Karen visits Austin

Karen was in Austin for a short 2-day visit, sharing time with Jane (and her family) and with us. We covered a lot of ground: visited and bought barbecue at both Smitty’s and Black’s in Lockhart, went to the Broken Spoke, took the kids swimming, had a nice view of Lake Travis from a table at the Iguana Grill, went on a tour of the Collings Guitar factory, played five-handed hearts, and visited two Texas State Parks: Pedernales Falls and McKinney Falls. Imagine what we could do with four days!

We took a few pictures:

Swimming

Collings Guitars – the guide said this guitar, when finished, would cost about $10,000. And that it was underpriced; considering the amount of manual labor and the competitors’ prices for similar products, it should be priced at about $17,000.

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At McKinney Falls on a hot Saturday afternoon, there were quite a few swimmers.

Visit Pedernales Falls State Park

This morning we went to Pedernales Falls State Park, about 45 minutes west of Austin. In much of the park, you can walk near or along the river, but there is a $500 fine for wading or swimming in the river. In a calmer portion of the park/river, swimming and wading are permitted. These two pictures are from the no-wading portion.

Austin Table Tennis Club

When I retired I started playing ping-pong (aka table tennis) seriously. Austin has a nice club that has 16 tables and is open several days each week. If you play - seriously - and want to play me in Austin or Roanoke, feel free to contact me.

Memorial Day Picnic

On May 31 we had a picnic dinner with Jane, Eric, Ben, and Mary.

It was in a park just south of the Mansfield dam. The park was near the lake/river, and had picnic tables, a playground, a wandering dog, and flies aplenty. They all had a good time, as did the humans.

Benini Sculpture Ranch

We went to "The Benini Galleries and Sculpture Ranch" today, in Johnson City. As in LBJ. It was an hour's drive west of Austin and well worth the drive. There was an art gallery with modern paintings and sculptures, but more interesting was the outdoor "Sculpture Ranch" with 150 (or so) sculptures spread around a large hillly ranch. Most of them were for sale, with prices ranging from $1000 - $100,000. We took pictures of a few.

Near the entrance, our approach was noticed by some imperturbable Texas longhorns.



There was a corresponding sculpture.



I called these two "Adam and Eve; Adam armed"



"The Dancers" are available for $8000 each.

The sculptures here were modern art, not classical art. That's good by me.

Some (about 15) of the exhibits moved in the wind. I recorded one:

MINI to the rescue

We received a phone call today -- our new car was ready for pick-up! It had 8 miles on the odometer; we had it made to order because all the pre-made ones at the dealers have many more options then we wanted. I managed to take one picture before the sun went down. The setting is outside our condo in Austin. It is offically a "2010 Mini Cooper S Hardtop," six-speed manual. It will be fun to drive, like the Z3 and the Integra are/were.

Big Bend National Park, Part 2

At the end of the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive is the Santa Elana Canyon, where we went on a nice hike to, and then above, the Rio Grande. This is a very scenic canyon, and is featured as part of raft trips by several outfitters. We wanted to do this raft trip, but couldn't; they don't go when river levels are too low (which is usually the case?).

Picture 1 is Rose looking at the entrance to the canyon.

Picture 2 is taken where the river enters the canyon. And picture 3 is taken on the hiking path from a higher vantage point looking back at the river outside the canyon.

Later that day we went on the drive to Rio Grande Village, which ends at the Boquillas Canyon. While the hike to the canyon was not difficult, the temperature was 104 degrees. But of course that was a dry heat so not objectionable. Ha!

Picture 4 shows some knicknacks and walking sticks that were posted in several spots along the hiking path. Taking something and leaving money behind was supposed to help support poor Mexican children.

Although picture 5 doesn't do it justice, this was where, as we entered the canyon, an enchanting (though male) voice rang out from the Mexican side, singing Celito Lindo ("Aye, yea, yea; Gone now is sadness"). He was a good singer, and his voice carried well in the canyon. And sure enough, shortly on the path we encountered a jar and a sign: "Please contribute money to Victor, the Mexican singer."

Did I mention that it was 104 degrees and the river was all but dried up? Picture 6 shows Rose walking in the river bed, where I suppose there was once a river.

























Our last day, we encountered a Dutch couple who invited us to stay on the porch of their cottage to talk and watch the sunset. We did.

Although we don't have any associated pictures, our favorite hike within the park was the Lost Mine Trail, for those taking notes.