Birthday Shenanigans in the Great ATX — Day Five & Aftermath

Wednesday - 21 May 2025

Holy Mother of Hag Stones!

As I was putting my suitcase and stuff into my car, I checked out the small stone field in front of the Vbro, because, as a lot of folks may know, I cannot resist checking out the rocks in the area. So you can image my surprise and delight when I discovered that there were several hag stones in the area. Not only that, these were some really great specimens!

To say that I was excited and elated was an understatement!

There was even a bonus specimen that contained fossilized seashells in this collection of rocks. 

Anyhow, now you can see why I was kicking myself for not having taken the time to carefully look over the rocks in the backyard. I wonder how many more hag stones and fossils I would have found. Here's all the more reason to book this same Vbro next year - even with the lingering aroma of stale cigarette smoke. 

Ariana and Chris showed up just before I checked out. After checkout, we drove (in our separate vehicles) to The Austin Shaker to pick up some "supplies." These are spirits that are not easily available in my area. And while most of them would be available at a liquor store that is a bit over half an hour drive (without traffic), the Katún Gin, a most delightful gin the the Yucatán, is not available at all (at least not that I have been able to find out so far). And that is such a pity, because with its clean and bright citrus notes, it has easily become my favorite gin.

After picking up supplies, it was a short drive to Cosmic Saltillo for the necessary morning caffeine. 

We wound up taking our beverages to the upper level, which had a nice view.

I was thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to see a CapMetro train. It was interesting to see that the trains operate with the couplers out at both ends.

Of course, since I deal with trains every day, while I am at work, I was interested in this rail system and the trains used on the Cap Metro alignment in Austin. I was also interested in the train that was used.

 

While I am familiar with Seimans and CAF trains, the Stadler GTW, the hybrid train used in Austin's rail system, is altogether a different animal. 

(BTW, in the CAF link, there's a photo of one of the CAF trains in downtown Houston.)

After the coffee shop, it was time to say goodbye to Ariana and Chris, and it was time to hit the road. It was a 3-hour drive back, and I needed to first stop at Town & Country Grooming and Boarding to pick up Alice and Domingo first, before heading home.

As I was unpacking, I was shocked to see the state of my leopard ballet flats. How did I not notice that when I was packing? Maybe it was because I immediately shoved them into a plastic bag when I got back to the Vbro, after that very busy Monday night of bat hopping. Such a pity these shoes got wrecked, because they were my favorite "dress up" pair of shoes, as they were very comfortable as well as nice looking.

I mentioned to Ariana what happened to my shoes. Shortly afterwards, she sent me the photo of one of the missing soles that she happened to find in her apartment.

Now to find another smart pair of leopard ballet flats...