From the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas (near the town of Mt. Ida) all the way down to Austin, Texas took us about 9 hours with some quick stops for food and fuel along the way.
The ever growing Austin skyline over Lady Bird Lake.
Austin is a great city with healthy outdoor, fitness and food scenes, which we were quick to plug ourselves into. Big thanks to Faith – Caroline’s friend from Dickinson – our enthusiastic and gracious guide and hostess. Faith took us to the best known spots; we got to feel like real Austin-ites. We had our first round of margaritas’ at Polvos’ (famous for mixing their ‘ritas with everclear) and toured the 6th street downtown district at night, where we caught a glimpse of “Leslie,” Austin’s friendly elderly transvestite. On our first day we walked along Lady Bird Lake and did what everybody does in Austin in the middle of summer with temperatures hovering around 100 – go swimming in the city’s natural swimming holes: Deep Eddy & Barton Springs (we visited the later at night, which was quite a treat). We also got a chance to check out the famous Mellow Johnny’s, Lance Armstrong’s bike shop. One of the mechanics there told me (Pat) of some fine singletrack north of town that I checked out the next morning. It was flowy, fast, and sent me flying over the handlebars once! Good ride…
Our wonderful hostess and guide, Faith
We cooled off at Deep Eddy, one of Austin's spring-fed public pools.
We were really looking forward to Austin because it’s a city where we both have good friends who we hardly ever get to see. Over the weekend Caro, Faith and I met up with my friend Robin and her husband Jacob for microbrews and a delicious dinner. It was great to catch up, share travel stories and get some interesting additions to our travel itinerary, from West Texas to places in South America, thanks guys! We all met again the following night for a tasty picnic at the outdoor symphony, somthing new for both us and our Austin friends.
Good times with good people!
Austin is all about outdoor living.
There’s no wonder Whole Foods Inc. is based here – Austin is a true foodie paradise. We ate awesome organic and vegetarian dishes at Mother’s Cafe near the University of Texas campus and at Mr. Naturals in East Austin. Breakfast tacos were available almost at every corner, particularly at local favorite Juan in a Million. Mr. Juan is there at the entrance shaking hands with regulars and newbies alike. The breakfast burritos were right on time. Also, to keep up with Caro’s immune boosting diet of wheat grass every day, we made sure to stop by a few juice cafes for a shot of wheat grass and some kind of raw fruit smoothie.
we are happy here after some fresh juice!
carogouin
Patrick
viaje al sur 
Hey you two!
I’m in between wake-up time and Alexandre’s first nap with him grunting away in the bouncer… 😉
I think I’ll make this our morning ritual from now on. If you post something new for me to read tomorrow, I’ll read it to him and let him know what and how his aunt Caroline and “uncle” Pat are doing. Love following you on your adventure!
Oh, Alexandre’s latest achievement: He’s been rolling over from front to back and back to front for almost two weeks now, but he is now moving ALL over his crib. I put him down at one end, and when I pick him up at the end of his nap, he’s all the way at the other end. He’s so squirmy lately!
Ciao for now!
Julie and Alexandre
xxx
By: Julie on August 20, 2009
at 12:29 pm
Thanks for visiting, guys. Come anytime! Even though we threaten to move, we’ll most likely still be here…I can’t wait to hear how you like West Texas. You know it’s “no country for old men”, don’t pick up any hitchhikers 🙂
By: robin on August 20, 2009
at 3:08 pm
http://sanantonio.gotidbits.com/library/go
a little about Marfa . . .
🙂
By: Faith on August 20, 2009
at 4:53 pm
Hi! Austin looks like a cool town. Never been , but would like to go. We’ve been running the B & B all summer. Great weather lately – Hurricane Bill completely missed us. Trish, Michael & the adorable Miss Brianna, the fish, stayed for three nights. Fun! Labor Day is when the next big crowd arrives. We are enjoying the blog, the photos and feeling like we’re part of the trip. You guys look happy and relaxed. We’d love to see photos of the inside of the tent too. Love ya lots.
By: AL and Bill on August 24, 2009
at 8:26 pm
Hi guys! Back from our “Le p’tit train du Nord” adventure. 275 km of biking over the last six days (please allow for age difference and our desire to explore the villages where we stayed). We manage very well with our saddlebags and limited clothing (a first for me). Very nice B&B (dinners included — way to go), great food and owners to talk to, about their choice of work and life experience. The scenery was amazing, Kim had never seen the “Laurentides” and she loved the nature she saw. We were fortunate to avoid rain, everyday, as the sky poured its clouds of water, after our arrival to destination and being under shelter. We loved it enough to do it again but there are so many other places to see. Next time, it has to be somewhere different, but using the same formula. Many trekking ways, and ours (again, age difference) does not include camping at the end of the day — I could not handle it (so it means: physical exercise followed by hot shower, delicious food cooked for us, and a comfortable bed!!!). Hugs and kisses from Ottawa.
By: François on August 25, 2009
at 1:28 am
Sarah August 27, 2011 Where did you stay in Costa Rica? It looks buuatifel. Andrew and I did an all-inclusive for our honeymoon too and it was great. We stayed at Couples in Negril, Jamaica. We loved Jamaican food! Callaloo and jamaican patties and jerk chicken and curried goat and ackee and breadfruit – it was all wonderful. We had lobster a couple of times at the resort, but the best lobster we had was when we wandered away down the beach and found these crazy old Jamaican fisherman cooking over a fire on the beach. They served lobster (caught just before cooking) with fresh lime and scotch bonnet peppers. It was amazing. They called it the “Office of Nature” and I don’t know why, but it worked!
By: Cakha on February 11, 2012
at 5:55 am
Wow, looks like a great trip so far and what a nice website. After also spending the last month in a campervan I know how much fun you are having! I’m looking forward to pictures from the 4wd tracks. From what I have seen there is a fantastic 4wd road out of Ouray, CO that goes up and over the pass. You probably have already heard of it but let me know if you haven’t. Ouray is beautiful, worth the stop just to see the town and check out where the ice park is in the winter.
I think I sent you the blog from our trip but I can’t remember. http://scuddleston.blogspot.com just in case you wanted to see it…we had a blast. I love how they set up their trucks over there…tons of roof tents!
Have a great time, I’m looking forward to following your trip.
By: Jonathan Heddleston on August 26, 2009
at 2:23 pm
Wow, looks like a great trip so far and what a nice website. After also spending the last month in a campervan I know how much fun you are having! I’m looking forward to pictures from the 4wd tracks. From what I have seen there is a fantastic 4wd road out of Ouray, CO that goes up and over the pass. You probably have already heard of it but let me know if you haven’t. Ouray is beautiful, worth the stop just to see the town and check out where the ice park is in the winter.
I think I sent you the blog from our trip but I can’t remember. http://scuddleston.blogspot.com just in case you wanted to see it…we had a blast. I love how they set up their trucks over there…tons of roof tents!
Have a great time, I’m looking forward to following your trip.
By: Jonathan Heddleston on August 26, 2009
at 2:27 pm
Ahem . . . . I am checking every day waiting for your west texas thoughts and pictures.
By: Faith on August 27, 2009
at 5:05 pm
Not to be a bother, but I’m really jonesing for a new post. Most of the 2,679 views of your webpage have been me checking for an update.
I know ya’ll are having fun and all, but don’t forget about us poor saps stuck back here in the real world. 🙂
By: Anne Hartley on August 28, 2009
at 12:54 am
Thanks for a great readd
By: Reid P on April 25, 2023
at 11:51 pm