Howdy and Happy New Year :) - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

Kattelyn · 01-12-2009, 06:22 PM

Hello there! I've been watching the forum for a while and finally got registered a little bit ago and wanted to say hello to everyone.

My hubby and I are avid campers, backpackers, hikers, and just got our first canoe back in October. We've rented canoes for overnight (and longer) trips before, but just got around to getting one ourselves. I've studied wild foods and medicines all my life, love fishing, and anything to do with the water. He was bitten by the photography bug, especially when he got a new Canon camera for his birthday back in May, loves hiking / backpacking, orienteering, and we really just both love the outdoors.

I hail from more of the East Texas area, and know that area very very well, while he's from San Antonio and finds his heart in the cliffs and caves and limestone... but we both love everything we've found here in Texas.

Winter is driving us absolutely bat-poopy crazy. We want to go camping so bad, but its too dad-burned cold! I can't wait until spring so we can go camping somewhere, but I don't know where I want to go first. East Texas with the glorious pines or down into the hill country with those absolutely glorious rivers.

... Anyway, I digress. We have our own travel blog that we've kept for a few years of some of our travels. There's a ton of pictures on our flikr site as well (they're linked). I did want to say Hi to campermom though. I love your posts, and good lord you sound like us! I've been to every one of those parks, and love each and every one.

Ya'll have an absolutely wonderful day and hold on and dream. Just a few more months til warm weather again!!!!!

Brandy.

Wandering Texas
Throkda's photosets on Flickr

Troop198 · 01-13-2009, 06:16 PM

Welcome to the site.

Do you tent or RV? You can go now (or could have) because this year its been 80 on one weekend and 70 on the next. And the parks are not full so last minute trips are fun. (Unless your like us and covered and winterized the trailer, feeling kind dumb, but this week its finally going to need it)

Kattelyn · 01-13-2009, 06:27 PM

Tent, yes. RV no. I know there was that beautiful weekend with 80 degree weather, and we had previous plans we couldn't get out of, so no camping. I have put my foot down that the next nice weekend we have coming up, we are going SOMEWHERE. I'm thinking East since its too cold to swim. Although, there could be some really nice canoeing down in the hill country and you don't have to swim.

Of course, I've been sitting here torturing myself looking at pictures and reviews of the various parks that are listed here. I've been to most of the state parks, but there are a few I've never been to. Need to go. Soon.

Last minute trips are always fun. Even when you find that every state park in the hill country is full except for Garner, and you started off the drive after work in Dallas on a friday night and found this out in Bastrop... then Buscher, then Lockhart, then Palmetto, then Guadalupe.... you get the idea. The journey is the fun part. The destination is just the icing on the cake

campermom · 01-13-2009, 11:01 PM

Welcome to the group Kattelyn. Thanks for the special props. I've been searching for our summer road trip and have been all-consumed with the planning. Troop 198 wants to gather at Blanco this summer, what about this weekend, a long weekend, cold weather, .....hmmmm, feels like a good reason to go camping. We'll be freezing our backsides off at South Llano this weekend. They are stocking the trout on Thursday! I'm sure the park will have empty spots, plenty of empty spots. Are you up for a drive?

Kattelyn · 01-13-2009, 11:47 PM

*laughs* Uh, no can do. I'm sitting here quite literally shivering in my velvet housecoat and fuzzy slippers and I just checked the thermostat and its 65 inside. I'm a summer baby, as is my hubby. Drive sounds wonderful. Magnificent. Shoot, Any excuse to stop by Coopers down there. But the HIGH being mid 50s? There's just some things I can't do. That's one of them.

I wonder. Drive down there Friday night, spend the night with the inlaws, go spend ALL DAY at the park... it won't be THAT bad... especially if we stay in the sun. (Just checked the weather forecast)

No fair. Now I've got to run the idea past him.

Brandy.

PS. Looking at maps and this is amusing. I could hop on 377 right off of 20 and follow it all the way down. Cute. Or take 281 or various CO roads. I can see where I could stop off at Colorado Bend, Inks Lake, Burnet, and still not divert. I can see how even Brownwood could be "on the way"

How far of a road trip are we talking? Still staying in the state or states or what are you looking for? My parents were retired when they adopted me, so I was home schooled and our RV was our home for the majority of the year. I've been all over the place, but don't remember everything. I might be able to point you at something nice you haven't thought of yet.

Kattelyn · 01-14-2009, 12:17 AM

.... Right, just decided on another post.
"On the way"
67 out of Dallas, Cleburne, Glen Rose,
144 South to Meridian
22 West to Hamilton and switch over to 218 to 183 to Brownwood
Ranch Road 45 South to 190 to 580 to Bend
580 to 281 to Burnet - Park Rd 4. Whee. Love that hill.
Keep heading south on 281 to 2766 to Pedernales Falls.
Turn around and head west on 2766 to 290 to Stonewall.
(HEY! I could stop in Luckenback on my way! Sweet!)
And that leads through Fredericksburg.. then that's an easy little hop, skip, and a jump to Junction... after taking 16 south to Kerrville .. of course.

Of course, I could just take 35 to 10 and be done with it. But where's the fun in that?

Troop198 · 01-14-2009, 07:05 PM

Jeeze I got tired just reading that rout to Blanco, we are looking at an overnight stop at Meridian or Lake Brownwood for our trip to Blanco in August that I announced elsewhere hoping other wild texans want to meet each other and camp down there at the same time

Maybe you will get Lucky like CM and see wildlife thats normally hard to find.

CM just get that warm sleeping bag out and I know you can do a great fire to keep warm.

Kattelyn · 01-14-2009, 09:43 PM

Well, talkin to the hubby and the finances aren't right for it right now... and its too damn cold.

*grumblegrumble* We'll see. I don't know if we can hold still this weekend.

As far as wildlife is concerned... my lady just mentioned one of our experiences... specifically, her experience of having a baby deer walk up to her at Inks Lake, nudge her hand, and INSIST on pettins... with mama standing right there watching the whole time.

Or, the time we saw a jaguar (or some BIG black cat) out in the Big Thicket just south of the Turkey Creek natural area at 4pm on a sunday.

campermom · 01-14-2009, 11:34 PM

Those deer at Inks will eat white bread right out of your hand.

When we travel somewhere far, we try to stop by a park to see what it looks like. If we like it, we make it a trip, another time. If we don't, we haven't committed to staying a weekend and get stuck there. There's only 1 park we've been to that I would never go back and T198 agreed.

Another reason we like to stop is so my son won't think we are in the middle of an 8 hour car ride, instead we're park hopping. He likes to explore new places, playgrounds and the gift shops! If I have to buy the souvenier patch, he gets to buy something. Since we already have the park pass, we're in for free. There is always a bathroom and a nice place for a picnic lunch. Why not stop.

rockhill · 01-15-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by campermom

There's only 1 park we've been to that I would never go back and T198 agreed.

Not trying to stir up anything but am curious which park you are referring to.
The wife and I did the same thing you have done on visiting parks while in an area and not camping. As you helped us decide if we wanted to camp there and if so which sites we would prefer if available.

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