This has become a b-day tradition - taking a day off from the office and going to explore the good old hike & bike trail. I usually start at Deep Eddy or under MoPac bridge, cross to the south bank, cross again on Pleasant Valley bridge, and get back to Depp Eddy. The new boardwalk was not open yet when I did my 2014 loop (that was in February), but I read online it will be open June 2014. I love this trail; it was the first I hiked when I came to Austin back in 2002 and it's always nice to come back, even just for a short section, either for a run or a ride or a walk!

No wonder solitude is rated 1 today, as the Hill of Life and the upper falls were packed with people and their dogs on this sunny Sat. after a very cold start of the new year. Introduced the hill to my 13 yrs old and she did the way back up with some minor complaints :-). On the way down we looked for a geocache off main trail which was fun. Try the trails that go off to the right. Great single trek for bikes!