closing out summer of 2011
our annual end of summer trip to Garner State Park, the drought year of 2011.
we set up camp and kicked things off with an international BANG! FRENCH 76 gets the party started every time!
hike to crystal cave:
the little dude did hike most of it himself.
some real elevation gains on the trails of garner. our hikes start down by the river.
pic above taken near the mouth of crystal cave.
we spotted wild goats/rams as we left the cave. you can see four or five in the pic above, one with big curled ram horns laying in the shade near center of pic.
Garner state park is the busiest, most popular state park in texas. they have MANY camp sites and some hikers can't manage to keep a good grip on their water bottles. kat can't stand it. every year she fills several bags with litter/debris. no matter how far off the trail and down the ravine she has to go, she will get the bottles. she also suffered a few scrapes from cedar trees in the process.
spent the afternoon in the rio frio near our camp site. the drought has not been kind to this section of river.
I had my yelp koozie to keep my cans cool.
true love.
garner hosts a dance in the evenings. we've been too occupied with our own dance/party the previous years. we decided to check it out this trip.
mostly country music. we left before it got too crowded. the one big surprise was when the DJ played Whip it!, by DEVO. a group of people ran out to the dance floor and they had a country line dance routine for the song.... really! it was awesome/hilarious. they had synchronized imaginary lariat rope moves, side claps and ... you will just have to see it to believe it. and by see it, I mean I will have to go back next year to try and video it. we mostly stood there with our jaws on dropped in amazement.
the hike to white rock cave, painted rock and bridges trail:
this hike requires a lot more work and effort. #2 son stayed back at the airstream with the others.
we made it to the top!
kat is standing on painted rock. we take bridges trail down, it's a nice shaded climb down that way.
I know of a slightly more secluded area of the rio frio. the water was clean and had just enough depth and movement to create some happiness among us water lovers.
a series of natural "tubs" make for comfortable soak.
for a larger version click here
pre-mixed watermelon shakers and a huge food spread make the evenings.
perfect caramelization! roasted marshmallows over the grill, squished them between grahm crakers and chocolate coated banana chips.
one last walk down to the rio frio:
picking up more trash...
nearly lost his flip-flop in the mud. we really need some rain.
mom's TDI easily pulls her teardrop trailer
enjoyed the drive back through bandera where we stopped for a long lunch complete with CFS and peach cobbler, then back to austin modhouse. home in time for another swim.