After a Long Winter

It's been a long winter for Donna and me. It really hasn't been that long or that hard, as winters in this part of Texas are relatively mild. But we've not been able -- or willing -- to spend much time outside. As we age, we simply don't like the cold. Donna has always been cold-natured, and I find myself becoming more so. You know what they say about couples who have been married for a long time -- how they tend to become like one another. Guess that's true for me and the old woman as well.

But the past few weeks have been nice, and we've enjoyed sitting outside again each day. Temps have generally been comfortable during the day, even occasionally downright hot, and night time lows have been relatively mild. We even had an inch of rain about a week ago, though we are still well below our seasonal average. I am afraid we are in the early stages of a new drought. We'll see.

I've enjoyed watching life return outside. Trees have put on their new leaves, flowers are blooming everywhere, and people in our community are enjoying being outside. It's a great time before the heat of summer arrives.

I've really enjoyed watching the tree in our back yard come back to life. Below are a set of images taken over a period of about one month showing its rebirth.

Our oak tree as it is just beginning to put out new growth sometime in March.

Here is that same tree a week or so later.

And here is that same tree a week or two later, with all of its leaves. I included this picture to also show the blowing wind. On this particular day, the wind blew a steady 30 mph or so all day; the gusts were noticeably higher. Notice the smaller tree lower right.

I assume these are young acorns forming on our tree. They almost look like green grapes. Our front bur oak is also putting out a new crop of acorns.

As you turn off the highway into our community, there is a 5 acre tract of land that looks like normal pasture for most of the year. But for the past couple of weeks, it has been a beautiful sea of yellow. Below are some pictures I snapped of that tract. The color has peaked and the flowers are now beginning to fade, but the entire community has really enjoyed the color. Folks have even been turning off the highway to take pictures. No words are needed; the pictures speak for themselves.

At least once a week, Donna and I take a drive somewhere after eating lunch out. Often we go to one of the parks bordering Lake Nasworthy, but sometimes we go out to Twin Buttes or the state park. Below are some pictures from some of our drives.

This little girl posed nicely for us as we drove past at Spring Creek Park on Lake Nasworthy.

Some of her friends were loafing nearby.

And these two gals completely ignored us.

More yellow flowers. These were at Twin Buttes. The lake is visible in the distant background.

We are still working on the beds around the house, especially in the front. Donna has done most of the work. Yesterday she planted a few herbs. As soon as she is finished, I'll post some pics.

Happy Easter!

Colorado Bend State Park

On the final day of our Hill Country Trip, we rose early. We enjoyed a good breakfast at the hotel: eggs, sausage, biscuits, waffles, pastries, yogurt, and some pretty good coffee. Hampton puts out a pretty good spread.

We left the hotel about 7:00 and drove north on US 281 through Burnet and on to Lampasas. After a quick pit stop at McDonalds -- love their coffee -- we were back in the car and headed west on Highway 580, weaving our way towards Colorado Bend State Park. We had never been to this park before. It is rather remote and off the beaten path, roughly about halfway between San Saba and Lampasas. In addition to being rather remote, my Google maps showed the road leading to the park to be natural surface, so I had avoided going there. When we had a trailer, I did not want to drag it down a rough surface road. On this trip, though, we were pleasantly surprised to find paved road all the way to the park. The main park road is also paved.

Just after crossing the Colorado River, we came to the Bend General Store and turned onto County Road 442, which would take us to the park. Soon after, we crossed Cherokee Creek at a low water crossing. From there, it is a pleasant drive of less than 4 miles to the park boundary.

Low water crossing at Cherokee Creek

Bluebonnet covered hills on road to park

Park entrance

Our plan was to hike the trail to Gorman Falls (see park trail map). The trailhead is near the park entrance, but we wanted to see the entire park, so we drove all the way to the park headquarters and camping areas, which are located 6 miles in along the Colorado River. The speed limit in the park is 20 mph, so it takes a while to drive this distance and then return. But the park scenery is really pretty.

We found the headquarters closed, but used the self pay station located there. Since we have annual passes, entrance to all state parks is free to us. We then drove through the campgrounds and day use area. The opposite bank of the river is pretty rugged, and we found the river to be slow moving. A number of people were camped there, most in tents although we did see 2 small travel trailers. There are no hookups that I saw, and water was provided at communal spigots. If you want to camp there, be prepared to rough it a bit. I also did not see any showers, and the restrooms we used were composting. I do not believe trailer dump stations are available, either.

