Garner State Park Hiking Trails

One of the reasons we have chosen to volunteer is not only to get a free full hook up site, but it is also to stay put in a location and experience the culture and have time to get out and hike, explore, kayak or whatever.  There are 15 trails in the trail system here.  It's been a good 40 years since I hiked Old Baldy and Crystal Cave. So here's one of our goals - to hit all the trails while we're here.

On the Old Horse Trail, I was hoping to see a Black Capped Vireo as this is supposedly a good area to find them.  But I didn't bring binoculars and I didn't have my phone with my bird app that I can use to help me identify bird calls.  So not sure if it was the vireo or a golden cheek warbler.

This trail starts right out of Shady Meadows camping loop.

Several trails will take you to the old original entrance.

A pretty hike up the mountain, listening for the birds.

As the name implies, you are walking on the old horse trail on the side of the mountain. Used to be the only way to get around the Frio canyon.

With a more wet spring, there are still tons of wildflowers out and about at the park.

The view up here is quite impressive, leaving you with a great perspective of the park and surrounding areas. Can even see Mager's red bath house down below that river crossing.

What a view.

The hike up sure gives a person a workout!

Looking down over Old Garner.

The captain, deciding which way to go.

Hey, wait for me!

Looking into Crystal Cave.

Looking at the layout of the river.

The view of the RV parks across the river from the state park.

A view of Old Baldy from the trail

This is a good trail for bike riding. About 2.5 miles through parts of the park you don't realize are even here!

A high view of the river.

Taking a break!

Another view of Old Baldy.

According to my calculations, it has been 42 years since I went up the trail to Crystal Cave. Nice to go there with the one I love!!!!

Time Off For Wedding Week - May 12 - 15

Well I have to mention this week! Amy our youngest is getting married this weekend. Plus she has bought a house, which happens to be my brother in law's house, and she is going to take advantage of me being there for lots of reasons.  LOL!

I clean all the cabinets for her in the house. Take time off to play with Aiden. When Lucy gets there on Friday we get to go to school and have lunch. I am going to miss this wonderful, laid back school here in Newgulf. Great folks!

Then it is Friday night rehearsal, a wonderful fajita dinner cooked by James' friends, ending with a frog hunt. James and friends are doing the cooking for the wedding too. I get to make beans and the tea. Woohoo! (And by the way, some of the best bbq I ever ate!)

It threatened to rain all day Saturday. But the storms kinda circled around The Caney House and it was a beautiful ceremony, great meal, and overall fun time! My Amy is the best planner ever! I thought I would share some of my best memories.

I think Amy was glad to have her mom show up!  Enjoying a little chill time!

 

Aiden loves to fish at his new house, complete with a pond!

Aiden and Lucy enjoying lunch at Aiden's school, Newgulf Elementary.

 

 

Best looking daughters and grandkids!

Lucy and Aiden

Everyone went to get their hair done.

I think these smiles sum it all up!

Table decoration from the rehearsal dinner.

My cousin Larry was the photographer.  He and his drone can do amazing things!

Liz and Lucy

Sparkler send off

Check out the Texas design on the floor.

Quickest rehearsal I have ever been to.

Daddy daughter dance.

Amy and James

Guest book register

The pit where all the food was cooked. Yum!

Garner State Park in Texas, May 1 - May 8, 2016

We are now volunteers with the Texas State Park system. Our first week here was spent getting used to our loop, which is the outer Rio Frio loop, one of the biggest in the park.  Our host site is really great.  By Wednesday Ron confiscated a lawn mower and a weed eater. I struck out on digging all the winter ashes out of fire pits (you know me, a gardener at heart.....doesn't matter what I am using the shovel for as long as it isn't to pick up dog poop) and by the weekend, we had transformed the Rio Frio Loop!

Here's a picture of our camp host site #465.

This is our first experience volunteering in a State Park so weren't sure what to expect and could only compare to our volunteer work at LBJ National Historical Park.  Here is what we like:

• We set our hours. And we only have to work 24 hours together per week for our site.
• We get our chores done in the morning and in the afternoon, we go to the river! And in May, during the week, we are usually the only folks there!
• Meet awesome campers and swap stories.
• Feel like we're living in a place that we always wanted to, instead of just visiting it for a week once a year.

Here's that beautiful, clear Frio River!

This is where we've been hanging out.  Deep spot in the middle, shade on one side for Ron, and a perfect spot for my lawn chair.  On the Rio Frio Loop.

If this old cypress tree could talk. It sure has withstood many a flood.

The Visitor Center, where I volunteer 2 days a week.