Friday, May 20, 2016

Riverwalk Trail -- San Antonio, Texas

One of us had a programming conference to attend in San Antonio, so the other one tagged along. Accommodations were at the Drury Plaza Riverwalk hotel.


It's in the former Alamo National Bank building that was built in 1929.  A bank built in 1929? Wild.

Super cool Art Deco ambience. 


Even the elevators are vintage

The view from our room looked over the Alamodome.

It seems like the weather has been following us on our trips lately.

Enjoying our 5:30 kickback courtesy of Drury. 

A Cape Cod for her. 

Warm beer for him. 

After imbibing our "free" beverages, dinner with the conference group was at the Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse. She had the wedge salad and a very tasty grilled sirloin. 

On Friday afternoon since the weather was a beautiful 80 degrees, we decided to go for a bike ride using the B-cycles rented from the "Flores at Cesar Chavez" station.

We rode along the Mission Trail

Historical marker along the trail.

This house was right across the river from this marker.  Guenther's house? We have no idea. 

Part of the trail runs along the abandoned MKT (Katy) railroad line ....

.... in an area called Southtown where condos and apartment buildings were being built around the old grain elevator and silos.

 The old grain elevator is the red brick building.
 Down the hill a little ways from the Southtown apartment area the trail when under this active railroad.








See the active train?  After snapping this picture I proceeded on with my ride. Note to self: Let's not ride under railroad trestles while trains roll along overhead, because rocks fall from trains sometimes.  Luckily it was off to the side of the trail.

























































Lone Star Brewery





























We Biked down to Steves Avenue!  

















































Random riding pictures.































We turned around at Concepcion Park and rode back to the B-cycle dock. Had a nice 7-1/2 mile ride.


Next day it was time to head home. I just had to take a picture of this cool sculpture made from suitcases at the San Antonio airport.

According to a friend of mine who is knowledgeable about vintage "stuff", this is a wheel of Samsonite Streamlite. And she approves.
 
Waiting to board our plane.

















































Eating at TGI Friday's during our 3-hour layover in Dallas.



Right beside the Levi's sign was this little gem which caused a lengthy conversation between the two computer programmers at the table.  (Hint: I was not one of them.)





4 comments:

  1. I loved this blog entry and especially the video at the end. Are you taking that video with your phone or did you have a Go Pro? I had no idea that such a lovely place was so close to where our conference was! I haven't ridden a bike in 30 years but I can see why you two love it so much. It was great to see you both in San Antonio. The programming content was great but the friendship was better. A year to wait before the next one is too long!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All the video from this ride was shot with just a little Sony point and shoot camera that I held in my hand as I rode. For video we often use a Contour Roam (similar to a GoPro in function but not in design) that mounts on our handlebars, but since we were riding rental bikes we didn't bring it on this trip.

      Looking forward to riding in Boston and seeing the "whole gang" next year. So glad I got to meet such a neat group of people and get together for our yearly pow-wows (even though I have no idea what you all are saying when you talk programming!) LOL

      Delete
    2. All the video from this ride was shot with just a little Sony point and shoot camera that I held in my hand as I rode. For video we often use a Contour Roam (similar to a GoPro in function but not in design) that mounts on our handlebars, but since we were riding rental bikes we didn't bring it on this trip.

      Looking forward to riding in Boston and seeing the "whole gang" next year. So glad I got to meet such a neat group of people and get together for our yearly pow-wows (even though I have no idea what you all are saying when you talk programming!) LOL

      Delete
  2. I have news for you. I don't know what they are talking about half the time either! ;)

    ReplyDelete