Road Trip Report: Water

In Bakersfield, we take a certain pride in the stoic manner with which we greet our robust summer weather. "110 degrees in the shade? No biggie--it's a DRY heat." Sarah would no doubt agree that the residents of St. George face similar weather with equal bravado. And yet we both took a beat-down from the San Antonio weather. As proof of the hardship we faced on zoo day, I took a picture of the temperature gauge on Emily's stroller:

The thing you need to know is that it was NOT a dry heat. The humidity was 40% and higher. Apparently, people who live there get accustomed to it, but Sarah and I really suffered. My body became a separate climate zone--rain forest. Small children standing under me were at risk of drowning in sweaty flash floods. It was not a pretty picture. Hence, you will see no pictures of me. And this is why water became such an important element in much of what we did.

Tuesday was our day in Brackenridge Park. In the morning, we visited the Japanese Tea Gardens which are very beautiful. They were built in an old limestone quarry and feature many levels of steps (more sweating), bridges, overlooks and several water features. After a picnic lunch, we did the zoo. I swear, that entire facility is built on an incline. I don't know how they did it--a feat of engineering madness. The steepest part was the path to Africa. At one point I thought I would have to stay and just become one of the permanent residents. Then we found the hippo exhibit...underground...air conditioned. We grew VERY attached to the hippos. We couldn't ignore the other animals so, armed with snow cones and popsicles, we made the rounds. Does she look hot to you? What IS the penalty for cooking children?The San Antonio Zoo is ranked as one of the top ten zoos in the country. It's a very nice zoo, but what sets them apart for me is that they have THEIR OWN BEACH!!! At the end of a summer visit, you don't have to get into the car with children who are super glue sticky from sweat and melting sugary treats; you can let them play in the man-made river, shower them off in the outside shower, then get them re-dressed in the air conditioned kids' building. It was like finding an ice machine in hell! On Friday, we packed another picnic and headed over to Guadalupe River State Park, which is only about twenty minutes from Emily and Eric's house. The river is wide and shallow, with beach on one side and limestone cliffs on the other. There are lots of trees and shade which made for a very pleasant afternoon watching the kids play in the water.

Of course, the biggest reason for our trip to San Antonio was to attend Abby's baptism, which was held on Saturday, June 20th. It was a beautiful, spiritual occasion. Abby is such a good girl and we are very proud of her for choosing to be baptized. She is setting a wonderful example for her sisters (and for one of her uncles.)It was a great trip. Emily and Eric are fine hosts and Sarah, Ashton and Alvie are fine travelling companions. It was good to go and good to get home and find all well here (Thank you, Aubrey!)