Camping

Archive for the 'Camping' Category

Nov 23 2008

Posted by CyberCelt under Camping, Family Fun, Hike/Bike/Run, RV Travel, Wildflowers

Bicyling Hell Week in Fredericksburg

Texas Hell Week #19 is slated for 14-21 March 2009 in Fredericksburg TX. This is the granddaddy of all Hell Weeks. Over 300 riders from the corners of the USA come to Hell Week each March to ride in the hills, enjoy balmy spring weather, and soak up Texas culture. There’s an abundance of motels, campgrounds and B&Bs nearby to accommodate you and your pocketbook. New for 2009 are new routes to the south and west, demonstrating that after all these years, there are still some unexplored roads in Hill Country! View the routes here: http://www.hellweek.com/texasroutes.html

Earlybird discount registration through 1st December 2008. Basic entries can be yours for $95 if you act fast! More info at: HellWeek.com

Check out the blog for more info: Hell Week Bicycle Adventures

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Oct 17 2008

Posted by CyberCelt under Bed & Breakfasts, Camping, Family Fun, Guided Tours, RV Travel, Skywatching

Up, up and away . . .

Click here for more infomation on

Ballooning in Texas and Southwest USA

2008 Hot Air Balloon Festival Schedule

(Dates are subject to change by the respective balloon festivals but this is a good starting point for general planning purposes:

Date	Festival	Commentary
April 3-5	Cajun Hot Sauce Festival	This festival features Zydeco bands, food, fun, and balloons.
May 3-4?	Celebration of Flight Balloon Fest Carthage, Texas	This balloon festival is located deep in East Texas (think Tyler, Longview, Nacogdoches) and features about 20 balloons. The proceeds all go to scholarships to Panola College.
May 23-24	Heritage Flight Festival Palestine, Texas	This festival will be held at the Palestine Municipal Airport; While there, you must enjoy a trip on the restored steam powered railroad which does day trips to Rusk and back.
July 11-13	Great Texas Balloon Race	This East Texas festival is held in Longview and typically features ~ 75 balloons. Visitors are given field access and the post balloon show includes vintage planes, T6 trainers, tearman Bi-Plan and hopefully a B-52D flyover.
Aug 6-8	BFA SE Championship Baton Rouge, La	A BFA championship balloon competition held in Baton Rouge, LA
Aug 15-17	Annual Lions Balloon Festival at Highland Village Copperas Branch Park, Highland Village, Tx	This is the only balloon festival in North Texas where spectators are permitted on the field with the balloons and balloonists, providing an excellent photo opportunity as well as opportunity to converse with pilots and crew.
Labor Day Weekend Aug 30 - Sept 1	Big Bend Balloon Bash (Alpine, Texas)	Alpine, Texas is located on the foothills of the Davis Mountains and on the Southern most part of the Rocky Mountain fault line. The air is clean and clear. The people are warm and friendly. And the scenery only looks better with beautiful balloons for dramatic affect.
Sept 19-21	Ravenna Balloon A-Fair	Sunbeau Valley Farm, Ravenna, Ohio
Sept 18-21	Plano Balloon Festival	This is the 2nd largest balloon festival in Texas. Held annually in North Dallas, the festival features live music, a great midway, and LOTS of balloons.
Sept 14-16	White Sands Balloon Invitational Alamogordo, NM	If you’re interested in capturing the beautiful shapes and colors of balloons dancing across a white sand dune canvas, this festival is for you.
Sept 26-28	Big Country Balloon Festival	Abilene, Texas - A charming festival in West Texas with the best of the best in balloon festival emcees (Glen Moyer)
Oct.3-12	Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Albuquerque, NM	Albuquerque is the largest balloon festival in the WORLD. If you want to see 800+ beautiful balloons in a Southwestern setting, this is a must attend festival!
Oct 24-26	Pirates of the Canyon, Amarillo, Tx	This delightful festival features a Friday and Sunday morning flight at Palo Duro Canyon, 2nd largest canyon in the US. The colors and imagery of this flying are amazing.
Oct 31-Nov 2	Houston Ballunar Liftoff Festival cancelled due to Hurricane Ivan	This festival, held annually at NASA in Clear Lake, is Texas’ largest balloon festival. The sight of 90+ balloons floating over Clear Lake is a photographer’s dream.
Dec 6-7	Red Rock Balloon Rally Gallup, NM	This annual festival features some amazing photographic opportunities.

