Texas Reflections Photography Journey: April 2015

Sunday, April 19, 2015

I'm a Free Range...So I'm Told

I've been home for about a week...when I last posted I was in the middle of my stay at Bastrop....

The rest of my stay was a continuation of traveling up and down rural unpaved roads looking for some interesting scene with wildflowers....the weather kept getting worse...the winds where ready kicking up, some rain and the forecast was for storms moving in to the area within the next day or two....

My first thought was to go back west, but the weather reports included storms cells also moving into that area...I decided that I would leave sometime Friday morning...I had 3 alternative routes, depending where the cells where and which direction they where heading...

That evening I grilled a chicken breast, corn on the cob, salad and some French bread.....decided that I would go ahead and hitch up, in case it was raining in the AM....decided to watch folks fishing on the lake...the weekenders where arriving in mass...even with the likelihood of storms coming. I got a neighbor that arrived early evening...from Shreveport...he and his wife where also on a "Bluebonnet Adventure"...in fact they where heading for Burnet at first light...

Got up about 0600, no rain yet...looked at my weather app and saw a HUGE storm cell...it was south of San Antonio area heading northeast..Mmmm, if I went southwest I would sure run into the worst of it...I decide to head east and then south, in hopes that that by time I want to head west it is far enough north for me to miss the brunt of the storm...

My plan seemed to be working....I started heading south and got on l-10 heading west....I should have looked at the weather app...the rain came sideways....I found a large Gas station, pulled in over to one end and went into the camper...Three hours later I started up again for the final stretch..arrived home at a lull in the storm and unhitched...it started again about 10 minutes after unhitching....

The weather may have shorten my trip...but it did not "dampen" my spirit...I enjoyed my time being out and shooting Bluebonnets....The first evening back my Bride had seen a Geico commercial and stated that it reminded her of us and my travels...so I leave you with a Utube of the commercial...which I sure you've seen.....Happy Trails....Free Range sends :))

Friday, April 10, 2015

The Miles are Flying By......

Not counting towing , I've travel 850 or so miles chasing down Bluebonnets…. Some say I’m ready for the “Home”…

This is a Tuesday Post….woke up around 0530….and that was the second time….The first had to do with my emergency weather radio….around midnite it goes off and needless to say its loud..I jump up, finally figure out what is making the racket..and then it engages in information…its not a weather alert, but an amber alert…don’t even tell me its about a old Guy who is chasing wildflowers all over the Hill Country…and hasn’t been heard of in a week..Ha,Ha….

I start sawing logs again about 0100 hrs…and wake up to a crow or Raven perched close to the camper…made some coffee and went outside to see the sun rise…met the Guy next site over…in his early 60’s I’m figuring, …we sit and chat for a while…he works in the oil business, trouble shooter, travels all over the Country..loves the outdoors and camps in the bed of his truck(has a cap) or, weather permitting, has a hammock type sleeping bag..covered …unique, and very functional. Its getting close to 0800, I tell him I’ll catch him this evening, and its off to the races,,,

I first go East to Giddings, Carmine, a place I camped at 3 years ago, Then Burton and Brenham. Took the better part of two hours with photo stops….next in was NE to Washington…then south meandering in a triangle faction(125 or so miles). Did get some shots, a couple places the fields are filling up nicely…Today the wind was probably the worst its been for the entire trip…can’t get crisp close ups and the fields look a little bit funky in a photo…but its still a magnificent sight and I’m happy to be able to be out here.

Got back late afternoon, decided to grill a ribeye , with corn on the cob, salad, and some French bread…pretty tasty…. The neighbor came by and we chatted...He received a call from his Boss and is headed to North Carolina on Wednesday(8 Apr)…He has decided to get himself an Artic Fox camper(what do you think Barney?)..in fact I told him about the Nash camper which Artic Fox makes..great 4 season campers…so we said our good-byes, wished each other well and hoping to meet up again down the road…he is based in Austin.

Came in to download and write this post….Tomorrow I’ll probably take myself South and East…need to watch the forecast, seems some sort of storm activity is heading this way…which could impact your fishing on the Trinity River , Mr. JerryC….

Until next time..Happy Trails…Horst sends

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

East To Bastrop

(c)Horst Kelly Photographer..By Back Yard

Its been a great 5 Days…but I do want to see what the other side of I-35 looks like..some my goal was Bastrop, Tx..about 150 miles from Llano..Originally I was going to get a camp site at Somerville State Park which is on a lake and just north of Brenham…never could make a reservation on line and nobody answered the phone or called be back…Super customer Service..Maybe not so much!

