas.

• Mt. Baldy (Prayer Mountain): Challenge yourself hiking the stairs to the top. Go for the view, the exercise, and take your camera!

• Cypress Creek Nature Trail: Walk along Cypress Creek. (Note: This trail may have been damaged by the flood in October 2013 - check locally before going.)
• Jacob's Well Preserve: much touted, but not a lot to see. When we were there, the swimming hole was overgrown with green algae everywhere except where the spring came out. The well can pump thousands of gallons per minute into Cypress Creek from its underground caverns. This is one of the longest underwater caves in Texas and an artesian spring. (Note: The October 2013 flood damaged the rock ledge on one side of the well.)

• Fun shopping, dining and exploring in this historic town

Other places to visit in the Texas Hill Country:

1. Austin: state capital. Especially visit Barton Springs and Lady Bird Lake
2. Gruene (pronounced "green")
3. Pedernales Falls State Park: interesting look at a river that can become a raging torrent in a downpour
4. Hamilton Pool: another fantastic Texas Hill Country swimming hole. Get there early! There are only 70 parking spots, when they're full you have to wait in line in your car until someone leaves, then one car at a time enters as people leave.
5. Johnson City: Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park
6. Stonewall: Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. Take a driving tour of Lyndon Johnson's Ranch and tour the Texas White House.
7. Krause Springs: Beautiful pool AND a natural swimming hole, butterfly garden, picnic area.
8. McKinney Falls State Park: two swimming holes, one at each waterfall

Pedernales Falls

Krause Springs - swimming pool

Krause Springs - swimming hole with waterfall

Hamilton Pool

I could go on and on. Yep, definitely in love with the Texas Hill Country.

Travel Bug out.