I thought I was in Europe, but

I thought I was in Europe for a moment, except the bicyclists were so courteous. I was on the River Trail in Kerrville, Texas, which resembled urban trails in Europe I’ve walked. My pre-pandemic plan was to be on my third day of walking Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome, but here I was, walking from the Riverside Nature Center toward Louise Hays Park.

Guadalupe River trail crossing to Tranquility Island

The trail is 10 feet wide, enough for bicycles and people and strollers and social distancing. The total length is about 5 miles, and it has several entry points with good parking.

Tranquility Island interpretative signage

The Guadalupe River is lined with huge cypress trees, in some areas backed up by giant pecans. This is an altogether delightful walk; the perfect ending would be a beer and sandwich at the Pint & Plow Brewing Company, only 1/2 mile from our start but at this point drive through only. Austin has a great connected trail system, and San Antonio has the Missions Trail.  Fredericksburg has some short trails, one day I hope we connect them. My AirBnb guests very often walk into downtown, and it is one of the reasons they choose to say with me.

Walking for fun is getting popular again.

Kerrville River Trail

UPDATE: I walked the Kerrville Riverside Trail again, this time dropping a car at Riverside Nature Center and parking the other car at Kerrville-Schreiner Park. The trail guide didn’t mention this, but there is a free parking lot at the Kerrville-Schreiner Park accessed off of Veterans Highway (Loop 534) via Legion Crossing Road East. If you park inside the park there is a fee, although it is only $2 for seniors. There is a locked gate between the park and the free parking lot, and you are given a code for the gate when you get your entrance permit. It is much simpler to park in the free parking lot. The distance was 3.8 miles total, the first two miles were the same 10 foot wide paved trail; although the scenery wasn’t as spectacular as the western section, it was fine and lightly travelled.