My Austin friends would not be surprised to learn that I still mostly shop at H-E-B (a huge Texas grocery chain). I think the South Congress store is closest to downtown Austin but my life tends toward north Austin and so does my grocery shopping. My favorite H-E-Bs are on Jollyville Road or Far West but I sometimes head to the East 41st Street store with my son and half of the UT student population. Some of you may have spotted me at the H-E-B in my old stomping grounds on Spicewood Springs Road but I will deny it.

Downtown Austin has a small convenient store chain called Royal Blue Grocery. All three stores are less than a 10-minute walk from our apartment. Prices are a bit expensive but these little stores carry a surprisingly wide variety of items. For example, one day I was in desperate need of a tomato for my lunchtime salad and ran over to the closest Royal Blue. There were only two tomatoes in their case, but hey, I only needed one.

About once a week Bill and I walk the mile or so over to Whole Foods on Lamar. This is their corporate headquarters as well as their flagship store. Whole Foods is a bit too expensive for a full grocery-shop, but excellent for picking up dinner or those irresistible mini-cupcakes that someone in my family loves. This store has lots of indoor cafes plus multiple salad bars and buffets. I feel certain that some downtown dwellers eat all their meals at this Whole Foods location. If we lived just a little closer, I would be tempted too… 

Pfluger Bridge is one of several bridges connecting the north and south sides of the Austin Hike and Bike Trail. This bridge spans Lady Bird Lake, which is the section of the (Texas) Colorado River which flows through the city of Austin. Pfluger Bridge carries pedestrian traffic only … plus strollers, skateboarders, roller skaters, cyclists, unicyclists and tight-rope walkers. 

Pfluger Bridge is a busy place. I guess people like to hang out up above water. The benches—and there are plenty of them—are usually full. Sometimes bands or musicians are playing. I’ve heard there are concerts here all night during South by Southwest. Photographers are attracted by the great view of the nearby railroad bridge and the downtown skyline. 

The northern access to the bridge has both stairs and a circular ramp to get to the trail. I tend to take the stairs to avoid the bicyclists zooming down the ramp. Sometimes an artist sets up an outdoor studio near the bottom of the stairs and paints scenes of downtown Austin. 

Back in early February the City of Austin opened an extension to the Pfluger Bridge which goes over the busy street of Cesar Chavez. The extension provides safer access to the trail from downtown. Due to the railroad tracks, you still have to walk along Lamar Boulevard to reach the Lamar-Sixth Street intersection with Whole Foods, BookPeople, Waterloo Records and other popular Austin destinations. At least the sidewalk along Lamar was widened so now you just have to worry about exhaust fumes.

From street level, the Pfluger Bridge extension looks rusty and doesn’t match the rest of the bridge. I am guessing that a) this design was cheaper or b) someone was trying to mimic the nearby railroad bridge. But the walkway on top is lined with dark wood strips which look like outdoor paneling. The wood dampens the street noises below and creates a very inviting entrance to the walkway.

Bill was very happy to hear this week that I LOVE living across the street from the Austin Hike and Bike Trail. This trail makes a ten-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake which separates downtown from South Austin. Most of the trail is packed-dirt/crushed-stone and easy to walk or ride on. The path is level, except for a few tiny upgrades, and more than wide enough for two-way traffic.

Round-trip from the Congress Avenue Bridge to the Roberta Crenshaw Pedestrian Walkway under the Mopac highway is over four miles. (Yes … that walkway has a name!) Often we just walk the shorter one-mile loop between the First Street Bridge and the Pfluger Bridge. This is also my running loop of choice.

Benches, gazebos, memorials and other interesting spots are scattered along the path. Restrooms and water fountains are located every-so-often. Run-Tex provides cold drinking water at two locations for thirsty runners, walkers and dogs. Much of the way is shaded during the summer months. And of course the lake views are great.

Friendly park rangers patrol the area on bikes during the daylight hours.There are very few lights so I wouldn’t want to use the trail after dark. But the sidewalks across the First Street bridge are well-lit so I feel very safe walking back by myself from concerts over at the Long Center.

Bill and I walk on the Hike and Bike Trail almost every day. If you come downtown for a walk, give us a call!