biking through caprock canyon
the drive from austin was a little over 6 hours. but well worth the effort. probably the nicest texas state park we've visited.
the kids LOVED it. there was a playground next to our campsite and the boys made "new friends".
#1 son came back all excited and got his bike, told us about the "NEW FRIENDS!" I watched him ride over to the playground, get a stick that was much taller than he was and started to beat it onto the ground. he made a "ROOOOAR!!" sound as smaller twigs broke off. the big stick eventually broke in half. then he threw himself onto the ground and started to roll around and flap his arms into the red dirt. he continued to make animal growling sounds as a cloud of dust rose above him. a small crowd of "new friends" had gathered in a circle around him to watch. they were clearly impressed. I went over and put a halt to his demonstration at that point. I hope that was the grand finale and he didn't have bigger/more impressive moves in the works.
the next morning we took our bikes on the canyon rim trail.
my passenger fell asleep on the bumpy off road trail.
kat and I planned to hike the eagle point trail. we were going to lock the bikes up at the trail head and take off on foot.
then kat said "let's see how far we can get on the bikes. worst case scenario, we just walk them out of the canyon". and she was off... her city bike skinny tires and all speeding down the canyon trail.
downhill sections were followed by steep uphill workouts.
near the bottom of the canyon
we did walk it a few sections near the end of the trail.
we made it all the way to the other side. and then we noticed the 16% grade on the road going back... (both up and down)
it was a good ride, about ten miles in all. we rewarded ourselves with afternoon happy hour in the airstream. it was great to get out of the wind.
#1 son enjoys making new creations with the happy hour spread. he has a slice of ciabatta, blue cheese, cherry tomato slices and moroccan green olives pieces.
grilled both salmon and chicken with the oj/gochujang marinade. the food was satisfying and everybody is getting good at grilling their own dinner.
s'mores too.
he rode that bike for HOURS. we came home with thorns in four flat tires.
they have free range bison (yes, I snapped that pic as I drove by, I had places to go)
Doris Mager of S.O.A.R.S. gave a raptor demonstration with her birds of prey. she was as insteresting as her birds. she travels around the country with four birds in a van.
you've heard that saying about how people and their pets start to look alike?
