A Walk down the Woodlands Texas Waterway

Water Taxi

Here in The Woodlands we are known for several things. Unfortunately or not, we now have an image of a commercial center stradling a canal built to mimic in some ways the San Antonio Riverwalk. It is done with a different style, but one with a tourist flavor. When taking a walk down the waterway, it has a unique look and feel. The Woodlands will in turn be mimicked by Sugarland soon, unless of course the economy is not good for them to do so. I have heard that they might pull out of their venture to keep their taxes low in these tough times -a very different approach than of those trusted with tax dollars here. This article is not to criticize that venture nor politics here. It is just the contrary. This is really to point out that we have something that can be enjoyed in the outdoors here. Taking a walk down the waterway can be enjoyable even for those who do not like paying taxes to build this commercial and tourist zone.

The waterway is actually a long linear park. Its paths are part of the pathway system of The Woodlands parks. This Mallard might as well be in one of the major parks. He enjoys his life right where people walk and run.

Early mornings are good for a run even in the summer here. The concrete is not shaded like most of our parks, so it gets very hot on the path in the heat of the summer, these ducks have families and are especially evident in the evening. Sitting out on an outdoor restaurant sitting area, you can watch them follow their mamas

Pleasing to the eye, the shoreline is filled with landscaping that presents itself as a garden park in the backyard of large buildings, over concrete and steel.

 

My walk on this day took me from the Marriott Hotel across to the southern side of the waterway. Then west under bridges, to the Koi Gardens and to the Riva Row Kayak rental. I did this without much effort during the lunch hour on a fairly hot day in August.

The architecture of these new buildings are pleasant as well. One thing that is apparent to me. It took hundreds of years for the giant Cypress trees along the San Antonio Riverwalk to mature. I don't recall a single Bald Cypress here along the waterway. We do have some Pine trees which grow and mature much much faster, but that does not seem to be the goal here either. Vegetation is more like what is planted in some place like Sugarland. Turning a prairie into a garden makes more sense to me than turning a forest into one. So to me it is apparent that we have a creation that doesn't belong here, but I do inject that it is a nice addition nevertheless - just is disregarding the ecological intent of the area. Gone are the days of placing homes and businesses in the forest. Now the strategy is more about displacing the forest with homes and businesses.

There is no denying that this walk was pleasant. Maybe you want to get out early some morning and run or walk along the waterway. You'll be glad you did! 

Images of an Evening when The Woodlands had a TEA Party in Creekside Park Village

Tonight, residents in the Creekside Park Village are justifiably upset that the parking plan for so many people attending the Woodlands TEA Party in Rob Fleming Park flunked. People were even parking on Gosling. People parked on the grass, in development areas, everywhere one could physically park. People poured in continuously at the same time as others left to put the kids to bed or whatever.

My very rough estimate was about 1200 had attended, however the sponsors of the event estimated that 7000 attended.³ Residents could not hardly get from one place to another to shop, to get home, to do what they needed to do in the evening. It was a serious village traffic jam! I could tell in advance that this would attract many people to the park. Everyone and their brother were seeking directions to the park today.

The message was clear and loud, as it was broadcast from the beautiful park pavilion. "Enough taxes", "Stop spending my grandchild's money", "I am not a communist",... It was a clear-cut attack on Obama and socialism. Over and over the staff there played their cards with questions like "do you think that was extremism?"

The speech writers made somewhat of an attempt to deliver a message that was non-partisan but that was not achieved from what I heard. There was no doubt in my mind that the message was anti-Obama and pro-Republican. There was also significant heckling of congressman Kevin Brady from the back of the crowd when Mr Brady was delivering his message.

Overall, with the music, speeches, banners, flags, signs and attendees, I enjoyed seeing and hearing "America speaking".

Families were there in their entirety, with babies and children. Dogs were there and I suspect some families from the village were doing their normal dog walks amidst all of the hoopla. While the theme has basic merit, the delivery was simply like a typical political rally, lots of rhetoric without much substance. There was a march of signs that would pass by the video camera which was streaming live images to the internet.

I was glad to see this band playing. That gave us an occasional break from the speeches.

"I'm not a communist" on the dog's shirt.

The people came in droves, which indicated a high interest in taxation/spending issues now facing our country. There were no rebel flags and nothing to indicate a tie with any other change or circumstance of "today". Instead, the gathering while I was there was tame, with only the heckling while Mr Brady spoke, to interfere with the event.
This helicopter was probably the news media, but I could not see any emblems. It stayed for about 10-15 minutes, obviously filming the event.








This was certainly a peaceful protest, but it was also a call for voters to begin taking an active role in the elections, of course through the organizations affiliated with those sponsoring the TEA party.
People were putting tea bags into a large bucket near the back. I understand they later made tea with it.

Related links

¹Woodlands Tea Party - history in the making?

²Woodlands Tea Party website
³Woodlands North Houston Tea Party Society