This Is A Bike Rack???

During my preparations for attending the American Trails Symposium,I contacted the group to inquire about a secure bicycle rack during the symposium. I am visiting friends in Little Rock and planned to bike the 2 miles from their home to the convention center.
The first response was: "No one has ever asked for that - we'll get back with you". A week or so later they told me they will have bike racks.
Today, a day before registration starts, I rode over to the State House Convention Center to check out the bike rack. What they showed me was not a bike rack, but crowd control fence sections - see photo. The person with the Convention and Visitor's Bureau told me that's their bike racks (or what the use as bike racks).
Now, I can understand the real bike rack may not important for many conventions like the VFW, or garden show, or an auto show but this is the American Trail Symposium. There are bicycle rides during the function.

For the Boys in Kazakhstan - This is What George Gets Up to Now

This is how George spends his spare time - when he's not digging trenches and soakaways, chopping down trees, etc.



I think Harry may enjoy it more than George does!





Roll on the day when Harry is old enough to be trusted to have the battery connected ...

Riverwalk South Volksmarch

Sleep seemed more important than jumping out of bed at the crack of dawn. Plus, there was some trepidation about walking today because of a chance of thunderstorms. We did not want to repeat the downpour experience of last Sunday.

At 10:15 we started the 11K (6.8 mile) walk. The sky did not look threatening, just beautiful white puffy clouds and sun. However, we could tell it was going to be hot.

The thing we didn't count on was the crowd of people on San Antonio's main Riverwalk. Of course, we were walking there at noon on a Sunday. Throngs of people were shopping, eating, and taking the riverboat tours. That slowed us down quite a bit because there isn't much room to pass slow-moving gawkers on the Riverwalk.

Because we walked so late, the temperature and humidity were taking a toll on us. When we were most miserable, our walk entered the Rivercenter Mall food court. Being opportunists, we ordered a plate of Bourbon Chicken, rice, and mixed vegetables, found a table in the air conditioned food court, and had lunch. What a nice break.

Summer snapdragon (Angelonia angustiflora)

Riverwalk south.

San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio

Purple Heart Memorial, downtown San Antonio.

Lady Justice Fountain, Bexar County Courthouse forecourt.

Bexar County Courthouse, 1892

South Riverwalk dam.

Next we entered the King William Historic District with its many old homes of varying styles.





Some homes are being refurbished, like the one below. You can see how much wood needed to be replaced.

Being refurbished.

Isn't this a beauty?

King William street - Bob and crape myrtle trees.

Button bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

This squirrel was not afraid - he was at my feet.

Hemisphere Park - area to cool off. Bob enjoying the cold water.

Hemisphere Park San Antonio - Tower of the Americas

Hemisphere Park - 180 degrees of water features, base of Tower of the Americas.

Tower of the Americas from Institute of Texan Cultures.

Beautiful courtyard outside Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk.

Tour boat on San Antonio River.

Art on Riverwalk

Visionworks' beautiful downtown building.

Can you believe the audacity of that pigeon?

We finished our walk and headed home for showers. Bob napped while I downloaded photos.
At 4:00 p.m., we headed out to Random Event Venue for the owner's birthday celebration. Mary planned the event which included barbecued burgers and sausage, baked beans, chili, chips, cheese queso dip and assorted condiments. After dinner, a carrot cake birthday cake was served.
It was during dinner that the thunderstorm finally hit. Rain poured off the roof of the beer garden. A number of people ran out to help the musician bring all his gear into the building. He continued playing as if nothing had happened.
The kids loved the downpour. They ran out to play on the bouncy water slide, that is, until lightning flashed overhead and thunder clapped. The parents had those kids hightail it back under shelter. The storm lasted approximately a half hour. The temperature became much more pleasant and the humidity went away. We headed home at 8:00 p.m.
Other than the midday heat, we had a good day.
Travel Bug out.

Critter cam?

Chipmonk creeping through the holly.

Fox lurking in the houseplant... preparing to pounce.

Chipmonk hiding in Mom's Christmas tree.

Fox and chipmonk divide the crumbs from Mom's table.
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My sister's dog's toys, up to no good and pretending to be caught on the critter cam (my sister's idea). I had to be coaxed into the idea, but my brother got me going by taking the first pic above.
Isn't that a nice holly plant he gave us for Christmas, by the way?
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I just noticed that the chipmonk is hiding between examples of Mom's smocking, Mom's tatting, and Mom's crocheting. There is even a ceramic Santa she painted, in the background. She also made the ceramic napkin ring holder and the angel in the last pic, as well as the boxwood Christmas tree on the table. She's pretty crafty!