This photo was taken near the HQ. You can see the Colorado River just beyond the grassy area. It runs along the base of the hills.

A closer view of the river. Notice how still it is.

Park HQ. What a lovely old tree!

I took this shot from a high point along the road about a mile or more from the park HQ. In the very center of the photo is a small gap where the river courses its way through the hilly countryside. Click to enlarge.

After checking out the facilities along the river, we retraced our route back to the Gorman Falls Trailhead near the park entrance. Another composting toilet is located at the trailhead. We put on our hiking gear, grabbed our hiking poles, and headed to the falls.

Gorman Falls Trailhead

Texas cannot boast of many waterfalls, so a trip to see the cascading falls at Colorado Bend State Park is a worthwhile adventure. To get to the falls requires a 3 mile round-trip hike over some rough and rocky trails, and there is a bit of a descent as you approach the falls. The falls themselves are very fragile, so they are off limits to swimming. Actually, the falls are considered a living waterfall, with a buildup of travertine that has taken ages to accumulate. I don't know much about such things, so if you are interested, please investigate online. The pictures you find online will also be much better than mine below.

We had considered hiking a second trail, the Slide Trail, which would take us to an overlook over the Colorado River, but as we neared the end of the Gorman Falls trail, we were just too tired. The trail is hard on your feet, as it is covered with rocks. I think the locals go out at night and sharpen to rocks for all the tourists. My feet would ache for the next couple of days as a result. Much of the trail is in the open sun, so on a hot summer day, it can be a hot hike. In fact, on this particular day, our temps reached into the 90s, so I was glad we got such an early start.

Slide Trail junction. Our trail goes right. Note all the rocks and how open it is.

There are wooded areas along the trail. The rocks are almost always there, though. All the rocks and roots make progress a bit slow.

Near the end of the trail, you can begin to hear the falls perhaps as much as a quarter of a mile before you get there. As you near the falls, you then notice poles embedded in the rock with connecting cables. These cables help on the steep descent. Donna is a bit skittish about steep trails and such, but she did a fine job on this day. I think I married a mountain goat!

Descent along steep trail with cables for assistance.

I can't really describe the falls. They cover a wide area, a cascade really, and the whole area is very shady. As a result, I had difficulty getting good pictures. If I got too close, the spray messed up my lens, so I ended up taking my photos from a ways back. We also spotted a true waterfall higher up the bluff, but it was difficult to view through the plant growth. I would encourage you to go online to get better pictures. It's really a lovely area, and I'm so glad we took the time and effort to visit it.

This was my first glimpse of the cascade. It is in the very center of the picture, framed by the small trees. The contrast of light and shadow makes things hard to see. Notice we are still descending as I snapped this shot.

This is a better picture, and it shows that the falls are really like a grotto, with sheets of water cascading down the rock surface.

This may be my best picture of the falls.

This zoomed-in photo shows the buildup that has occurred over years.

This is the upper part of the falls. I don't know if all if the falls are together, or perhaps more water was running during our visit because of recent rains.

The falls are next to the Colorado River. This photo is looking upriver.

At the end of our visit, we got to climb back up using the cables. It is not that steep of a descent, but it is all rock, so it can be very slippery. Good footholds can be far apart, and Donna had a bit of trouble stretching from one foothold to another.

Photo of another stretch of the cables.

Donna was glad to get away from those cables . . . and so was I!

I enjoyed seeing these yellow flowers  among the cacti and rocks. This is typical of the Hill Country.

The overall hike was not long, but it did wear us out. Back at the car, we changed into clean clothes and were delighted to get the A/C going.

We left the park and headed home, passing first through San Saba and then Brady. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant in Brady and had a late lunch (it wasn't very good, but I don't think we've ever had a good meal in Brady), then continued on home, arriving about 4 or 5.

We really enjoyed our trip, and are already planning our next venture.

A Little Shopping, a Little Olive Oil, and a Little Beer

On Monday, we rose early and checked out of the hotel in New Braunfels by 8:00. No breakfast is provided at the hotel, so we drove up I-35 to San Marcos and stopped at a McDonald's across from the outlet malls. Any time we are in the area, we like to spend a little time at the 2 large outlet malls in San Marcos.

We always start at Tanger Outlet Mall because the stores there open at 9:00 AM. We split up, each going to the stores we enjoy. I visited the Haggar store. I like clothes shopping at outlet centers because they tend to carry sizes regular retail stores do not. I prefer pants with 31 inch inseams, and it is extremely difficult to find odd sizes such as this in most retail stores; most carry only even number lengths. So, I stopped in and purchased some slacks.

