Mom and Dad arrived on Thursday afternoon, Oct 4th, and we went hiking at the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in Fredericksburg. The Enchanted Rock is a pink, granite exfoliation dome that covers 640 acres and rises 425 feet. We started with the Summit Trail Hike, which heads to the peak in just .6 miles. I was clearly the slowest moving of the four of us. After a tiring but beautiful afternoon, we had generous portions of chili cheese fries, burgers, and beers at Hopdoddy on South Congress. There was enough booze to get my parents flirting.
Friday morning, we were off to the Hamilton Pool Preserve in Dripping Springs. The swimming hole, which is tucked under a 50 foot waterfall and cave, was off limits due to bacteria from a recent rain. We hiked around the rest of the area, catching sight of a black water moccasin snake, two large angry bucks, and a crawfish in the Pedernales River. From there, we picked up pastries at a bakery called Rolling in Thyme and Dough, stopped for lunch at the Redbud Cafe, and met Betty Mallard for a visit at the Mollberg Piano Restoration Shop in Blanco. Bernard Mollberg and O.A. Watson were there, and we were treated to a lengthy visit and tour of the garden, pump house, cistern, shop, and house. Bernard Mollberg, as always, was exceptionally hospitable and charming. Betty Mallard and I played a couple of duets on a pretty Steinway Model "A" at the end of our visit. Back at home in Austin, we had crock pot brisket wraps with guacamole, and went out for dessert at Gourdough's donut trailer. George and I had heard from several friends that these were massive and amazing donuts, but we should have scoped it out first. What they had to offer was nothing special to us, and it couldn't have been for my parents, who come from the land of the Shopper's Food apple fritter. These donuts are not worth getting sick over; the Shopper's Food apple fritter is. We went to an entertaining production of "The Taming of the Shrew" by Ballet Austin, and slept like babies that night.
We were in the car Saturday morning by 7 to visit the in-laws in Houston, where we spent the morning with my father-in-law, Buddy, and his wife Beverly. Next, we met my mother-in-law Linda for lunch at The Hobbit Cafe. I had an unforgettable seared tuna steak sandwich, with my generous cut "as raw as possible." Pregnant ladies aren't supposed to do that, but some of us only have so much self control. Mom stayed at the cafe and met up with 3 high school friends from Vietnam that she hadn't seen since 1975! The rest of us went shopping at The Village next to Rice University for a couple hours, before abducting Mom from the reunion to meet up with my brother-in-law Warren, his wife Christie, and our favorite nephews. A couple of hours down the road, we arrived at Black's Barbecue in Lockhart, and saw "Who's on First" at the Gaslight Baker Theater. My friend Celeste and her boyfriend Bill made up half the cast, and the play was great. Celeste seemed a little worried about the production, but it was funny, memorable, and one of the highlights of the day.
Sunday was our Austin day. We picked up breakfast from Taco Deli before attending church, where Dad sang a duet with my friend Malinda in lieu of the choral anthem. Mom ordered Vietnamese food for us at the Chinatown Center, and we topped it off with durian ice cream. It was time to visit a very empty Barton Springs; it was the first swim on the trip, and somehow, the weather dropped down into the 50s for the first afternoon since last year. I was very proud of Mom for getting in the cold water, and we celebrated with hot coffees before our 2.5 hour Hypnobirthing class. I couldn't believe Dad wanted to sit in for it, but he didn't seem too bored or uncomfortable. Afterwards, we saw "Frankenweenie" at the Alamo Drafthouse, and none of us liked it.
Monday was our last morning together. Again, it was in the 50s, and again, we jumped into cold water. This time, we were in the beautiful San Marcos River. The car heater felt great, and by the time we got home, we were toasty. Mom finished packing and had me cut her hair. George had to go back to work, so the three of us enjoyed a large eggplant pizza from Homeslice without him before the airport. It all happened so fast, but I'm glad they'll be back soon with my siblings to see the baby.
Nice write-up. We had a wonderful time. We miss you.
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