Carl's Blog

Sunday’s time change hit be hard on Tuesday, so I got to a very slow start. I’m on vacation. I don’t have to do it all in one day.

After lunch time I went to a hiking trail near my hotel. But the trail was less than I expected. The Madrone Trail’s only high point was the butterfly garden. It is in the actual shape of a butterfly. The rest of the trail was confusing. There are too many connected trails. If you stopped paying attention, you could easily just walk in circles. I took the time to find one Geocache and then left.

Wednesday morning, I woke up early and ready to get going. So different than Tuesday morning; however, the weather and sunrise were not on my side. The Canyon Lake Dam overlook park didn’t open until 8 AM, luckily the donut shop was open at 6 AM. I enjoyed a kolache and a chocolate iced donut with sprinkles along with my coffee.

When the sun made an attempt to show up, the clouds and the fog had something else to say. The hike at the Dam was not pleasant with 92% humidity.

So back to the hotel and time for 2nd breakfast and some reading while I waited for the weather to improve.

At 11 AM the weather had improved. The fog had cleared, and the sun started to make appearances through the clouds. I head out for a little shopping Natural Rocks Crystals before going to the final trail of the day.

I went to the crystal shop hoping they’d have some rings my size, but they didn’t. I was able to purchase some pocket gem necklaces which allow you to drop polished rocks into a net. I will be able to use them with some malachite rocks I bought in Utah last summer and create my own “handcrafted” necklaces.

My final hiking adventure for the day was at Canyon Lake Gorge. This gorge was created in 2002 after a record amount of rain created the conditions were the dam overflowed the spill way and cut out the gorge. Be sure to check in at the office and pay the $5 access fee then trail is an easy out and back of 1.3 miles with signs along the way pointing out key features found in the gorge. You can book a guided tour, and I’m just going to copying and pasting the site blurb, “Join a certified guide on a trip down to the bottom of the 64-acre Gorge to explore limestone layers from an ancient sea, perfectly preserved fossils, waterfalls and springs where the Trinity Aquifer is exposed, and much more.”

After a very good burger from the Wildflour Artisan Bakery & Grill. I head to my final destination of the day, Crowded Barrel Whiskey Company.

I’m now back in my room and trying to decide if I should just have a bowl of cereal or something else light. Seriously, that burger earlier was very filling.

I’m thinking tomorrow I will visit the Hill Country History Museum, and then find a place to have a piece of pie. The forecast is for rain off and on, so outside activities could be very limited.

Until the next post!