After an hour or so, we moved north to San Marcos Premium Outlets, where Donna can spend hours at the Vanity Fair store. I went in briefly and picked up a couple of shirts, then sat outside and read a book while Donna finished her shopping. It was a beautiful morning, and I enjoyed relaxing and watching the people come and go.

These two outlet malls have done well over time. Most outlet malls today are really suffering. We sometimes stop in at the malls in Hillsboro and Conroe, and both of those centers have more empty stores than they do operating ones. I did not see any empty buildings at the malls in San Marcos.

After shopping, we picked up Highway 12 and headed west out of San Marcos. At Wimberley, we stopped for gas at the local H.E.B., then continued to Dripping Springs. What once was just a spot in the road is now a busy community, with major retail businesses of all sorts, from Home Depot to H.E.B. to Walgreens. The little Hill Country towns we once loved so much are no more.

At Dripping Springs, we headed west on US 290 for about 5 miles or so, then turned north on Bell Springs Road. We followed this 4 mile stretch -- which was lined with house after house on small acreages -- to Fitzhugh Road, where we turned east for half a mile to the Texas Hill Country Olive Company. We did a bit of shopping in the store -- where we purchased a bottle of their garlic infused olive oil for dipping purposes -- then walked through the olive trees. Tours are available on the weekends. There is also a bistro on site where you can enjoy some interesting meals if you like.

Texas Hill Country Olive Company

Tasting counter, where you can sample the oils before buying.

Products for sale on left, counter center, and bistro in background.

Donna making a purchase. 

The olive trees

Donna among the olive trees.

Close up of an olive tree.

Back on Fitzhugh, we headed due west. This is a small country lane, and the speed limit was pretty low, so we took our time and enjoyed the beautiful countryside. Soon we came to the entrance to Pedernales River State Park -- a place Donna and I have hiked a few times in the past -- and at this point the road upgraded. A few short miles later and we were in Johnson City.

Blue bonnets at entrance to Pedernales Falls State Park.

Lovely stand of blue bonnets

At Johnson City, we turned north on US 281, crossed the Pedernales River, and headed to Marble Falls, our destination for the night. Upon arriving in Marble Falls, we went to the Blue Bonnet Cafe for a late lunch. The Blue Bonnet is something of a legend in these parts, and I've wanted to stop for a long time. They are especially known for their burgers, breakfasts, and pies. Although we arrived around 2:00 PM, there was still a line, and we had to wait about 15 minutes or so to be seated. Donna and I are always looking for a good burger, so that is what we ordered. The burgers were good, I thought, but nothing special. Donna agreed. We've had better, but we've certainly had worse. Oh well, another item crossed off our bucket list.

We checked into the Hampton Inn on Lake Marble Falls for the night. It is a beautiful setting on the north bank of the Colorado River/Lake Marble Falls. Right next door is a Chili's Grill and Bar, and Donna and I took advantage of their happy hour prices. We sat out on their balcony overlooking the lake for awhile, then eventually moved inside to enjoy the air conditioning on what had become a very hot day.

View of Lake Marble Falls from our room

Donna enjoying the view and the beer at Chili's balcony bar. That is the US 281 bridge in the background.

Hotel pool, with part of hot tub visible at bottom. Lake is on right. Chili's is in background.

Lake Marble Falls, looking upriver

I'm not very good at this selfie thing, but here are the old folks by the hotel pool overlooking the river/lake.

It was a pretty full day for us, but an enjoyable one.

Hill Country Trip: New Braunfels

This past Sunday, Donna and I headed out for a few days of fun in the Hill Country. Our destination for the first night was New Braunfels.

Although we had been checking the weather for the area periodically, I guess we missed that rain system that was heading into the Hill Country. We began to suspect something was wrong when we kept running into some fairly heavy fog as we approached Brady. The fog grew worse as we turned south towards Mason. As we approached Fredericksburg, the fog turned into rain. Drats!

We were hoping to see lots of wildflowers and other scenery, but the rain -- which was pretty heavy at times --  put a hamper on things. In fact, I had hoped to take Highway 1376 just east of Fredericksburg and work my way to Blanco along the Blanco River and Highways 1888 and 1623. With the heavy rain, though, I thought that might not be wise. Instead, we stayed on US 290 through Stonewall and then to Johnson City, where we turned south on US 281 to Blanco.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. That area between Stonewall and Fredericksburg has really built up over the years. As recently as the early 1990s, Donna and I made that drive quite a number of times, and we always enjoyed it. Now, it is busy and hectic, and I would just as soon avoid it. Everyone has gotten onto the winery and brewery and distillery kick, it seems, and those places are just cluttering that once beautiful drive.

