August 6th is a day very near and dear to my heart. When I was a kid, I knew it was the day that my Grandpa Sixto would call and sing happy birthday to himself over the phone. After his slightly off key self serenade, he would laugh and exclaim, “I love you my Sweet … More Taking a Hike
A quick summer retreat can be as easy as an after dinner drive to Lake Dardanelle State Park, mere minutes from my house. On any given weekday, it’s fairly quiet and pedestrian friendly, conducive to peaceful lakeside walks. Close to 1.5 miles one way following the shoreline (as much as possible) from the visitors’ center … More Hometown Paradise
One of the great advantages of our Big Bend rental, The Laughing Horse Retreat, (which I highly recommend) was that the backyard was a hiker’s playground! Each night, after a bit of rest and bite of food, we walked out the door to mingle with Mother Nature yet again! On the last night, tackling the tallest peak … More Backyard Hiking
A very short, yet interesting trail lies about four miles west of the Hoodoos Trail: the Closed Canyon Trail. It’s namesake is well earned as hikers will discover since the vast majority of the 1.4 mile round-trip trek takes them through a very narrow canyon! It was unseasonably hot that day in March, and yet, … More Closed Canyon Trail at Big Bend Ranch State Park
Spring 2017 gifted the River Valley with an abundance of rain, perfect for those interested in waterfall hunting. After a bit of recollecting, we realized that five years had passed since our trek down the Glory Hole Trail. That’s far too long. So late one Sunday afternoon in April, Kurt and I bade the kids … More The Glory Hole
An old weathered tree Greets enthusiastic travelers Heralding them onward And upward In an effort to celebrate Each sunrise These old friends Have constantly supported one another For many millennia Hearty precipitation Has smoothed its surface A comfortable respite For fatigued bodies An intricate pattern Etched by time Nature’s artwork Impossible to duplicate A purposeful … More Throw Back Thursday – The Trail at Hawksbill Crag in Black and White
There’s a reason why this State Park is listed as the number two attraction on Tripadvisor: easy hiking to phenomenal views of layers of multicolored sediment formed into mountainous peaks that hug the meandering Colorado River. It’s very awe-inspiring! The big question on my mind was, “Why Dead Horse Point? Why that name?” According to the … More Dead Horse Point State Park
A great waterfall area to explore after a good spring rain is Pack Rat Falls. It’s accessible from the back of the Haw Creek Falls Campground, Campsite #5. A stunning trek upstream…. ….will take visitors through a beautiful series of cascades! The rocks can be slippery and wet on this trail…. …so definitely proceed with caution! In less … More Throw Back Thursday – Pack Rat Falls
Lately, when planning trips, our thinking has gone something like this… “I want to go to ______________!” “Well, while we are at it, we should drive over to __________________. It’s only 4 hours away! And maybe we can circle back and hit ________________ and _____________ as well!” “Great idea! Let’s do it!” This is exactly … More An Afterthought
Shootin' The Breeze 