South Llano River State Park, June 2015

Donna and I have been visiting South Llano River State Park since shortly after it opened in 1990. In those days, we lived in Ozona, less than 2 hours to the west, and we had a small folding trailer (pop-up). Our daughter was still young, and we spent many weekends and holidays enjoying this beautiful park. In the early days, the park was quiet and peaceful, and we practically had the place to ourselves. A lot has changed since then.

Headquarters for the park is in the old Walter Buck ranch house. Note the inner tubes on the porch, which visitors can rent.

Today, South Llano River SP is one of the more popular parks in the state park system. The clear waters of the spring fed South Llano River draw visitors who enjoy swimming, tubing, and kayaking/canoeing. You can probably get some peace and quiet during weekdays during cooler weather, but the park's wildlife also attracts large numbers of bird watchers and other animal lovers. There are numerous bird and animal blinds located throughout the park. The park is noted as a roosting area for the Rio Grande turkey, who are drawn by the pecan trees in the bottom area along the river.

One of the many bird blinds scattered throughout the park. This one, named "Lora's Blind", is located just off the main park road approaching the headquarters.

View from inside Lora's Blind. Can you see the squirrel in the right side of the photo?

In addition to river activities, the park also has 18 miles of hiking trails, mostly in the southern part of the park. Fishing is also available in the river as well as in Buck Lake, an oxbow lake just north of the campground.

Our last visit to this park was in March 2013, just before we moved into our current home. You can view my entries for that visiting by clicking the links below:

• "South Llano River State Park"
• "South Llano River SP: Scenic Overlook, March 18, 2013"
• "In and Around Junction, Texas"
• "South Llano River SP: Hike Report: Walter Buck WMA Trails"
• "Good Eats: Isaack's Restaurant, Junction, Texas"

I'll try not to repeat information presented in my earlier entries.

We encountered this rascal during an early morning walk. We steered way clear of Pepe.

The park has a camping loop consisting of 58 campsites, all with water and electricity (30 amp only). There is a dump station just to the west of the campground. Additional camping is available in 6 walk-in sites and 5 primitive camping sites. Most campsites in the loop are well shaded, and all are paved. The pads of some are a bit short, and the park does monitor parking, so be sure you don't park on the grass. Many campsites have a covered picnic table.

As with Lost Maples, we were unable to pick up any television stations using our antennae. We were able to pick up a radio station or two, though. Junction is simply a long way from any population center.

We were there during the peak of the summer, and the park was basically full, even though our stay was during the middle of the week (Monday - Thursday, June 29 - July 2). Most campsites were occupied by some sort of self-contained trailer or motor home, although there were a few tents, folding campers, and other vehicles.

During the summer, most people come to the park to play. It looks as though many of the occupants come for a full vacation, as they bring all sorts of gear. We saw large patio grills, various furniture, even a stand-up full-size water dispenser. One site had no fewer than 15 chairs. Often 2 or 3 neighboring sites are occupied by friends and family. During the heat of the day, there is a constant flow of traffic, usually pickups loaded with people and water flotation devices, heading for the river. Since the camping loop is one-way, we were able to watch all the traffic from our campsite as it either came or went. As the afternoon wore away and evening approached, people returned to camp where the grilling and other play activities began.

This is the downstream side of the low-water crossing of the South Llano River just inside the park entrance. In the old days, we would get on the upstream side and body surf under the bridge. The large rocks have been moved in since then, perhaps to prevent that.

Upstream from the low-water crossing.

Downstream from the low-water crossing.

Farther downstream, you can see where the highway is cut through the hills.

We saw very little wildlife on our visit this time. We've always seen plenty of deer and turkey before, but not this trip. We did glimpse a few deer during one early morning walk, but none came into the campground as they have before. And I don't believe we saw a single turkey. We've always seen some exotic species on  private land just inside the low-water crossing, but on this trip we only saw a couple from a far distance. It may be the time of year or it may be the large numbers of humans that are keeping them away.

Day use area.

Park road through the pecan grove near the river. This is what attracts the turkeys.

We probably won't be returning to South Llano River SP, at least not during the summer. It's not the same park where we had so much fun in the 1990s. The hordes of visitors the park receives have certainly changed it from the place we fondly remember.

The Coming King Prayer Garden

Located atop a 1,930 foot hill in north Kerrville is the Coming King Prayer Garden. The Garden is accessible from the feeder road off Texas 16 (Fredericksburg Highway) just north of Interstate 10.

The cross atop the hill. Photo taken from the entrance to the prayer park, just off the feeder road.

Donna and I decided to get up early Saturday morning and visit the park, which is open from 6 AM to midnight daily. We arrived by 7:00, and we had the place to ourselves. However, the light was not good on this overcast morning, so my pictures sometimes do not have the detail I would like.

The Garden is a solemn place, well thought out and designed. In all, the Garden is 24.5 acres, but the bulk of items of interest are located on a single acre or two atop the hill. There is a walkway in the shape of a cross. As you begin your pilgrimage around the walkway, be sure to read the Bible scriptures inlaid in the walkway. The scriptures are in 3 languages: Spanish, English, and German.

Example of the Bible passages inlaid in the walkway.

Section of the walkway showing the inlaid scriptures. Take the time to read each one as you walk around the cross walkway. Immerse yourself in this experience.

Near the start of the walkway is an impressive statue of Jesus, the "Fisher of Men". It is life-sized and in detail. Heathen though I am, I was moved by it.

This is the "Fisher of Men" statue, with the 77 foot cross about 30 yards or more in the background. This bronze sculpture, by Max G. Greiner, Jr. of Kerrville, depicts Jesus holding out a cast net, symbolically calling Peter and Andrew to become fishers of men and to follow him.

