Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve-Texas

Hamilton Pool...What a tall cup of water

I went on a journey to Austin, Texas to visit my daughter for her birthday. The sites were great in the city and we did a lot of traveling while I was there but my last day happened to be the best of them all. 

We took a jaunt to Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve. The preserve lies in Travis County. The exact address for all y'all who would like to go is: 24300 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, Texas. YESSSS! They allow swimming most days. However,certain times of the year, it is closed to swimmers due to the high bacterial content in the water. The fee is $10 a car. The hike is no more than a mile long and can be done in Toms without much of an issue. The trek back up can be a little more rigorous, if you are not used to inclines. Bring water for the trek back, you will more than likely need it.

The other thing, is they only let 30 people in at a time. So come early. It is a preserve!

The beginning of the trek starts here:

This is a great place to use the potty before going down but beware of the cactus!

Here we are! Going down!!!!

 As you can see, on the way down, the scenery is quite rugged and beautiful. In fact...Raw!

 Here we are! This is just the beginning! Truly one of the most remarkable area's I have had the pleasure to visit!

 Need I say more! Truly breathtaking! It reminds me of a swimming scene in the movie, "The Beach".

This I can say was the highlight of my trip and created some lovely memories with my daughter.

Hiking the American River Trail

Normally when hiking this trail, I go from the Old Fair Oaks Bridge into Sacramento but I decided to go the opposite route this day and what a beautiful route indeed. I went from the Old Fair Oaks Bridge to Lake Natomas into Folsom and back.

I also decided to hike the horse trails opposed to the bike trail itself. It proved to be challenging and aside from running into a few strange characters, hiding themselves away in the woods, proved to be a safe and uncomfortable journey.

I hiked 18 miles in total and I did it eating on a total of $2.97 and a camel back full of fresh and tasty tap water. Not bad for 3 1/2 hours of hiking. However, if I want to break the speed record on the Pacific Crest Trail, I will need to pick up the pace. Perhaps some light trail running. :)

I need to add 3 miles an hour. It doesn't sound easy and so far my body says it isn't easy nor is it ready.

Anyway, enjoy some lovely photos of my journey. And remember, when hearing a banjo being played in the middle of nowhere, do everything to attempt to go around it. Just saying.

 Overlook going toward Lake Natoma

 Another overlook going to Lake Natoma

 Beautiful flowers along the bike trail

 Nimbus Damn

 Lake Natoma

 Lake Natoma

 Lake Natoma

 The old canal system

 Talking points on the canal

 Part of the old canal system

 More of the old canal system

 Lone fall tree in colors of her splendor

 Not sure what this is but looks like grapes

 More of Lake Natoma

My final stomp...Old Fair Oaks Bridge

Glory Hole

Yep! Best name for a camping area....EVER! I never laughed so hard as when I went past this sign on my way to Yosemite!!!!

12 Years Ago, Today...9/11 Stories

Today I find myself pondering. It is really the first time that I have shown no anger on this day 9/11. A day famous in our history in the United States! And still to this day, some in the Middle East, choose today, to cause more bloodshed as a constant reminder to what happened, 12 years ago!

To commemorate this day, I sit in silent repose, asking myself, where was I when I heard the first plane hit and what were my thoughts? Then I ask myself, where was I when the second plane hit and what were my thoughts? Then it dawns on me, that yes, I have an answer to those questions, in fact in such detail that I realize we all have our 9/11 story! I may not have been there but I have a story all my own.

I can tell you that 9/11, 12 years ago, I awoke like any other day, to a cup of coffee and some internet news. As I was sipping my coffee, I kept reading that a plane hit a tower at the World Trade Center. My first thought was, "OMG! It has to be an accident!" I couldn't fathom what I was to hear next.

I finished my coffee and got my daughter up for school. Once dressed, breakfast done my daughter's friend, DeAnte, come over to get a ride to school. Yes, I was that Mom. What I did for mine, I also did for others.

We are in the car on our way to school. Traveling like any other day. I am singing with the radio and DeAnte and my daughter, Danae are knee deep in conversation. My program was interrupted with the news that a second plane hit the twin tower at the World Trade Center. This is when I knew immediately this was no accident. The United States was under attack.

