Riverwalk South Volksmarch - Sun., July 7

Sleep seemed more important than jumping out of bed at the crack of dawn. Plus, there was some trepidation about walking today because of a chance of thunderstorms. We did not want to repeat the downpour experience of last Sunday.

At 10:15 we started the 11K (6.8 mile) walk. The sky did not look threatening, just beautiful white puffy clouds and sun. However, we could tell it was going to be hot.

The thing we didn't count on was the crowd of people on San Antonio's main Riverwalk. Of course, we were walking there at noon on a Sunday. Throngs of people were shopping, eating, and taking the riverboat tours. That slowed us down quite a bit because there isn't much room to pass slow-moving gawkers on the Riverwalk.

Because we walked so late, the temperature and humidity were taking a toll on us. When we were most miserable, our walk entered the Rivercenter Mall food court. Being opportunists, we ordered a plate of Bourbon Chicken, rice, and mixed vegetables, found a table in the air conditioned food court, and had lunch. What a nice break.

Summer snapdragon (Angelonia angustiflora)

Riverwalk south.

San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio

Purple Heart Memorial, downtown San Antonio.

Lady Justice Fountain, Bexar County Courthouse forecourt.

Bexar County Courthouse, 1892

South Riverwalk dam.

Next we entered the King William Historic District with its many old homes of varying styles.

 Some homes are being refurbished, like the one below. You can see how much wood needed to be replaced.

Being refurbished.

Isn't this a beauty?

King William street - Bob and crape myrtle trees.

Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

This squirrel was not afraid - he was at my feet.

Hemisphere Park - area to cool off. Bob enjoying the cold water.

Hemisphere Park San Antonio - Tower of the Americas

Hemisphere Park - 180 degrees of water features, base of Tower of the Americas.

 

Tower of the Americas from Institute of Texan Cultures.

Beautiful courtyard outside Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.

Tour boat on San Antonio River.

Art on Riverwalk

Visionworks' beautiful downtown building.

Can you believe the audacity of that pigeon?

We finished our walk and headed home for showers. Bob napped while I downloaded photos. 

At 4:00 p.m., we headed out to Random Event Venue for the owner's birthday celebration. Mary planned the event which included barbecued burgers and sausage, baked beans, chili, chips, cheese queso dip and  assorted condiments. After dinner, a carrot cake birthday cake was served. 

It was during dinner that the thunderstorm finally hit. Rain poured off the roof of the beer garden. A number of people ran out to help the musician bring all his gear into the building. He continued playing as if nothing had happened. 

The kids loved the downpour. They ran out to play on the bouncy water slide, that is, until lightning flashed overhead and thunder clapped. The parents had those kids hightail it back under shelter. The storm lasted approximately a half hour. The temperature became much more pleasant and the humidity went away. We headed home at 8:00 p.m.

Other than the midday heat, we had a good day.

Travel Bug out.

Sable Antelope -- Sat., June 23

Cotulla, Texas:

Long dry spell for us as far as seeing exotic animals on the ranch across the road. Today, however, was my lucky photography day. A few sable antelope were grazing across the road, one came down the fence line. I told Bob, "Every time I go out there to take a picture of sable antelope, they stampede away."

So, ever hopeful, I grabbed my camera and SLOWLY sauntered toward the road, sometimes straying to the left, then to the right, stopping, walking forward a few feet, but never looking straight at the gorgeous, chestnut brown, mask-faced beauty about 100' away.

With the zoom lens, I was able to snap these photos before one of the other antelope "yelped" (?) a warning and "my" antelope bolted off into the trees. (Double-click to enlarge photos.)

Our gate, antelope across the road. Close!

We can see the antelope from the 5er. Pretty mask.

Gorgeous horns.

Pregnant? (Don't even know if this is a female.)

The gray cottontails are out again this evening. Earlier in the day the mockingbirds were teaching their young how to fly and hunt. A family of four was sitting in the mesquite tree by Bob's truck and you could hear them communicating with another bird or two across the field.

Watching the beautiful animals today caused my mind to wander to the subject of hunting. I can't wrap my head around it. Conflicting thoughts occur to me. People hunt for food which I can understand if they're hungry and game is plentiful. Hunts are also scheduled if one species over-propagates and there are no natural predators to cull the group. Culling the herd or flock or whatever can help stop the spread of disease, can stop over-grazing, and over-population.

What I can't wrap my head around, and perhaps hunters out there can help me "see," is why animals are hunted as trophies to hang on the wall. Why can't a hunter "stalk" the animals with a camera, take an intimate, up-close photo of the animal in its natural habitat, enlarge it into a poster, and hang that on the wall? The animal lives. The species doesn't become extinct, and future generations can then enjoy the LIVE animals as well.

Is hunting such a primal instinct from our caveman days that it's in humans' DNA? Why only some people? Others wouldn't dream of harming an animal. Is it needing to feel powerful? Can anyone explain it to me?

Tonight in Oregon, our pinochle group is playing. For many years when we lived in Oregon we played pinochle once a month. I sure do miss it. Mom, my sister, my son, and my brother and sister-in-law still play, plus many of our friends who were regulars. Hello to the group! I wish for you many pinochles, double runs and thousand aces.

That's all I've got for today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend wherever you may be.