They say the third time’s the charm. For the last two Mondays, bad weather has prevented the Brackenridge Belles and Bitches from doing their thing. Not today. Six ladies and two dogs clocked 2.48 miles, burning off some 168 calories each.
According to Belle Mary Lil Chappell’s pedometer, that totals more than 6,000 steps per person. Now I’m not a math whiz, but I figure since Chica and I are at least eight times shorter, that would make nearly 50,000 steps for us dogs. And that’s not taking into account that we have twice as many legs. Problem is I don’t know whether to divide or multiply by two to come with the correct number of steps for us. Any ideas?
We started our hour-plus walk at the home of Brackenridge Belle Sally Buchanan, whose home is more or less surrounded by the Park. After showing us her striking Turkish-tiled bath and kitchen, she led us across the BP golf course to the entrance of the massive underground tunnel that carries water under the city to prevent downtown flooding.
On the way back we walked along the Catalpa-Pershing ditch, passing the back of what was Butter Krust Bakery, soon to be the new headquarters of C. H. Guenther and Sons. There were enough construction workers renovating it to warrant a mobile food truck.
Sadly, the ladies didn’t patronize the traveling food truck so we didn’t get any leftovers. But looking on the bright side, given our size relative to the ladies, we must have burned more than 1,344 calories apiece. Or is it 2,688? Any ideas?
Monday, February 20, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Back on Track--in the Park
On Monday four Brackenridge Belles and two bitches walked in the park. It was the first foray of the New Year, following a two-month holiday hiatus. The walk was long, from the Zoo to the golf bridge (Mary Lil clocked 2.2 miles), but conversation never lagged. Honestly I can’t imagine how the Belles can find so many things to yammer about.
But then the ladies probably can’t imagine why we dogs need to savor every scent that the park has to offer. Infuriatingly, we have to inhale quickly, since they are always urging us on. One of the ladies expressed wonder at how we never flagged. Well duh. We have twice as many legs, even if they are shorter. And, we don’t tire ourselves talking.
When we get home we can usually summon up the energy to have a fine fight, complete with growling and bared teeth. Of course it's only theater. But it seems to fascinate our mistress, who never tires of taking pictures of our skirmishes.
But then the ladies probably can’t imagine why we dogs need to savor every scent that the park has to offer. Infuriatingly, we have to inhale quickly, since they are always urging us on. One of the ladies expressed wonder at how we never flagged. Well duh. We have twice as many legs, even if they are shorter. And, we don’t tire ourselves talking.
When we get home we can usually summon up the energy to have a fine fight, complete with growling and bared teeth. Of course it's only theater. But it seems to fascinate our mistress, who never tires of taking pictures of our skirmishes.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Pura Vida: Keep it Going...
Now that Chica and I are back home I’m getting over my pique at being left at the vet’s. While master and mistress gadded about Costa Rica for a week, I had to endure both a cage and Chica's high pitched barks. When Mary finally came to pick us up, one of the keepers commented, “the little one sure does bark a lot.” Amen.
.
Meanwhile Mary and Lewis were living the good life in the country whose motto is "pure vida." They visited three volcanoes, rafted down the Sarapaqui River, camped in tents at the Hacienda Pozo Azul eco resort, and walked through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. My mistress wrote an article about the trip for the San Antonio Express-News. You can check out the story on the mysanantonio.com website or go to: http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/travel/article/COSTA-RICA-PuraVida-2494571.php
Chica and I are hoping some of the pura vida outlook has taken hold, since Lewis and Mary are paying more attention to us. Maybe I shouldn’t complain so much when they travel, assuming they go to a place that has the right motto.
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Meanwhile Mary and Lewis were living the good life in the country whose motto is "pure vida." They visited three volcanoes, rafted down the Sarapaqui River, camped in tents at the Hacienda Pozo Azul eco resort, and walked through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve. My mistress wrote an article about the trip for the San Antonio Express-News. You can check out the story on the mysanantonio.com website or go to: http://www.mysanantonio.com/life/travel/article/COSTA-RICA-PuraVida-2494571.php
Chica and I are hoping some of the pura vida outlook has taken hold, since Lewis and Mary are paying more attention to us. Maybe I shouldn’t complain so much when they travel, assuming they go to a place that has the right motto.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Of Maple Trees and Foxes' Tails
The Brackenridge Belles didn’t walk in the park the Monday of Thanksgiving week. Which is A.O.K., given that Chica and I had the walk of our lives that Friday.
