Castroville

News here is the weather has cooled a little. Temperature at the start of the Volksmarch this morning was 76 degrees and, when I finished 2-1/2 hours later, the temp was 82. Humidity, however, has not lowered at all. I'd say it was 80% humidity.

Castroville, Texas' historical influence comes from the Alsace region of France. Historic homes have Alsation design.

Today's Volksmarch was an event sponsored by the LoneStar Walkers Volksmarch club. The start point was the Castroville Chamber of Commerce and the start/finish table and checkpoints were staffed by club volunteers.

Bob played basketball this morning, so this was a perfect activity for me to do without him. I was able to dawdle, go to Pioneer Days at the mill, and take lots of photos along the way. I'm proud of myself for doing a 10K (6.2 mi) walk in 2-1/2 hours which included time looking at exhibits and taking over 100 photos. (When I use "we," it is a collective we including a number of Volksmarchers.)

St. Louis Catholic Church. That's me and
St. Louis in front of the church.

Original St. Louis Church, 18468

A restaurant in Castroville.

Arcadius Steinle House circa 1847.

Historical Hotel Tarde (Est. 1852)

A repurposed gas station - now an antique store.

You can buy this at the antique store.

About a mile into the walk, all walkers could get into the Pioneer Days celebration at the old grist mill for free. Bob and I had never been to the mill area before, so I had to check it out. My two favorite things were Tiny Town and the pole showing flood levels over the years.

Tiny Town had a few dioramas on display, each was meticulously put together. There is so much detail in the tiny town below which you cannot see. A 1/4" frying pan with two fried eggs in it has shaved graphite pencil lead to look like pepper on the eggs.

Tiny Town

The grist mill

Flood marker next to the two-story grist mill.

Below is the flood marker next to the grist mill to show scale on how deep the water has been over the years. A couple of pictures above, you can see how high the grist mill is above the river. Bob and I figure the highest flood waters must have been 30-40' higher than the river!

Grist mill with flood marker next to it.

The Bathhouse circa 1853

Period dress at Pioneer Days.

Volksmarchers listening to history from a volunteer.

Explaining about this pistol.

I loved walking through town and seeing all the historic houses. We then walked out to Castroville Regional Park and followed the one-mile trail around the perimeter of the park. Castroville Regional Park has an RV Park with pull through and back-in sites.

Castroville Regional Park

Long lines of cars looking for parking for soccer matches.

Soccer in the park.

Artsy drinking fountain.

Volksmarcher taking a snack break.

High-fiving after the game.

Pull-through RV site - pretty basic.

Castroville Regional Park RV sites.

Large pull-throughs.

Out of the park now, back walking through neighborhoods...

Love the goat.

Old truck in cherry condition.

Creative mailbox.

Reppold Hus - 1875

Wild, or Britton's, petunia

Zion Lutheran Church - 1939

Toward the end of the walk, I was given permission to take a photo of the man below working in his carport doing a wood carving of a deer lying down. Real antlers are attached to its head.

Two blocks later, I was done. The Volksmarch was well attended today. After the walk it was time to go home and shower before my 1:45 p.m. hair appointment.

Saturday blog to be continued - this blog is long enough and the day is only half finished!

Stay tuned.

Lamport - Scaldwell - Hanging Houghton - Lamport

With Barry, Gordon and Maureen. 8. 7 miles. Sunny!













We left Lamport on the road towards Old, and shortly after this rather tall and beautifully situated house we took a footpath to the right. The house has decorative brickwork patterns, and displays the initials CEI (Charles Edmund Isham, the local landowner, gardener and reputedly the man who brought garden gnomes to Britain).

The path goes behind Lamport Hall - we caught just a glimpse through the trees from this side, and continues for a while, across a harvested field. In the middle of the field two paths cross and we took the one to the left - not very easy to see now the crop has been lifted.
The photo above is a great example of how not to compose a photograph - how many arms does Barry have?












We walked on and slightly uphill into Scaldwell, by way of a stile close to a row of houses.









It looks as though the tradition of garden figures is thriving in the locality.





























Scaldwell contains several Grade 1 listed buildings, including some of those we walked past before we left the village.

Sundial House has datestones (no not the fruit) from 1650 and 1772."The large sundialdated 1650 between first-floor windows, probably C20 restoration. Datestone 1650

and 1772 to left and right gables"

This is Scaldwell House, though I'm not sure whose initials R S are.








Is the date on the right 1706, 1716 or 1776? »












We walked past some very attractive cottages, and finally the Grange, before taking the marked footpath to the right. This led us across cultivated fields, including one which was full of flowering plants and (for once) some insects, gently downhill and then up into Hanging Houghton.





Why this name? Because it hangs at the top of the hill?

Because it hangs on to Lamport? Anything to do with hanging? I haven't yet found out.

















There we turned left following a minor road which goes steeply down to the Brampton Valley Way. Just off the road and on the disused railway path there was a convenient bench, where we had a slice of Gordon's birthday cake. (Thank you Gordon and Maureen!)





We didn't take the Brampton Valley Way but carried on along the unfenced road which took us very gently up to Blueberry Grange (no blueberries, just sloes). We turned right, north-east to Blueberry Lodge. Just after that we took a bridleway (though it was more like a path) to the right, following a hedge. There is a break in the hedge but it is possible to walk either side as there is another chance to cross after a quarter of a mile or so. Next we had to walk gradually uphill along the edge of a huge field where the corn stubble was shining in the sun, then down to meet the Brampton Valley Way again.

We followed the bridleway up to Lamport.

pausing to admire the view from time to time

until we reached the A 508, and arrived back in Lamport





For details and map

Yes, I've Been Riding

From my blog postings, you might think I have not been riding. Oh, contrair'. Just not much to report nor shoot a photo of. Have been getting out on the paved trail from Wabash Trace Trailhead Park towards Lake Manawa. Two rides to and around Lake Manawa. Riding the streets - not been that way since the Veterans Memorial Trail opened. Also was a little gun shy with all the glass shards on VM Trail along E. Manawa Drive.

The other ride was from the trailhead to Western Historic Trails Center. A frequent destination for my rides.

The weather has turned warm (almost hot), so have started riding mornings. This morning started with coffee, computer work, and conversation at Panera Bread. From there, it was my bike ride. Stopped by along Navajo St. to take this photo of the hybrid overlooking Lake Manawa.

On to Xtreme Wheels to pick up my road bike, want to bring it on my upcoming Minnesota trip. The bike got new shoes, new bar tape (with gel pads), and annual check-up. Sam's Clubs for supplies and gas the car. McClelland for voting (primary election day in Iowa). Now rest and start packing for the Cuyuna Mountain Bike Festival.