邦内尔山- Mountain Bonnell

邦内尔山其实是位于奥斯丁市区的一座小山丘，它海拔775英尺， 因而被认为是奥斯丁的最高点。 沿着99个台阶拾阶而上到达山顶的凉亭， 这里是理想的野餐地点。从凉亭往左走，奥斯丁的都市风景在你眼前展开。从凉亭往右沿着自然岩石形成的小路下山，一路可以观赏着美丽的奥斯丁河，还有河两岸的红墙绿瓦。邦内尔山无疑是人们逃避都市喧闹的一个理想的歇息地。

山顶的凉亭


从凉亭上观赏脚下的奥斯丁湖


凉亭左面的都市风光


秀丽多姿的奥斯丁湖


不知道是啥“组织”在这留影拍照，给他们来一张， 谁让他们挡住了好风景


河两岸的豪宅




快到山底了，再给美丽的奥斯丁河留个影


下山的路



从邦内尔山下来后，不妨去一下一英里外的梅菲尔德公园。这是一个宁静的都市港湾。它有一个两英亩的农舍花园。高耸的棕榈树，悠闲灿烂的孔雀和精美的睡莲，所有这一切自然和谐地融合在一起。公园内还有21英亩的自然保护区，步行小径和野生动物栖息地。

农舍公园内



悠闲的孔雀，可惜没对我开屏


河边的小屋




小径通幽处


无名（对我来说）小果实

凯映湖峡谷 - Canyon Lake Gorge

凯映湖峡谷是一条美丽的天然峡谷。２００２年德州发大水。湖水漫过溢洪道，切出了这条峡谷。凯映湖大坝建于１9５８年，　凯映湖于１９６３年形成。为了保护大坝，美国军方工程队于１９６８年建了一条溢洪道。一直到２００２年，这条溢洪道才真正派上了用场。人们一直好奇大水漫过溢洪道后的走向，这回也得到了印证。　凯映湖峡谷简直就是地质和水文动态的天然实验室。随处可见各种动植物的化石，还有恐龙的足迹。
从奥斯丁开车去峡谷只需１小时１５分钟。这里是联邦政府的地盘，私人不可随便进入，得参加志愿者带领的参观团。我们从溢洪道一直走到峡谷的尽头。全程大约５里。谷地的清泉衬托着两岸鬼斧神工般的石灰岩墙壁，自身在峡谷中仿佛回到了那远古的时代，　隐约听到了恐龙的脚步声。。。

这就是凯映湖的一角，左边是溢洪道口



恐龙的足迹：


走下溢洪道，进入峡谷


化石


见到了清泉


美丽清澈的泉水





泉水里还有鱼


一泓秋水


快到了峡谷的尽头


小桥流水没有人家



再多看几张化石的照片

Camping at Colorado Bend State Park

In a weekend in early May, we went to camp at Colorado Bend State. It was the best time of year for camping and all kinds of outdoor activities in Texas.
In the first day, we rented kayaks and paddled all the way to the Gorman Falls. We climbed to the Fall from the river bend. It was so slippery that we slided back to the river again and again. The fall was even more beautiful with more water brought by the heavy rain we had in that week. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. I didn't want to drop my brand new Nikon camera in the river the first day I used it :). After a good rest at the fall, we paddled back to the camping site during the sunset. After a nice and hot BBQ fajita dinner, we sitted around the camp fire and began making S'more, and cracking jokes. I have to mention an usual experience I had that night. A few wild animals got into the food in one of the coolers, and began a fight just outside our tents. They were roating, groaning and tearing bags...I was scared to death and tried to squeeze myself to the middle of the tent. I was afraid they would accidently chopped my head of foot off :(.
In the second day, we hiked the Spicewood Spring trail. A beautiful creek with crystal clear water accompanied us all the way to the river bend. I took lots of picture during the hike. Here is just a few of them: