Lakeway Parks & Recreation Presents a 2021 Virtual Compass Treasure Hunt. Learn orienteering skills by using a compass to find your way to the hidden treasure! March 1, 2021 – March 21, 2021, Lakeway City Park – 502 Hurst Creek Road – Lakeway, TX 78734

Okay, so now we know what we are doing. We need to board the bus to get to the park. Once there we will have a great lunch. We have again decided to use the French Laundry in Yountville. Here is the menu.

Well, today is certainly gloomy. Here’s a shot of the fog in front of the house. Today’s trip is to see if we can find any trace of spring after our 144 hours of freezing temperatures. It looks like we will need to amp up the food, so we have hired The French Laundry in Yountville, California, to cater to our trip today. Thomas Keller has prepared a Chef’s tasting menu for your enjoyment.
“OYSTERS AND PEARLS”
“Sabayon” of Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and Regiis Ova Caviar
GOLDEN BEET “GAZPACHO”
Tomato Water “Gelée” and Fragrant Basil.
“BREAD AND BUTTER”
Bitter Cocoa Laminated Brioche and Diane St. Clair’s Animal Farm Butter.
CHILLED DUNGENESS CRAB
Brokaw Avocado Mousse, Cilantro Infused Olive Oil, “Salsa Cruda,” and Toasted Brioche.
SAUTÉED FILLET OF “LOUP DE MER”
Garden Broccoli “Ravioli” and Spanish Caper “Velouté.”
APPLEWOOD SMOKED LIBERTY FARMS PEKIN DUCK
Wilted Arrowleaf Spinach and “Sauce Diable.”
or
HAND ROLLED RICOTTA “AGNOLOTTI”
Cheese Rind “Consommé” and Shaved Périgord Black Winter Truffles.
ALL DAY BRAISED ELYSIAN FIELDS FARM LAMB
Rancho Gordo Pinquito Beans, Kettle Garlic “Béchamel,” San Marzano Tomato Marmalade and English Thyme Jus. or
“STEAK AND POTATOES”
Charcoal Grilled Japanese Wagyu, Russet Potato “Darphin,” La Ratte Potato Purée and Caramelized Onion “au Jus.”
“GOUGÈRE”
Andante Dairy “Etude” and Preserved Périgord Black Winter Truffle “Fondue.”
ASSORTMENT OF DESSERTS
Fruit, Ice Cream, Chocolate, and Candies.

For the red wine, we have a Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon Araujo, “Eisele Vineyard” 2009, and the white also from Napa Valley Kongsgaard, “The Judge” 2018.  Today’s entertainment is Bob Seger.

Hop on, and let’s get going.

The agaves took a real hit in the freezing weather. If you squeeze these points and they are solid, then your agave will survive. All the dead leaves need to be cut off.

This is new grass that was planted last month. Looks like it is doing well.

We need to go to the greenbelt to see the effects of the storm.

Ah ha. Some gladiolas are pushing up.

Here are some daffodil plants making an appearance. The deer have no doubt eaten the other blooms.

A broken juniper.

Here is one of my favorite places to contemplate.

I thought you would like to see and hear the water.

A cut juniper.

The origin of the cut.

Some lovely green moss on an oak tree

The lily pads are still there.

I never noticed this accommodation of the tree by the fence before.

Spillways look fine.

Looks like the bluebonnets have come up.

The poor cactus community was hard hit.

Here is an example of how the agaves need to be cut.

Here is a palm that has been given a haircut for survival.

A couple of trimmed sago palms.

That is the tour for today. Stay, eat and drink and listen to Bob. I hope you have a great week.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

I started out this week setting up a tour of the first signs of spring. The temps were in the high 60s, and I thought we would have another outdoor gathering. Well, Mother Nature fooled me. So this week, we will have to stay on the bus since the temperature is 25 degrees F (-3.8 C)

This calls for some real stick to the ribs kind of serving. For an appetizer, well have bacon-wrapped pepper poppers, potstickers with hot dipping sauce, and Miso soup. The main course is a choice of two. The first is old fashioned pot roast, oven browned potatoes, and candied carrots in brown gravy. The second is board carved seasoned turkey breast, mashed Yukon gold garlic potatoes, garden peas, savory gravy, and cranberry relish.  We have hot apple pie with whipped cream or hot chocolate souffle with brandy sauce for dessert.  Our wine selection is a 2018 Aubert Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast UV Vineyard for the red and a 2019 Invivo Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough X, Sarah Jessica Parker. Of course, all our top-shelf liquors are available.

Today’s entertainment is Meat Loaf.

So get on the bus, and off we go.

This will explain how come the original plan had to be altered. I think we were in the Spring of Deception and now in Third Winter.

We started out taking a look at some baby Bluebonnets.

Then to blooming Jasmine.

Cute little vincas

Then came the rain and freezing temperatures.

Mr. Fox is not pleased.

The olive tree and mountain laurel in the backyard

Close-up of the mountain laurel.

Ice-covered tree.

Back to the ice-covered jasmine.

Some junipers in trouble

Broken juniper.

The junipers seem to have had the most challenging time with ice. Here’s another.

Since today is Valentine’s Day, how about heart covered boxer shorts.

The first sign of spring is what we call myrtle murder, where the crape myrtles are severely trimmed. Here are three victims.

Well, that does the tour of ice land. Our temperatures are to stay in the high 20’s. Monday morning is forecasted to be 7 F (-13.8 C) degrees. We are not in Canada or Michigan, folks. We can’t handle this stuff. Enough of my complaints. Stay and have more food and listen to Meat Loaf.

