Out For a Hidden Valley Walk

The sun and heat just returned with a vengeance, so I headed out for a short walk to enjoy the good weather. It’s nice to be back in the rig where there is a lovely cool cross-breeze!

The landscapes and fauna here remind me of the Okanagan before the cold season sets in. Only the palms feel foreign. Most of the cacti here are on steroids, but I did see some impressive ones in the Okanagan, so they don’t make me ooh as much as I would have expected.

When I was in the FHU spot, I noticed this path winding its way up the hill.

When I was in the FHU spot, I noticed this path winding its way up the hill.

Must explore!

Must explore!

Watch your step, repairs needed!

Watch your step, repairs needed!

Big hole with an unstable edge.

Big hole with an unstable edge.

The rocks used as edging are evidence that this path was maintained once.

The rocks used as edging are evidence that this path was maintained once.

Yellow flowers.

Yellow flowers.

More edging.

More edging.

Cactus.

Cactus.

A very secure bungee-line fence...

A very secure bungee-line fence…

... protecting a big pile of dirt.

… protecting a big pile of dirt.

The path meanders up and down.

The path meanders up and down.

Another yellow flower.

Another yellow flower.

Spiny thing. DO NOT WALK BAREFOOT IN TEXAS.

Spiny thing. DO NOT WALK BAREFOOT IN TEXAS.

Palm.

Palm.

Another yellow flower.

Another yellow flower.

Barbed wire fence.

Barbed wire fence.

Fuzzy orange things in trees (no idea why they show up yellow here).

Fuzzy orange things in trees (no idea why they show up yellow here).

Purple flowers.

Purple flowers.

The path follows the RV park and emerges near the entrance.

The path follows the RV park and emerges near the entrance.

Heading into some shade.

Heading into some shade.

Cooooool.

Cooooool.

Butterfly mobile.

Butterfly mobile.

More 'they should be orange' fuzzy balls.

More ‘they should be orange’ fuzzy balls.

Magenta flowers.

Magenta flowers.

A giant succulent.

A giant succulent.

Looking from the entrance towards the road out.

Looking from the entrance towards the road out.

Miranda and the giant field.

Miranda and the giant field.

Miranda and Moya and the giant field.

Miranda and Moya and the giant field.

Crazy mutant cactus right by the dumpster.

Crazy mutant cactus right by the dumpster.

Flexible Plans

Bah, it’s another grey morning in San Antonio! I am almost 40AH down! I’m holding steady thanks to my solenoid, but I’m hoping that tomorrow’s promised sun materializes!

Looking at the forecast trends for the next several weeks, I am really not eager to start pushing north so I am once again revising my itinerary. Caroline will probably not be in Austin when I go through there, so I have decided not to stop in Texas’ capital on the way north. That said, Austin is only about an hour and a half from here. So as long as there is no problem with extending my stay here, I will probably visit Austin on a day trip and remain in Von Ormy longer than planned.

My route north takes me right through Dallas and I’ve decided that I simply cannot drive through there without visiting the Dealey Plaza! I’ve spent too much time researching and theorizing about the JFK assassination to not actually get on the ground there and see if my theories hold water.

So the plan now is to watch the weather in Wichita. As soon as it starts trending with days above zero, I will head north, and then hunker down there until it feels safe to push on… as long as L is home as he has travel plans in April. I hope we don’t miss each other! 🙁

I am beginning to think that I will likely end up doing a cannonball run to Canada at the very end of April or even beginning of May instead of a more leisurely pace that allows for sightseeing. Having to travel in the shoulder seasons sucks! 🙁