A Day at the Races

I'm a little behind on posting this because I couldn't get to the few pictures I had.  Every year for the last 18 years in Buda TX, they have the Weiner Dog Races in April. The Buda Lions Club sponsors the event and it is very popular. They have bleachers on two sides of the track and the third side is a hillside where people bring blankets or chairs to watch. They start the first heats on Saturday and continue on Sunday with the finals in the afternoon. They also have a parade on Saturday where you will see all sorts of dachshunds dressed to the nines. We didn't get to see that this year but we did go on Sunday.

My pictures aren't that great but you get the idea. Some people take this very seriously and they train for the event. Some just enter their dogs for the fun of it. They start behind the gate at the end and the owners stand at this end with a toy or treat or whatever they think it will take to get their dog to race down to them. It can be hilarious to watch as some dogs head out like greyhounds stretched to the max and fly down the track. Others saunter down like they are parading for their fans. Occasionally, one or two will wander around at the starting gate and their owners have to go get them.

The guy in the lead in this heat looks pretty serious.

This is not Harley....it is a little girl who was at the end near the finish line. It was absolutely hilarious because every time one of the heats took off, she would bark and howl and stick her head through the fence like she was the head cheerleader. Everyone around us was laughing hysterically at her antics. She was having a ball even though she was not racing.

 

 

There are hundreds of dachshunds walking around the grounds and booths selling all kinds of things both dog related and not. You will see about every type of dachshund there is. Of course, some people think they need to bring their other breeds too but it really is Dachshund day.

The End of the Willow Loop

Normally, the Texas Hill Country looks drier and more rocky like this.

You will still see the cacti once the wildflowers have faded.

But for now, for about a month, color is rampant.

Sometimes the swathes of color are wide and thick.

Sometimes they are singly dotted here and there.

These meadow down below are covered in white flowers.

A perfect tree archway. I had to snap quickly to avoid getting cars in the pictures.

Nearing the end of the loop.

Just turning back onto Hwy 16. Wish I had time to go further up to Llano. The flowers are usually think along that stretch of 16. Alas, I must go left back towards Fredericksburg. I think I will find some other country roads to travel on my way home.

I hope you enjoyed the wildflower tour.....I know I did. I wish they lasted all year but then I guess they wouldn't be so special. Until later.

Wander Through the Wildflowers

I hope you aren't becoming too bored with my wildflower series.

Rain raises the shallow creeks enough to make them flow across the road.

This is one of my favorite views.

People do have to be reminded not to tromp through the flowers.

We are almost done. I think there is one more post.

Wild About Wildflowers

Brilliant blue blossoms with bright green foliage.

The yellow daisies are out in full force too.

Some pretty little winecups mixed in along with some other pink flowers and bluebonnets.

There were a lot of tall white flowers in the distance here.

Tiny little perfect specimens.

 

A perfect little meandering lane.







The mesquite trees are still very bright green and contrast so nicely with the flowers.

Up and down, round and round we slowly cruised the lane taking in all the beauty it had to offer.

Come back for more in a day or two.