Everyone came in to town last week from as far away as Florida and New Mexico for an opportunity to get together, celebrate, and to attend the MotoGP races. We were celebrating a friend who has accepted a teaching position in Little Rock, Arkansas. Besides being a gifted orthodontist, he also plays bass guitar “as a way to stay sharp,” and has become very good at it, even joining a band.

On Thursday night the band played it’s last show together, with lots of friends and family in attendance, cruising Ladybird Lake in downtown Austin, and timing our return so that we could watch the bats fly out at sunset.

Sunday was spent at COTA – The Circuit of the Americas track.  This was my first time there, and I was impressed with both the track’s size and it’s sophistication. MotoGP is the fastest motorcycle racing in the world.  Grand Prix motorcycles are “purpose-built,” solely to be raced on the track, often at speeds of 200+ mph for 18-21 laps, leaning over almost parallel to ground in turns with knees touching asphalt!

Image – mirror.co.uk

MotoGP races take place in more than a dozen countries and on multiple continents. Riders from all over the world, along with their crew, all participate and it was fun to hear so many people speaking so many different languages as we walked around.

There were lots of tents with vendors who would sell you anything from a t-shirt to a shiny new motorcycle – which would you prefer – Moto Guzzi? Kawasaki?  Yamaha? They even let you try them for fit, so I couldn’t resist this Ducati that was just my size. 

What a weekend!

XO Donna

I’ve been hard at work on my book, and looking forward to a great day. It began with meeting our friends for a brunch to celebrate my better half’s birthday. Our waitress noticed his Pacific Coast Highway t-shirt and began talking to him, she’s originally from L.A. and they talked about that drive up the coast. Realizing it was his birthday,  she brought him a gigantic, freshly made brownie with an enormous scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a fistful of spoons. That brownie was enjoyed by all!

From there, we rode out toward the hill country to Treaty Oak Distillery, where they are producing some of Texas’ finest spirits.  It’s a large piece of land, with picnic tables under shade trees and a little shop selling everything a mixologist needs. Another large building provides places to sit inside, have a cocktail and appetizers, and gab for a while.

We were sitting outside when I saw a helicopter touch down and people exiting. “What fun,” I thought, and went back to my conversation.  A few minutes later, the pilot came to our table and started talking to the guys. The next thing I knew, I was following the pilot back to the copter with my girlfriends!

When I was little I used to imagine myself flying on a magic carpet over the nearby orchards, and this was that cool. When we took off it felt like the land fell away beneath us, and with a swoop to the side, we were gone.

We all wanted to see Hamilton Pool, a natural pool created when the dome of an underground river collapsed thousands of years ago.  People can swim there,  it has a beautiful grotto, and there were a few folks enjoying the water when we flew over.

Our reception upon landing, complete with photos and videos, had the three of us feeling like rock stars. That’s one more thing I wanted to do that I can check off my wish list: trains, planes, automobiles, sailboats, motorcycles, and now a helicopter.

I had the great time I was looking forward to, I’m pretty sure we all did.
Everything turned out even better than we had planned.

XO Donna

Despite being a gypsy, sometimes you don’t have to go far to satisfy your travel-bug. It’s especially gratifying to find something new right in your own back yard.

We went to Springdale Farms last week, a few miles east of Austin. My friend Carla volunteers there. She also helps create some products that are sold there. I’ve never experienced any soap as luscious as the Rose Soap that she and Paula make and sell.

It pays to arrive pretty early for the best choice, since all of the farm-to-table chefs arrive at the crack of dawn. But there was still a wonderful selection of freshly-picked, and carefully cleaned produce, artfully arranged and waiting for us, even at our late hour.

Paula and Glenn Foore – the owners – were happy to chat with us, and have a delightfully free-range attitude toward guests; we were invited to wander their property, look at everything, and c’mon back with any questions.

Their fields were rich with winter crops. Flowers were blooming already.  There was even a shiny Avion, complete with striped curtains in the window and a lawn chair beside it’s door, parked adjacent to their farmhouse. Heaven.

Without a doubt, the biggest attraction at the farm are their plump, shiny, and exotic hens.  My Grampa had a flock on his farm, but they were scrawny, bedraggled, white chickens. Decidedly not the showgirls this bunch is.

They have a large grassy yard of their own, and we watched as one of the men working there took the time to shred some cabbage and broccoli leaves and give them to the hens along with some seed. When there are parties at the farm, the chefs feed leftover cooked vegetables to the hens, which they also love.

It was a memorable break from routine, and  I look forward to returning soon.  If there are farm stands where you live, I encourage you to go visit them. Meet the folks raising your food.  Buy yourself some fresh eggs, or a bunch of carrots or fresh onions.
That’s the way to hug a farmer!

P.S. –  I just found out that Springdale Farms is having an Open House on March 5th with guided tours and live music. They will also be part of the East Austin Urban Farm Tour on April 17th.  I’ll be there – and if you’re in town, come join me!

XO Donna