Boston, MA
Bats call in sick in Austin, Texas
=========================
The recent spate of heavy torrential rains in the southwest US reminded me of the many storms I witnessed when I lived in southern Texas many years ago. One particular rain storm stands out in my memory that was rather interesting.
One beautiful summer weekend we drove from Houston to Austin to see the capital city. The day started out as clear, hot and humid day and by the time we got to the outskirts of Austin a major thunderstorm was brewing and was showing all the signs of a heavy downpour. The dark clouds hung low and seemed heavy and ready to unleash the deluge.
The city of Austin may be small compared to the mammoths in the state, Dallas and Houston but it is the second biggest capital city in US. When big magazines ran lists of nicest cities in US a while ago, Austin always showed up at the top and people moved there in droves contributing to the traffic woes and urban sprawl. The city is too beautiful for its own good. There should be a ban on those lists, if you ask me.
The rain began as we checked into a hotel. The thunderstorms in Texas can be spectacular and they can dump an ocean of water in under an hour. The rain was easing up when went out later in the afternoon to drive around the town. The city looked like it had been run thru a giant car wash. We ended up on Congress Avenue that runs across the Colorado river and connects state Capitol house with south end of downtown. Congress Avenue may have a lot to do with state legislative congress but Colorado river has nothing to do with Colorado. Colorado river in Texas is a 800 mile long river that has no connection with mighty Colorado river in Colorado and Arizona; the Texas version originates in the western Texas and drains into the gulf never crossing any state borders which tells us about the sheer breadth of Texas.
The life in Austin revolves around Congress Avenue and that's where everything happens. The sun was making a fast retreat into the high country as we headed south on Congress Ave and crossed the Ann Richards Bridge when we spotted huge crowd, the curiosity got the better of us, pulled over into a parking lot, parked our Jeep and walked over to the gathering. We found an amicable couple looking all wet from rain and inquired what was going on. "We are waiting for the bats to come out", the guy said. He read the puzzled look on my face and explained "The bats come out under the Congress Ave bridge every evening around sunset to feed. We came out here to watch the bats."
The medium-sized free-tailed bats spend the winters in Mexico and migrate north in summers. When the city coined the slogan "Keep Austin Weird" the bats must have heard it on their "Ultrasound" radio and decided to moved in. They found a perfect home in the crevices of underside of Congress Ave Bridge. A million of them. Make it a million-and-half. They spend their days in the dark cool nooks of the bridge and emerge at dusk to feed. Over the years the locals got accustomed to the idea of bats living among them and today it is largest urban bat colony in the world. Not the one to lose an opportunity to watch the spectacle, we hung around and mingled with the crowds who were eagerly waiting for the "moment".
The rain was all but completely gone which left the ground soaked and twilight has enveloped the town. People on and around the bridge gathered in groups, excited and anxious, chatting heartily among themselves and also with others around them, making new friends in the process; talking about weather, taxes, children, food, movies and bats of course. Everyone was in a great mood and we made lot of friends that evening.
Its almost dark now, one bat finally came out and flew away to loud cheers of crowd. Silence for the next 15 minutes. Crowds grew eager and impatient now. Another bat came out and disappeared. Where is the whole colony? The folks who seen this many times kept urging people to keep patience as sometimes the bats take time to come out. Another 30 minutes gone by but no sign of bats yet. A bat or two would come out every few minutes and they seemed like they were checking what was on the menu tonight and relaying ultra sound signals back to their brood. Another 15 minutes gone by and crowds were showing the signs of cracks. A bunch of people left but many stayed. Soon more people would leave with a look of disappointment writ large on their faces. Bats or not I was having a good time just chatting with people around me so I stood ground.
Where is the theatrical entrance I was hoping for? When would the million bats fill the glowing sky and paint it dark? What must be bats thinking right now. No answers. Most of the crowds were gone by now. Just a few die hard hopefuls still around. The wait was agonizing and it was like bats were testing our patience and they were going to reward the people who showed the most optimism in life. Few more give up and leave. I kept talking my wife Sri and son Ryon into staying; I said to Sri "We are not going to give up that easily you know." Seven 'O clock turned into Eight. Eight turned into Nine and the reality had finally set in. The stubborn nocturnal creatures were not going to come out tonight after all.
We were the last few people to leave. Sure we were dejected that we didn't get to see the bats but I kept convincing myself -- "Bats sometimes need a sick day too."
