Our first winter in Austin has been most unusual. We have had weeks where the temperature did not get above freezing followed by weeks where the temperature did not get below sixty degrees. The entire city has the same cold, probably caused by the drastic shifts in temperature.
Even though we live in Austin and are only about thirty minutes away from our Lake Travis condo, this weekend was the first time we have stayed out there. Every time we have thought about it has been when it was cold. Then it warms up enough that we are plenty happy at our apartment. We just bit the bullet and committed to this weekend and decided to take our chances on the weather.
It was a little cool this morning, but that is perfect walking weather. We took a good five-mile hike up and down the hills. After we grabbed a bite to eat we decided to come down and get in the hot tub. By mid-afternoon the temperature was easily in the upper sixties, and it was even comfortable when we got out of the hot tub. It seems almost impossible that just a couple of weeks ago the entire city was covered in ice for two days!
When we lived in Dallas we got used to the fact that winter actually visits Dallas. Dallas is at the bottom of the Great Plains, and when the winter wind is blowing it is as cold a place as anywhere I have been. Especially downtown between the tall buildings. I literally just shivered as I wrote that, just from thinking about it!
Since we left Dallas, though, we have lived in San Antonio and Houston, and both are far more temperate than Dallas. During our sixteen years in Houston we had winters where the temperature rarely dipped below freezing, and you could play golf almost the entire year. I guess I was expecting Austin’s winter to be more like Houston, but so far the cold has been more like Dallas. And then you get a weekend like this.
I’m not a big fan of cold weather, especially each morning when it is time to take the dog outside. For Christmas Peggy bought me some warm dog walking clothes, and I have gotten some serious use out of them. But not this weekend. This weekend it is shorts and flip flops, at least until dark.
I’m sure winter will be back soon. For now, though, we’ll just enjoy what we’ve got!
