Thunderstorms, Matt and Home, April 1, 2016

Friday, April 1

Heavy thunderstorms came through last night, beginning around 4 AM.  Heavy rain on and off too and the temperature dropped to about 50 degrees.  Still some rain, but we are high and dry, and the stream crossing we pass through has minimal water.

We are heading towards Austin today with a stop near Round Rock to visit an LA Fitness. First we stop at a McDonalds for coffee and a sandwich, followed by a  good work out and nice long shower.

Then we head south towards Matt.  Lots of traffic on the main roads - back to civilization!  We have read a report that the O'bamas are planning to live in this area when his term ends!

Matt is working today so we go to Westlake Athletic & Community Center in south Austin to meet him for lunch.  We find him designing a banner, of which he has made many.

The Center is very nice - I was going to take pictures but Matt said they are all on their website: www.wacctexas.com.  He gives us the grand tour.  There is a Physical Therapy center in the building, as well as some athletic offices.  But most of the space is a huge gymnasium  which can be configured for basketball or volleyball and a large turf field for football, soccer, etc.  They have a tumbling area too as well as a fitness room and training area.  Impressive!

We meet Jamie and some of his other co-workers, then head out for lunch at Matt's Ranchero - Matt's favorite Mexican food in Austin. Tasty lunch!  We go back to WACC briefly, then bid adios and head for home.  Rainy day most all the way home.   We stop at a favorite bakery in Chapel Hill and pick up some kolaches for the neighbors who have been getting our mail and keeping an eye on things. Beth works on writing most of the way and we pull into the driveway about 5:30.  About 600 miles total.

Krause Springs, Birds, Lake Travis, March 2016

Thursday, March 31

6o degrees this morning,  still overcast but there are patches of blue.  Greg snapped this sunrise picture before I got up!

As well as this photo of a fisherman who arrived at daybreak.  Greg talked to him briefly and found out he lived in Kingsland and has been coming here to fish since he was a kid.  (Now 64.)   He was using a net to catch his baitfish. You can camp here for free for up to 5 days!

We went for a walk around the park and enjoyed the birdsong of many birds.  There were quite a lot of scissor tail birds - their tails open and close like scissors when they fly. This one is pretty grey, but some (males?) have a pretty peachy color breast.

There were cardinals, doves, many ducks and this mockingbird who sang up and storm and put on quite a show.  Not sure if it was mating activity or whether we were too close to a nest.

Several rabbits were munching grass nearby.

We hoped to get to a ranch out by Mason that allows rockhounds to search for topaz.  It is the only area of Texas where it is found.  We got a callback but after talking with them found out there are road issues with means "no" to the Trek.  She suggested calling another, Bar M Ranch, so we will probably give that a try another time.

Breakfast al fresco, cereal with bananas and blueberries  and oranges.  And the Keurig has been working well!

We wound around many country roads en route to our next stop, Krause Springs near Spicewood.  3014 to 2241 to 261 to 1431 to 2900 to 2214 to 71 to 404 to 406 to Krause Springs Road.  Thank goodness for google maps!

Best picture we didn't take:  A guy in a red kayak taking a selfie in a bluebonnet field, simulating being on the water.

Krause Springs is a privately owned area of Springs, Canyons, Cedars which has both a regular pool and a natural water hole swimming area.  No doubt refreshing in hot weather! We walk several trails and take photos.

 By noon, a few more people arrive and go into the water (about 60 degrees!).

From here we head towards Muleshoe Recreation area which a couple from Tennessee said they heard had marvelous bluebonnet fields.  It isn't far, but when we ask the man at the entrance he says Lake Travis is very high and has covered most of the area where the bluebonnets grow, so we opt not to go see it - last year was fantastic, maybe next year...

We are planning to go see Matt tomorrow for lunch, so want to camp somewhere not too far from Austin.  We head east along Lake Travis to the Balcones Canyon Wildlife Refuge.  We visit Doeskin Ranch area and walk a couple of short trails.  Pond, prairie and creek.  Then we drive up and up and up to Warbler Vista and A Viewing Deck which overlooks Lake Travis.

 Yellow-cheeked warblers, endangered birds, nest in the area but we didn't see any.

We backtrack a little to Camp Creek Recreation Area, our home for tonight.  This is another 5 day max free site operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority.  Only a half dozen sites but they are spread nicely.  One other camper at far end and out of sight.  Chips and salsa followed by chicken fajita salad.

