Chuck & Natalie's Blog: Austin, Texas

I have been a very bad blogger. It has been months since I posted anything. I decided to break my non-blogging streak by posting some pictures I took on our recent trip to Autin, Texas to visit my sister and brother-in law.

I love waterfalls. However, Kansas is not known for it's waterfalls. The maximum waterfall in Kansas is about two feet. So, whenever I travel, I always try to get a waterfall fix. I located a state park about 12 miles from Austin, named McKinney Falls. Turns out waterfalls in Texas aren't much bigger than the waterfalls in Kansas but it was still a very pretty spot. As you see from the picture above, Chuck really "immersed" himself in the local park. Chuck decided to take a take a "shortcut" across a small stream by walking across a log. He soon discovered the log was not anchored. Where am I when these great photo opportunites present themselves?

McKinney Falls.

Everyone we met took the opportunity to tell us it never rains in Austin (or Southern California according to the song). Of course, it was was always pouring when they mentioned this fact. South Central Texas had been in a moderate to severe drought for some time yet no one bothered to thank us for bringing them rain. It did make for a rather lively waterfall.

Chuck and Natalie at McKinney Falls

Angela and I took a lot of picutres of Monarch butterflys at the park. Monarchs migrate just like birds. They overwinter in Mexico and then return to Texas in the spring to lay their eggs on milkweed.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/monarch/

Angela getting up close and personal with a butterfly

Angela welcoming us to the Rock Ledge at McKinney Falls

Indians used to shelter under this rock ledge at McKinney Falls. The ledge is not a cave. The rock ledge was carved out by nearby Onion Creek.

Mike and Angela

Bluebonnets are the state flower of Texas. We saw them everywhere we ventured.

View of the Austin city skyline from Mount Bonnel, the highest point in the Austin area at 775 feet.

Mike and Angela at Mount Bonnell

I always wanted to be a peacock.

Angela, me and Chuck.

Mount Bonnell overlooks Lake Austin. It reminded me of some pictures I have seen of Lake Como, where George Clooney hangs out in Italy. No George but Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey both live in Austin. Neither returned our calls.

After we visited Mount Bonnell, we stumbled across a nature preserve. I took this picture of a peacock...

...and this one....

...and this one. And about a hundred others. Peacocks are very pretty. Little known fact, peacocks are rather afraid of people who chase after them with cameras. They are obviously the "drama queens" of the bird world.

It was in the 60's when we visited Austin. It was in the 70's at home. Still, we don't have palm trees in Kansas.

We decided this turtle was sitting on some eggs.

She didn't move even when I got very, very close to her. Turtles are braver than peacocks.

Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve

http://mayfieldpark.org/

San Francisco has it's bridge, St. Louis has an arch and Austin is internationally famous for it's "food trailers", which you see parked all over the city. They are not your typical "roach coach". These mobile kitchens serve gourmet meals on wheels.

Mike ordering Thai food sans Angela.

http://www.zesterdaily.com/dining/904-food-trucks-in-austin-texas

Two Texas Cupcakes

This is my favorite Austin picture...a guy singing anti-government songs while a little girl plays in his guitar case. This picture was taken on South Congress near downtown Austin. Austin's slogan is "Keep Austin Weird". They are succeeding.