We spent the holiday in the country with our master and mistress and their two sons. William and his wife, Mariana, have two small children; Maverick has two big dogs. All of us savored the organic, never-frozen bird that Maverick bought, brined and baked for family and friends. Among them was one of the Belles, Pat Semmes, whose husband was in Europe. I really liked her dog, J. D., but for some reason Chica took an instant dislike to him and drove us crazy barking.
The next morning we drove up to Utopia, about half an hour from Tarpley, to see the maples in full color at Lost Maples State Natural Area. The nice thing is that us dogs are welcome there, as long as we are on leashes. And believe me that is a comfort when a matched pair of Dobermans like the ones we saw comes your way.
At first, we strolled along the short path in the canyon where most of the maples stand. Then, Maverick, his dogs, and Lewis and Mary decided to take what they believed to be a slightly longer loop. Six miles later, we staggered back down from the top of the mountain in a rising wind. Amazingly none of us slipped on the treacherous trail. But make no mistake: we were pooped.
In fact, we were barely in better shape than the dead fox Mary picked up by the side of the road to show everyone. Unfortunately she learned from a taxidermist that since it’s not winter coat time, the hide isn’t worth tanning. It was a beautiful animal nonetheless, roughly my size and coloration but with a far fuzzier tail.
We spent the holiday in the country with our master and mistress and their two sons. William and his wife, Mariana, have two small children; Maverick has two big dogs. All of us savored the organic, never-frozen bird that Maverick bought, brined and baked for family and friends. Among them was one of the Belles, Pat Semmes, whose husband was in Europe. I really liked her dog, J. D., but for some reason Chica took an instant dislike to him and drove us crazy barking.
The next morning we drove up to Utopia, about half an hour from Tarpley, to see the maples in full color at Lost Maples State Natural Area. The nice thing is that us dogs are welcome there, as long as we are on leashes. And believe me that is a comfort when a matched pair of Dobermans like the ones we saw comes your way.
At first, we strolled along the short path in the canyon where most of the maples stand. Then, Maverick, his dogs, and Lewis and Mary decided to take what they believed to be a slightly longer loop. Six miles later, we staggered back down from the top of the mountain in a rising wind. Amazingly none of us slipped on the treacherous trail. But make no mistake: we were pooped.
In fact, we were barely in better shape than the dead fox Mary picked up by the side of the road to show everyone. Unfortunately she learned from a taxidermist that since it’s not winter coat time, the hide isn’t worth tanning. It was a beautiful animal nonetheless, roughly my size and coloration but with a far fuzzier tail.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Another Bridge Across
It was perfect walking weather on Monday, not too hot not too cold. Perhaps that’s why the Brackenridge Belles broke their record by more than half a mile. Mary Lil’s pedometer noted that there were 6,481 steps taken, totaling 2.38 miles. Of course the steps were human ones. Who knows how many Chica and I took, considering both the length and number of legs we have?
Where did we go to cover so much territory? Starting at the Zoo we crossed the San Antonio River and headed to the Frog Bridge on Mulberry. New member Sally Buchanan informed us there’s another bridge crossing the Catalpa-Pershing ditch, decorated by the same artist, Diana Kersey. It's near the Brackenridge Park Golf Course headquarters, which we learned has a mini-museum featuring luminaries who have played on the course. I say "we" because they were gracious enough to let us pups in.
While the frog bridge has ceramic plaques in shades of green celebrating their life cycle, the golf course bridge’s plaques celebrate the game. A profile of a golfer, a portrait of the course’s designer, and an image of a little dog named Queenie are depicted in shades of orange. (Chica and I liked the look of Queenie and wondered if she had been a golfer’s mascot.) There’s also a portrait of philanthropist George Brackenridge. The whimsical bridge joins the list of San Antonio’s hidden jewels.
The five of us made our way back to the zoo along the periphery of the golf course and an unimproved stretch of the river. My mistress begged Sally, who was just reelected to the San Antonio River Authority, to make sure no one “improves” that section of the river, as its primeval aspect harks back to before there was a Brackenridge Park. Or Brackenridge Belles and Bitches for that matter.
