 Have
you ever thought about how our modern lifestyle stands in stark
contrast to the people who lived in Waxahachie in the late 1800’s? The
car is now our major form of transportation, instead of the horse or
buggy, or even our own two feet. We whiz past our surroundings,
everything rushing by in a blur. There is no time to calmly take in
the variety of birds, trees or flowers that grace our city. It seems
that the faster we live our lives, the more we need to move even
faster – just to keep up!Fortunately, the City of Waxahachie took
advantage of an opportunity to give back to its residents. It built
over 6 miles of a hike/bike trail that meanders next to Waxahachie
Creek. The trail can be picked up at one of three starting points –
Getzendaner Park, just south of Downtown, or at Lion’s Park.
Recently, my daughter and I took advantage of a warm Spring day to
enjoy the trail. We parked in the lot south of Downtown, and stopped
to read about the wonderful historic bridge that was the major
crossing point of Waxahachie Creek for pioneers and residents. The
bridge was built in 1889 and was vital to the growth of Waxahachie.
Stand in the middle of the bridge and look north. You can
clearly see the Courthouse, standing regally over the other buildings,
acting as a beacon for all those people coming to town. If you stand
still just long enough, you can almost hear the horses’ feet clopping
and the buggy wheels rolling over the wooden boards as people came to
and from Waxahachie.
Next, we enjoyed a walk through what we affectionately call “the
tree tunnel.” Leaves have just started to appear on the limbs that
swept over us, but the “tunnel” effect was still present. Birds
serenaded us as we strolled under their homes. The more steps we took
away from the car, the more peaceful we felt. We began to notice our
surroundings and become aware of the wonders of nature.
But there are man-made things to discover too. Hidden off the
trail, partially blanketed by trees, is an old, iron, railroad
trestle. There was no information available to tell us the age or
importance of the trestle, just our imagination to fill in the blanks.
A quick pit stop at the brand new facility located just in front of
the Rodeo grounds was well timed. We turned around at that point, but
knew we would come back soon to explore more of the trail.
When you feel overwhelmed with life, when the car has become a
prison instead of a way to get somewhere, take some time to enjoy the
Waxahachie Hike/Bike Trail. It will lift your mood and restore your
belief that we do live in the most wonderful place in North Texas!
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