LANDLOCKED IN AUSTIN OR UNLOCKED

Today I decided that I needed to find a beach with actual surf.  Landlocked in Austin for 4 weeks is already killing me in that it's detrimental to my mental health. Just after 2 days I needed Valium [just kidding] to keep me 'steady.' Knowing the beach/summer season has begun at home [RI] is making me nauseous as I strive to find a watering hole each passing weekend in Austin. 

Low and behold, the 2nd weekend I made it to the 'fabulous' Guadalupe River in Gruene Hall.  I tossed my tube into the river and floated 3 hours to the other end. Although it appears to be quite trashy, we, surprisingly, had a great time. We even passed over the little bit of 'rapids' making for some excitement. The 12 pack of Lima-rita's [plug] also helped quite a bit.  
 

Taken from the bridge overlooking the end of the 'ride.'

To back track - We arrived at the place to rent the tubes with no expectations, whatsoever.  As a matter of fact, we had absolutely no idea what to expect. Less than zero. [We are ocean people. In fact, we could be mermaids in a previous life.] Upon entering the shop to rent the tubes, we were greeted by the parking attendant who directed us where to park. Upon his sensing that we were first timers he told us not to take any valuables with us.  "Leave your rings, watches, wallets, locked in your car;" and, proceeded with, 'then, leave your keys with the girls inside the shop, for safe keeping. They will number your keys and hang them on the wall with the others.'  Safe keeping?  How is that safe???  I don't know you!!  In any event, we followed orders, paid our fare and boarded the 1960's school bus with the guide who dropped us at the river bank. 

It was still quiet as we approached the rivers edge. I dipped my toe testing the temp. The water is 50 degrees.  And, will according to the locals, stay that way since it is river water.  50 degrees is freezing!!!!  I don't go into the Atlantic until it 65 degrees!!  

The biggest surprise for me was, once safely positioned in my tube to not flip over into the freezing water, was seeing the 100s and 100s of people floating down the river along with us.  It was a sea of people in the river having one giant party.  I forgot to mention back at the shop we were given string ties to tie your tubes together as well as to tie a mesh trash bag to the tubes. The sea of people and their respective parties were all tied together as well as their coolers.  One group, who we stayed close to nearly the entire way, was the entertainment of the river.  There were 25 tubes/people, if not more, tied together.  A 2-1/2'x4' stereo system was balanced on its own tube blaring arrays of music from hip hop, rock, and, of course, country [a given].

It took three hours to float to the end.  The picture above depicts the edge of the river ending our plight where we had to get out and carry our tubes to the shop.  Next time we will bring food. The liquid lunch didn't help us much in the sun.

With all of that said, last Sunday I found another river; rather, a creek.  It was a mini escape, for a few hours, in my head only, out of desperation.  I was lucky enough to find clear water as I heard it was occasionally, murky.  Just on the outskirts of downtown Austin is the Barton Creek Greenbelt. I parked in a dirt lot neighboring an office park. It was nearing 2p.m. in the afternoon [at the end of prime tanning], so I had to hop out and begin my trek [yes] through the woods to find the creek.  

I found a path that lead directly to a small pool only to find other people.  I felt like an intruder.  Non drama-like I quickly turned down another path following along the creek. About 1/2 mile into the woods I found a very pretty area not too congested with other bodies.  Mind you, I was hiking through these woods and small cliffs wearing flaps [flip flops] and a tank dress over my bath suit. Very unprepared.  Thankfully, I ran into a nice man and his hunting dog who offered me an iced bottle of water. Thank you, very much! 



I waded through the water towards the rock situated right by the mini waterfall.  I spent the next two blissful hours alternating tanning on the rock and sitting in the water with my feet in the mini falls.  

With all of that said, I am still not satisfied. Yesterday was a very trying day at work and was feeling a bit homesick. When I am home I take morning walks on the beach for therapy.  What I do here is run along the river that flows through the city.  Very nice, but not the same thing.  And, I definitely didn't feel like running [couch to 5k] yesterday or even today for that matter.  I need ocean water.  It's 3 hours 6 minutes without traffic to Corpus Christi and 3 hours 34 minutes with traffic - or, so it indicates on mapquest.  We shall see.  I am planning this excursion this upcoming weekend.  YAY!