I’m slow at getting caught up with photos. I may never be caught up. Part 1 of this trip is here. On Sunday we drove to San Marcos for a glass-bottom boat tour at The Meadows Center managed by Texas State University.

This is the view from within the boat so I can share what the boats look like.

This is the view in the other direction showing out tour guide and the other people on the boat.

We are all sitting around a center channel with a glass bottom.

A view looking down into that channel.

A view of the bottom of Spring Lake. There are over 200 springs in the lake, bubbling up from the Edwards Aquifer. The water is at 72 degrees year round and the water from these springs becomes the San Marcos River. The guide pointed out what looked like current at the bottom of the lake in some areas and bubbles in others–those are the areas where water is rising from the springs.

After the tour we explored the Discovery Hall that is housed in the old building that used to be known as Aquarena Springs. For a fascinating glimpse into the history of the entertainment provided by the Aquamaids from the 1950’s through 90’s at this site see this link. Thanks to Kaleena for this great photo of Matt and Kasen sitting on the roof of the Hall.

We did a short walk on one of the trails around the Spring Lake Natural Area.

This sign explains that this area may be the oldest continuously inhabited spot in North America.

After that we drove into another part of the town and stopped along the San Marcos River where there is public access for swimming.

It was overcast, but warm enough for some of our group to want to get in the water.

Another great photo by Kaleena.

Back “home” we took another walk.

This is a close up view of a flower I identified in the last post…what was that? I just looked back. Pincushion Daisy. I took this photo because of the metallic green bee

I am experimenting with he ID ability of the phone (a feature I didn’t know about until Kaleena showed me). If I record something as a caption it shows up here. The common name is Goldeneye phlox.

Musicians seen along the road.

I shared these flowers in that other post also, but sharing new photos.

I am fascinated by this flower. It is so odd. And why that name?

The only photo that I am in–Kaleena took this one.

Next post will be Eclipse Day.