Walk Washout, But We Went Anyway - Sat., July 19

Lady Bird Johnson Community Park in San Antonio is where the Volksmarch Sunrise Walk was supposed to start. At 7 a.m. we arrived, paid $3 each, signed in, and started walking. As we headed through the parking lot, the first people to head down the path were returning saying, "The trail is under water!" We had to see for ourselves.

Yep, the trail is definitely underwater!

Not only underwater, but the creek is flowing swiftly.

Thursday night, rolling thunderstorms and full-sky lightning awakened us from sleep. Rain pounded for about 1-1/2 hours. We went back to sleep. At 4:00 a.m. I woke up because the bed was wet from my knees to my feet! Roof leak. The quilt and sheets were soaked and COLD. Thankfully we have a waterproof sheet on our mattress so it did not get wet. All the wetness was on my side of the bed. I got up, pulled a bunch of big, thick towels from the linen cabinet and put them all over the bottom of the bed. I made a towel cocoon from a dry towel for my feet and legs and then finally went back to sleep. We had 2-1/2" of rain. But I digress.

Friday, storms dumped rain farther north. It was obvious that there had been flash floods through the Salado Creek Greenway. What we saw Saturday morning was left as the water receded.

Some walkers found a gravel/mud trail higher up on the near bank and decided to take it from Lady Bird Johnson Community Park. They wanted to see if they could hook up with the main trail farther down.

Bob and I decided to drive to Tobin Park (farther south) and walk south from there. Good decision. We were able to do a 10K walk on Salado Creek Greenway Trail without encountering any low creek crossings blocked by the remnants of the flood. However, we saw where the floodwaters had come through and left debris high up from where the course of the river flowed.

Breaking news: South Texas is GREEN in July.

And there's water in the creek.

Seriously...turn around, don't drown.

Beautiful green from all the rain we've had.

In the next photo, you can see a pile of debris deposited on the bank by the flood. All the white/blue stuff is garbage.

Debris deposited by flood.

Salvia

More debris in the woods.

Me on the trail.

So much water where usually there isn't much.

Great egret

The water is still flowing strong.

Snowy egret fishing

Debris stuck on a tree.

Common sunflower

A history marker explains the Battle of the Salado, the last Mexican invasion of Texas six years after the Alamo. This battle prevented the capture of Austin, the capital of the Republic of Texas.

Other Volksmarchers.

Pretty yard at a glassblowing studio

Snail crossing the path.

Big debris next to the trail.

Bob under a beautiful old tree.

We ended up having a great walk and finished the 6.2 mile walk in two hours. Some of the people who had walked the upper gravel/mud trail from Lady Bird Johnson Park connected up to the main trail and we saw them along this section of trail. I'm glad we drove to Tobin Park and walked on the paved trail.

In the afternoon we went to Buckhorn Museum/Texas Ranger Museum. I'll review that in my next blog.

Travel Bug out.

Wednesday Hodgepodge - July 16, 2014

Here are my answers to this week’s Wednesday Hodgepodge questions. If you write a blog and would like, answer on your own blog, then add your link at the end of Joyce’s post (click badge below to go to the host site).

1. The month of July was named for Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. He's quoted as saying, 'Experience is the teacher of all things." So what has experience taught you lately?

Even though you're good friends with someone on a daily basis doesn't mean you can travel with them and share a motel room.

2. Where did you last 'roam'?

Went with my good friend on a 5,000 mile driving trip from San Antonio, Texas to walk six state capitals: Phoenix, AZ; Carson City, NV; Sacramento, CA; Boise, ID; Salt Lake City, UT, and Santa Fe, NM, and do five hikes in the Columbia Gorge Volksmarch Classic Walking Weekend in Oregon.

3. Speaking of 'Rome'...pizza, pasta, gelato...you can only pick one, which would you choose?

I choose pasta! Love spaghetti, lasagne, and bow tie pasta summer salad...yummy.

4. 'Rome wasn't built in a day', 'All roads lead to Rome', 'When in Rome...' which 'Roman' idiom have you most recently encountered? Explain.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." When you're traveling with your friend in HER eco-friendly car, drive in an economically friendly manner. Be ready to go when she's ready to go.

5. What's a movie you've seen or a book you've read, that makes you want to book a trip to Italy?

"Casino Royale" and "Under the Tuscan Sun."

6.  Walt's original Disneyland opened almost sixty years ago, on July 17, 1955  Have you ever been to the California park? How about any of the other Disney parks around the world? What's your favorite amusement park ride or attraction?


Yes, I grew up in southern California about 20 minutes away from Disneyland...have been there many, many times over the years.

I have been to Disney World/Epcot in Florida twice and Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida once.

My favorite amusement park ride hands down (or hands up) is the rollercoaster!!

7. It's that time of year...when were you last bitten or stung?

Mosquito bite at work last Thursday.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Worrying about Bob's catheter ablation surgery on his heart Monday. Supposed to be routine. I'm hoping there are no complications or infections.

Travel Bug out.