The San Marcos river is a spring fed river that starts in downtown San Marcos. The water is cold and clear. A Texas experience is to get an inner tube and float down the river for a mile. At that point, there was an old dam on the river that the city turned into three spillways and created a water park adjacent to the Rio Vista city park. It is perfect for a company outing. We planned ahead, and some of us arrived early to reserve park space, and erect our tent. The tent came in handy, because it rained for an hour right after we set it up. Leaving behind a cook, the rest of us went to the drop-off point, rented tubes, and floated down the river. The rain had stopped, so it was quite nice on the river. The rain had also kept others away, so the river was not crowded. When we reached the water park, we caught a shuttle back upstream and did it again. Spending two hours floating down a river while stuck in an inner tube is actually tiring. Planning ahead, we had set up a lunch with hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, macaroni and cheese, chips, dips, and brownies. With a menu like that, there was no problem in getting everyone off the river and over to the tent. We ate until no one could walk. Or swim. Then we folded the tent, and called it a day. We did not get any river pictures, but we did get one of lunch.
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Tekmos' Blog
Tekmos' Blog
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Tekmos has the unique distinction of having Eagle Scouts and family members of Eagle Scouts among its ranks, including the founder and president, Lynn Reed. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scout program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
Eagle Scout Tekmos Team Members include Vema, Will, Clay, Alan, Adrian and Vishnu, along with Lynn Reed. Vema says "Scouting was a good time to practice leadership. As a Scout I found through camping in cold, rainy weather I had to get out of my comfort zone. All of my experiences in Scouts prepared me for real life." When Will was asked about his experiences he stated, "I learned about the world, how to organize, about fundraising, how to get along with others, and being an Eagle Scout influenced who I am today as well as got me this job."
Clay, a junior in college who has worked several summers at Tekmos says, "Scouts helped me gain friendships I can count on and made me more aware of putting others needs before mine." Alan works full time at Tekmos now, but worked summers and breaks while in school. "I learned a sense of leadership and management particularly creating my Eagle Scout project where one has to plan everything in advance and then be completely removed from the equation so that the project can be implemented. It was my first experience with managing and leadership from afar."
Adrian, the testing floor manager, says of his Scout experiences, "Scouting has been a good way of life. It has provided me with the tools for leadership to take on any obstacle and be successful." Adrian earned all 121 merit badges in 2007, the first to earn that distinction in Central Texas. He held that position for close to 10 years. Vishnu, a recent graduate from college, will be leaving to join the military. "Scouts gave me the confidence to get up in front of people, give orders, and direct. I also learned to accept when I was wrong and take advice."
Other Tekmos Team members associated with Boy Scouts are Carole Reed, who serves as the Capitol Area Council Advancement Chair for the greater Austin area. She began volunteering when her sons were in Cub Scouts and finds it rewarding to watch the young boys grow to such fine young men from their scouting experiencing.
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When we travel on business, we try to take a little time to do something that is related to the place we are visiting. Not having much free time on this trip, our outing was limited to a stroll and dinner in Old Albuquerque. It is an interesting area with a number of quaint shops and restaurants. Before dinner, we took in a local group playing by the gazebo in the town square.
The crowd seemed to be mostly local people enjoying the music, inspiring some of them to dance. After a great Mexican dinner, we went back to the hotel to get ready for the next day, having enjoyed some of the local talent and a chance to get away for a few hours.
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Tekmos Team members gathered together for the first time for what hopefully will be a twice annual camp out at Oxford Ranch Campground in Llano, Texas, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. April in the Texas Hill Country means lots of wildflowers, including the state flower, the bluebonnet, and perfect spring temperatures with many options for hiking, visiting a Presidential home, or wine tasting.
The afternoon was spent playing card games, relaxing and visiting followed by an evening of great food and music. Tekmos resident chef/cook, Phil Buck prepared an enjoyable dinner consisting of the perfect camp food; hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, green beans, caramelized carrots, French fries to rave about, macaroni and cheese followed by s'mores.The rest of the evening we were serenaded by engineer, Rick Holman's strum of the guitar and country/blue lyrics. After a good night sleep in the fresh Hill Country air and a tasty breakfast, some went for a hike to Enchanted Rock for a good stretch of the leg and commune with nature. Others ventured to Fredericksburg for great shopping and home to more than 15 vineyards and wineries.
Oxford Ranch Campground 160 acres is located approximately ten miles south of Llano off of State Hwy 16 in the Texas Hill Country. A working cattle ranch offers tent camping under oak trees, bath-house (with hot showers) and also have hiking, mountain biking and trail rides available. This camp is close to one of the starting points for the back roads to Click scenic route if you are interested in exploring the boondocks. RV sites are available and pets are ok if kept on a leash.
Enchanted Rock (16710 Ranch Rd 965, Fredericksburg TX) is an enormous pink granite pluton batholith located in the Llano Uplift approximately 17 miles (27 km) north of Fredericksburg, and 24 miles (39 km) south of Llano, Texas. Archaeologists discovered trace of human life back 11,000 years. Folklore of local Tonkawa, Apache and Comanche tribes ascribes magical and spiritual powers to the rock (hence the name 'Enchanted Rock').
"Hill Country" is a vernacular term applied to a region including all or part of twenty-five counties near the geographical center of Texas. It is bordered on the east and south by the Balcones Escarpment, on the west by the relatively un- dissected Edwards Plateau, and on the north by rolling plains and prairies. The elevations range from less than 1000 feet in the south and eastern areas of the Hill Country and generally rise toward the north and west to reach more than 2500 feet.
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Tekmos celebrated its year end get together at the Texas Land & Cattle Restaurant with a very tall Christmas tree looming over the festivities. There was a full house of Tekmos team members along with their families enjoying choices of smoked sirloin, prime rib, Cesar salads with lime cilantro dressing, creamed spinach, salmon, and barbecue shrimp. Lynn Reed wore his traditional Christmas tie and a Santa hat. Carole Reed is saluted for organizing a smooth celebratory event. The only hitch was that very large Christmas tree of which no one had control.
The Zilker Tree is located in Zilker Park just around the corner from the restaurant where Tekmos employees and family gathered. Every year the tree is lit for the holiday season and every year 400,000 plus people drive, walk, and bicycle to walk under, twirl and photograph themselves at the Zilker Tree as well as stroll through the Trail of Lights that winds through the park.
The Zilker tree stands 155 feet tall and is composed of 39 streamers, each holding 81 multicolored, 25-watt bulbs - totaling 3,309 lights. At the top of the tree, a double star measures 10 feet from point to point. The double star displays 150 frosted bulbs. This unique spiral pattern of lights was created by City of Austin electricians. At its circumference, the tree measures 380 feet. The diameter is 120 feet. The base of the tree is made up of 19 utility poles, each 14 feet tall, arranged in a circle around the Moonlight Tower.
On December 10, 1967, the first tree was lighted by Mayor Pro Tem Mrs. Emma Long. In subsequent years this honor has been awarded to the young winner of a city-wide tree coloring contest.
While the traffic slowed the arrival and departure to the Tekmos party, it also brought the spirit of the season to make the year end gathering memorable.
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