Route 16, Llano and Buchanan Lake

Wednesday, March 30

 Warmer today, it is 67 degrees by 8:30 when we hit the road again.  This time on Hwy 16 towards Llano, reputedly the best road to see wildflowers.

The first few miles are nice, with patches of bluebonnets and paintbrushes  here and there. 

We are about to question the reputation of the road, but then things change and there are wide swaths of color everywhere!

The terrain is hilly and rocky with occasional streams or ponds.  Driving by is nice, but when we stop and walk we find some exquisite areas of color!  WOW!

 Partway to Llano, Greg decides to explore a little road to the right called Willow City Loop.  We thought it would be a quick little loop, but it goes on and on.

 

 Beth snaps a photo for this cyclist who is passing by.

 Quite a lovely country road, though, and lots of wildflowers, ranches, cattle and goats.  The bluebonnets and paintbrushes and daisy-like yellow flowers are seen often, but when you get out and get close there are many many other tiny purple, pink, blue, white and other flowers.  These white ones were sometimes very plentiful.

 We cross many cattle guards and see cattle making themselves at home everywhere.  One ranch has decorated their fence posts with boots!

Just when we think we are going to end up back in Houston, we come to a sign for 16N in two miles, so we did indeed make a large loop to the south!

 Back on 16N this huge turkey crosses the road in front of us.  He tries, futilely, to get through the fence on the other side of the road but it is closely meshed and last we saw him he was going down the fenceline looking for an opening.

We reach Llano around 2:00 and decide to try another Barbque place that we have seen written up – Cooper’s Old Time Pit BBQ.  They have several huge cookers outside, followed by a long grill where they show all the meats you can choose from.

Beef and Pork Ribs, Various Sausages, Lean and Moist Brisket, Turkey, Chops and more.  You point to what you want and they cut it for you.  Then, inside to choose from a few sides and drinks.  Free breads, beans, jalepenos and onions.  Their sauce also has a mustardy twang, and the meat tastes like they use good old salt and pepper for their rub.   We shared a 1-lb beef rib  and some sliced brisket.  A little on the dry side, we thought, but good flavor.

We continue north to an area known for llanite – a rock that is granite with feldspar and blue agate in it.  Only found in this stretch and discovered when they were building the road.  We explore around a picnic area and then take a side road – country road 435 to see if we can find some rock cut-away areas.  Another nice country road which soon becomes dirt. 

 These "exotics" are in one pasture... there are several ranches in the area which raise exotic animals.

 This longhorn may not be exotic, but is impressive nonetheless.

We find what we think might be llanite on a hill beside the road.  Much of the land is posted so we can’t wander far from the road.

We decide to take 29E to Burnet, which bills itself as the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas and we had read of “giant” bluebonnet statue.  Ha!  Another example of not believing everything you read.  Here are the “giant” bluebonnets along main street. 

And though many businesses or homes had a small patch of bluebonnets, the effect was truly underwhelming.

From here we decide to head north to a boon docking spot at Cedar Point Recreation area, on Lake Buchanan. There continues to be a lot of flowers along these small roads.  The Colorado River as it comes south forms a series of lakes before reaching Austin.  Buchanan is the first and, I think, largest, followed in relatively quick sucession by Inks Lake, LBJ Lake,  Lake Marble Falls,  Lake Travis and Lake Austin. 

 Cedar Point was quite nice with  about 10 or so sites scattered along the lake. 

There were a few fishermen who came and went, but we were the only campers.  Shortly after we parked there were many birds (possibly relocating for the night?) including these Pelicans and cormorants.

Greg made a fire and discovered three or four scorpions in the fire pit! (2-3")

They scrambled when the fire became hot – one escaped only to meet the wrath of Beth’s shoe, the others quite possibly became toast.   We had a dark, quiet night, with many stars.  Nice breeze made for a comfortable sleep and hardly a bug!

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY MARCH 2016

 Monday, March 28

Left home this morning about 8AM.  It is 53 degrees and warming.  We are headed for the hills – Texas Hill Country – which is an area roughly from San Antonio to north of Austin, and from Austin west to central Texas.  It is known for hills, obviously, rocky terrain, rivers and lakes, bbq, wineries, wildlife, and in Spring, blankets of wildflowers.

