An Autumn Get-Away pt. 2 - South Llano River

 Oct. 23

We've been to South Llano River State Park many times before so it feels "like home". We've never stayed more than one night however, as we're always on the way to somewhere else, and the park is fairly close to home. This time we're here for three nights, leaving  us two full days for exploring and absorbing the park ambiance. The drive from Lost Maples to South Llano River is only 75 miles, so usually under two hours, depending on the route you choose. We can't arrive before the stated 2 pm. check in however, due to turkey roosting season regulations, so we took our time. . 

Our check-in time was 2 pm and we arrived at the locked gate at 1:45. It was locked... in a few minutes a couple of staff showed up and checked their watches, we chatted for a few minutes and when it was exactly 2:00 the unlocked the gate. It turns out, this was the official end of of one of the Axis deer hunting seasons, so it was due to that activity that no one was admitted sooner. It may seem strange to have hunting in a state park, but it's common in Texas as there is very little public land that isn't included in a park, natural area or wildlife management unit. Many TX state parks offer multiple hunting seasons, some for archery, some for firearms, some for specific species too, so hunters (and anglers) need to know their species!

The entrance to the park is a bridge over the river for which it's named, and the river was a welcome site. It has more water in it than any of the other rivers we've seen lately, though it's been higher in the past, at least there's plenty of water for the wildlife, swimmers and tubers. 

This park is famous for it's wildlife, especially birds, the feathered residents have high priority here.  Starting Oct. 1 through March 31 specific trails are closed to hikers from 3 pm. until 10 am so the wild turkeys that are gathering here for the winter can settle into the trees along the river in the evenings without being disturbed. There are bird blinds here and there along the trails for those who want to wait and watch for that perfect photo op, and so many trails to choose from it's hard to make a decision. 

We were settled into our site by 3:00 ready to relax and enjoy the scenery. The shadows were beginning to creep across the mesquite duff covered ground partially disguising the  little armadillo (video) that was starting to nuzzle around under a bush nearby. Soon another one showed up a short distance away. They are common here, and not especially bashful as they seem to know they are protected. 

One little guy came up to me and Angel as we were walking through the campground and would have climbed up on my foot if I hadn't moved!!

According to the trails map we received when we checked in there are several leading to the river, so on our first full day we decided to check them out. most of the river access trails are short and fairly direct from a parking lot, making carrying a tube or other equipment fairly easy. Unfortunately the shores are quite densely covered with brush in some areas. That probably changes with seasons so visitors need to scope out the situation before heading out with all their "stuff". If you just want to take a leisurely walk along the river check with park staff and they can point you in the right direction. I made notes on my map as we explored so I have it for future reference. 

In the afternoon Missy Angel and I walked from the campground over to Buck Lake, which is between the river and the campground. 

The little off-shoot of the river is named for the Buck family that owned the property before it was given to the park. The lake has a small fishing dock which is probably the best location to fish from as the banks are quite steep and brushy, especially this year. On wetter years the water level may be higher.  It's a beautiful secluded area with a totally different atmosphere than the actual river. 

The trail from the camp is clearly marked across from space 42, and they make the bird blind the most noticeable, on the signboard behind it, they list Buck Lake. 

The bird blind is about half way between the campground and the lake so it's a nice place to rest in the shade and maybe catch a few good bird photos. 

The trail continues on all the way to the river if one chooses to hike further.  The lake shows clearly on Google maps and if you zoom in, using satellite mode, you can see the trails available. 

We had spent so much time sniffing (that would be the dog's job) and snapping photos that we decided to go back to camp, noticing on the way in the powdery dry path we followed that we weren't on a deer trail, we were following a raccoon trail! Those cute little hand prints are unmistakable. I was glad I took the photo then instead of thinking I'd go back. . . because . . . it was all washed away over night. 