The right branch of the cross walkway extends to another statue, the "Divine Servant", a bronze sculpture by Max G. Greiner, Jr., of Kerrville. The piece depicts Christ washing the feet of Simon Peter in the Upper Room.

The "Divine Servant" sculpture, looking east over Interstate 10.

Another view of the "Divine Servant". Because of the angle, the light is better and more detail shows up.

The top of the walkway cross is the location of the 77 foot "Empty Cross". This is another Max G. Greiner, Jr., sculpture. The cross arm is 40 feet across, and the width of the cross at the bottom is 7 feet. The entire sculpture weighs 70 tons and is anchored in solid rock. Inside the concrete foundation below the cross is a Bible which was anointed with water, soil, and oil from Israel. The cross is located at the same latitude as Israel.

The 77 foot "Empty Cross". Because of the poor lighting, it may be difficult to see little Donna at the very bottom, but the old girl is there.

The left branch of the cross holds another Max G. Greiner, Jr., sculpture, "The Great Commission". The sculpture depicts the World, the Word, and the Rock.

"The Great Commission" from the east.

"The Great Commission" from the west.

I have to admit I was moved by my visit to the Garden. It is a place for contemplation, a place of hope, a place of inspiration.

The Garden is a good place to think, to contemplate, to gain peace and strength.

The views from atop the hill are also impressive. All in all, it is a wonderful location for such a moving garden. 

You can learn more about the artist Max G. Greiner at his website, Max Greiner, Jr., Designs. 

Hike Report: Kerrville Schreiner Park, June 2015

On our previous visit to Kerrville-Schreiner Park, we hiked half of the red trail, 90% or so of the green trail, and all of the blue and orange trails (see "Hike Report: Kerrville-Schreiner Park"). On this visit, we wanted to hike those trails we had not previously hiked.

From our campsite in the Deer Field Loop campground (see map), we walked along the road to the trailhead for the Red Trail. At the first fork on the trail, we veered left, whereas on our previous hike we had veered right. We then followed the Red Trail until it joined the Green Trail. We walked perhaps half a mile on the Green Trail, then took the crossover trail to the Blue Trail, which we followed to its junction with the Orange and Yellow Trails. At the junction, we then followed the Yellow Trail all the way back to Trailhead 3 near the Midway Mini Cabin camping area.

This is typical of the trails in Kerrville-Schreiner Park.

I really didn’t take many pictures of the trail itself, for what we walked today was about the same as what we walked on our previous hike. There really are no unique features on this trail system other than the views from the Orange Trail as documented in our previous hike. Donna and I have found these trails to be quite easy, with very little elevation change. Although some of the trails have rocks and roots, there are many sections on bare earth and level ground. It really is an easy hike. And since there are few elevation changes, the system is also good for riding bikes.

We came across this rocky corpse early in our hike -- on the Red Trail, I believe.

Along much of the Blue Trail and a little of the Yellow Trail, you'll see splotches of yellow paint and old asphalt. I guess these trails used to be roads.

Someone took a bit of time to erect this nice cairn along the Yellow Trail.

There were a few places along the Yellow Trail that afforded some decent views.

Another view from along the Yellow Trail.

On our last hike, I noticed signs along the trail with letters, such as A and B. At the time, I was using one of the small pocket sized maps the park provides. On this hike, I was using the full-sized map, which I could see better, and noticed that these signs correspond to letters on the map. So, you can pinpoint exactly where you are when you come across one of these signs by checking your map. 

Signs such as these along the trails correspond to way points on the park map.

On our hike today, there were very few good views, but most came between points L and M on the map. Our hike today, including road walks from our campsite to the trail head and back, was probably about 4 miles.We saw no wildlife on the trails, and encountered only 1 couple.

Museum of Western Art, Kerrville, Texas

I have always loved the American West. I read all I can about the West, and I love a good western movie. It didn’t take much to get me to go to the Museum of Western Art in Kerrville.

Located in southeast Kerrville on the Bandera Highway, the Museum of Western Art is a beautiful modern building on a high knoll overlooking the city. It opened on April 23, 1983, and its mission is to collect, preserve, and promote Western Heritage.

Museum, as seen from the parking lot.

As you approach the entrance to the museum, you are greeted by the “Rain and Wind” statue located just outside. That statue, by William Moyers, helps set the tone for the museum.

"Wind and Rain" bronze statue located near museum entrance.

We were warmly greeted by the staff, and a docent led us through the interior halls and gave us a briefing on the building itself and some of the items in the halls. The facility is 14,000 square feet. Among its more interesting architectural aspects are 23 bovedas, or ceiling vaults. Additionally, the floor consists of polished Saltillo tile, which often contains thumb or finger prints of the artisans who made them.

One of the many bovedas located in the museum.

After a brief description of the layout, the docent then turned us loose in the galleries. It is worth noting that no photography is allowed within the galleries, only within the hallways and exterior grounds.

One of the museum hallways. Note wagon at end of hallway. Doors to the right lead to galleries. Also note bovedas in ceiling.

Studebaker wagon and stagecoach at rear of museum.

From time to time, the docent would check on us and give us some insight into the collections in the area of the museum we were currently in.

Although most items are pictures (oil, charcoal, pen and ink, etc.) and statues, there are other items as well, such as barbed wire, a stagecoach, and even saddles. Out the back door is a patio where many of the artists have left their hand and boot imprints in cement, along with their signatures.

Palm and boot prints of artists, along with signatures.

Looking in a northerly direction from rear of museum, which is located atop a hill in southeast Kerrville.

Statue at rear of museum.

Location, hours, and entrance fees are available on the museum's website.