My walking buddy BJ, resides in the picturesque town of Bastrop which is located along the Colorado River. It has an LCRA Park, McKinney Roughs, that we often walk and a couple of State Parks and as it turns out, there are several other Parks that the city maintains and others that are maintained by volunteers including the one that we eventually followed which was named Dale’s Trail. It is situated right alongside the Colorado River and has at least three different parking areas one of which has a boat ramp.

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The first part of the trail that we took is obviously not as well used as the continuation in the other direction of where we parked. It made a loop for about a half mile and we ended up back from where we started. We then pushed off in the other direction heading towards the railroad trestle bridge which was the end of the line as far as this park is concerned. The trail was well maintained and was very easy walking. There was no loop this time so we ended up back tracking to the lot where we had parked our vehicles.

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There were a lot of people around mainly of the younger variety. Many were swimming or splashing about in the river in groups of a half dozen or so and quite obviously not a bit concerned with keeping any distance between themselves. Quite the opposite in fact as they romped in the water. A boat came up the river doing a pretty good speed. Either in a hurry or just liked to drive fast. When we met somebody on the trail, we each gave the other a lot of room to pass making sure there was not contact.

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Actually, this was true of BJ and myself. She usually lets me walk ahead as I am the slower walker plus I am always stopping to take pictures and so I set the pace. Normally, she will walk alongside when the trail is wide enough for it but this time, throughout the entire time we were out, she tried and very successfully maintained a 6 foot gap between us at all times, not once walking alongside of me. Any other time, my feelings would be hurt but with the risk of getting too close, I made allowances.

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At one point along the trail, we came across two trees growing side by side with the trail going between them. I took two pictures one of which has BJ standing in the middle to give a comparison of size. BJ is about five and a half feet tall.

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When we reached the second parking lot, the trail became very well maintained and had timber edging. There was a sign stating that it was maintained by volunteers. We passed an interesting couple of rock formations that were thousands of years old and the kids of previous years had, as kids everywhere often do, left their initials carved for posterity.

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The railroad trestle is still in use and in good repair. BJ, who lives no more than a mile or so from this park, told me that she hears the trains at night. There was a sign that stated it was Private Property beyond it but the trail continued on and looked well used.

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We came across a group of five young people that were barbecuing. They had a couple of friendly dogs with them and we stopped and chatted for a bit before continuing on to our vehicles. BJ left to drive home and I was contemplating on whether I should go and change into drier clothes when a couple of young girls dressed only in their bikinis walked past me. I heard them shout back to a couple of others that they were not going to walk through the woods along the trail and would take the long way. Then I noticed that besides being clad in only the skimpiest of bikinis they also did not have shoes on. It had taken me awhile to get my eyes down to their feet. I watched them walk out of the rough stony parking lot and onto the road to take the long way back to their friends. I winced for them and it sent tingles up my back and feet as they carefully picked their way along. Oh the beauty of youth, able to walk barefoot on the rocks which is much more than I can do. I can barely walk from the bed to the bathroom without stubbing my foot or stepping on a doggie toy.

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All in all, we walked a little under 4 miles, enough to work up a sweat and get some exercise. It felt great to be back out again in the fresh air and this time, fresh trails to discover.

Written 3/30/2020

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