A boisterous thunderstorm kept made for a restless night, so we weren't feeling too energetic in the morning of our second day. No worries, this place is made for relaxing. A few short walks with Missy Angel were sufficient for her (she was up most of the night too - not too fond of thunder) and then, there's football! That kept the wagon master busy. 

We depart tomorrow. It's been another great trip!

There are a few more photos of this trip in the album

We were home in time to prepare for the Halloween adventures. Kendra and Raylan collaborated on his costume and his mask. He knew exactly what he wanted it to look like, and Kendra figured out the engineering. . . it's all make of polymer clay. 

Raylan's character is a warrior from the future, or another planet?,  a hybrid design with elements from from Dune and the Star Wars series. His light saber came in handy as a night light when he was walking around the neighborhood.

An Autumn Get-Away - Lost Maples Natural Area

 When you live in the middle of a Hill Country forest it seems a little strange to say "get-away" when you go camping in the middle of another Hill Country forest, but there are advantages. For one, we can gaze at the ancient oaks and mesquites and not have to worry about which ones to trim this winter!

I my last post, in January, I mentioned that we had lost both of our dogs during the fall. We waited awhile to decide what to do about being "dogless", and then decided it felt weird. So, when the opportunity arose to adopt a 6 year old border collie that was being re-homed, we took up the opportunity. We adopted her in May, and we all seem to be adapting to the situation pretty well.  She probably thinks we're a little weird, and at times we think the same of her, so it averages out. She came with the name of Angel, but she's not really all that angelic, having a firm mind of her own, so we attached Missy as an alternative. She answers to both, as well as "dog" !  She's a pretty good trail companion and a lot easier to step over than the other two that were twice her size. 

October 20 - 23

Our first stop on this week long outing was  Lost Maples State Natural Area. The area is quite unique in Texas as there are very few native maples in the state. This area was isolated in pre-historic times, left behind when the area climate changed. Now it's about the only place in Texas where one might see fall color in the leaves. Unfortunately, that wonderful glowing red is dependent partially on low temperatures and adequate rainfall. . . neither of which we had this year. So, the hillsides are currently covered in a healthy showing of green, of all shades, but still green. 

This sad Virginia Creeper was the only plant that managed to have a little of the cherished red in its leaves. 

We had never been to this park before, so it was a new experience. There are several trails deep into the park area for those who do enjoy long hikes, but they have very rough and rocky river crossings and some really steep sections. They are not suitable for mobility aids or strollers. Bikes are only acceptable for the first mile, due to the trail conditions. We were more interested (as was Angel) in shorter hikes with fairly flat, stable surfaces.  There is a trail that parallels the road in to the campground that is accessible from behind the restrooms. It leads directly to the river and is a safe walking trail if one has dogs or children with them.  

In spite of the rocky and steep issues we enjoyed out hikes on the trails we did try out. There was running water everywhere in the creeks and little rivulets that feeds those stream. We were lucky enough to have good weather too!

There is plenty of parking at each of the trail heads, the parking area for the east-west trail includes an older house that belonged to a former concessionaire who ran a ranch and lodge on the property before the state purchased it. There are little surprises like that around the area if you explore and ask questions.

The park is nicely maintained and the sites are spacious, each having its own covered picnic table and fire pit. The restrooms are clean, sites are nicely mowed, making a clear space several feet past the spaces to minimize fire risk.  If you forgot to bring reading entertainment there's a little loaner library box out in front of the restrooms too.

The visitor center has a small information display about the plant and animal life in the area as well as the historical native tribes who occupied the area. There were plenty of staff to answer questions, as well as the usual cups, t-shirts, hats and pins for collectors. 

One thing we have learned about the whole state parks and natural areas systems is that even though the trails may say bikes are allowed, e-bikes are not. They are considered motorized vehicles.
Fortunately the campground was a pretty good sized loop.

On the day before departure we decided to go in search of a little fuel, so ventured down the highway a few miles to the little Lost Maples Country Store just outside of Vanderpool.. Their "grocery" items are few and far between, possibly due to seasonal demand,  but we did get the diesel we were after, and then decided to venture further up the highway to check out the little town of Utopia. 