I remember in that moment. I looked to the rear view mirror to view my daughter and her friend. They were still conversing. They didn't really get what was going on around them on this day. Looking through the mirror, I caught my daughter's gaze. She saw the look on my face and it was silent in the car. I turned around and told them both, that their whole world was about to change. I, of course, was laughed at, because being children, I am just a parent over reacting to a certain set of circumstances. I get it! I understand how they must feel. Their world is so safe in the United States that their brain can not even see the circumstances around them. Today will be like all others for them. They still feel safe and secure.

I didn't know what to do. I was dreaming up so many scenerio's and was completely terrified. I decided to trudge on. Make it like every other day. I dropped the kids of at school. Told them I loved them and went onto work.

Once at work, I couldn't shut off the T.V. It was a very surreal experience. The playing, over and over, of the planes hitting the towers, people running for their lives, the fear played on. And then, the first tower fell. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I willed myself to keep working. I wanted to shut the T.V. off but couldn't bring myself to do it. I watched this horror over and over. Then the second tower fell. That's when it hit. I need to go get my daughter and I need to do it now. The panic inside me was overwhelming but somehow I was able to finish work and then go get my daughter from school.

It was a somber day but I noticed something different in our people. People were standing out on the streets waving their American Flags and waving! I couldn't help smiling and waving and honking back. My neighbors, whom I had never talked to, were all of a sudden wanting to share their stories, their fear and their connection to something other than what they had just layed witness to. It was beautiful! For a short while, the United States turned into a place that I could only dream about!

My 9/11 story in a nutshell.

As for Patriot's Day, it's about time they made it into an actual holiday. I remember signing a petition to make this happen. Our first responders deserve more than what our government has given them. I know it is a small consolation for what they all had done on that horrifying day but it's a start.

I just want to thank all the first responders and their families. Your bravery is to be commemorated and honored! Bless you for all you did on that day and truly, all days that you are the first on the scene. It is a front line battle most refuse to face. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Adventure Some 2650 Miles

I am making a goal that within 2-3 years, I will be prepared to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. For those of you who don't know what the PCT is exactly, it is a 2,650 mile trail that runs from the border of Mexico into Canada! I want to do it solely subsisting on a vegan diet and packed ultralight. I will also be combating my disease along the way. I have been living with MS for close to 10 years now. I am not sure that I can beat the current record held by Josh Garrett, at under 60 days but I am going to complete this trail. In order to beat this record I will need to walk more than 44 miles a day without slowing. I would burn more than 8,000 calories a day and that is without added issues due to my MS. Whew!

I have dreamed of this trail, religiously every night. It must mean something! Right? And the more I talk about it, the more excited I get. The photojournalism alone would be worth all that mileage on these feet.

I started today by changing my eating habits to coincide with how many times a day I will be eating when I get out there. Also started my workout program. I hike long distances every weekend but would like to add mileage. As the most I have hiked has been 28 miles in one day but to be fair it wasn't a full day. So obviously, I need to bring up my mileage. Also, I do great on the straight and even and downhill but give me an incline that lasts for more than half an hour and it really takes it out of me. My muscles are long and it is hard to stop my gazelle pace on the inclines so I definitely need more training in that arena.

Then there is mapping the trail, finding water spots, and resupply stations. Just bought a book online that covers the whole trail. And it's current. Very important detail there. :) 

One final detail, I NEED a hiking partner. Now that's going to be tough. My boyfriend has already excluded himself from this adventure. Normally, he is down to try everything I do but this time has declined. I can't understand what the problem is except he has a fear of running into large predatory animals most especially bears and mountain lions. I see his point but as they say on the trail, "If you see a mountain lion, it isn't hunting you. If you're being eaten by a mountain lion, it has hunted you." 

And on that note...it is late. Goodnight y'all.

My Book Nook

This is my dream nook!!!!
 I want it! I want it! I want it!!!!

Need I say more!!!

Who dreams of Cheese...

Wait! I do! 

To dream of cheese means??? hahaha...maybe I want some cheese? OR

To see cheese in your dream, symbolizes gains and profits. Alternatively, the dream may be a metaphor for something that is "cheesy" or lame. Or it could be saying that you need to smile more.

Hmmm! I am feeling rather cheesy!