Mammoth at Crane's Mill Park, Days 2 and 3

Tuesday 11 May

Good day visiting with old friends. We went over to New Braunfels and ate lunch, indoors--a first for us in over a year.

The outside of the restaurant still showed signs of the hard freeze this spring--dead ivy. We couldn't guess what they're going to do with it.

It threatened rain all morning but only in the late afternoon did it open up and pour for a while. Probably around four p.m. At about five Theresa and I went for a walk--it was cloudy and threatening but held off until seven or so, when it set in again. We drove back in the rain, but by the time we arrived at Canyon Lake it had stopped again.

Late night, for us old folk--we got back at about nine p.m. But that's okay. We don't have that many nights, late or otherwise, left, so we might as well enjoy one occasionally. But what I'm missing is what we had the first year of RV camping--lovely, lazy days with nothing planned other than long walks and lots of bird watching. Last year we were obsessed with the boat, so most trips were planned around where we were going to take the boat, when we were going to take the boat out, how long we were going to stay, and so on. Of course, part of that was due to Covid. We couldn't do any stores, museums, or indoor activities, so it was all about the boat.

And this year, so far it's been all about Edward. That will be changing, we hope, starting now. This is the last trip I have planned just because Edward might need company. He has his wife back, so he no longer needs us. Hurray!

My contracting work should be winding down next month, too.

Wed 12 May

Tired.  It's kind of physical, a little. Mostly mental. Trying to be cheerful and amusing is hard work.

We left at a little after ten and met Bob & T at their house. From there we went to Guadalupe River state park, the Birch creek unit for some hiking/birdwatching. At the very beginning of th ewalk there might have been some birds in the trees; at the abandoned house mid-walk there were hummingbirds in the bushes, and right before that some very interesting warbler song in the trees. I never saw the warblers, though.

It was very cool and windy at the start, but gradually, very gradually cleared. By the end it was almost too warm, but only in the sun.

Lovely walk, though. Mostly level and not too long, although I did have to carry Zack most of the way back. About two miles, I'd guess. I could check it on the map but I won't bother.
Guadalupe River

After that we left the dogs at their house and went to have sandwiches at some shop with a funny name in downtown new Braunfels. No one there was wearing masks. Yes, it was outdoors, but I'd still expect the servers to be wearing them. If I get Covid after all the crap we've been doing, I'm going to be extremely upset.

We returned early, leaving at seven and getting back here at seven-thirty. I think they'd had enough of us just as we had of them. But they're excellent hosts.