Summer pleasures: Barton Springs Pool and Lockhart art

I had reservations for a dip astatine Blue Hole swimming hole successful Wimberley, Texas, conscionable earlier Labor Day. But the drought has near small untouched successful Texas this summer, and I soon received a cancellation notice. Blue Hole has closed for the remainder of the play owed to debased outpouring flow. Tragic.

Happily — for now, anyhow — the chilly earthy springs that capable Barton Springs Pool successful Austin proceed to flow. We pivoted and went determination aboriginal 1 greeting to bushed the crowds. By arriving earlier 8 am, we besides got successful for free. The tradeoff? We weren’t sweating astatine that aboriginal hour, truthful the 68F-degree excavation felt adjacent colder than usual. But erstwhile you commencement swimming, it’s grand.

I don’t travel present precise often (shame connected me), truthful I’m ever struck anew by however magical this spot is. Swimming successful nonchlorinated water, with food and ducks sharing the abstraction with you, with a earthy cliff on 1 broadside and downtown beckoning astatine the end, it’s a blissful summertime acquisition to lazily paddle and interval from 1 extremity to the different and backmost again.

An Austin treasure

Lockhart successful the afternoon

That day we drove 45 minutes southeast to Lockhart, my favourite tiny municipality conscionable extracurricular of Austin. The stately Caldwell County Courthouse stands gangly successful the main square.

We headed to Old Pal for lunch, wherever we enjoyed burgers and chicken. This spot has a large vibe, affable service, and bully nutrient and drinks.

Dolly looking similar the icon she is

A cowgirl connected our tabletop

Check retired the 78644 Podcast for everything Lockhart.

We stopped astatine Commerce Gallery to spot Austin creator Christy Stallop‘s caller work. Her amusement is implicit now, but we enjoyed her grackles with tumbleweeds.

That’s gonna beryllium rather the nest!

Other grackles successful her amusement correspond beloved musicians. Here’s Willie.

And Stevie Ray Vaughan

And Elvis

Christy’s branching retired from her fashionable and humorous grackle creation and coating tumbleweeds these days, experimenting with a muted palette and a western-minimalist style. I similar them.

One more

If you haven’t been retired to Barton Springs Pool oregon Lockhart this summer, there’s inactive time, Texas friends. You won’t beryllium sorry.

For a erstwhile post I wrote astir Barton Springs, with much detail, click here.

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