Hiking Mountain Creek - 6/11/2016

Hike: Confederate Memorial Park, Mountain Creek, Sat., 6/11/2016; 07:45-10:00CDT

Distance: 4.3 miles  Difficulty: Easy  Rating: 4/5  

Conditions: Trails dry.  Trails of crushed stone and earth.  Clear/calm.  Very warm and humid.  No one else on trails today.

Thoughts/Observations:  

Plenty of time for solitude, worship, and meditation today -- no one else on trails.  Enjoyed the company of squirrels, rabbits, numerous song birds, woodpeckers, one red-tailed hawk, and one turkey hen.  Plenty of bugs (as is normal for this time of year).  Mimosa is just past prime in this area but there were still plenty of the pink and white, silken blooms.  Even though it is an invasive species, I am particularly fond of this tree.  It reminds me of my Grandmother Teal.

Bird-song and woodpecker cadence provided me with constant music, along with the occasional buzzing of the flying insect (which I could have done without).

It saddens me to report that the Champion Yellow Poplar tree (2nd largest in the State) does in fact appear to be dead.  There are no leaves anywhere on the branches.  Some large limbs have fallen and a large section of bark seems to have split off.  Experts believe this poplar germinated in 1773.  It has certainly seen a lot of history.  I will miss the old champion.

Click here for Ramblr Link with hiking stats and more pics.

National Trails Day - Lakeside Hike @ Swayback TOLA

Hike: Lakeside Trail, Swayback TOLA, Sat., 6/4/2016, 08:00-11:00CDT
Distance: 6.8 miles  Difficulty: Easy.  Family and dog friendly.  Rating: 4/5
Conditions: Sprinkling rain.  Light breeze.  Low to upper 70s.  Trails in good shape.  Only encountered two other people during the hike.
Thoughts/Observations:
Greatly enjoyed this  hike -- there is something special about hiking in the rain!  Wonderful time of worship and meditation.  I was continually serenaded by the staccato cadence of the raindrops on the forest canopy and floor along with the avain, frog, and insect choirs.  Passarines, crows, and woodpeckers were quite busy today.  No grackles in this forest!  (There were plenty last week in Texas.) 

Mimosa trees were in full bloom and perfume.  Brings back so many childhood memories.

Ramblr Link to photos and hiking stats.

Enchanted Rock TX State Natural Area - 5/21/2016

Hike: Summit, Echo Canyon, and Perimeter Trails, Sat., 5/21/2016 08:30-12:30CDT

Distance: 3.6 miles  Difficulty: Difficult (Summit) / Moderate (all others)  Rating: 4.5/5
Conditions: Foggy to Mostly cloudy.  Low 80s.  Light winds.  Trails in good shape.  Some slippery spots due to fog/misty rain.
Thoughts/Observations:
Hiking with Diane & Rob.  Great views from this pink granite rock!  Very crowded park.  Echo Canyon and perimeter trail were less crowded.

Ramblr Link to photos and hiking stats.

Urban Hike Bear Creek Trailway - Keller TX - 5/28/2016

Urban Hike: Bear Creek Greenway, Keller, TX, Sat., 5/28/2016, 19:00-20:15CDT
Distance: 2.1 miles  Difficulty: Easy, Family, Dogs, Bicycles, Wheelchairs
Rating: 4.5/5
Conditions: Great evening urban hike.  Paved trail.  Mixture of wooded, grassy, and riparian areas.  Some playgrounds placed along the trail.  Mosquitos were present (to be expected in this part of the country).
Thoughts/Observations:
Beautiful urban park/trailway.  Well designed and implemented. 

Ramblr Link with photos and hiking stats.

Lost Maples TX State Natural Area - 5/22/2016

Hike:  Lost Maples Trail, Sun., 5/22/2016, 12:30-17:00CDT
Distance:  5.2 miles  Difficulty: Difficult (due to 1.5 mile ascent & descent to and from ridge-line)
Rating: 5/5
Conditions: Beautiful day!  Mid 80s.  Light winds. 
Thoughts/Observations:
Trails were in good shape.  Few people using trails.  Great vistas from the ridgeline.  Strenuous climb and careful descent.  Maples would be very impressive in the Fall.  Unique geological formations and plant communities.  Quiet and peaceful lake setting near end of hike.