Who wouldn't want to visit Utopia, especially if it's only ten miles away?! The little town was named such by its first postmaster, who thought the weather was so perfect that living there was like Utopia.  It's a very small town, peaceful and very tidy. They even have a website so you can read all about them. 

Tomorrow we move on to South Llano State Park.  

Old Timers Gathering (Say hi before you die!)

Friday, Jan 31.    

We're headed out for Glendale, Arizona. It's time for the annual mini reunion of folks Larry (Steve) worked with back in the 1970's, before we moved to Oregon.  It's a great time for them to catch up, as well as re-telling stories and remembering some of the events they were all involved in the Orange County Sherriff's Department "back in the day".  

It's also an excellent excuse for us to take a short road trip. 

Our last post  on Stephen F. Austin State Park mentioned that we had lost Shiner and unfortunately, four days after that trip we learned that Watch had cancer that could not be treated, so he has gone over that rainbow bridge to be with his best buddy. After Shiner was gone, Watch had become my best walking buddy, and he loved to snuggle with Steve on the sofa in the evenings, so we really miss him. 

It's weird being "dogless", and it does impact our traveling style to some extent. For this trip we decided to make it strictly auto/hotel with no RV involved.  We can travel much faster, and we had budgeted a short time, so it worked out well. 

 It's a rarity these days, even in law enforcement, for people who have worked together for many years still stay connected even long after retirement. The group that meets in Arizona varies from year to year, as many, like us and our hosts, have moved out of the Orange County, CA area. 

We stayed overnight in Clint, TX, just a short hop outside El Paso, then up early to be on our way to our next stop

We arrived at the hotel in Tolleson, near Glendale, by 3:30, quickly got settled in and hopped over to our host's house only a short distance from the hotel. 

Two days filled with catching up on friends, health and families, of stories reliving their crazy and sometime humorous experiences kept everyone laughing and enjoying the comradery. Our hosts kept us well fed too!

Feb. 3, Sierra Vista, AZ

We'd planned a bit of touring on our route home, and our first scheduled stop was the infamous Tombstone. 

Our first stop was the OK Corral, where the famous gunfight took place. It's hard to envision anything like that now. Early birds that we are, at 10 AM many of the shops aren't open yet, and the wide main street is practically empty. A few resident reenactors, looking like they were all ready for that gunfight greeted visitors and answered questions. 

There are now three locations in town where that famous gunfight can be seen, but we passed on that and instead visited the history museum in the county courthouse. The museum is really well done, and profiled some interesting local personalities. 

 One of the most famous is  Sarah Herring Sorin, the first woman lawyer in Arizona, also became the first female lawyer from Arizona admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court in April of 1906. 

Another noteworthy resident was Ed Schieffelin, who founded the town of Tombstone in 1877. Ed was apparently wealthy enough as a result of successful previous mining exploits, but he loved the hunt, so to speak, and discovered rich veins here. 

He had been warned he'd "only find his tombstone" when he went in search of minerals near the Huachuca mountains, thus the name of the town he settled. This history of the town's growth and prosperity is interesting, and mirrors many come-and-gone mining settlements. 

For a fun dip into a blend of history and modern times, visit the Tombstone Times, a little newspaper that is hand out free when you visit. It's online, free if you wait a bit for the month's edition to come out, or by subscription. They also have a collection of some of their featured articles online.        Tombstone photo album

Feb. 4  

First stop of the day is nearby Bisbee, a historic copper mining town only a few miles from the border. Much like Nevada's Virginia City. This historic town is built in a valley with steep incline on both sides, so the buildings form a sort of random staircase leading up the mountain sides. 

The visitor center is cleverly situated at the opening of one of the original mine tunnels, and you can take a hard-hat required tour if you like. We just browsed the offerings, picked up a map, and headed out to explore. 

