Austin is working hard to revitalize the river front. There were several construction projects going on. However, it didn't seem to bother the local residents.
The trail alternates between gravel and concrete and winds its way in and out of several community parks.
We planned to stop for lunch along the way. We turned off the trail at the The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. There were several sculptures along the trail commemorating the contributions of Tejano musicians.
As we worked our way over to Rainey Street, where a number of restaurants are, we encountered more construction. Oh, No - Bangers Sausage House and Beer Garden was closed because of construction. We needed to find a place for lunch, so we asked a "local" for a recommendation.
Since neither of us speak turkey, we just followed her to the "Art of Taco" - a food truck with a couple picnic benches next door.
After chowing down on a quesadilla and burrito, we were soon back on the trail. Our destination - Luke's Locker - a running and fitness store. Our daughter, Katie, invited us to join her in a couple of distance runs - the 10 mile Broad Street Run in Philadelphia with our son Matt, and the Adirondack Half Marathon at Schroon Lake. We haven't ever run longer courses, so we need to start training, but first we needed new running shoes.
At Luke's Locker, we had a great consultant who helped us get just the right shoes. We also got hand-held water bottles and a really cool waist belt for hiding keys and phone, etc. Mission accomplished, we stuffed our purchases into our packs. Before leaving Luke's, we asked the sales manager for a recommendation for a good beer bar, since Bangers was closed. He recommended Wright Brothers Brew and Brew.
Now, with a new mission, we headed back to the bike trail. We stopped at one of the construction sites because the art work announcing the new ADA Wheelchair Accessible Fishing Pier was really cool.
We also made a quick stop at the Festival Beach Community Garden, a 2-acre oasis in a redeveloping neighborhood boasting 80 separate gardeners. It has been active since April 2010. Even with all the frigid weather in the Austin area, some folks were out tending their plots.
Before long, it was time for a pit stop. Wright Brothers Brew and Brew is a new kind of watering hole. Equal parts exceptional coffee shop and classic bar, serving specialty coffee and craft beer. The Brew and Brew originated from the founders' love of coffee and beer. How can you not just love a place that specializes in coffee and beer? As you can see, Dave was having difficulty decided between beer and coffee, so he drank a beer and bought some coffee beans.
After recharging our batteries, we were soon heading back to the trail. Dave spotted this really unique looking church - the Light of the World Church on 3rd and Waller Streets in East Austin.
La Luz del Mundo is a messianic Mexican religious sect that has expanded rapidly in the U.S. Southwest. It has a checkered history of accusations of sexual molestation and human trafficking. That being said, the building was quite remarkable. However, the neighborhood dogs did not like the fact that David stopped to take a picture and proceeded to bark incessantly until we left the area, so we did not tarry long to admire the building or consider the questionable reputation of its congregation.
A return pedal of a couple miles and a truck ride about 27 miles further brought us home to the RV. We made it home by 5:30 p.m. and finished off our adventure with a quick dinner at the Texas Grill. We had scrumptious taco salads. Katie called at dinner and Matt called afterward to wish Dave a "happy birthday," which topped of the day.
Here's Dave displaying his pleasure about our hearty meal:
Happy Birthday, Dave!
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