We take hwy 290 west through some pretty famous bluebonnet areas around Brenham, Texas, but the flowers are a tad behind the Hill Country, so not as many flowers here yet.

We decided to first head to Lady Bird Johnson’s Wildflower Center, just south of Austin.  As First Lady, beautification and conservation were her projects, and the preservation and spreading of wildflowers was important to her.  The Wildflower Center has gardens and an arboretum where different flowers and trees are grown and displayed, as well as trails that go through meadow and other landscaping that supports flowers. Bluebonnets and paintbrushes are prominent, with prairie verbena, phlox, winecup and others.

Indian Paintbrush

Bluebonnets and more

In addition there is a Great Horned Owl nesting here (6^th year it has built its nest in the same location.)  There are two chicks in the nest, though we couldn’t see them behind her.  We spent about three hours walking the various trails and avoiding several classes of 2^nd and 3^rd graders!

Great Horned Owl

From here we took a short ride to Driftwood, Texas and Salt Lick Barbque.  Here is the pit where many things are cooked or finished.  Their meats were superb and their sauce a tangy mustardy sauce…yum!

Since this was pretty close to our next destination, we decided to check out Hamilton Pool.  It is a collapsed grotto with a tall waterfall and beautiful blue pool.  It is small in area, with a parking lot that supports 50 or so vehicles.  Once the lot is full, they close the park unless you want to wait till someone leaves. We read later that they are going to start a reservation plan.

  Today, a sunny, warm day, the lot filled by 10AM we’re told.  We opt to come back first thing tomorrow.

A ranger there mentions a few camping spots and we decide to stay at nearby Rock Dog Primitive Campground.  Nothing fancy here, just spots for a dozen or so tents.  We tuck in among the juniper, oak and cedar trees and pay our $5 at the self-pay area.  We sit outside for a bit, wander the grounds and then call it a night.  Not great, but the closest thing to where we want to begin the day tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 29

It is 53 degrees and overcast at 7:30 and we decide to drive over to Hamilton Pool and have coffee and breakfast there as we wait for the gates to open at 9:00.  Unfortunately you can not park in the short drive to the gate, so we go down the road a bit and pull over to have our breakfast.  Back to the gates at ten till 9, with one other vehicle already parked where we were told we couldn’t….  

It is a short, kind of steep, rocky trail to the pool, along Hamilton Creek and huge cedar trees.

 

The pool itself  is beautiful, with plenty of water in the falls and the pool a beautiful aqua color. 

 There is only one other couple there when we arrive. Greg runs back to get the tripod and we spend the next hour or so exploring and taking photos. 

A group of folks arrive and do meditation. 

A few brave souls take the plunge (water temp 60 degrees).

Beth makes the mistake of leaning against a railing that wasn’t properly bolted and takes a tumble on the rocks, but saves the camera and has no serious damage.

From the pool, we backtrack to another trail which follows Hamilton Creek from the pool to the Pedernales River, about a mile through hilly, wooded terrain. 

Nice walk but the Pedernales is unimpressive.

We chat with a few folks and then head back to the parking area for some R&R and water.

We leave about 12:30 and there are still a few spots in the parking lot – also still misty and overcast.

From here we take 12S towards Johnson City and Fredericksburg.  Beginning to see lots of flowers along the highway.  We stop for a few pictures and again in Johnson City which has a nice mix of blue, red and yellow flowers.

We continue on towards Fredericksburg and stop at Wild Seed Farms.  They have been around for 30 years and specialize in Wild Flower Seeds and plants. 

Beautiful fields of poppies, bluebonnets and more!  Lovely gardens and walkways and a neat gift shop full of garden things and flower-themed items.  The sun would have helped the photos, but we managed lots anyway.

We take a little detour to Luckenbach, just because there might be a photo op.  We consider camping (dry camping $15) by the dance hall but move on to Fredericksburg.

  This has become THE German tourist town, with plenty of Willkomen signs, restuarants, shops, antiques, etc.  And the place is very busy.  We get some gas but decide to forego the crowds.  We have been here before but it has expanded quite a bit.  We check out a potential boondocking spot a few miles outside of town but it is little more than a wide shoulder with a picnic table, so we opt to head to a Walmart we had passed earlier.  It has a huge parking lot and five or six of us find a nice remote corner to set up for the night. Another Road Trek is there with folks from Florida on their way to Carlsbad Caverns.