Good Reads: Spencer's Mountain

I consider myself fairly well-read, so I'm a bit ashamed that I just now have read Spencer's Mountain by Earl Hamner. The book was the basis not only for the movie of the same name but also for the long-running television series, The Waltons.

Published in 1961, the novel was inspired by Hamner's own childhood and recounts the adventures of the Spencer family in an isolated area of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The movie version, starring Henry Fonda, Maureen O'Hara, and James MacArthur, follows the novel very closely except for the setting. The movie was filmed around Jackson, Wyoming, with the imposing mountains as a backdrop in most scenes. In almost every other instance, though, the movie is faithful to the book.

There are many other differences between Spencer's Mountain and The Waltons, including name changes, the number of children in the household, and supporting characters. Still, the core values and characterizations remain true to the original novel.

The novel roughly follows a year in the life of the Spencers as Clay-Boy attempts to realize his dream of going to college. But the novel is more than just a story about Clay-Boy.

The movie came out in 1963, and I watched it about that time. I always felt that I was experiencing what my father's childhood must have been like to some degree, for he grew up at the same time as Clay-Boy Spencer (John-Boy Walton). And like the book and TV show, my father came from a large family. Both his father and his mother lost their original spouses. When they married, my grandfather brought 4 children to the marriage while my grandmother brought 3. To this union, my father and his younger sister were born. Altogether, the family consisted of 9 children and 2 adults struggling through the Depression years.

My father and his family lived a rural lifestyle very much like that depicted in the TV series and the book. So when I watch the TV series or read the book, I'm seeing a bit of my father's life, and I like that.

After reading Spencer's Mountain, I picked up a copy of The Homecoming, also by Hamner. This novel is also about the Spencer clan. Although written in 1970, the setting of the book is 1933, about 2 or 3 years prior to Spencer's Mountain. The story is about an anxious Christmas Eve the Spencer children and their mother spend waiting for the arrival of Clay Spencer, who has taken a job in Charlottesville and comes home only on weekends and special occasions. The journey home requires a trip first by bus, then a 6 mile walk. A heavy snow on Christmas Eve only arouses more worry in the household.

It is actually The Homecoming that jump-started The Waltons.

Our First Day Hike

Donna and I went out to San Angelo State Park yesterday to enjoy a "first day hike." We did not go on the ranger-led hike since it was following a trail we had hiked only a few days before; instead, we took another trail.

We parked at the Burkett trailhead (see map referenced below) of the park and basically did the same hike I recorded about 2 years ago in San Angelo SP: December 30, 2011. However, this time we did the hike in reverse. If you've ever done much hiking you know that the very same trail can look considerably different when hiked from the opposite direction.

On a side note, I could not get my camera to work on the hike, but you can reference the earlier article for pictures.

Should you visit the park, ask for a trail map. The official park map does not show all of the trails available in the park. Actually, there are two additional maps. One is a free paper handout. I have a copy of a trail map done by the Friends of San Angelo State Park that is quite nice and has good trail detail. It is laminated and cost $3 at the time I purchased it.

We followed the Winding Snake Trail from Burkett into a bottom area that was quite damp. A large number of reeds, cattails, and other water loving plants grew pretty thick. The trail itself was damp even though we've had no noticeable rain for about a week. Soon we could see a trickle of water moving through the reeds, eventually forming a small pond.

Past the pond, the trail climbed a bit, passing a few old covered picnic tables from the days when the park was managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  After passing through a thicket of mesquites, the trail then broke into a clearing and the dam of O. C. Fisher Reservoir was visible. Near this point, the trail split; it doesn't matter which trail you follow as they converge at Isabelle Harte Park soon. The trail emerged onto a dirt road, which soon crossed a paved road. At this point, the trail becomes the Chaparral Trail.

More picnic tables and other structures from the old park days are visible here. We remained on the trail until we came to a no-longer used paved road we had hiked before. We followed it due west until it merged with the same paved road we crossed earlier and farther east at Isabelle Harte. At this point, we hit the Lanky Lackey Trail and began heading back to our car.

