Author Archives: rick0427

With Christmas 2021 behind us I had a couple days off so of course I planned to hike. Well, on December 27th we welcomed our 4th grandchild into the world, ten days early. Little Elvis is now in the building. Too much going on that day to go hike with having the other three childrenContinue reading “Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, Marble Falls, Burnet County Texas”

Yes, for two days in February 2023 our world here in Central Texas did seem to be made of glass. We experienced the worst ice storm that I have seen since I was a teenager. As pictured above everything had a coating of ice. When all was said and done the weatherman reported that weContinue reading “Our world is made of Glass and will the tree branches ever quit falling? (UPDATED)”

Is it a Quarry? Or is it a Canyon? well to solve this problem it is named Quarry Canyon as it may be a bit of both. I did a piece earlier on Balcones Canyonlands, mostly the Doeskin Ranch section. This was my first hike in Texas. On this Sunday morning with rain threatening skiesContinue reading “Quarry Canyon, Warbler Vista, Balcones Canyonlands NWR, Lago Vista, Travis County Texas.”

After our July 4th getaway to Mineral Wells I continued my tour of the Lower Colorado River Authority parks. This is the last of the LCRA parks around Lake Travis or should I say the last that offer hiking. Several others are mainly boat ramps, swimming holes and picnic grounds. This is like Arkansas BendContinue reading “Pace Bend Park, Spicewood, Travis County Texas”

When I did my previous post on Fort Parker State Park, I indicated that when I got the chance to get momma to the old fort I would. Well, here we are on the way home from Mineral Wells. It was a bit out of the way, but we are here. Old Fort Parker isContinue reading “Old Fort Parker Historic Site, Groesbeck, Limestone County Texas”

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”