(c)Horst Kelly photographer

So after looking for places to camp, and there aren’t many in that area..I decided that Bastrop would do. I found a site which I thought was Bastrop State Park, made my online reservations and was delighted about going to a location I hadn’t visited previously….

I left the Llano area about 1030 hours and decide not to take the shortest route which would south on Rt71…which goes through South Austin and then on to Bastrop…I was in no hurry and wanted to see some towns I hadn’t been to before…So off I went East on Rt. 29 to Burnet, Bertram, Georgetown and then south on on Rt 95 heading towards Taylor, Coupland, Elgin, and reaching Bastrop about 1pm…Took Rt 21 a few miles, saw Bastrop State Park sign and here I am….not so fast Buckaroo…….and another adventure begins…When I was checking in the folks kept looking and relooking at their computer and Finally asked me when and how I registered..I told them when and that I did it on line….I pulled up my confirmation email on my phone, showed them and they where grinning from ear to ear….after they got there lost good chuckle off there chest, I was informed that I made reservations at The nearby LCRA Campground..Mmmmm

I now learned something new…LCRA stands for Lower Colorado River Authority…They have 8 parks with RV hookups,19 tent parks with 4 of them having electric…that’s not sites but parks…coverings 8 towns.cities along the Colorado River in from around San Saba, Tx. to the Gulf…Their web site is www.lcra.org/parks oh, almost forgot, their also have cabins at some of there parks….Price for me was twenty bucks per day, plus the “old Guys” day rate use of $2.00….The site is wooded and the lake is directly behind me about 30 feet..ducks in the water means no “crocs” in the area.. :)

Bottom line…it ended up being better than the State Park and cheaper by a few bucks…clean, quiet and friendly….my Camping Guardian Angel pulls through again….I now have on my “Bucket List” to visit all the LCRA campgrounds in the next 12 months….

BTW Barney aka OFM…you sent all your “kayaking, fishing Buds to the wrong place…It has been peaceful.. :)

After I unhitched, I did a little scouting around, took a few pics…came back and grilled a salmon, corn on the cob, salad, and a glass of red wine… They say it helps lower the Cholesterol levels….mine being as high as it is, I’ve been drinking a couple 3 bottles nightly…haha..tomorrow I’m going to do some major chasing of wild flowers..this Blog is going to be a day or more behind….sorry!

Stay Happy and I’ll see you when….Horst sends

Monday, April 6, 2015

....Bluebonnets and little Else

Its Sunday evening..and I am getting ready for a travel day tomorrow to Bastrop St Pk...the southern campground....will stay until Friday...Today was overcast and misty.....I did manage to put over 150 miles on the Xterra looking for photo ops...being Easter Sunday in the Hill Country, it seems everyone else had the same idea.....The area has sure starting filling up with Wild flowers in the last 3 days.

Instead of a boring recap about which rural road I raced up and down today, I'll just post some photo's.....hope you enjoy...until next time......Horst sends

Saturday, April 4, 2015

This is Better Than Sipping Brandy....

One of the perks of being outdoors is waking up to a bird singing, maybe the sounds of a river flowing by, a train traveling across country..even a sound of a rooster waking up the hens...usually these items occur between 5 or 6 in the morning....I had all the windows
open with a nice breeze keeping the camper cool and comfortable....at about 1:30 in the wee hours of the morning I hear a Mockingbird singing full blown "opera style"..and it doesn't stop until I leave at 0800 for the Days Adventure. Wow....I haven't seen or heard him or her the rest of the day....I'm hoping I don't get "Act 2" tonight.

Not having any success getting some deep sleep, I got myself up around 0500..made some STRONG coffee, go outside and star gaze, while my mockingbird friend is still serenading me.... as the sun is peeking over the Hills, I get cleaned up, dressed, make another cup of Java and decide on todays adventure...its going to start with the Willow Road loop...a 13 mile country road onto private land that winds around and kinda ends close to Fredisburg. Your speed is about 5/10 miles per hour and you are not suppose to stop or pull over and/or get out of your vehicle to take photos...I learned a long time ago that it's far better to ask for forgiveness...then to ask for permission.

