Author Archives: rick0427

Wait a minute didn’t my last post put Mineral Wells in Palo Pinto County? Yes, it did but the city extends slightly into neighboring Parker County and that is where the state park is. Lake Mineral Wells was built in 1922 as the town grew and outgrew its water supply wells. The lake also suppliedContinue reading “Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway, Mineral Wells, Parker County Texas”

Yes CRAZY! Mineral Wells is the home of the Famous Mineral Water Company, the bottlers of Crazy Water. Yes, Crazy Water! Mineral Wells was founded in 1887 two miles from the Brazos River. People soon got tired of hauling water that far, imagine a four-mile round trip for water, so they pooled their resources andContinue reading “Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County Texas”

One of my favorite local hikes is the San Gabriel trail from Cedar Breaks Park to Crockett Gardens and back. It’s about a five and a half to six-mile trip, just right for a quick morning hike. It is rugged and has some good elevation changes. And Crockett Garden Falls is one of the mostContinue reading “Oh No! Lake Georgetown, Georgetown Texas.”

Another LCRA Park on Lake Travis, this one was somewhat disappointing. It has lots of hiking about ten miles of it anchored by the 6.5-mile Great Escape Trail. I will say that this trail took you into the wilderness in a somewhat developed area, but it was just a mile burner. When you get theContinue reading “Muleshoe Bend Park, Spicewood, Travis County, Texas”

One of the best known and iconic landmarks in Austin is the Pennybacker Bridge over Lake Austin. On each side of the road which is the Capital of Texas Highway, are cliffs overlooking the bridge and Lake Austin. I finished up at Wild Basin and since I had never done this extremely short but extremelyContinue reading “Pennybacker Bridge Overlook, Austin, Travis County Texas”

Wild Basin is unique in that it is open to hiking by reservation only on the weekends. It is five bucks a car with no more than 6 occupants or if you are two days older then dirt like me it is three dollars. It is a very well-maintained preserve run by the City ofContinue reading “Wild Basin Preserve, Austin, Travis County, Texas”

When we first arrived in Texas we heard about the train to Burnet. Since the two older grandkids are old enough to enjoy it, we decided to go, although we took them all. The Austin Steam Train is actually now pulled by a diesel locomotive. Steam Engines have become almost impossible to maintain as mostContinue reading “Austin Steam Train, Cedar Park, Williamson County to Burnet, Burnet County Texas”

Inner Space. Been by it a hundred times. It’s just nine miles away but I had never been there. So, when Michan was visiting we loaded up the three of us and the two older grandkids and we were off to Inner Space. Inner Space has a bit of a history. Approximately 25 million yearsContinue reading “Inner Space Cavern, Georgetown, Williamson County Texas”

    Michan is here visiting from North Carolina, and we decided to go to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Michan is a friend of mommas and of course she went also. Lady Bird Johnson was the wife and first lady of Lyndon Baines Johnson the 36th President of the United States. Lady BirdContinue reading “Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, Travis County Texas.”

Williamson County has plans and is constructing a multi-use trail to eventually connect Cedar Park with Hutto, a total distance of 30 miles. Right now, there are several older sections that have yet to be connected. The Round Rock Brushy Creek Trail is one section about 2 miles long. Beginning at Joe Freeman Park theContinue reading “Brushy Creek Trail Round Rock Williamson County Texas”