Mission Espada Volksmarch - Tuesday, December 9

On a beautiful, sunny afternoon, Susan, Darren and I walked a 10K Volksmarch from Mission San Juan Capistrano to Mission Espada. The walk started in the Mission San Juan parking lot and took us around the mission grounds and on the half-mile nature trail behind the mission.

Once we finished walking through the mission grounds, we headed across the San Antonio River toward Stinson Airfield. The walk took us to the acequia (aqueduct) that the Indians and missionaries used to water their crops.

San Antonio River near Mission San Juan Capistrano

Historic acequia

New acequia

A Texas "wreath"

From the acequia park, we walked to the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River and followed that trail to Mission Espada. A fire in 1826 destroyed most of Mission Espada. The chapel, some foundations and outside walls of the mission remain.

The chapel at Mission Espada

Unique keyhole door at Mission Espada Chapel

Definitely a great choice for today's walk.

Travel Bug out.

Hunt with Friends - Sat., Mar., 22

The weather seems to be a deciding factor this winter when planning outdoor events in south Texas. Today's forecast called for fog and a 20% chance of precipitation, with a chance of thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Do we go or don't we?

I was to meet our friends Susan and Darren at their home at 7:30 a.m. At 5:30 a.m. I was up and at 'em. The weather forecast hadn't changed from the night before, so I decided to go. They were waiting for me when I arrived at their house. (Bob plays basketball with his gym buddies on Saturday morning so he went his own way.)

We drove 1-1/2 hours to Kerr Wildlife Management Area in Hunt, Texas - our start point for today's 10K (6.2 mi.) Volksmarch. This walk was an event sponsored by the Kerrville Trailblazers Volksmarch Club. At the start point there was a buffet of sweet snacks: cookies, brownies, doughnuts, and cookie sheet cake.

On our walk we learned about this area of the Texas Hill Country. Many years ago, the whole area was the southern portion of the great plains and bison roamed the countryside. Now the area is filled with mesquite, creosote, ashe juniper (cedar), cacti and grasses. Cows fulfill the role which was formerly filled by bison: they eat the grasses.

We saw (and heard) a family of turkey up on a little rise. Susan and Darren also saw a four-legged creature and weren't sure if it was a coyote or perhaps a bobcat in the vicinity of the turkeys.

Susan and Darren M.

Susan A. and Susan M.

The temperature on our walk was just right at about 70 degrees. The clouds hung around all day and we had a little mist for a few minutes on the walk. We finished our 10K in a little under two hours. By then we were hungry.

We took the scenic route along the Guadalupe River to Hunt and Ingram, then got on I-10 east heading for Smittyville Country Store and Cafe at Exit 533, our lunch spot. Susan and I ordered chicken enchilada soup and whole turkey sandwich combo. Darren opted to have a veggie sandwich.

Chicken enchilada soup.

We were very pleased with our food. Unfortunately they didn't have the cinnamon apple Danish today or we would have ordered them to go.

When I got home, Bob hadn't returned. I knew he had to go out to Random to take care of some work. He returned home about 4:30 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m., we went to the Farewell Dinner/Dance that our RV park put on to wish the Winter Texans a safe journey home to the cold northern climes. The park provided brisket, potato salad, baked beans, veggie and fruit trays, cake and beverages.

Chow line at the Farewell Dinner.

Another action-packed day in the lives of Bob and Susan.

Travel Bug out.