My favorite hike of this Texas Hiking Vacation!

Perdenales Falls TX State Park - 5/24/2016

Hike: Perdenales Falls and Twin Falls Trails, Tue 5/24/2016, 12:30-15:00CDT
Distance: 2.0 miles  Difficulty: Easy  Rating: 5/5
Conditions: Perdenales Falls Trail in good shape.  Twin Falls Trail in fair shape (evidence of flood or storm damage -- tress and limbs down near trail).  Twin Falls Trail closed near the waterfall but State constructed nice observation platform to look and photograph falls.  (Nicely done Texas!)
Thoughts/Observations:
Diane's favorite hiking spot during the vacation due to the waterfalls. 

Ramblr Link with Twin Falls hike stats

Ramblr Link with Perdenales Falls hike stats

 

Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge - 5/26/2016

Hike: Bison Trail, Wichita Mountains NWR Lawton, OK; Thu 5/26/2016, 10:00-15:15CDT
Distance: 8 miles  Difficulty: Moderate (due to distance and heat)  Rating: 5/5
Conditions: Mostly cloudy to mostly sunny.  Mid 70s to upper 80s.  Brisk wind. 
Thoughts/Observations:
Herd of Longhorns greeted us at the Visitor's Center!  Bison observed along trail (at a distance).  Gorgeous display of wildflowers throughout the length of the trail.  Trail in good shape. 

Lake Mineral Wells TX State Park - 5/28/2016

Hike: Lake Mineral Wells Trailway (Railtrail), Sat 5/28/2016  Morning hours.
Distance: 4.7 miles  Difficulty: Easy  Rating: 4.5/5
Conditions: Cloudy to PCloudy.  Very warm.  Light breeze.  Trail surface: crushed stone. 
Thoughts/Observations:
Hiking with Diane, Rob, and Roxie.  Roxie scared up quail and turkey hen.  (Roadrunners, turkeys, and deer observed at this park.)

Ramblr Link with hike stats.

Trinity River Trail - Fort Worth TX - 5/29/2016

Urban Hike: Trinity River Trail, Fort Worth TX; Sun 5/29/2016; 19:00-20:00CDT
Distance: 2.4 miles  Difficulty: Easy  Rating: 3.5/5
Conditions: Clear.  Warm.  Trail: paved, crushed-stone, and gravel
Thoughts/Observations:
Urban hike with Diane, Rob, and Roxie the Wonderdog!

Ramblr Link with Photos and Stats

San Antonio River Walk - Urban Hike

Urban Hike: River Walk San Antonio, TX; 5/23/2016 19:00-21:00CDT
Distance: 3.3 miles  Difficulty: Easy  Rating: 5/5
Conditions: Paved walkways, steps, bridges near river.  Very warm.  Sizeable crowd but not over-crowded
Thoughts/Observations:
Urban hike with Diane and Robert.  Saw "their bench".  Ate dinner at Texas Republic.  Viewed The Alamo.

Ancient cypress trees stand as sentinels along portions of the river walk.  Very well done.  Kudos to San Antonio.

Western Expedition Entry #1 -- 5/23/2016 -- Prologue

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
-- Psalm 18:2 NKJV

Thank YOU, LORD, for answering my prayers -- for protecting me, for healing me.  My bp is back to normal today.  For some reason, YOU did not want us at Big Bend.  The time at Enchanted Rock and especially Lost Maples was beyond description.  It is wonderful that YOUR plans are always so much better than ours!

I love YOU, LORD.

 Near the end of East Trail -- Lost Maples TX State Natural Area

 

Swayback Hike 05/14/2016

Hike: Portions of the Black and Red Trails at Swayback TOLA, Saturday, 5/14/2016, 08:00-10:30CDT
Distance: 5.7 miles  Difficulty: Easy; Family & dog friendly  Rating: 4.5/5
Conditions: Upper 60s to low 70s.  Wind light.  Trails damp from recent rains but no standing water or serious mud.  Gorgeous Spring weather -- quite a few people on the trail by the time I finished.
Thoughts/Observations:
Passerines in abundance today (I really enjoy the Cardinal).  Their songs always lighten my spirit.  Squirrel and chipmunk busy scampering about.