We crossed an old dirt road along this trail. Looking down the road to the northeast, we could see a restroom from the old days. There are a number of no longer used structures in the park from the old days. When the lake was first formed, heave rains almost immediately filled the lake and gave a false impression of the shoreline. As a result, structures were built along this false shoreline. Now that West Texas reality and drought have set in, these structures are always away from the water -- if there is, indeed, any water at all in the lake -- and they are crumbling with time. Coming upon these in the back country is like coming across a ghost town.

Just after crossing the dirt road, we emerged on a slope that provided a really good view of the area to the northwest. We could even see the Burkett trailhead and our car from this vantage point. The trail then dips down into a lower area where we once again encountered reeds and other growth. We crossed a small rivulet, undoubtedly the same one we had seen near the start of our hike. As we began climbing again, we could see the small pond along the main park road. This pond was constructed only in the last 2 years or so. I guess it is spring fed as it always appears full. Runoff from this pond feeds the little rivulet.

It was a good hike, probably about 4 miles or so. We are grossly out of shape, so we did not want to go too far. We've not even been doing our regular neighborhood walks lately. Since this was "first day", we encountered a number of bikers on the trail. All we very polite and cautious as they moved past us on the trail. Lots of folks were all over the park.

Happy 2014

Happy New Year for 2014!

Each year folks make resolutions for the new year. These resolutions normally are for losing weight, getting more exercise, giving up smoking, and related issues. I invite you to consider some other resolutions for this new year.

1. Resolve to reduce water usage. It's time we got serious about conserving water. Do you leave the water running while you brush your teeth? Wet your toothbrush, turn off the water, then leave it off until you are ready to rinse. Do you have an automated sprinkler system? Turn it off. If your lawn needs watering, turn your system on the night before. We've all seen the water systems running while it is raining or a day or two after a heavy rain. What a waste!
2. Resolve to obey all laws and rules. If the speed limit is 70, stay at or below 70. If the park sign says do not gather fallen wood, then don't do it. Do you obey the leash law in your town?
3. Resolve to not use your mobile hand held device while driving and at other inopportune times. No explanation is needed here. 
4. Resolve to watch something intelligent on television. The best source for this is PBS. 
5. Resolve to become more informed about current events by reading, watching, and listening to objective and intelligent sources. By being better informed, we can make better decisions in all areas of our lives.
6. Resolve to start a savings plan if you haven't already done so. Financial experts tell us that we should have savings equivalent to support us for at least 6 months in case we should lose our jobs. Your first priority should be to reach this mark. Commit 5% of your salary to some sort of savings and at least half of any raises you should receive.
7. Resolve to read a good book. Lose yourself in the diverse characters you can meet in a book, and travel to places you've never been. Books can take you anywhere.
8. Resolve to visit a museum or two this year. Whatever your interest -- whether art, history, or stained glasses -- there's a museum out there for you.
9. Resolve to try some new food this year, something you've never tried before. Go to a restaurant with a trusted friend and let him/her order for you.
10. Spend some quality time with your family, especially those who are sick or aging. You never know when the moment may be gone forever.

Again, I wish everyone a happy and satisfying 2014.

Are You Ready for Some Hiking?

Got any plans for New Year's Day? Don't tell me you're going to sit around the house with your eyes glued to the set watching football games. Why watch someone else have fun when you can get out and make your own fun.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department started a New Year's Day program a few years ago called First Day Hikes. Here's a quote from the TPDW web page:

"The First Day Hikes vary in difficulty and fitness levels, and range from short, leisurely nature walks through forested trails and along boardwalks, to special bird watching hikes, to climbs into the mountains of the Chihuahuan Desert. Most all hikes are guided by state park staff and volunteers and feature an interpretive message about native plants, animals or park history. The walks average one to two miles in length, but many also offer shorter or longer trek options as well. There's something for everyone!"


So, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/calendar/first-day-hikes and scroll down the page until you find a state park near you, then make plans to get out to that park on Wednesday.

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but in San Angelo, it should be sunny and in the mid 60s on that day.

Looks like a good day for a hike.

Movie Review: Saving Mr. Banks

Several years ago -- sometime after our daughter fled the nest -- Donna and I started a tradition of seeing a movie on Christmas day. We've missed a few over the years, but more often than not, you will find us sitting in a movie theater on Christmas day huddled under our coats watching a movie. This year, we went to see Saving Mr. Banks, starring Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

The movie follows the relationship between P. L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, and Walt Disney, founder of the Disney empire, as Disney attempts to secure the rights for the book in order to make a movie. The movie blends flashbacks to 1906 Australia of Travers' childhood with scenes from the present, set in 1961. Most of the present action occurs in Los Angeles, though some does occur in the London home of Travers.

Travers, played exceedingly well by Thompson, is obstinate and arrogant, and she is reluctant to give Disney the rights to her book lest he tarnish her creation with animation or other unworthy movie tricks. Disney, having promised his daughters to make a movie based upon their favorite childhood book, is equally determined to secure the rights from Travers.

We liked the movie. Personally, I found the flashbacks to be a bit too much. Though they are necessary to develop the plot and the deeply personal feelings Travers has for her book, I think they could have been selected more carefully to allow more time in the present. But that certainly doesn't tarnish the movie at all.

I enjoyed seeing how Disney's associates brought a movie to life, creating the music and script. It made me want to watch the movie Mary Poppins again. The movie also reaffirmed the character of Walt Disney for me. As I child, I watched his Sunday night show without fail; my childhood would not have been complete without all the great stories that came from that TV show.

An Epic Battle

It was a battle of epic proportions.

On one side, you had Sheriff Camden, the very picture of youth. On the other, there was Grandma Donna, aging matriarch of the family.

The two would collide in a monumental battle of wills. Camden was determined to scream his head off, unwilling to calm down, take his bottle, and fall asleep. Donna, always happy to take a bottle, was just as determined to calm the young whippersnapper.

In the end, both were tuckered plumb out by their efforts, and I was able to capture the shot below.

Grandma and grandson all worn out from their mighty struggle. I'm not sure who won.

As a bonus, here is a picture of Sheriff Camden and his big brother Xander in front of the fireplace.

Xander and Camden looking forward to opening their gifts.

My new nickname for Camden is Rooster since he likes to wake everyone up in the wee hours of the morning.

Concho Christmas Light Tour

Donna and I love to go out this time of year and look at Christmas lights. When you live in San Angelo, that means going to the Concho Christmas Light Tour. The Tour is not the best Christmas light display in the world, but it is pretty unique, especially for West Texas.

The Tour begins at 1st Street and River Drive. For the next mile or so, the Tour follows River Drive along the north bank of the North Concho River. Most of the lights are located across the river, on the south bank. Their lights dance and sparkle in the waters of the slow-moving river, and their reflections are often broken by the ripples from ducks moving about the river. The bulk of the lights are dedicated to the 12 Days of Christmas theme.

After a mile along the river, the Tour then takes a left on Irving Street for 1 block to Concho Street, the original business street of downtown San Angelo. Many of the stores along the 2 block section of Concho Street on the tour are decorated. At Oakes Street, the Tour turns right, crosses the river and then the railroad tracks, and turns into the pavilion across from Fort Concho National Historic Landmark. A number of light displays are concentrated here, ending with a living nativity scene on weekends.

We also like to drive through Santa Rita, an older neighborhood in the city. The residents decorate the divided roadway along Paseo de Vaca Street, ending with a diorama display of "The Night Before Christmas" story.

There are other prominent displays in town, including one on Hill Street and Avenue R that a local family erects each year, but the above two are our favorites. For the drive around town, Donna made hot cocoa. Now, I'm not talking instant powder and hot water cocoa here, I'm talking the real stuff with real cocoa and real milk. Boy, that made the night complete.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!