Austin, Day 1

We arrive in Austin knowing very little of what to expect. But of course it is Texas and must have some good BBQ so we will search that out. And there must be something unique about this town that they can be proud of? Of course, Congress Ave. Bridge.

Before heading on with this, we must give credit where credit is due. This is the evening before Pam's birthday (March 29) and she has agreed to tag along to whatever I choose.

YES! Bring on the BBQ. Remember, she is mostly vegetarian so this is quite a show of love. Off we head to Iron Works. In addition to the meat menu we had experienced previously, this one had a salad bar, so she was all set. We sit at the outside porch with checkered table cloths after checking all the signed photographs hung on the walls. All over again, good barbeque!

Perhaps my biggest dissapointment to date is that we have not experienced an armadillo. I know they exist but we sure haven't seen one and it is unlikely now that we are back in the city. There are many Texas stories about them, some of which you will read if you click here. Mostly though they are rodents that jump straight up in the air when they are startled. About bumper high. So they cross the roads at night, cars roar up on them, they jump in the air and become flat dillos. Of course, we didn't see any of those either.

OK, Ok, I am stalling waiting for it to get dark. We are headed to the Congress Ave. bridge. Many of you have experienced the swifts arriving and roosting in the chimney of Chapman School. Crowds of people gather to watch the spectacle. Well Austin has a similar experience.

Except it is bats. Hundreds of thousands of bats. In fact, it exceeds 1.5 million bats at the height of the season, July and August. And people flock here to watch them leave each evening. Standing on the bridge, sitting in the bars and parks along the river, and riding tour boats.

In Pam's mind, bats are right there with eating raw banana slugs. But she did this for me. The pictures are rough but have a look.