I am somewhat disappointed in that there are not the vast open fields of Bluebonnets as in past years...especially since this year is deemed a "Bumper Crop" year..maybe I'm a week or so early....after I finished the loop, I meander on numerous rural roads with little luck and end up in Johnson City...having high hope...nothing..Mmmm Its 1pm by this time so I head back to down load what I have, plus the wind has picked up again, which plays havek on closeups....I feel kinda like JerryC stated in his blog about he and the Guys only catching 50 crappie.

OK....time has somehow slipped by me...its now Saturday evening.....I guess I'm just plain lazy, or I get tired out to fast and just go and tuck myself in....anyway let me close for now and add some photo's....its suppose to rain tomorrow, so there shouldn't be any excuse for not posting some more words and photo's ......

In closing let me say that I am having a Terrific time...even with the overcast and very windy day....its great to be outdoors, fresh air, nature, solitude, and photography...combine that with Casita living and it's about as good as it gets.....

This is what happens when you try to take pictures while driving....Until next time...thanks for stopping by...Horst sends

Almost forgot...a Happy and Wonderful Easter to ALL.......

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Day One is in the Books...as a success

I woke up early...even for this "early morning person"....It was still dark and with the cloud cover stayed that way until way passed 0700...I was antsy, ready to start this trip..NOW....the Bride was not even up yet....I had planned on doing a short walk, but was too preoccupied to even do that....Weather forecast was for a chance of rain between 10-12 this morning...I decided to leave at 0930 and try to out run the wet stuff...

So there I was...0730, cleaned up, hitched up, had my coffee...the wife and I had our morning interaction...By 0915, it was Hugs and Kisses and I was pulling out of the drive way...about an hour later I finally got on I-10 heading north...no rain so far and traffic was light...put on a Guy Clark tune, you need to look him up, GREAT Texan songwriter...Down the road a piece I hit Comfort, Tx and took US-87 north to Fredericksburg...Boy was that town crowded...

....I didn't know one could buy so much stuff for Easter..Mmmmm. I took Texas 16 north and when my odometer read 140 miles I reached Llano...one turn onto RR152 and there I was at Riverway RV Park....sits on the Llano River..they are all pull through, very level, there is a conference room, library, and exercise room with 4/5 machines....folks are super friendly...but the number one "standout" is Cleanliness....I have never seen a RV Park/campground that spotless...from the Grounds, to the office, bathrooms, and other facilities...and with Passport America its 15 dollars...and that rate is not for 1 or 2 nights..its for the entire stay and includes weekends and holidays...go figure. There are a lot of oil folks with their 5th wheels..but all are friendly, quite and keep their area extremely clean...

OK, I checked in, unhooked, called the Bride and off I went to search for Bluebonnets, Eagles and other stuff..I made a loop and drove 110 miles..no Eagles so far....lots of Bluebonnets are starting to come out...not a large variety of other wild flowers...yet. Todays drive was more of getting a feel as to what and where stuff was and the best time of day to photograph it....

Got a shoot of one County Courthouse so far..Mason County CH...in Mason Texas...Here is a little History: Population around 2000....

History in a Pecan Shell

One of the first settlers in the area was Wm. S. Gamel in 1846. Fort Mason was established in 1851 and settlers were attracted by the protection that the fort provided from Indians. Germans moved into the area from Fredericksburg and even soldiers settled the town after their discharge. In 1858 the town received mail as well as the fort's supplies from San Antonio. The post office opened in town and the name was changed from Fort Mason to Mason that same year.

Fort Mason: The fort played no part in the Civil War other than being surrendered to Confederate forces in 1861. The Confederates didn't need it and the townsfolk appropriated much of the abandoned fort and equipment. It was reestablished in 1866 and then abandoned for good in 1868.

In the 1870's Mason County was the scene of a violent feud between German settlers and Anglo ranchers. Known as the "Hoo-Doo" War or the Mason County War - it was a nasty business of many killings with no one ever standing trial.

Mason became a stage stop after the war and it never did get a railroad - usually an very important milestone to a developing town. In 1923 Mason was the largest "city" in Texas without a railroad.

...there you have it...a quaint town with character....it still has most of the old structures....nice break to take a walk around....

From there I rode to Burnet, Marble Falls, Kingsland and back to Llano...had forgotten to take a steak out of the freezer, didn't want to eat out...so I made a tomato and cheese sandwich on Rye Bread..not bad...

Called my wife and now just sitting here looking for tomorrows adventure...until next time... Happy Trails....I am one Happy Camper at this moment.....Horst sends

Texas Reflections Photography Journey