Crack! Splash! Measuring the Trail for a Volksmarch - Sunday, Nov. 16, 2015

Who would have thought that measuring the trail for a Volksmarch would be life-threatening? I met Susan on a Sunday morning to help her measure 10k and 6k walks for San Antonio Christmas Lights Evening Walk.

The walk will be Sunday night, December 6, starting at VFW Post 76, the oldest VFW post in Texas.

Below is VFW Post 76's Victorian-style house with Corinthian columns. The house was completed in 1904.

VFW Post 76, San Antonio, TX

We collected everything to start measuring the walk. It took Susan a minute or so to tighten up her measuring wheel. Then we took off on the Museum Reach of the River Walk. As we headed south toward downtown, we decided to cross over the dam and locks to walk on the opposite side of the river. One of the park police on a bicycle asked us if we were measuring for a walk, so we chatted with him for a few seconds, then continued on with the measuring wheel.

As we were walking along the River Walk heading toward El Tropicano Hotel, I saw a river barge heading toward us. I heard a big crack, and behind the barge was a huge splash in the water. It didn't register in my brain what might have caused it, but I knew there were no fish that big in the San Antonio River.

We walked about 100 feet and it immediately became apparent what had happened. A large tree branch broke off a tree and landed on the path right where we would have been if we hadn't stopped to adjust the measuring wheel and talk to the park police! It was our lucky day! The tree branch could have hit us or the family walking behind us with a baby in a stroller. Luckily no one was there when the branch fell on the path.

Susan and the parents of the family behind us started cleaning debris from the path to see if we could make it through. A police officer on the opposite bank yelled at them to stop. He didn't want to see anyone get hurt if the branch broke in more pieces.

We retraced our steps, crossed a bridge, and walked on the other side to get around the tree. Here are some photos of the tree and the rotted branch that fell. There was no wind, so it was just the rottenness of the branch that caused it to break off.

Branch that fell off tree.

Branch landed right where we would have been walking

The tree the branch fell off of

Where branch broke off -- rotten in middle

Quite a large tree!

We had a few people ask what we were doing, because Susan had the big measuring wheel and I had a clipboard with written directions for the walk. We made adjustments to the directions as we went along.

The 6k portion of the walk ended back at the VFW 76 Post, we then continued on the River Walk north toward the Pearl District. When we reached the Pearl, we found a crew putting Christmas lights on the trees. A long pole was used to throw strands of lights high up in the tree.

Putting Christmas lights on the trees.

Throwing lights onto the trees.

There are blue lights in this tree.

From the Pearl, we returned to the VFW Post, then had lunch at Taco Cabana.  We had a great time and thanked our lucky stars we weren't under the tree branch when it broke! You just never know what's going to happen in life. Life it to the fullest!

If you're in San Antonio on Sunday night, December 6, come to VFW Post 76 between 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. to walk with us.

Travel Bug out.

Blue Star Arts Complex - Tuesday, November 10, 2015

At 9 a.m., Susan and I met at Mission San Jose to sign in for the Mission Concepcion to Blue Star Arts Complex 13k volksmarch (walk). To start the walk, we drove to Mission Concepcion then walked to Concepcion Park to join up with the River Walk bike path.

As we do these walks it may be a couple of months between them. It's amazing how much growth and development happens in the intervening time. For example, the Blue Star Arts Complex, Guenther House restaurant, and La Tuna restaurant used to be the main attractions at Probandt and Alamo Streets. Now, however, multiple condominium developments have popped up along the way.

Great egret hunting along San Antonio River

Great egret

New condominiums along San Antonio River

The historic Pioneer Flour Mill dominates the skyline at Blue Star Arts Complex. At the base of the tower is historic Guenther House which houses a restaurant where we ate lunch.

The bridge sign was cooler than the bridge!

What is this bird?

For the life of me I can't figure out what bird we saw sitting on a light post. At first I thought it was a caracara, but the black cap isn't there. Then I thought maybe a northern goshawk, but wasn't quite right for that. So I also found the Aplomado Falcon, but it had a yellow belly. Does anyone know what kind of bird this is??

Mission Concepcion - a welcome sight...the end of the walk

After 13k, my feet were killing me. I guess they're not completely healed from our 20k walk at Palo Duro Canyon. We had a good walk with cloud cover so we didn't get too warm.

That's all I've got for today folks. Travel Bug out.