sloshing through the mud beneath a gray sky
McKinney Roughs
- 1/29/2005
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Distance: 5.00 Miles
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Willow and I went out to enjoy a cloudy day in the woods. Bare oak trees against gray skies are among my favorite things during Texas winters, and McKinney Roughs has LOTS of 'em. There was quite a bit of mud on part of the trail, and I couldn't decide if it was tiresome or amusing the way it clung to my soles and built up to a sort of muddy platform shoe...I guess it was more amusing. Lots of birds out today - robins, woodpeckers, cedar waxwings, and all the ones that wouldn't hold still long enough to identify. The trails are really clean - people have greater respect for parks they pay admission to, perhaps. There are loads of trails out here and it would be easy to get out and hike as much/little as you want. Well worth the $3 admission. As an added enticement, Little Thailand (which sits directly beneath the Garfield water tower) is on Hwy 71 as you return to Austin and they serve up some tasty Thai food - the best in Garfield, anyway.
quiet walk right in town
Country Club Creek Trail
- 1/24/2005
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Rating: N/A
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Distance: 2.50 Miles
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This trail is flat as can be so would be great for anyone breaking in their new hiking boots/shoes. There was a crew working near part of the trail and Willow got to meet the crew's dog (which added to her overall scoring of the trail). Easily filled a bag with trash and felt guilty about not having more bags with me. It does get a LOT cleaner once you're away from the creek near Krieg Field, though, and it was easy to imagine we were farther from downtown than we were. Only saw two other people using the trail so had lots of time to ponder life's mysteries.
good climbing and lots of side trails
St. Edwards Park - Hill Trail
- 1/21/2005
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Distance: 3.00 Miles
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Went out sans dog (she's too old to go up and down the slopes on this trail). Not really sure how far I hiked - kept straying off the "official" route to see where this path or that trail led. A roadrunner was hunkered down in the brush near the parking lot watching me watch him. Met up with a trio of grinning mountain bikers at the top (and heard them whooping during their descent). Will have to come back another time and walk around the preserve a bit.
footpath along the creek
St. Edwards Park - Creek Trail
- 1/17/2005
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Rating: N/A
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
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We strayed from the trail quite a bit, going down to the creek to look at rockface and waterfalls. One of these little paths goes right along the bank of the creek to a nice little stand of trees growing on a small island of sorts. Despite the trail's near proximity to Spicewood Springs, I was more aware of the trees than the cars. Willow, on the other hand, was more aware of the leavings of various critters. Ah - nature.
great neighborhood park
Dick Nichols Park
- 1/15/2005
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Rating: N/A
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Distance: 2.00 Miles
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Willow and I would like to encourage all persons with dogs to pick up after your critter (quite a bit of leavings on/along this trail). That aside, I was surprised at how nice this trail is, being that it's in the middle of a well developed neighborhood. Not much traffic noise, and we only met 4 or 5 other folks out enjoying the day. Lots of tree-cover and birds (cardinals, mockingbirds, and some yellowish wren sized ones that wouldn't sit still). For days when you don't feel like trudging up and down hill, this little trail is a good one.