That's right, it finally happened. Buffy the Vacuum Slayer decided that climbing trees just wasn't exhilerating enough so she decided to show off on our last hike by going cliff diving!
Don't ask me exactly how it happened but I just remember turning around and seeing her little black silhouette going over the edge, kind of tumbling, feet sprawled, just like she slipped on a banana peel . You know the cliff! Yeah, that one!
We had hiked as far as the second loop and took a break. Everyone was playing on a rope swing and having a good ole time 20 feet below in Spring Creek. While they were cannonballing, hooting and hollering, I was looking down from the trail above while Greg was shutterbugging. Several of us stood atop the cliff this particular day to dry off after our creek hike. It had rained the night before so the ground was slick. Too slick, apparently, for a little black Pug Dog. I had warned her earlier to not walk so close to the crumbly edge, but she was captivated by the people below and all she wanted to do was go swimming. So, the next thing I know, she is careening over the cliff head first, and my jaw is dropping. "BUFFY!" Lucky for her, a cedar tree was hanging horizontally over the edge, in the midst of falling itself into the creek, dangling only by it's roots. She landed like a chick falling into a nest of pine needles. Not a pleasant landing, but better than landing on the rock hard limestone 20 feet below right? Thanks Greg for pointing that out! Although somehow it didn't make my heart stop fluttering...
She didn't move. I panicked. Oh my God, she's been skewered on pine needles! All sorts of things were flying through my mind. I was having flash backs of the happier times, Buffy splashing happily on her first Spring Creek swim, Buffy tugging on my pant leg as we walked along the forested trail, Buffy leaping and running after her buddy in the wildflowers, Buffy rolling in the grass upside down with her legs in the air and smile on her face, screeeeeeeeeeech! Buffy hanging by her toenails over the edge of a cliff! Oh my GAWWWWWD!
Thank heavens for Robin! She came running to the rescue out of the creek and over to the cliff face. We all watched from above as Robin stood on her tiptoes, climbing as high up the slippery rock as she could to reach into the prickly branches, barehanded no less.
Buffy was in a fetal position, not moving an inch, her paws curled to keep from touching the needles. I just knew she was dead or maybe injured. Most likely, she was simply not moving because there were no branches to stand on and her bed of needles was the only thing keeping her suspended in space ten feet above the rock. I was in a total panic to say the least! Looking back on it, she reminded me of a Mr. Potato Head being held in place by toothpicks sticking into her side. Owwwwch!
Robin gently lowered Buffy out of the tree and carried her down to a hiker waiting in the water below, who kindly offered to carry her the rest of way. All Buffy wanted to do was get back up the cliff to Mama. So, Robin carried her up stream and placed her on solid ground beneath the giant Sycamore tree. She scrambled up the enormous roots and the embankment totally uninjured and unphased. She bee-lined it back up to the high trail to mom. Kiss, kiss, hug, hug. Reunion. No sprains, no pricks, no blood. MIraculously, no injuries.
LESSON: Never call a cedar a trash tree! They all have their purpose in this world!
I was surprised today when I clicked on a new member's profile and found a really touching response to one of our standard new profile questions: "What is your dream hike?"
Instead of the standard Pike's Peak or Appalacian Trail, she gave a link to the Wainright Coast to Coast Challenge, a trek across England. At first I thought this would be an excellent hike for a couple friends of mine in this group who are both excellent photographers and writers. Then after I visited the site, I realized the true challenge in this and that is raising money for charity, kind of like the March of Dimes, but hiker style. Check it out! We could do this! How about a hike to Austin - it's a similar distance as the one in England!!! YES!!
There is nothing more refreshing that I can imagine than plunging into a deep, crystal clear and cold spring river when the Texas heat is pushing 90 degrees in June! When I showed Asst. Hike Leader, Anselma, the waterfall next to the Salt Grass Steakhouse that is just below Spring Lake at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, Texas, she yipped and dove head first into the water to swim along the rocky bottom. Claudia decided to hold our valuables on the bank to wait for her turn. The top of Anselma's head burst up from the water with a splash. She shook the water off her hair like a shaggy dog, then peered at me through her goggles, and waved her arm, "Come on!" She had a big grin on her face! I jumped in like a flash right behind her but the current was flowing so fast the chest deep water was pushing me back downstream. Anselma grabbed my hand and pulled me across the current. She had been able to make her way a little easier by swimming underwater straight toward the roaring rapids. We eventually climbed out on the other bank as the rushing water became a torrent as strong as a fireman's Mardi Gras water hose blasting us down a street. The swim and climb was invigorating and well worth it. One could literally feel the energy that was stirred up by the wet spray and the thundering rapids. We made our way as far as we could up to the "no swimming" zone that marked the Aquarena preservation area. It was mind boggling to look over to the right to see the placid waters of the lake, then to the left after the dam, a deafeningly loud blast of water crashing over the rocks. On our way back down the hillside, Anselma couldn't resist diving back into the water and letting it sweep her downstream to the calmer swimming area. It was amazing to be able to see her five feet below swimming along the bottom against the bright green Hydrilla plants and white limestone gravel bottom. This was truly a captivating experience and my favorite of all the Hillcountry swims. One could easily stay all day in this one spot and "shoot the rapids" over and over.
