Whistling Ducks

 

I came upon a large flock of Black Bottomed Whistling Ducks last month, in the most unlikely place.   Keegans Bayou, between Wilcrest and US 59.    The trail is dirt, the bayou is littered with partially submerged shopping carts, and the scenic back drop is the backs of a small strip center.    Yet, here were a large flock of ducks!    I recognize them as the ones you can spot all spring with their ducklings, trying to find their way to the bayou, because momma laid her eggs in my neighborhood without looking to see where the water is.    

I stop here to apologize for not having a picture from that day; I took a video that is too long to upload, and my tech savvy won’t let me edit a few frames.   I did find a shot from last Spring.  They have orange beaks and make more of whistle than a quack.

   Anyways, the ducks have moved on, but I expect them back this Spring.    When you see them leading their families along the bayou, don’t marvel too much at the size of the family.    Momma could be leading 24 ducklings – They are not all hers!    Right out of Dr Seuss, other Whistling Ducks are apt to lay their eggs in a nest that is already occupied!  Apparently, Duck-ologists (I made that up) have documented a nest of 100 eggs.    I don’t have my source, but talk to our friend Google for more info.    A nice thing about this part of Keegans Trail, in the South East corner of Alief, is the lush tree cover from which you can marvel at God’s creatures.    Don’t bother the campers who live under the freeway, they have never bothered me.

Odd and Ends

The Chimney Rock and S Rice bridges over Brays Bayou are almost complete, but only almost  Trying to ride a bike through the construction is interesting because even the trail detours have trail detours!  Don't know how much longer until the barricades come down, but at Chimney Rock, I would aim for Subway.   You can get a sandwich, but I had more in mind that heading South on Chimney Rock, you might go through the Subway parking lot, and if you need to cross the bridge from the West (good luck), hit the parking lot of the former HEB.   As you approach Subway, you will see a nice path right next to Chimney Rock.   Avoid construction equipment and take that across the bayou.

We cyclists are often asked why we ride.   My favorite, tried and true answer is "I ride for my health.   It's great exercise."   We say that with a straight face.   My favorite bit of nonsense is that we ride to decrease our carbon footprint.   OK.  Wait.   Huh?   Next you will say "totally tubular!"   Come on.   The real reason we ride is we are looking for something to eat, and we want the family to think we are so noble!    I offer Exhibit A.    3 Brothers Bakery on S Braeswood just West of Stella Link.   There is a City Ordinance that all cyclists must stop and buy at least a cookie!   Stay away from the BearClaw, unless you have 3 friends you can share it with.   Leftover BearClaw makes a mess in the saddle bag!

Now, for those who are nostalgic about 40-50 years ago, when Der Wienerschnitzel was in Houston - get on your bike at ArchBishop Fiorenza Park (Eldrdge Parkway by West Park Toll Road),  Your family will think you are getting fit.   Sure.   Ride West.   As you go around one of the man-made hills, you will see a parking lot.   Leave the park, turn left and ride to Highway 6.   Cross at the light, get your hot dogs or Polish Sandwich (my comfort food!) and you can be back in the park before your family misses you.   Puff and pant to let them know how hard you are working out!   For those who think I jest; from my house to Der Wienerschnitxel and back, on neighborhood streets, and the park, is 14 miles!    For a Polish Sandwich.   Worth every mile!   By the way, get ready to scratch your head, one of the menu boards lists "VEGGIE DOGS"    What is the world coming to>

At last week's meeting of Neighborhoods to Trails Southwest (NTTSW) we had a rather spirited discussion about the dangers lurking along the trail, specifically, where Keegans Trail crosses South Braeswood, and the weird way Brays Bayou Trail crosses the bayou at South Gessner.   We all know the average Houstonian wants nothing more than to pain a little silhouette of your bike just under the driver's window on that F-150 (I watch too many war movies), but here is a thought.   Keegans trail, at least Eastbound, has a stop sign directed at cyclists.   Now it's just a thought, but why don't we bikers follow traffic laws, as well as we expect motorists?   STOP.    look both ways.   Its not a blind intersection.    Don't play Frogger, wait for the traffic to clear, pedal to the median, and watch for traffic again.    I ride there about once a week.   I don't think the motorist is under any obligation to stop for us.    I think NTTSW is going to petition the city, county, state, the Empire, to erect something so we bikes can ride through this crossing.  OK, but in the meantime?    People - Houstonians think stop lights are only a suggestion.   As cyclists, we need to assume they want to hit us.    Don't be a target. 

And finally, this is my second blog post this week.   I have two more in draft form.   I you enjoy them, please comment at the bottom of the post, so that I may get the idea someone reads this mush.

 

Restrooms Along Brays Bayou Trail

For those of us who have been saying that we won’t live long enough to see the Brays Bayou Greenways Trail completed, let’s get our affairs in order, because the contractor is about to break ground!   Survey stakes marking the center of the pathway are going in now.  Brays Trail will be extended West from Braeburn Glen Park to Arthur Storey Park (west of Beltway 8) and then will continue West through Alief all the way to Eldridge Parkway.   The trail already meanders through ArchBishop Fiorenza Park and continues across Hwy 6 to the headwaters of Brays (not to be confused with the headwaters of the Nile, but that is another story!).   

One of the agencies that operate the trail got ahead of itself..   There has been, for several years now, a sign on Brays Trail, at South Gessner, pointing to Arthur Storey Park.    OK, so sign painting is a little less intensive than bull dozing and pouring concrete.    Along that line, let me offer a tour of restrooms to be found along the trail, including that part that has yet to be constructed.

I am a 69 year old, fat diabetic on a bicycle.   I make it a point to know where the closest restroom is, at all times.

Following the bayou almost to the ship channel, Mason Park offers restrooms in the community center.   The park itself is a very nice place to play and relax with friends and family.   Several miles upstream is MacGregor Park.   It also has a community center, but I have never found it open.   There are clean porta-potties in the parking lot.   There is also a B-Cycle station there.

Hermann Park has a number of restrooms, but the one closest to the Brays Trail is on Almeda on the East edge of the park.    Cross the Bill Coats bridge, take the Columbia Tap trail South to Dixie.   A very pleasant detour.

I have not found another public restroom for some distance, but many of us believe there is a city ordinance requiring all cyclists to stop at 3 Brothers Bakery, 3036 South Braeswood and buy a Hamantaschen, a delicious cookie shaped like a three-cornered hat.Everything else is good, but very filling!   Once you buy a cookie, you can use the restroom without guilt!

West of 610 Loop, construction is wrapping up on the South Rice and Chimney Rock bridges.  I estimate that the trail will be whole again this Spring.

Stein Family Park is a hidden gem, across the bayou next to United African Seventh Day Adventist Church on Brays Bayou Drive.   Clean restroom, about 20 parking spaces.   

Braeburn Glen Park, at the current Western end of Brays Bayou Trail. I think there are restrooms by the tennis courts

Now, assuming you are adventuresque, or don’t mind driving, Arthur Storey Park is one of the more used parks in Southwest Houston, located just South of the Home Depot, on Beltway 8.   Restroom is at the entrance to the park.

All the way West, and a wonderful gem of a park, is ArchBishop Fiorenza Park.   I am talking about the one West of Eldridge Parkway.  Restroom.   Extensive system of trails, in and outside the park.   There is a short stretch of trail on either side of the bayou, just Northeast of the park.   

I don't claim these are the only restrooms along the trail, but, aside from the bakery, all are open to the public. With the exception of Mason Park, I have used all these restrooms.