Yesterday (Wednesday, February 8, 2017) our dog Bitsy (pictured above, expectantly awaiting her trip to the vet) had an early morning appoint with the vet to have her teeth cleaned.  We arrived at 7:30 a.m. and by 8:00 a.m. she was checked in and in their care for the day.  I took the occasion to explore the nearby City of New Braunfels Fischer Park, which had opened within the last year.

I found the park to be pleasant and well appointed.  I ended up doing a couple of loops (it does have a little elevation) then connected with the County Line Memorial Trail, which is a 2 mile long linear trail/park located adjacent to a nearby drainage wash.  Although very flat, this trail offered an opportunity to focus on paced walking and rythmic breathing.

During the course of the hike/walk, I carried my Ultimate Direction Pack (weighted to simulate what I will be carrying on the Inca Trail) and used my sticks.  I covered 7.69 miles and 353′ of total ascent.