SAYING GOOD BYE TO THE HILL COUNTRY

Last year when we were here in Texas Hill Country we spent a week and thoroughly enjoyed it....but it wasn't enough time.  So this year we came back for a month and it was wonderful.....but we could spend more time here, yes, we like it that much....so we will be back.

It is sad to see how badly south central Texas has been hit with this drought.  It has been going on for almost ten years and it is serious. Lawns and fields are brown even in the Spring, when they should be green.  Most creeks have dried up....no water at all.   And the major rivers in this area.....the Pedernales, the Guadaloupe and the Medina all are way below where they should be....and in many areas they too are dry as a bone.   And just today in a drive around Medina and Bandera, we saw what was formerly Lake Medina....no water at all.  Homes that used to have waterfront property and with boat docks that used to be at water's edge, are literally high and dry.   We were told today that Lake Medina is a 3% of its normal size right now....97% dried up and gone.   This drought is so severe that it will take very long periods of rain on a consistent basis to bring the lakes and rivers and creeks back....if it happens at all.   A huge IF.   Sad stuff indeed.

You can click on the map to enlarge it if you like.   Based in Fredericksburg (center of the map) we have enjoyed this city and its German history and flavor.  We have enjoyed the best pit BBQ at Coopers in Llano; and gorgeous drives all through the Hill Country....our favorites are TX 16 between Kerrville and Bandera...and TX Country road 337 between Leaky (Lay key) and Medina...both gorgeous drives with wonderful views through the hills and the mountains here in South Central TX.   We have enjoyed relaxing tea and pie at Miss Giddy's in Comfort, TX; and made new friends at the Cowboy Store in Bandera; had a great Mexican lunch at the Cafe in Leaky, population 540.   We have enjoyed San Antonio a couple of times this visit....and all it has to offer, and we have really enjoyed exploring many of the ranches in the area.  Bottom line is we have had a great time, and we will plan to come back at some point.

So it is with a bit of sadness that we depart the Hill Country for the timeless beauty of the West Texas plains.  We leave tomorrow en route to Marathon, where we will spend several days before moving on to the Maverick Ranch and RV Park in Lajitas, TX right on the border with Mexico.  Lajitas promises horseback riding, some kayaking (we hope) on the Rio Grande, some R&R as well as renting a jeep for a day or two to explore  Big Bend NP and its environs.....at 900,000 acres it just might take awhile!!   After our week in Lajitas we move on to the Fort Davis, Alpine and Marfa triangle north and west of Marathon for another week before moving on to Arizona with stops in Tucson and Yuma.....and from there we truck on to Southern CA.   So lots of interesting stuff is ahead and much of it will be "blog worthy"....so stay tuned.