home.
my family moved to austin for the second time when i was five-ish. it’s a beautiful city with tons of energy and fun things to do! fabulous restaurants…great shopping! need i say more?
downtown, around the lake, there’s a hike & bike trail that is one of my very favorite things about austin! it’s not close to my house so i don’t get down there much, but yesterday…shhh…i carved out a little slice of time, put on my walkin’ shoes and headed out!
when i take the exit i always start to get a little giddy, like i’m doing something wrong! and by the time i get out of my car i can hardly wipe the smile off my face feeling so *lucky* to live here!
as i started out with my iPhone in my back pocket…shame if i missed a call…i realized what a great opportunity it was to show you this treasure! of course, it was bright out and as i snapped pics i had no idea how they would turn out, but i got lucky with a few!
as i cross the foot bridge about halfway through my walk, it’s always thrilling to look back and see the skyline! i don’t know if you can see it or not, but the capitol is peeking out just to the left of the smoke stacks…
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once i cross the foot bridge i’m in my very favorite part of the walk as i skirt along the edges of zilker park! this bridge is a highlight…i lovelove the arches!
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every time i pass under these arches i say to myself…if i could sing…and goodness knows i can’t…but if i could this is where i’d do my music video! perched between arches and surrounded by water! *dreaming*
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i always look for turtles catching some sun on their backs! they are so adorable! that water feeds off barton springs pool…which is a natural spring fed pool…and that water is BRRR!
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as i continue around i always have to be on high alert for the train…the kiddie train! how many times i rode it as a child and as an aunt…well, too many to count!
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the cherry on the cupcake i always save for last! it’s a foot bridge tucked under the highway that will take me back to the other side. there’s always a breeze…sometimes chilly…sometimes sticky! the view is fabulous and it’s the perfect ending…
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when i get to the middle i always stop to soak in the view…first, toward town…
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and then behind me…
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a deep breath…a sigh…and a nod toward heaven thankful that i am so blessed to call this amazing city ~home.
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:30 am
LOVE that you took the time for this walk. Every time I drive into Austin I think about all the beauty (especially for a large city!) opportunity and creativity there. Then I get stuck in a traffic jam or I take a wrong turn and get lost, and then I am happy to head on back to lil’ ol’ Fred-Patch. I am sure when you live there you figure out how to avoid the things that frustrate me. Wish I could have taken the walk with you!! Happy weekend, Janet.
January 22nd, 2011 at 3:24 pm
You should write travel brochures!!! If I didn’t live here, I’d want to after seeing those beautiful pictures! Good for you for walking!!! Warm hugs sweet friend!
January 22nd, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Hi-
I am so glad I found your blog this afternoon.
I’m from South Texas-
I can’t imagine having such a lovely route to walk.
Enjoyed visiting,
Laura
White Spray Paint
January 22nd, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Believe it or not…I feel the same way when we drive into downtown Dallas. It’s not my hometown, but it’s home sweet home to me now. Cat Daddy likes to tell me he built this city and most of the major buildings that have gone up since 1970, he was there…at ground level.
Where are the bats? I wanna see the bats!
Debbie
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:36 am
Ok, now I know you and I were definately separated at birth. Nature walks are one of my favorite pastimes as well. While I don’t have the Austin bridge and I too have grown to love this city because of my son, but I have our downtown park, where there a small pond filled with ducks and there’s a small bridge with a stream that goes under it that I love to cross. Don’t you feel closest to God when you are walking amongst the beauty he created. I know I do. Happy Sunday my friend, T