Day 100 – Texas Hill Country Part 2

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Day 100 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Pedernales Falls State Park

After a wonderful evening with Molly, I headed West, past Austin and into the Texas Hill Country.  My first stop of the day was at Pedernales Falls State Park.  There was a chill in the air, but the sun was shining as Petey and I followed the Wolf Mountain Trail lined by mesquites and maples to Twin Falls.  To my surprise, the falls weren’t flowing!  I thought the snowmelt would have produced at least a trickle, but the area has suffered a massive drought in recent years. 

The creek filled oasis beneath the falls, however, was breathtaking.  Frankly, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen aqua colored water in my home state.  The Trinity River and the Texas Gulf Coast are generally brown from silt (as well as pollution).  Additionally, North Texas lakes are manmade, thus usually murky grey or green.  I can’t say there has ever been a body of water in Texas that I was thrilled to jump into except a swimming pool!  I heavily considered dipping my feet in this small pool of water, but ground level was not that easily accessible with a dog, camera, and backpack in tow.

We returned to VANilla after a two to three mile walk to take a short drive to another area of the park to see Pedernales Falls.  The Pedernales River flows over and through protruding rocks to create the falls.  Petey and I hopped over the rocks for a closer look, but obeyed the signs:  no swimming, wading, or tubing on this portion of the river.  While the river appeared calm and harmless, evidently the rocks create strong currents and undertow. In addition, the area of the Texas Hill Country is subject to flash floods, which I can believe. 

As a freshman in high school, our class took a trip to YO Ranch for a bonding experience.  The class was divided into three small groups and given different scheduled activities.  My group was going camping.  One task included building a fire with only two matches to cook hotdogs.  No fire = cold hotdog.  Unfortunately, all the nearby wood was soaked from recent rains.  It was not the best lunch I’ve ever had, but that wasn’t the worst of it. 

The excursion turned worse when torrential rains flooded the river and trapped us in the hayloft of a barn for the weekend.  The river, so high, washed the school bus away!!  Eventually, our group made it back to the main cabin area unharmed, just in time to go home to Dallas.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Thankfully today, there was no snow or rain, so the rivers were tame, but the wind was howling.  Gusts were so strong that VANilla blew onto the shoulder of the road.  Windmills spun as fast as they could go!  Deer, antelope, and longhorns peppered the Texas hill country.  And a road runner played chicken with VANilla as we continued through Main Street in Fredericksburg to finally reach Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. 

Enchanted Rock is a small part of a huge underground rock known as a batholith.  The batholith is over a billion years old and spans over 100 square miles (4 times the size of Manhattan).  Enchanted Rock is the second-largest mass of exposed granite in the United States.  It sheds its outer layers of rock as it contracts and expands creating a variety of oddly shaped granite fragments that sometime slide down the dome. 

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The rock also illuminates in the moonlight.  The noise and light reflections at this mound of pink granite caused the Indians to think it was possessed by supernatural powers!  Petey and I hiked a few miles around the area and then took the Summit Trail to the top of the dome.  One tree and some grass grew from the top.  We didn’t stay long, as the wind was so strong, my hair blew back just as it did when I went skydiving!

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Fredericksburg Agricultural Fairground

We ventured back through the Texas hill country toward Fredericksburg and took a short drive to the fairgrounds where I once competed in a horse show as a twelve year old.  I remember it being a small show with a few exhibitors, but it was quite fun.  I also remember a BBQ place across from the motel that sold homemade donuts.  After a few drive-bys, as I thought I’d try the homemade donuts in the morning, but I was unsuccessful in locating the restaurant.  As a result, I retired to Wal-Mart.  Perhaps I will google BBQ and donuts in Fredericksburg and see what I find for the morning. ETB

Map of My Road Trip Across the USA

For a summary about my road trip across the USA, click HERE. For the interactive map, see the below link.

Other Articles on Texas You May Like

• Day 97 – East Texas Ramble
• Day 98 – East Texas Ramble Part 2
• Day 99 – Texas Hill Country

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Check out the photographic note cards and key chains at my shop.  Each card has a travel story associated with it.  20% of proceeds are donated to charity.

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