State Park We detoured west on the way back to Dallas in order to check out Enchanted Rock State Park. It's a giant rock in the middle of hill-country that natives once believed to be haunted. At night, as the temperature changes the rock will creak, groan and apparently shimmer and reflect unexplained lights. On that day, many people had the same idea as us and it was over an hour wait in the car on the highway to even get into the park. Once in, we put on our hiking shoes and got an amazing view of the area. It almost felt like being on the moon. If you were quiet and looked closely however, there was wildlife all over the area including birds, deer and lizards.
Highlights: - Seeing our first roadrunner. I chased after him with a rocket and roller-skates but he escaped. - Enjoying the beauty of a grazing herd of deer. (Dun dun DAAAAA....*foreshadowing*) - Getting some exercise. River Walk, The Alamo, and Good Food With four days off for Thanksgiving, we kidnapped Jenn and Travis for a roadtrip south to San Antonio. Once again we went with no agenda other than seeing the River Walk. Nestled just underneath the downtown core is a Venetian-style river canal lined with cobble-stone paths and restaurants and shops. We arrived at a perfect time, getting to see the city empty (on Thanksgiving night) then exploding with people the very next night for the Christmas float parade. We can also now say we "remember the Alamo!"
Highlights: - Guacamole made in front of us at Boudro's by a really weird waiter.....at least I *think* he worked there. - Prickly Pear martinis. - Cards Against Humanity. One of Many State Parks A camping trip was in order so we headed east towards Louisiana to find some woodlands. Near the border on the Texas side we found one of the eeriest and most beautiful parks we had ever seen. Caddo Lake is the largest natural lake in Texas and is home to fish, frogs, turtles, gators and whatever the heck that green thing Jackie photographed is. The lake itself is almost like a natural graveyard - it's dead calm and quiet with spindly cypress trees rising out of the water. The trees have formed buttresses around their trunks that make them look almost prehistoric and skeletal. It was very cool to see the lake as the leaves were turning colour. We'd love to make a return trip to see what it feels like when the trees are bare.
We were fortunate to be joined by two of Nashville, Tennessee's finest. Travis and Jenn were the best camping buddies you could ask for and came prepared with food, great humour and a tent that had a basement and parking garage. Stories of ghost-cowboys and snack-hands made it our most enjoyable weekend in Texas yet! Highlights: - The family that swamped their canoe by the dock, then left it (and the paddles) in the water. - Travis' breakfast biscuits. - Evening campfire. The State Capitol As an excuse to do a road-trip in our 'new' car, Rusty, we got on the I-35 and rolled three hours south towards Austin. We went with no real itinerary other than to see the Congress Bridge bats. At sunset, a gigantic flock (swarm?...gaggle?) of bats leave their roosts under the bridge and swirl around the air. It was pretty dark by the time it occurred, but it was still pretty spectacular. Our night was capped off in a pub where two good-ol-boys sang songs about pick-up trucks and heartache. We also ate breakfast tacos in a park, drank Moose-drool beer, and found the last hotel room in all of Austin.
Highlights: - Eating spicy tacos from a trailer. - Walking through an oddities shop that had everything you'd never want plus creepy taxidermy furniture. - Visiting the tallest capital building in all of 'merica. |
Andrew
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