Happy Sunday!
This has been a fun week! I've been serenaded in the morning and roasted in the afternoon. I've tracked through two state parks, bounced down a couple of dirt roads, and had the opportunity to explore some really cool old structures. I even saw my first roadrunner in the wild!
Hold it right there. I'm talking about the bird. You know two legs, really fast? And, no, he didn't go "BEEP BEEP." I've seen them in pictures, on TV and in zoos, but never up close. Unfortunately, he was too quick for me to get a pic.
Bastrop and Buescher State Parks are what is termed "consolidated." That basically means they're close enough to each other to share resources. Both have spectacular views, diverse ecosystems and are CCC parks, meaning that they were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's.
The parks are also in the Lost Pines area of Texas, so named because of the loblolly pines that grow in abundance, over 100 miles from the Piney Woods area of East Texas.
No one knows for sure why this stand of pines are here. Some think that ancient Indians planted seedlings to remind them of there homes to the east. Others think that a massive pine forest once stretched all the way to the east and the ones in Bastrop and Buescher are survivors that got cut off. Either way, I don't care. They're beautiful.
There is a bit of a sad history here. But also a happy ending, of sorts. In September of 2011, a convergence of factors, including severe drought and a tropical storm, led to the worst wildfire in Texas history. The fire cost the lives of four people and burned down over 1600 homes. And it destroyed 96 percent of the forest in Bastrop State Park.
Fortunately, most of the structures were spared, with only two scenic overlooks and a rain shelter lost. The remainder of the CCC work survived and Buescher was untouched.
The good news is that the park is recovering, and quickly. Many may know that fire is one way to trigger pine seeds to open and begin to make new trees. As a result a lot of new trees are growing to replace those lost.
Also, in 2012 the state began a project to replant over 4 million trees both inside the park and in the area surrounding it. The progress of those efforts were clearly visible while I was there. Bare skeletons of dead trees could still be seen throughout the park, stark witness to the destruction from the fires, but beneath those, soft green blanketed the scene.
Nestled in the pines and scattered throughout both parks are structures that seem to grow from the ground itself. These were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC.
In the early 1930's, at the height of the depression, the nation was in sad shape. Unemployment was at 25%, many were hungry, and there were few jobs. President Roosevelt created the CCC to help out. In return for a commitment of six months of hard work, men could feel the pride of being able to provide for their families. These men would plant trees, build structures and create recreational areas around the country.
Texas took advantage of this labor pool, and in 1933 two CCC companies came to the Bastrop area to plant and transplant trees, replenishing the over cut forest and clearing the way for the scenery we can enjoy today. They also constructed buildings, shelters, cabins, a refectory, and even a golf course with a shelter and starter house using local materials.
I've been fascinated by the work of the CCC all of my life. I think that's part of what makes me so fond of the craftsman style of architecture and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright's work uses local and natural materials to make his buildings fit the landscape. And the craftsman style celebrates workmanship.
CCC structures follow the same lines. Arthur Fehr, the architect of Bastrop State Park, designed works of architectural art using local red sandstone, cedar, oak, walnut, and of course pine. His vision and the work of the CCC were so exemplary and their contributions so enduring that in 1997 Bastrop was named a National Historic Landmark, one of only five CCC parks in the country that bear this mark.
The parks themselves are well laid out, with accommodations for RV's, tent camping, day use and groups. Buescher has a small lake that is a favorite of fisherman who test their luck against bass, catfish and rainbow trout. Bastrop has a swimming pool for those wanting a retreat on the really hot days and while the old golf course is gone, the cart trails make for an easy hike.
Oh, and Buescher has a little amphitheater with a movie screen tucked into the woods. Maybe on my next trip I can talk them into letting me screen something!
Many hiking and walking trails traverse both parks, with abundant wildlife clearly in evidence. The park is home to the endangered Houston toad, as well as the typical Texas natives: deer, opossums, armadillos, mockingbirds and the aforementioned roadrunners.
And I had a couple of special treats during my stay. My campsite was on the edge of a small ravine, and I had a beautiful view of the sunrise each morning. So naturally I started my day outside watching the sun come up, framed by two dead but starkly beautiful pines.
A mockingbird serenaded me each morning as the sun came up with his full retinue of songs. It was a great way to wake up! Click on the video above for a montage of sunrises backed by this glorious bird's call.
I couldn't see the sunset from my site very well, but I could drive a couple of miles down the park road to a scenic overlook that provided a spectacular view. It was on my way back the first night that I ran into treat #2. Just up the hill from the overlook is an old concrete cistern, likely left over from the early days of the park. I decided to drive up there to have a look at it.
As I got out of the car, I hear a a strange chirping sound. I looked over my head and was astonished to see what could only be described as a hurricane of small bodies swirling closely overhead. They seemed to be heading into the cistern itself.
At first, I thought of bats. Austin is close by, and the Congress Avenue bridge bat colony if famous, and it was quite dark, so all I could see was thousands of little black things.
It was only when I came back the next night, slightly earlier and with a little more light, that I figured out it was birds. Chimney swifts to be exact. The cistern is their nesting spot, and August is in the middle of their mating season. They were just out having a good time! I caught them in the video below. Apologies for the poor lighting. It was spur of the moment.
I've met some new people also. Terry and Linda came in on Thursday in their motorhome. Terry is a retired railroad man and Linda pursues her passion for firefighting by volunteering with VFDs. They're both old pros at RVing and travel with their 3 dogs, including the latest acquisition, and Saint Bernard named Ranger. He's the cutest puppy (all 100 pounds of him!)
This is getting long winded, so I'll just make a quick update on the rig. All in all, no major issues this week. It's held up against the summer heat (100 plus!) pretty well, and I haven't found any more warranty issues.
Next week, my first stay in a real RV park! I'm staying at Johnson Creek RV resort near Kerrville. I'm thinking I'll play tourista for a bit.
Later, folks.
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