A Naturally Cool Thing to Do

Smack dab in the middle of Austin is a gorgeous natural spring called Barton Springs, which runs through Zilker park. We were brought to this wonderful oasis by some good friends of ours while finishing up this last tour. It was refreshing, to say the least.

I had to be coaxed, prodded and bribed to wear a borrowed bikini in public. I decided to get into the water as quickly as possible. However, the water is frigid. Cold. Icy. Chilly. Polar.
It took me ten minutes just to get my ankles into the water.

The sun had begun to set, cooling off the air around us. I inched my legs further into the water. After about twenty minutes, my knees were in. I was so proud of myself. And then this little cutey pie came up behind me and plunged right in. It’s hard to have a four-year-old show you up.
I finally forced myself to get in up to my waistline. My teeth started chattering. Biceps told me that once I got all the way in, it wasn’t so bad. He has never lied to me before…but….
I decided to stay at the waist line level. Please don’t judge.

Our friend shelled out the $3 to get us into the ‘nicer side’ of Barton Springs-complete with a diving board. There is also a free side to Barton Springs, but that means no diving board, no life guards and no sitting area.
However, you can have your dogs frolic about on the free side, which is honestly pretty cute to watch. And this is coming from a cat-lady.
I recommend this ol swimmin’ hole if you are ever in the Austin area. You won’t be disappointed.

Bethlehem, Books and Bagels

While researching a setting for my first novel, I fell in love with the city of Bethlehem, PA.
And as if orchestrated from above, we were able to stay overnight in Bethlehem while out on tour.
I was in researching heaven.

I ate the best bagel of my life underneath these two street signs. These streets had been named over 200 years ago and I had already written them into my book. This was the first time my little beady eyes were able to actually see them.

The Moravian’s (the town’s religious settlers) lived a very interesting life-men and women were housed separately, all land and property was owned by the church and no outsiders were permitted until after a flood devastated the town in 1850.
Sounds a little stuffy if you ask me.

This building that you see here is one of the surviving original structures. It’s pretty cute.

We enjoyed our second cup of coffee of the day here.
And possibly another bagel. And another cup of coffee.

Caffeine, Biceps and hands-on research makes me happy.
I can’t wait to go back someday…

Get yer motors runnin’ in Sturgis, SD

Touring with my musician hubby has opened my eyes to so many wonderful places.
But, by far one of my favorite places would be
the Sturgis bike rally.
I saw things that I never wanted to see, smelled things I never wanted to smell and just in general, reconfirmed my desire to not ever attending said rally.

Leather reigned supreme. Cows everywhere shudder when they hear that the Sturgis ‘get together’ is just around the corner. I felt quite awesome in my Vans tennis shoes, plaid shorts and tank top. Really awesome.

Streets were blocked off and labeled, ‘Motorcycle Only’. Motorcycles ruled and cars drooled-buses with long haired hippy freak musicians were the worst droolers of all….I saw butt chaps (don’t ask), halter tops and several near misses on the highway between chopper and automobile. Here are a few examples of what you can get into trouble for at Sturgis:
Ordinance Code & Bond Amount

Indecent Exposure
#12.0802 $111.00

Deposit of Filth (one of my favorite infractions)
#12.0601 $86.00

Dog Running at Large
#1.0209 $56.00

Use of Sound Amplification Device:
#13.0116 Court Appearance Req.

Driving on Bike Path / Sidewalk
#14.0303/16.0216 $111.00

Exhibition Driving
#16.0225 $66.00

Carrying pistol or revolver without a permit
#22-14-9 Custody Arrest

Illegal Handlebar Height (probably my favorite infraction
#32-20-3 $20.00

taken from (http://www.sturgis.com/police.html)

At any given point, a group of cool bikers can/will stop in the middle of the highway for no reason whatsoever, causing the sissy autos that are traveling 65 m.p.h. to screech and swerve recklessly. The day we were there, there had already been 16 deaths.

Everyone converges here, happy that they made it alive. Where I come from, a buffalo chip is not a place you want to hang out at. To each his own….

And if you get bored of biking, there are many ‘family-friendly’ activities that you can participate in.

I don’t even know what to say.

A tiny town in Texas

(There ain’t nuthin’ tiny ’bout this town.)
We had a day off between major cities and stopped off in Texas. Upon check-in, we were given two tickets to a:
‘Free Down Home Breakfast: with your choice of meat’. Nothing says breakfast to me like meat.
Our waitress called us both ‘sweetheart’ and smothered everything in gravy.
After cleanin’ my plate, I went on a walk to work off my gravy thighs and discover what this tiny town had to offer.

Hello, Texas-sized flower. Aren’t you just purty?

I would live here, but add some chickens to the front yard.
As long as they promised to poop in one central location. I cannot have chickens going willy-nilly all over my front yard.
It’s so uncivilized. And just plain gross.

I would watch my organized chickens from this window every morning, enjoying my Texas-sized cup of coffee.

And make them a chicken coop similar to this. You just don’t see this kind of flair in an Oklahoman’s backyard. Okie’s like their shades of taupes, browns and off-whites.

One of my favorite discoveries along the way-these gigantically beautiful metal doors.
Can I have these doors, please? I promise, honey, that they’ll fit in the bus bay….please?

This little cactus flower broke me from my door-coveting ways.
Re-grounded, I decided I had worked on my gravy thighs long enough and I was ready for the hotel’s ‘Texas-sized’ swimming pool.