Our trip to Texas, Part 1 (lots of photos)

[Mr Kleb]

Faye and I recently returned from a holiday in central Texas. We spent twelve most delightful days there.

Much of the time we stayed wth my brother and sister-in-law in Austin. They and their two dogs,

Cato, a very intelligent and self-aware husky/border collie cross


and Charlie, a typically sweet Golden Retriever


were great hosts.

New Years Day evening we saw The Big Short at The Alamo Drafthouse.


It was very good, I recommend it. Now we're spoiled because you can order food and adult beverages while enjoying the movie. What's more, they are serious about evicting loud talkers and cellphone users. You get one warning then you get the heave-ho, no questions asked, no refunds. So it will be hard to see a movie at any other theatre. Two nights later Faye and I went back and saw the new Star Wars movie.

Austin is a great place to walk so we did a lot of it. One cool day we walked a part of the Town Lake Hike and Bike trail and photographed some of the sights. There's a statue of Stevie Ray Vaughan.


The downtown skyline, which has changed a lot since I moved away in 2007.


The Congress Avenue Bridge, home to about 1.5 million Mexican Free-tailed bats each summer.






The state capitol building.


Another day we went to Mount Bonnell, which overlooks Lake Austin. Mount Bonnell's crest is a few steps above the parking area. Twenty-five steps up . . .


. . . only eighty-one more to go.


One view from the crest.


We first visited Mount Bonnell in April 2005 when Faye came to Austin for a Lab Fest I hosted. Then, with my beloved Labx Moonpie . . .


And now, courtesy of a kind stranger.


To be continued . . .

[barry581]

Great pics and a wonderful stroll down memory lane. Oh. And Moonpie has got to be the best Lab name ever. X or not!!!!!!!

[smartrock]

I was wondering why we hadn't heard from you guys recently! Looks like you were out enjoying life!

[Bamps]

Awesome photos!! Did you see my oldest son? Him and his family lives near Austin

[Mr Kleb]

Great pics and a wonderful stroll down memory lane. Oh. And Moonpie has got to be the best Lab name ever. X or not!!!!!!!

Thank you! For me, the name Moonpie ranks right up there with Corndog.

Awesome photos!! Did you see my oldest son? Him and his family lives near Austin

We were out and about so much, we might have.

[Jeff]

Awesome photos!! Did you see my oldest son? Him and his family lives near Austin

I have 2 sisters down there too, and my mother is currently down there for the winter. Did you run into them as well?

I remember a lot of those places in the photos. It's been 8 years I think since I have been to Austin. I climbed the steps too, that's quite a hike.

[labsnewfy]

Beautiful photos.

[kimbersmom]

Thanks for sharing! I went to graduate school in Austin back in the 1990s and keep meaning to go visit again.

[Mr Kleb]

I have 2 sisters down there too, and my mother is currently down there for the winter. Did you run into them as well?

I remember a lot of those places in the photos. It's been 8 years I think since I have been to Austin. I climbed the steps too, that's quite a hike.

Lots of people out and about, so I'm sure we did. Faye and I also went to Bull Creek Park, which used to be a leash free place. No longer, not the best place for that because there no fenced in areas and people began allowing their dogs to interfere with non-dog peoples' enjoyment. It's still a beautiful place though.

Thanks for sharing! I went to graduate school in Austin back in the 1990s and keep meaning to go visit again.

You're welcome! May I ask what part of the city you lived in?

I was there for 20 years ending in 2007. For eight of those years I worked for Bat Conservation International, which educated people about the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony. I spent more than a few evenings at the bridge talking to people.

[Tanya]

aww moonpie Great pics!