Where did we go to cover so much territory? Starting at the Zoo we crossed the San Antonio River and headed to the Frog Bridge on Mulberry. New member Sally Buchanan informed us there’s another bridge crossing the Catalpa-Pershing ditch, decorated by the same artist, Diana Kersey. It's near the Brackenridge Park Golf Course headquarters, which we learned has a mini-museum featuring luminaries who have played on the course. I say "we" because they were gracious enough to let us pups in.
While the frog bridge has ceramic plaques in shades of green celebrating their life cycle, the golf course bridge’s plaques celebrate the game. A profile of a golfer, a portrait of the course’s designer, and an image of a little dog named Queenie are depicted in shades of orange. (Chica and I liked the look of Queenie and wondered if she had been a golfer’s mascot.) There’s also a portrait of philanthropist George Brackenridge. The whimsical bridge joins the list of San Antonio’s hidden jewels.
The five of us made our way back to the zoo along the periphery of the golf course and an unimproved stretch of the river. My mistress begged Sally, who was just reelected to the San Antonio River Authority, to make sure no one “improves” that section of the river, as its primeval aspect harks back to before there was a Brackenridge Park. Or Brackenridge Belles and Bitches for that matter.
Friday, November 11, 2011
From Politicians to Pedometers
On Monday, four belles and two bitches reveled in autumn air as crisp as an apple as they walked for an hour in Brackenridge Park. Sally Buchanan, who lives near the Park, joined us for the first time. It was election day and she was on the ballot for the San Antonio River Authority board. That night, we learned she had won in a landslide.
Another office holder who joined us was Susan Gragg, mayor of Olmos Park. Chica and I had been missing her and were happy to see her again since she is a confirmed dog lover, as evidenced by the dog statues in front of her house that she dresses up seasonally.
Mary Lil Chappell clocked us on her pedometer. Our route from the Zoo to the Sunken Garden, up to Alpine Drive, down past the Sunken Garden Theater and back to the Zoo was 1.6 miles. That's a bit less than the 1.8 we walked one week, but it gave us dogs a smidgen more time to savor the riot of scents that abound in the Park. Can’t wait for Monday to roll around again so we can show off the new fleece sweaters Mary bought us. Girlie girls that we are, we LOVE new clothes.
Another office holder who joined us was Susan Gragg, mayor of Olmos Park. Chica and I had been missing her and were happy to see her again since she is a confirmed dog lover, as evidenced by the dog statues in front of her house that she dresses up seasonally.
Mary Lil Chappell clocked us on her pedometer. Our route from the Zoo to the Sunken Garden, up to Alpine Drive, down past the Sunken Garden Theater and back to the Zoo was 1.6 miles. That's a bit less than the 1.8 we walked one week, but it gave us dogs a smidgen more time to savor the riot of scents that abound in the Park. Can’t wait for Monday to roll around again so we can show off the new fleece sweaters Mary bought us. Girlie girls that we are, we LOVE new clothes.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Calorie Counting. Not.
Today, three Brackenridge Belles and two bitches walked through the park and the adjacent River Road neighborhood. The weather was perfect, and although the ladies didn’t really give us dogs much time for sniffing, Chica and I adored the outing anyway.
Ann clocked 3,457 steps taken in an hour’s time, equaling 1.534 miles. It was the first time she had used a pedometer app on her iPhone and she didn’t know to turn it off while the ladies savored some luscious almond croissants from the Olmos Park Bistro afterward. Hence the average mph came to a puny 1.6. I'm sure the calorie intake (not by us as the ladies shared nary a crumb with the canines) surely was way more than the calories walked off.
But who's counting? When Mary Lil mentioned the croissants’ richness at the Olmos Park bakery where she bought them, they came back with “but almonds are so good for you.” Just wish they'd said almonds were good for dogs, too.
Ann clocked 3,457 steps taken in an hour’s time, equaling 1.534 miles. It was the first time she had used a pedometer app on her iPhone and she didn’t know to turn it off while the ladies savored some luscious almond croissants from the Olmos Park Bistro afterward. Hence the average mph came to a puny 1.6. I'm sure the calorie intake (not by us as the ladies shared nary a crumb with the canines) surely was way more than the calories walked off.
But who's counting? When Mary Lil mentioned the croissants’ richness at the Olmos Park bakery where she bought them, they came back with “but almonds are so good for you.” Just wish they'd said almonds were good for dogs, too.
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