Trinity River Walk

DH and I were in Fort Worth for a celebration this weekend. We stayed in a hotel near part of the Trinity Trails, a network of 40 miles of trails for jogging, walking, biking, dog walking and such. The trails connect 21 parks and other community treasures including the Botanical Gardens and zoo.

After days (and nights) of feasts and parties, we knew a walk was required. And the river called us. How could we be so close and not take advantage of the beautiful paved and gravel and grass trails?

We joined families and singletons, walkers, runners, dog walkers, and bikers heading up and down the trails. We watched people cross the low-water crossing/dam. We investigated the hundetoilette (I have become a collector of hundetoilette photos). These were located in a small green space just off the trail.

Hundetoilette

A large number of waterfowl swam back and forth, feeding in the shallows.

Water fowl

More water fowl

Brother?

Heron

Oaks and pecans towered overhead. I explained the differences to DH. Bur oaks have large acorns with hairy and textured caps (and large round lobed leaves). Red oaks have much smaller acorns and the caps are not hairy (leaves are large with sharp points). Live oaks have entirely different acorns  (oblong, turning black when ripe) and the leaves are quite small. Before our walk was over, I was able to show him specimens of each. [I may be terrible identifying birds, but I can usually distinguish common Texas oaks.] And pecans (right now) are bearing this year's crop - too easy.

Rounded leaves and giant acorns of Bur oak

 

DH shown examples of Bur acorns

 Leaves floated on the cool breeze.

We spied one example of street art on an electric power transmission pole. My heart sang (I am chaffing over being in Texas when Banksy is spending a month creating art all over NYC. This fortuitous discovery has calmed me considerably.).

We almost missed this as we walked along. We were looking towards the river, not the industrial area on the other side of the trail.

Close-up of the art. Wouldn't you think the title is "Pencil"?

 
We walked about an hour before the final celebration of the weekend, hugs all around, and promises of visits to come.

Trail (with speed bumps) along the Trinity.

Small stream feeding into the river. I guess that is a "selfie" - my shadow.

Beautiful old trees

 

Who says there is no fall color in Texas?

 

Rail yard adjoins part of the trail.

Low water crossing/dam

We saw people walking across the dam and climbing the rough steps. We skipped it.

A reminder that the placid river is not always calm.

 

At times it was impossible to think we were in a city.

We could get used to this.

NOTES:

www.trinitytrails.org

www.banksyny.com