Enroute to lunch Jean spotted this menagerie. I wonder why the people next door are selling.

Seems like a couple of time of year Barton Creek will flood. Here are some shots from the latest time. The falls below Barton Springs Pool. Note that the fence is missing.

One of our favorite summer activities is attending the Latino Moonlight Serenade on Town (Ladybird) Lake. The Texas Rowing Center (TRC) puts on the event once a month April through September when the moon is full. A couple of hours before sunset the musicians launch on a barge and attendees follow along kayaks, canoes and paddle boards as the band plays. The barge stops frequently and people are encouraged to come up and and dance.   

Jean faux fishing  Preparing Friday dinner Hobo dinners on the grill So, how many engineers does it take to put up a tent? On Saturday, some of us opted for a swim hike. The swim was 3/4 mile across Lake Georgetown. Jean went escorted us in a kayak.  Safe arrival on the opposite bank. Matthew returning with the kayak. Jean and Currell on the hike back Crossing the dam A pitched game of Quantum post swim hike Veggie kabobs on the grill as part of Saturday dinner. King of Tokyo The meteorologists had been threatening rain all weekend long. Rain, thunder, lightning and some high winds finally arrived Sunday mid-morning. Jean and I threw everything in the car and made a rather undignified retreat.    

On rare Tuesday night we went to go see the Staves at Emos. The Staves are a folk rock trio of sisters from England. Jean was in an amateur theater group with two of the sisters in secondary school (high school). It was well worth staying out past my bed time.    

Returning from the Community Table, I hopped on my bike and rode down town to join Jean and my Mom at a rally at the Capitol protesting the new presidential administration's initiative to ban refugees from several countries and build/reinforce a border wall with Mexico. There were some thoughtful and pretty civil speeches. I especially like hearing from some refugees who came from countries on the proposed ban list.   

Starting out the Christmas season at the Zilker Tree lighting

Summer is on it's way out. ...Well summer events are wrapping up at least. If memory serves, it will feel like summer for a while longer. Blues on the Green finished up early August. Two Tons rang out out the last Summer in the Park concert in San Marcos mid month. Jean and I caught the last Latin serenade on Town Lake the day after. The Austin Symphony had there last concert in the park this weekend. I'm look forward to a little lull in September before Autumn begins in earnest. Two Tons of Steel at Summer in the Park A good turn out for the last concert Latin Serenade on Town Lake Threatening rain at the Austin Symphony on the lawn

The  usual suspects Mid way through the show a pretty good fire began to rage on the barge. Fortunately, a fire crew was able to keep it under control.

Our friend and hiking buddy Ben along with some of his friends visited us this weekend. Over the last few months we'd been trying to organize a hike but have kept having scheduling and weather conflicts. Well, a very wet spring quickly gave way to a very hot early summer. From mid June through September I typically pass on hikes and stick to river and lakes but Ben still wanted to go on a ramble and thus we ended up on a swim/hike along Barton Creek. Barton Creek is flowing with a vengeance right now Hanging out at Sculpture Falls. Board gaming in the evening  

El Niño has given up and summer is upon us. It was all blue sky on Sunday so we decided to take Nicci tubing on the San Marcos River. The current was more brisk than it has been in summers past but the water was as cool and clear as ever. Returning from the river Jean and Nicci put together a picnic dinner and then it was off to Symphony on the Lawn at the Long Center.