First Nature Walk

Baby took a road trip today, to a town an hour south of Austin called Luling. There she enjoyed some barbecued chicken, got to know a couple of local farmers selling eggs, looked at some toy dolls in a gift shop, and generally saw a side of Texas she hadn’t yet seen, the smaller side. After lunch, the family drove to Palmetto State Park along the San Marcos River. We parked near a trailhead, took a look at the river from the top of the embankment, and started out on the path, duly noting the “Watch For Snakes” sign as we went. Dad generally walked in advance, in case the snakes were any kind of real peril. In the meantime, baby walked alongside mom and a family friend, usually, though not always, holding one or two hands while motoring along on her little legs. She walked about half of the not quite mile-long trail, an incredible accomplishment for such a wee lass. When she grew tired, which was often, she sat down in the middle of the trail and took in the scene around her. After ten or twenty seconds, she would bound to her feet and take off once more. I made sure she was walking (and not being carried) when we neared the trailhead on the return trip, so she would know how far her feet had carried her. She seemed to understand somewhat, enough to appreciate my congratulations with a smile.