I also like to go to my favorite campground at Lake Amistad...Governors Landing...but not in a non-air conditioned car.
I think I have mentioned on prior posts that moving from Austin, Texas to Del Rio was a cultural shock.
Dad had interviewed in Uvalde, Eagle Pass and Del Rio. However, the job offer came from Del Rio. Mother was hoping for Uvalde, Dad was hoping for Eagle Pass and I was hoping they would forget about moving and we could stay in Austin.
One of the things I loved most about Austin was going swimming at Barton Springs, it was cold as the dickens even when the temperatures were in the 100's.
While not Barton Springs by a long shot San Felipe Springs offered a nice place to cool off and make friends.
This particular area along the creek is not a popular location like say by the State Park or San Felipe Lions Park...both of which I have featured on this blog on several occasions...in particular during Easter when you are allowed to camp out for the weekend.
After the deadly floods of 1998 they made this into a park. During the weekdays there aren't too many people here which suits me just fine.
This day it was just me and some friendly ducks. They came up to me hoping I would feed them. Sorry, maybe next time...
I liked her little poofy hair :)
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Even Dad's old car seemed happy here in the shade.
Of course there are always those darn people that don't care about putting trash where it belongs, grrrrrrrrrr!!!
Apart from the above two pictures, everything was beautiful. The sound of the water had such a calming and relaxing effect. If I had a strong back and could drag my zero gravity chair by the banks...I bet I could of taken a nice nap.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Of course I enjoyed your words and pictures -duck bouffant :) - but it's the perfect line-up of those words and pictures that impressed me. Fine job.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sissy :)
DeleteWonderful pictures and that water looks cool and inviting. That one duck looks like it may be the lady duck just getting back from the beauty parlor.
ReplyDeleteThe lady duck's hairdo impressed me too. Sissy called it a duck bouffant...I like that :-)
DeleteI just loved the ducks! Your photos show a beautiful and peaceful area, and I'd love to hang out in a spot like that for a while.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the peacefulness it affords. Even if it is only for a little while, this place brings tranquility to my soul.
DeleteI like your quiet place. Made me sit back an' relax a bit. Is there a Taco Bell near by???
ReplyDeleteGlad it helped you relax. Maybe one day I can personally take you and Sadie Mae down there...well, only if she promises not to chase the ducks!
DeleteDon't forget you owe me dinner at Taco Bell :D
Sooo lush & tranquil there. Most people passing through on Hwy 90 would never dream all these pretty spots you show us are there. How do you get to the Springs & creek from 90? I think we do pass over part of it on the highway, don't we?
ReplyDeleteI've wasted a good deal of my life at Brrrrrton Springs myself, Ms. B. Practically majored in it as an undergrad. Really way too cold for me though and since I am a total wuss, I've always had to get pushed in by whoever I've gone there with to actually get wet. I'm much too cowardly to go in on my own.
You pass by part of it on highway 90...I believe it is now called Star Park...even though us old timers call it State Park. Are you familiar with the downtown area? Head downtown on South Main Street until you reach E. Academy St. turn left and go down two streets. You will descend unto the park area which will be on your left.
DeleteBrrrrrton Springs is a great name for it :D Back then I was a young kid and could take the cold waters. We just jumped in and though it was a shock to the system after ten seconds we were fine. I do not believe I would attempt that feat now so you are not alone in that respect.
You call it "tranquility to my soul" I call it shaking the cobwebs out of my head. Nice place. I wish I'd known about it for the short time I worked in Del Rio. It evidently wasn't a park back then though.
ReplyDeleteThough not officially a park when we first arrived in Del Rio, it was used as such but you probably had to know a local to know of its existence.
DeleteLots of people would fish along its banks, kids would play ball and ride bikes but the great majority like myself would go swimming. I had to laugh at that sign that said "Swim at your own risk"...that is what we did back then...we all knew that!
See all that carrizo and plants? While they weren't as lush as they are now or as thick we would slide down from there to the springs. All the streets dead end at that point as did my own and I did not have to walk two extra blocks to get there.
The only reason it was made into a park after the floods is because the federal government gave the city the funds, otherwise it would still be an unofficial park.
Belinda, did you know anybody who lost their house either through the flood or the buyout? Is your old house still there?
DeleteUnfortunately I knew a lot of people that lost their homes in the flood. The gentlemen that built my parents house lived along the creek banks and he owned several lots that he gave to his male sons when they married so they could build their home.
DeleteMost of them were carpenters like their dad but their homes were no match for the flood waters. All that was left standing were the foundations. The government bought out their lots.
This area is known as San Felipe and it is home to mostly poor Mexican-Americans. On the opposite side to the springs you will see (actually you can't see it due to the carrizo growth) the properties sit higher up...so they were not impacted by the flood. This is known as historic South Del Rio where we lived.
Unfortunately, the house we rented or for that matter all the houses on our side of the street are no longer there. Though it had nothing to do with the flood. The owners a once prominent family, fell on hard times and sold them.
SS- those beautiful waters remind me of the Comal in New Braunfels although 2 weeks ago I drove by the main spring (Panther Springs) and it was only a trickle. This drought is kicking some bad butt.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you know about Rocksprings? They are only 90 today while we suffer 100+. Also every time it rains in our big area they get some! Seems like it might be a good place to settle. I gotta get out of SA.
SB - I know very little about Rocksprings. I have been by there maybe once or twice, the last time five years ago. It seemed like a very nice little town then.
DeleteI have never been to Panther Springs but it is a shame how all of our springs, creeks, lakes and rivers are suffering from the drought.
In Del Rio we are under stage 1 Water Restrictions. Lake Amistad...well, let's not even mention how low it is :-(
In Texas you would be hard pressed to find a cool spot in the summer except maybe up by the Guadalupe Mountains.
During August the average high is 84 and the average low is 63 at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Well, this is interesting yall mentioned this. I've been meaning to take the turn off on I-10 & check out Rocksprings forever, but never do and have been contemplating just this last week about getting there the other way up from the Camp Wood area via some of the scenic roads (the parts of the 'Twisted Sisters' roads I haven't yet driven).
DeletePer the weather site I use,at least, Rocksprings seems to be consistently about 10 degrees cooler than say Austin & SA & even Kerrville I guess because it's so much higher. (about 2500 ft elevation IIRC)
It's still not as cool as Fort Davis up around the Observatory (chilly at night even in the dead of summer) or in the Guadalupes (<--too bad nobody except NPS employees can live there, eh?) but definitely cooler than everywhere else even a half an hour east down the highway. And, unlike Fort Davis, you can still be at the Costco in SA in under 2 hrs! ;-)
We should organize a Terlingua Dreams scouting party to see if those of us who prefer cooler climes but want to stay in TX should all retire there. ;-)
I used to follow a guy from the Houston area who eventually moved to Fort Davis and built his home there. It was a shame he quit blogging, I really enjoyed reading him.
DeleteI remember him saying that he was glad he bought his property years before because now it was way expensive and even if you had the $$$$$$$ there was not much land on the market.
I am all for that Terlingua Dreams scouting party :D