Day 3 Austin

Austin - trail on Town Lake

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Parked at visitor parking for State Capitol and went to St. Mary’s Cathedral in downtown and then moved the car to SoCo and walked over the Congress Avenue Bridge and did a huge loop around town lake.  Lots of joggers, runners, and walkers on the trail.  Walked for 2 hours and then went to Perla’s for lunch.  I had a shrimp cobb salad (Thank God) and Jack had an Oyster Poor Boy and fries.Walked up Congress to buy a rubber ducky for Jackson, a cowboy, so cute.  They have all sorts of different ones, collectible rubber duckies!  We talked to the ladies at the store for awhile and they gave us some advice on driving through West Texas.  Off to Barton Springs which is a natural springs with a constant temperature of 68 degrees.  It is 1000 feet long and people swim in it.  It has cement edges with a completely natural bottom with rocks, weeds, sand and incredibly clear water.  At least half of the people there swimming were over 60. If they could handle the cold water, we were bound and determined to jump right in!  Jodi swam one lap and Jack lounged in the water, talking to a lady about Austin.  It was quite lovely swimming there.  The water felt cold at first buy once you were in it was glorious.

Barton Spring at Zilker Park

 Off to dinner at Chuy’s Mexican restaurant, once again, amazing food.  They had this creamy jalepeno sauce to dip chips in as well as the typical pico de gallo and 6 other sauces. We talked to the waitress and told her it was our last night in Austin and she recommended the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Enchiladas and sampler platter and that is exactly what we ordered. Really good food.   Doesn’t it sound like all we do is eat? Next stop, Continental Club to listen to a great band and watch some amazing swing dancers.  John in Helena had told us to go and see this band, The Hot Club of Cowtown.  It is a 3 member band, a female fiddler , a guitar and bass player. They all did vocals.   They were great, John, you were right!  The lady next to me said they were one of the best bands in Austin and travel a lot, apparently some with the State Department.  In November they will be all over the UK. The fiddler has played with Bob Dylan and has been a featured on Prairie Home Companion.  She started playing violin at age 4 by Suzuki method.  Does that sound familiar, Mallory?  The lady next to me said,  she thinks they use this venue to practice some of their new stuff before taking it on the road.  The fiddler is actually classically trained .  We had a great time, listened to a full set and then went back to hear some of the Presidential debate.