Friday night, we went dancing at Midnight Rodeo. As Michael and George didn't arrive until much later and Brian refused to dance, we three girls actually did more watching than dancing, but it was still a great time. Scott saved a dance for me and one for Brandy. The Eli Young Band gave a concert during the later hours.
Brian, Melissa, Scott, and Amy at Midnight Rodeo
Cypress Valley
Amy works at a zipline tour company called Cypress Valley in the hill country outside Austin. Saturday morning, Amy gave us an eco-tour through the canopy, which included such survival skills as how to find fresh spring water and which plants serve as good toilet paper. The zipline cables are attached to the trees in a very environmentally friendly way and serve as another educational point. The existence of such ziplines allows people to make a profit without commercially developing the land, or in the tropical regions, without burning the rainforest to gain a few years of farmland.
Up in the trees
Flying through the treetops
Say, "Cheese!"
Amy unclipping George
Amy ready to catch Brian
George, Brian, and Michael
Melissa zipping
Michael zipping
Michael meets Amy on the platform
Michael, George, and Melissa at lunch break
Michael didn't have enough of the trees during our zipline tour
Watching the ducks swim
The one litle duck with a feather in his back
Challenge Course
The best part of the zipline tour came after lunch when we flew through the Canopy Challenge, which included a ropes course followed by a superman-style zip. The challenge area consisted of three paths of varying difficulty (each path comprised of multiple elements). We split up to begin with so that we wouldn't all be waiting on each other to do the same things, but we were still able to watch everyone else (at least when we weren't concentrating on our own element). I started off with the medium-difficulty path, but Michael, Brandy, George, and Brian all began with the hardest path. While I was waiting for them, I had time to complete both of the other two paths. At the end, I was able to do the last part of the hardest path (the hourglass), but there was no time for me to attempt the most difficult element of that track (the ship's pass). I don't have regrets, though, because the people who crossed the ship's pass were too worn out to try the other tracks.
Michael walking across the wobbly bridge
Brian on the ship's pass
The ship's pass is essentially a tightrope with slack, plus at intervals there are long ropes to help you balance. After this picture was taken, George swung on the Tarzan jump and landed at the tree to which the ship's pass cable is connected. His landing shook the tree, which caused Brian to fall off and, worse, loose the ropes. Poor Brian had to climb back onto the ship's pass and continue with only the help of a single rope he was able to reach.
Michael jumping for Tarzan's rope
Brian on the hourglass
The hourglass has two ropes strung from below the first platform angling upward to high above the second platform, plus a single rope angled in the opposite direction, from high above the first platform to below the second platform. Therefore, when you begin the hourglass, you have two ropes to walk on and one to hold onto. (Some of us chose to place both feet on the same lower rope rather than employ all three ropes.) Halfway across, you have to transfer your feet to the single rope and your hands to the set of ropes, as they change places.
Brian resting in the middle of the hourglass
However, don't ever tell Brian you have to do it that way, because he will find another option.
Brian completing the second half of the hourglass upside down
Brian's approach was certainly more complex and took way too long, but it was definitely the most entertaining to watch.
In our gear after the challenge
Melissa, George, Michael, Amy, Brian, and Brandy
Scott and Amy were fantastic hosts. Saturday evening we wandered 6th Street and saw a comedy show at the Alamo Drafthouse.
My cousin Darren came by to visit on Sunday
Brandy and me
Thanks to Gramma Jane for driving to Little Rock to watch the girls for us! The evening after Mom left, as I was tucking Gabi in bed, she told me, "Gramma Jane is my favorite!" I've also heard about Gabi's tricycle adventures at the park where Lolo and Lola took the girls. I'm glad the girls had a good time at home while we parents were gone.
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