At Blanco, we decided to drive through Blanco State Park. We have stayed there quite a few times in our various RVs over the years, and we just wanted to see what had changed. We were delighted to find the same old park. If we ever RV again, this little park will be one of our regular stops.

From Blanco, we turned south on busy US 281 and drove about 10 or so miles before turning east on Highway 306. Our intention was to drive along the shores of Canyon Lake, but I got confused on some of the little roads we branched off on and we ended up calling it quits. We also intended to drive into New Braunfels on the River Road, which crisscrosses the Guadalupe River on numerous low water crossings. However, with the heavy rain, we decided that probably wasn't too wise, so we just headed into town and stopped at Rudy's for some BBQ.

We then checked into the Faust Hotel in downtown New Braunfels, where we would spend the night. After getting settled in our room, we strolled around the downtown area and finally went to the Phoenix Saloon, where we would spend some time listening to a local musician entertain the small crowd. 

In the next entry, I'll cover the second day of our trip.

I really like the tree-covered plaza area of downtown New Braunfels.

Another view of the plaza, but in a different direction.

Donna standing in front of the Phoenix Saloon. You can see reflections of cars passing along the street to her left heading to the Plaza. Ironically, there is lettering on the glass above Donna's head that says, "No habitual drunkards". When they recognized Donna, they would not admit us.

Since they would not let Donna in, I had to go in and order our beer and bring it out front to our seats along the sidewalk. We both sampled a pecan porter of some sort. 

Murals such as this are all over the downtown area. Most tell the story of the history of New Braunfels.

One reason we've always liked the Phoenix is the bar, which boasts a large number of draft beers.

Doing Some Yard Work

We've lived here for almost 3 years now. During this time, we've debated about whether to make any changes in our yard. It's really been nice not having to worry about a yard. I've always enjoyed yard work, and found it a great way to relieve stress during my working days. But I have to admit, I've rather enjoyed not having to weed beds, mow the lawn, and do all the other chores associated with lawn care during our 3 years here.

Although we technically own our home, the regulations of our community require that all changes to yard and home be approved by management. The regulations are really common sense concerns, and we are fine with them. So, we visited with our property manager and maintenance director, and all changes we wanted to make were approved.

Our first task we set was to remove the shrubs in our front beds. Neither Donna nor I are fans of shrubs, and these were particularly ugly shrubs. For the 3 years we've lived here, I've trimmed the shrubs 2 or 3 times a year, but have done little else to them.

This is a picture of our house I shot just before we moved in. The shrubs along the garage and around the patio wall to left of sidewalk are the ones we removed.

These are the shrubs bordering our garage. The gate on left goes onto front patio and leads to front door. I snapped this photo just before I removed the shrubs.

These shrubs border the wall around the patio. You can see a bit of our front door above the wall. Photo taken at same time as the one above.

So, I set out with shovel and other tools one warm day and began the process of removing the shrubs. Wow, those boogers really had some roots! And I had to be careful, because we have irrigation hoses in the beds.

This photo shows my progress, as well as the irrigation hose I had to work around. The shrubs in this bed were much easier to remove than the ones in the bed next to the garage.

Basically, I used the shovel to loosen the soil around each shrub, then used hand tools to gradually work the shrubs out. I used a hatchet to cut most of the roots. I ended up spending about 6 hours over 2 days working on the shrubs. It is difficult for me to accept that there are things I cannot do as easily now as I did 40, 30, 20, or even 5 years ago. I was worn after working on these shrubs. The roots just did not want to let go of their hold on the hard caliche soil.

I eventually got all the shrubs out, then Donna began working along behind, cleaning out the beds. There were still quite a few roots in the soil, and we both worked to remove them. There were also 1 or 2 sections of irrigation hose that had been damaged by the roots. Admittedly, I also got a bit wild with the hatchet a time or two and whacked some hose. I replaced damaged sections a day or two later.

This is the completed garage bed. The roots are cleaned out, but there is still a lot of rock in the bed we need to remove. Then we'll mix in some good soil and then stabilize the irrigation hose. Note the black sections of hose; these are the sections I had to replace.

So, we now have the beds pretty clean, but the soil is terrible. We'll gradually work some good soil in, then plant some herbs.

I'll keep you posted as work progresses -- that is, if I live long enough.