64°F and a very overcast and misty morning - the perfect day for us to walk the second half of the Columbia Tap Rail-Trail! We thought we would start at the southern end of the trail and walk up to where we left off last time. There is a small amount of street parking at the very beginning of the trail on North MacGregor Way just east of Ennis Street beside Mills Bennett Park and we suggest this would be a good place to start. We cannot recommend the convoluted and rather muddy route that we decided to take from Houston Zoo through all the noisy construction of the bayou path on South MacGregor Way! But when this final section of Brays Bayou Trail is completed, hopefully in a few months time, this will be very pleasant option.
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| Texas Redbud Tree |
The eastern redbud trees were in bloom in the park so the cameras were out before we even got started. It appears that a good deal of money has been invested in paving this trail and planting trees, shrubs and grass along its borders and we were impressed to find recycling containers beyond the park.
Just before Blodgett Street we stopped to admire the St Mary Montessori School garden safely enclosed by substantial fencing. The well stocked raised beds were evidence of some budding young gardeners.
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| St. Mary Montessori School Garden |
Over the road the trail enters Texas Southern University where it is lined with solar powered street lights and becomes busy with students walking and cycling. We refrained from taking any extra activity at the exercise station beyond TSU and turned around at Holman Street, content that we had seen the trail in its entirety. On the return journey we sat for a while in the TSU grounds enjoying the buzz and planning a future walk from this campus through to the University of Houston to the east.
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| Texas Southern University Campus |
Back at the start, the trail officially ends at the bridge between the North and South McGregor Way but of course we still had a way to go to get back to our cars! We chose the slightly easier route along the north side of the bayou and through Herman Park Golf Course back to the zoo.
No morning walk is complete without coffee so we drove off to Dirk’s Coffee on Montrose for refreshments and a pleasant seat outside in the now warm sunshine.
Enjoy Houston
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