Thoughts/prayers for several individuals and for services tomorrow.  Excellent time for worship, praise, and meditation.

Quick Hike @ Swayback

 

Hike: Gold Trail, Swayback TOLA; Saturday, 5/7/2016; 08:00-10:00CDT

Distance: 4 miles  Difficulty: Easy  Rating: 4/5

Conditions: Low 60s to low 70s.  Calm.  Mostly sunny.  Trails mostly dry and in good shape.  Some vines beginning to encroach on trails and flying insects are busy.

Thoughts/Observations: 

Bird choirs were well represented today.  Great opportunity to get-out and enjoy GOD's Creation -- to commune with HIM.  Certainly was refreshing after two long weeks of outage work.  Cut the hike short to get back home to spend some time with Kathy in the backyard and finish preparations for Mother's Day on Sunday.

 

Notable Equipment:  MountainSmith lumbar pack; Merrill Moab hiking boots; OKC RAT5; Ramblr app; REI trekking poles.

Early Spring Hike - Swayback TOLA - 3/19/2016

Hike: Mostly red trail at Swayback TOLA, Saturday, 3/19/2016, 08:30-11:30CDT
Distance: 5.3 miles  Difficulty: Easy  Rating: 4.5/5
Conditions: Mostly cloudy to partly cloudy.  Hi 50s to low 60s.  Trails wet/muddy in spots but not too bad.  One blow-down necessitated detour off-trail.
Thoughts/Observations:

Great day for a hike!  Avian chorus was in resplendent glory today! 

Pics to follow later...

Fort Toulouse Hike - 3/11/2016

Hike: Ft. Toulouse National Historic Park, Wetumpka, AL, Fri., 3/11/2016 08:30-10:30CDT

Distance: 3.2 miles  Difficulty: Easy  Rating: 4/5

Conditions: Mostly clear.  Warm.  Calm.  Trails blocked in some spots by construction/repair work (Arboretum closed; bridge to Tallapoosa River closed).  Bottom area very muddy.  Alternate route had to be taken to the confluence of Coosa/Tallapoosa Rivers due to high water.

Thoughts/Observations:

 

Nice hike.  Some beautiful early Spring plants blooming.  Birds singing and squirrels scampering.  River levels were high and trails muddy (and in some spots closed).  Still enjoyed the solitude, worship time, and early Spring scene.

Quote of the Day - 3/9/2016

 

“God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools, and he has not been disappointed.
“If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity.
“Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world.”

– The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia

Quote of the Day - Nancy Reagan



"To my young friends out there: Life can be great, but not when you can't see it. So, open your eyes to life: to see it in the vivid colors that GOD gave us as a precious gift to HIS children, to enjoy  life to the fullest, and to make it count. Say yes to life."

-- Nancy Reagan

 

 

Well said Mrs. Reagan.  Well said...

Mixed Greens Hike - Swayback Trail of Legends - 3/5/2016

Hike: "Mixed Greens", Swayback Trail of Legends, Lake Jordan Alabama; Saturday, 3/5/2016, 07:30-11:30CST

Distance: 7.5 miles  Difficulty: Easy  Rating: 4.5/5

Conditions: Clear. Calm. Lake tranquil.  Low 40s to low 60s.  Trails very wet/muddy from recent storms.

Thoughts/Observations: 

Absolutely fantastic day for a hike.  Could not ask for more perfect weather.  Clear skies.  Calm.  Cool temperatures (but no rain and no wind).  Trails were wet and muddy in spots, but not a significant issue.  Since I got an early start, I had no other company on the trails until 10:30 or 11:00.  Encountered a few mountain bikers and several hikers.  Kudos to a Dad taking two small sons hiking; a Mom hiking with her two young sons; and a Dad with his young daughter -- glad to see these families out enjoying GOD's Creation.

Birds of all types were busy today.  Several different woodpeckers were tapping out their respective cadences.  No gray squirrels were observed today.

Enjoyed my time of worship, prayer, and introspection.  Getting ready for church tomorrow!

 

Hike Statistics from Ramblr App.

Slide Show of Hike (from YouTube).