We still had one more stop on our schedule after lunch, so on our way back to the car, Anselma swam the river downstream while Claudia and I managed the valuables and walked the bank back across the street to the park. It was all I could do to jump in myself and follow but I resisted and walked with my camera filming the activities going on at Sewell Park as we crossed the road and bridges back to the car. Our next stop was Rio Vista, a park about a 1/4 mile downstream with an island and three water chutes. I will save that review as a separate entry since the experience is totally different. One can however connect these two parks by renting a tube from the Lion's Club behind Bobcat Stadium and floating down. There is a river taxi to take you back to your point of origin.
I have added photos to the Dallas Wild Life Meetup photo area and videos have been added here to this website's Video area.
This is my take on a lil' walk through a piece of the past I experienced on this sunny Saturday in McKinney, Texas...
I like to explore the world around me in my car.I think ya’ll’d feel the same if you just got out on the roads and tried it yourself.You never know what you may find.One thing I found was Erwin Park (Mapsco 260 F).I was just drivin’ west on 380 from 75, saw the brown signs and followed them right to those rolling hills and meadows that I will always return to.
I was expecting about 30 people to join me on this Saturday morning hike near the Trinity, but I also knew that the cold fog hovering about the city would keep some people under warm blankets.My concerns all but evaporated when the first hiker showed up.Within the hour, the cul-de-sac at the trailhead was filled with cars, which carried bodies eager to see what the Buckeye buzz was all about.At 10:03 A.M., after a short introduction by Jim Flood, a Master Naturalist and one of the original blazers of the trail, we went up and down the levee into the world of the Trinity River Bottomland, which to those who care, can be seen on Mapsco 56-L as Rochester Park.
Many people think of San Marcos as a big college town with a small town feel. What most don't realize is that it is home to one of the biggest springs in the Hillcountry, numerous caves and hundreds of historic homes all from a time when Texas was just a wild west mecca for pioneers, homesteaders and ranchers. Today, tourists fly right by San Marcos on I-35 as if it weren't there. New Braunfels to its south is a German-town magnat for tubers and others looking to live the good life, even if it's just for the weekend.
Where the River Flows
The upperSan Marcos River rises from the San Marcos Springs north of Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. The San Marcos Springs headwaters rise from the Edwards Aquifer into Spring Lake. Access to much of the headwaters is restricted due to the delicate ecosystem and numerous rare species. The most popular spot to view the water is at Aquarena Springs, which was created when a dam was built in 1898.
The river begins at . and San Marcos, and is a popular recreational area. It is joined by the Blanco River after four miles, passes through Luling and near Gonzales flows into the Guadalupe River after a total of 75 miles (121 km). This course is the first section of the Texas Water Safari.
Let's face it. We are all not concerned with creature comforts. If you want to go camping on the cheap and your bottom line is cost, then there are four, basic things you will need: a tent, a tarp, a mattress and a sleeping bag.
1. 3-Person tents at Academy are ideal. For $40 you can get a good one that fits all your budgetary needs.
Poly tarp for under the tent
2. You put TARPS underneath you tent as protection against ground moisture. They cost about $6 and you can get them at Academy as well.
20-degree sleeping bag
3. You need a sleeping bag. You can get a good one at Academy for around $40 as well. One that sleeps you comfortably at 40 degrees should be sufficient for Spring, Summer and Fall in Texas. If you want to get a 20 degree one however, you can do that too.
Sleeping pad
4. You need a MATTRESS, inflatable or not, to allow you to sleep comfortably over little rocks or twigs on the ground. They run between $10 and $20 at Academy. This is the way to go.
As far as food is concerned...
CoolerMax ice chest
1. You will probably need a COOLER to store some stuff: juice, milk, meat, vegetables or whatever else. A smaller one is just fine.
2. Bring whatever food you like. Hot dogs and smores, though not the healthiest, are always good. You can always buy more food not far from the campsite too.
Lastly, bring appropriate clothes. For Caddo, the low on Friday should be in the mid fifties and on Saturday it should be in the 40's. We intend to have some big ol' campfires burning, but it is always wise to have a good winter jacket on when it is in the 40's. Better to be warm than not.
I hope this helps everyone with their equipment purchases.
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Next time you think you hear tropical birds singing in the Spring Creek Forest look for the Yellow Billed Cuckoo. Listen to one here as soon as I figure out how to embed a media file! :) In the mean time, please visit 
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