At it's peak Bisbee was a bustling metropolis with a large population and beautiful architecture. Now, with a much smaller population and less mining activity, tourism is one of the major industries. 

The town is beautifully restored and maintained, with many modern touches like murals, statues, ornate wrought iron, and plenty of shops, restaurants and galleries.  (see the photo album for examples.

In modern times, copper mines are no longer tunnels, they are wide open pits, and there are many still in operation. The multicolored soils of the surrounding hillsides are a clue as to how rich this area is in mineral content. 

The Bisbee Historical and Mining Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate - so members can take advantage of their discount in the gift shop. The museum is beautifully done, with large graphics setting the mood. They have a short video on their website that includes a few dramatic scenes of the town, a few of the museum displays, and historic photos.  One of my favorite parts of the mining section was the prominent placement of several small signs with some of the "Miners' Ten Commandments".      

The original  Miners' Ten Commandments were actually written in 1853 by James M. Hutchings (1818-1902), and first published in the Placerville Herald newspaper. The signs posted around the Bisbee museum are rather humorous take-offs, the text being much shorter than the original, but still conveying some truths that only a hard rock miner can truly appreciate. The full text of the original work can be seen here, but be ready to enlarge the font as it's very dense text. 

The museum displays are all extremely well done, and very informative, but we were especially impressed by the dioramas. This one, in great detail, shows the process of obtaining water from a well in Zacatecas Canyon and carrying it back to the settlement. Bisbee's first water pipes were not installed until 1908.

After a quick lunch we went back toward Sierra Vista, to Fort Huachuca, where our daughter had some of her training while in the Army. Checking in at the entrance was a real experience, including being photographed and providing all our credentials. We were provided with a pass bearing our portrait, which the guard preparing it assured me, was "like all government photos", meaning not especially flattering. 

The fort has been in existence since 1877, when it was home to cavalry protecting settlers, and a base for the famed Buffalo Soldiers. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and has served many purposes through out our nation's history. The fort museums do a beautiful job of presenting the long history, Currently the fort is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School and the world’s largest unmanned aerial systems training center. More about the fort here. 

With our brains full of historic facts, but with a hearty appetite, we ended our tour for the day and headed back to our hotel in Las Cruces for dinner and to pack for departure. 

Bisbee photo album

Feb. 5

We're headed for home, and we have one scenic spot to tour on our route . . . Chiricahua National Monument. Called "the land of Standing up Rocks" by the resident Chiricahua Apache, this is a geologic treasure. The amazing pinnacles originated 27 million years ago when the Turkey Creek volcano blew ash over thousands of square miles. This ash formed rhyolite, which cracked as it cooled, and then erosion took over and created these amazing shapes. Erosion and gravity of course continue to shape the landscape, softening edges, moving boulders, and shaping the cliffs. 

If only these formations could talk! In days past these pillars and canyons provided refuge and escape for Chief Cochise and Geronimo and their warriors. The Chiricahua Apache were the last tribe to surrender, and they were then remove to reservations in Oklahoma and New Mexico.

This national monument celebrated it's 100th anniversary in 2024. Although there are few man-made structures here, those in existence represent a lot of history. 

In 1888 homesteaders from Sweden Neil and Emma Erickson settled here, raised a family, and eventually turned the homestead into a guest ranch which hosted visitors until 1973. 

The family built trails, led guests on horseback rides, and lobbied for the area's protection. They eventually had their wish recognized 1924.

The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) was established in 1933 and they completed many of the restoration and conservation projects in this area. The visitor center has displays with details on all this history, local wildlife, and more.

Although automobile access here is limited, this is a perfect place for those who love to hike, as there are miles of trails of all levels of difficulty, and a variety of wildlife to watch. The thick, mixed tree forest is a beautiful contrast to the geology.  It's a definite "must see" park. 

Chiricahua National Monument album

This marks the end of our tour for this trip. We'll be home tomorrow.