==Thank You==
Bats call in sick in Austin, Texas
=========================
The recent spate of heavy torrential rains in the southwest US reminded me of the many storms I witnessed when I lived in southern Texas many years ago. One particular rain storm stands out in my memory that was rather interesting.
One beautiful summer weekend we drove from Houston to Austin to see the capital city. The day started out as clear, hot and humid day and by the time we got to the outskirts of Austin a major thunderstorm was brewing and was showing all the signs of a heavy downpour. The dark clouds hung low and seemed heavy and ready to unleash the deluge.
The city of Austin may be small compared to the mammoths in the state, Dallas and Houston but it is the second biggest capital city in US. When big magazines ran lists of nicest cities in US a while ago, Austin always showed up at the top and people moved there in droves contributing to the traffic woes and urban sprawl. The city is too beautiful for its own good. There should be a ban on those lists, if you ask me.
The rain began as we checked into a hotel. The thunderstorms in Texas can be spectacular and they can dump an ocean of water in under an hour. The rain was easing up when went out later in the afternoon to drive around the town. The city looked like it had been run thru a giant car wash. We ended up on Congress Avenue that runs across the Colorado river and connects state Capitol house with south end of downtown. Congress Avenue may have a lot to do with state legislative congress but Colorado river has nothing to do with Colorado. Colorado river in Texas is a 800 mile long river that has no connection with mighty Colorado river in Colorado and Arizona; the Texas version originates in the western Texas and drains into the gulf never crossing any state borders which tells us about the sheer breadth of Texas.
The life in Austin revolves around Congress Avenue and that's where everything happens. The sun was making a fast retreat into the high country as we headed south on Congress Ave and crossed the Ann Richards Bridge when we spotted huge crowd, the curiosity got the better of us, pulled over into a parking lot, parked our Jeep and walked over to the gathering. We found an amicable couple looking all wet from rain and inquired what was going on. "We are waiting for the bats to come out", the guy said. He read the puzzled look on my face and explained "The bats come out under the Congress Ave bridge every evening around sunset to feed. We came out here to watch the bats."
The medium-sized free-tailed bats spend the winters in Mexico and migrate north in summers. When the city coined the slogan "Keep Austin Weird" the bats must have heard it on their "Ultrasound" radio and decided to moved in. They found a perfect home in the crevices of underside of Congress Ave Bridge. A million of them. Make it a million-and-half. They spend their days in the dark cool nooks of the bridge and emerge at dusk to feed. Over the years the locals got accustomed to the idea of bats living among them and today it is largest urban bat colony in the world. Not the one to lose an opportunity to watch the spectacle, we hung around and mingled with the crowds who were eagerly waiting for the "moment".The rain was all but completely gone which left the ground soaked and twilight has enveloped the town. People on and around the bridge gathered in groups, excited and anxious, chatting heartily among themselves and also with others around them, making new friends in the process; talking about weather, taxes, children, food, movies and bats of course. Everyone was in a great mood and we made lot of friends that evening.
Its almost dark now, one bat finally came out and flew away to loud cheers of crowd. Silence for the next 15 minutes. Crowds grew eager and impatient now. Another bat came out and disappeared. Where is the whole colony? The folks who seen this many times kept urging people to keep patience as sometimes the bats take time to come out. Another 30 minutes gone by but no sign of bats yet. A bat or two would come out every few minutes and they seemed like they were checking what was on the menu tonight and relaying ultra sound signals back to their brood. Another 15 minutes gone by and crowds were showing the signs of cracks. A bunch of people left but many stayed. Soon more people would leave with a look of disappointment writ large on their faces. Bats or not I was having a good time just chatting with people around me so I stood ground.
Where is the theatrical entrance I was hoping for? When would the million bats fill the glowing sky and paint it dark? What must be bats thinking right now. No answers. Most of the crowds were gone by now. Just a few die hard hopefuls still around. The wait was agonizing and it was like bats were testing our patience and they were going to reward the people who showed the most optimism in life. Few more give up and leave. I kept talking my wife Sri and son Ryon into staying; I said to Sri "We are not going to give up that easily you know." Seven 'O clock turned into Eight. Eight turned into Nine and the reality had finally set in. The stubborn nocturnal creatures were not going to come out tonight after all.
We were the last few people to leave. Sure we were dejected that we didn't get to see the bats but I kept convincing myself -- "Bats sometimes need a sick day too."
==Thank You==