This week is a Storybook Walk – Valentines edition. The book on the walk is “I’d Know You Anywhere My Love” by Nancy Tillman. We will be taking the bus to the Lakeway Activities Center and then disembark to have lunch on the walk grounds. We have a tent and electrical – hook-ups, so our meal will be hot where it needs to be hot and cold where it needs to be cold.

For an appetizer, we are serving cold stone crab and parm and tomato crostini. For the main course, you have a choice of Shrimp Étoufée, Dirty Rice, Roasted Brussels Sprouts. or Beef Wellingtondemi-glace, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, and broccolini.  Both are served with spinach Salad cranberries, feta cheese, candied pecans, heirloom tomatoes, and red wine vinaigrette. For dessert, we are offering warm turtle brownies, and tres leches cake. Home churned vanilla bean ice cream is available. In addition to the Top Shelf liquors, we are serving a 2016 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva for the red wine and a 2018 Hall Sauvignon Blanc Knights Valley for the white. Our entertainment for today will be The Seekers.

So hop on the bus, and let’s go. When we get there, we will take a stroll.

There’s the sign post.

The book cover.

A footbridge to cross

A pledge to know you no matter what you become.

Your smile will give you away.

The gleam in your eyes will be a tip-off.

How about your grin?

Or maybe your chinny chin.

A leftover from the Walk of Lights

A bench ready for Valentine’s Day.

Love messages in the trees.

A panda and giraffe being friends.

Messages left on the back of the Panda and Giraffe mural.

If you were a bear-cub.

I’d know you by your nose.

Your give away feet.

Your snowy owl wings say it’s you.

I would know your roar.

A lovely message for Valintine’s Day

Thank you for a visit. I couldn’t hope to show you all the pages of the book, but I hope you got a flavor. Now relax and have some food and drink and enjoy the Seekers.

Today we are going to see several things that are more or less random. We will need to get on the bus and make sure we have enough to eat and drink for this little excursion.

We will be having a choice of crispy chicken parm egg rolls or baked brie and sourdough crostini for the appetizer course. The main course today is either Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks or Coquilles Saint-Jacques. The lamb is served on a bed of garlic mashed Yukon gold potatoes and the Coquilles Saint-Jacques with jasmine rice. Both have a side of fresh steamed asparagus. There is brown betty with freshly churned ice cream or New York Style cheesecake drizzled with homemade dark chocolate sauce for dessert. In addition to top-shelf drinks, we have a 1981 Reata Chardonnay Sonoma Coast for the white wine and for red a 2017 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley.

Today’s entertainment is The Eagles.

Jump on the bus.

Our first stop in the park, and we have a shot of the shuffleboard. I know, I know pretty tame stuff.

Next is a view of a wren house ready for the next lodgers.

Check this out. A birdhouse that looks like a bunch of lights at the football stadium.

Another group of birdhouses imitating light fixtures.

I couldn’t help putting this one on the route. I hope he is happy to have that in his front yard for the weekend.

Another park and a giant chessboard. Anyone want to play?

Here is an outside photo of a bird blind.

An interior photo of the blind

This is the view from the blind.  Notice all the feeders around. I’ll bet there are some good pictures taken from here.

Another birdhouse on a pole with Lake Travis as a backdrop.

A rough birdhouse in the woods.

Well, that’s it for this tour. I hope you have a great week and will stay and have some more food and listen to the Eagles.

We are going on a scavenger hunt. Here is the objective today according to the Park and Rec instructions. 10 clocks are placed along the walking trails and facilities at Lakeway City Park. Each clock has a QR code attached. When you find a clock, use the camera on your cell phone to scan the QR code. This will connect you to an online information form. Fill out the online form, and your entry for that clock is complete. You get 1 entry into the prize drawing for EACH clock you find. There are 10 clocks total. Find them all, and you get 10 entries into the prize drawing! Submit all entries by midnight on January 31. The prize drawing will take place on February 1, and winners will be contacted the same day.

We need to be part of this virtual scavenger hunt. We will take the bus to the park and then set up our camp as a base. Of course, we will need food and drink to sustain us in the quest. Today we are serving as an appetizer hot clam chowder and puff pastry cheese puffs. The first entree choice is shrimp and grits with a side salad of assorted baby greens and french vinaigrette dressing. The second is beef wellington, oven-roasted potatoes, and grilled baby root vegetables. For dessert, we have assorted bites of napoleon, baklava, and miniature creme puffs (Yes, I got a special on puff pastry from Costco). In addition to top-shelf liquors, we have for a red a 2017 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley Three Palms Vineyard. For the white, a 2018 Hartford Court Chardonnay Russian River Valley.

So, hop on the bus. Our entertainment will be James Taylor today.

Here is the first clock on our hunt. It is labeled number one. It is in a nice place called the cactus garden.

We find number two at the volleyball court.

Number three is by the shelter.

Number four is a reminder to put it here.

Number five is on a pleasant footbridge in the hill.

Number six overlooks the marina.

Number eight is on the bird flyway.

Number nine is near the entrance and welcome center.

Number ten is in the trees at the dog park.

Well, that does it. We have completed the scavenger hunt. Now it is time for food and James Taylor.  What’s that you say? We missed number seven? You are so right. The Producer and I searched high and low. We walked the miles of trails, and the elusive number seven remained undescovered.  So let’s try to forget the oversight by stuffing ourselves. Here’s James and a wish for a super week.