Thursday, September 16, 2010
Rainbow's End - Mar 17
After leaving Goose Island State Park, we headed northeast to Lake Texana SP, near the small town of Edna. This was another very pretty park, with large lovely camping spaces. We stayed here three nights and were able to visit many nearby spots on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Our most interesting birds at these places were a White-tailed Kite and a Bald Eagle sitting near a nest.
Continuing north, we next went to Stephen F. Austin SP, about 60 miles west of Houston, about three miles north of I-10, along the Brazos River. This park was not as pretty, but it may have just been the fact that it was more crowded with spring-breakers than anyplace we had been so far. We were there for a weekend, and we never saw such large groups of children camping before! Stephen F. Austin was an early settler in the area, so the park had an historical marker in his honor and a display telling about his life. There were several nice trails through the park, but the recent rains had put many of them under water. The Brazos River was over its banks in places.
We visited the Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, about 30 miles from the park. We hiked on some nice trails and enjoyed the day, but there was no chance of seeing one of those birds. Down from over a million in 1900 and 2500 in 1990, there are only about 20 on the refuge, and the area where they nest is so protected that you are only allowed to go there two days a year on special tours; we had to be content with the video. There are about 30 more on a refuge near Galveston and about 134 more in captivity.
Last Sunday we moved on, skirting the Houston area (about as close as we ever want to get to that large city!), to Rainbow's End, the Escapees main headquarters, where there is a very nice park. We quickly found a twice weekly bridge game with some very nice people, which we have enjoyed immensely. Doug & Sandi Cameron, friends with whom we have exchanged emails for over a year, are also staying here, and we have enjoyed getting to know them better. Our paths will probably cross several more times this year, and we are looking forward to that. As with any SKP park, we are enjoying the friendly people, both staff and residents. Some people own lots here and have various types of RV parking and house combinations.
This park also has something unique for SKPs: the CARE center, Continuing Assistance for Retired Escapees. This center provides temporary or long-term assistance for Escapees and also for residents from the nearby town, Livingston. They provide needed assistance for the patient and also a lot of support for the caregiver. If you are alone, they can also help with chores and transportation. This allows people to get the care they need but still stay in contact with their friends who may still be RVing.
While here we visited nearby Lake Livingston SP and also spent a day at the Big Thicket National Preserve. Big Thicket encompasses 13 units totaling 86000 acres of one of the nation's most biologically diverse wilderness areas. There are hiking trails, ranging from as short as a half-mile nature trail up to 18 miles. One of the most unusual communities is called a baygall, which takes its name from red bay and gallberry holly which grow in this community. The water that stands in these seepages is highly acidic, which creates a unique ecological region. Also interesting is the juxtaposition of desert and swamp.
Continuing north, we next went to Stephen F. Austin SP, about 60 miles west of Houston, about three miles north of I-10, along the Brazos River. This park was not as pretty, but it may have just been the fact that it was more crowded with spring-breakers than anyplace we had been so far. We were there for a weekend, and we never saw such large groups of children camping before! Stephen F. Austin was an early settler in the area, so the park had an historical marker in his honor and a display telling about his life. There were several nice trails through the park, but the recent rains had put many of them under water. The Brazos River was over its banks in places.
We visited the Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, about 30 miles from the park. We hiked on some nice trails and enjoyed the day, but there was no chance of seeing one of those birds. Down from over a million in 1900 and 2500 in 1990, there are only about 20 on the refuge, and the area where they nest is so protected that you are only allowed to go there two days a year on special tours; we had to be content with the video. There are about 30 more on a refuge near Galveston and about 134 more in captivity.
Last Sunday we moved on, skirting the Houston area (about as close as we ever want to get to that large city!), to Rainbow's End, the Escapees main headquarters, where there is a very nice park. We quickly found a twice weekly bridge game with some very nice people, which we have enjoyed immensely. Doug & Sandi Cameron, friends with whom we have exchanged emails for over a year, are also staying here, and we have enjoyed getting to know them better. Our paths will probably cross several more times this year, and we are looking forward to that. As with any SKP park, we are enjoying the friendly people, both staff and residents. Some people own lots here and have various types of RV parking and house combinations.
This park also has something unique for SKPs: the CARE center, Continuing Assistance for Retired Escapees. This center provides temporary or long-term assistance for Escapees and also for residents from the nearby town, Livingston. They provide needed assistance for the patient and also a lot of support for the caregiver. If you are alone, they can also help with chores and transportation. This allows people to get the care they need but still stay in contact with their friends who may still be RVing.
While here we visited nearby Lake Livingston SP and also spent a day at the Big Thicket National Preserve. Big Thicket encompasses 13 units totaling 86000 acres of one of the nation's most biologically diverse wilderness areas. There are hiking trails, ranging from as short as a half-mile nature trail up to 18 miles. One of the most unusual communities is called a baygall, which takes its name from red bay and gallberry holly which grow in this community. The water that stands in these seepages is highly acidic, which creates a unique ecological region. Also interesting is the juxtaposition of desert and swamp.
# posted by Doug and Willie @ 8:55 PM 