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Aug 01 2008

Posted by CyberCelt under Camping, Family Fun, Kayak/canoe/tube, Lakes, RV Travel, Rivers, Scuba/Snorkel

Top 25 Swimming Holes in Texas

San Marcos River Has Many Swimming Holes

I was going to update my posts about swimming holes, but then I saw that Texas Monthly magazine has done all the work for me.

Springs Eternal <- click to read about the Top 25 swimming holes in Texas.

Be Cool <-click to view multimedia slide show of Texas swimming holes,

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Jun 22 2008

Posted by CyberCelt under Animals, Camping, Camping, Fairs and Festivals, Family Fun, Fish/Hunt, Ghosts & Paranormal, Lakes, RV Travel

Texas Cowboy Reunion & Rodeo

Texas Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo
July 3-6
Texas Cowboy Reunion Grounds; Business Loop 277
Stamford, TX 79553 (close to Abilene, Texas)
(325) 773-3138

The Texas Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo corrals about 500 cowboys from all over the Southwest and Texas for the world’s largest amateur rodeo. Rodeo prizes include cash, trophies and handmade saddles. Dance beneath the stars to live country, western swing and honky tonk music. Enjoy the fiddler contests, Western art show and cowboy poetry. Sample food served from chuck wagons.If this does not sound exciting enough, take a look at the Wild Mare Racing event.

Camping and RVing Notes:

Stamford Park (325/773-2411) has picnic sites, camping areas with hook-ups, cabins and a fishing house. Silo Scott Memorial Park (940/864-3779) has picnic and camping areas with hook-ups.

Lake Stamford is a 4,690-acre lake that is popular for fishing, boating, water skiing and some of the best fishing around. It is a power plant lake, so the fishing is good in the winter as well.

Lake Stamford Marina, 120 Marina Drive, Stamford, TX 79553, (325) 773-2095
Anchor Marina Lodge, 788 Anchor Lane, Haskell, TX 79521, (940) 864-3779

What to See and Do:

Evidently there is a lot of ghostly activity in Stamford and the surrounding area. Visit Ghosts of America for more information.

Make sure you visit the Texas Cowboy Museum located at 113 S. Wetherbee Street, across from the Chamber of Commerce. View original paintings and prints by noted cowboy artists; farm and ranch artifacts from early 20th century, including living room/kitchen and blacksmith shop. The museum is open Monday to Friday from 8 am until 5 pm.

The Stamford Centennial Monument ?was sculpted by Throckmorton artist Joe Barrington, This 15-foot tall sculpture of a cowboy on a bucking horse crossing a railroad track was unveiled June 2000.

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Jun 11 2008

Posted by CyberCelt under Birding, Camping, Hike/Bike/Run, Lakes, Other Countries, Politics, RV Parks, Reviews, Rivers

Hotter ‘n Hell Bicycle Races

The Wind Never Stops and it is Hotter’n Hell

$Hotter\'n Hell 100 Bike Ride$

June 10, 2008 in WICHITA FALLS, TX:

High Temperature: Actual: 97°F
Normal: 90°F
Record: 105°F

The Hotter’N Hell Hundred endurance race is one of the oldest and largest cycling events in the USA.

With the huge consumer products show, off-road mountain biking and USCF Races over the weekend, the Hotter’N Hell offers an awesome start and the greatest weekend on two wheels. Fitness riders and bicycle racers will come to Wichita Falls, in August, from almost everywhere to participate. Races begin at 7am (sunrise) and end at the Finish Line Village. But, first, you must pass through Hell’s Gate.

Off Road Biking on 10-mile off-road trail is open all day. Help comes for you at 6 pm on Friday and 1 pm on Saturday. This natural trail is single track with quick short climbs and drops. Off-roading requires skill and caution on the part of the rider.

Registration and Races

All the excitement of the HH100 begins with Registration for one or all races held during the weekend.

8/22/2008
Wee-Chi-Tah Trail Races
Mountain Bike (13 miles) and Trail Run (5, 10, 13 miles)
online registration closes 8/18/2008 8:00:00 AM ET

8/22/2008 - 8/23/2008
Hotter’N Hell Hundred Ultra Road and Criterium (USCF races for licensed racers)
online registration closes 8/20/2008 11:00:00 PM ET

8/23/2008
Hotter’n Hell Hundred Endurance Ride - HH100
10K - 25 mile - 50 mile - 100K - 100 mile
online registration closes 8/18/2008 7:00:00 AM ET

Consumer Show

8/21-8/23/2008
2008 Consumer Show

The Hotter’N Hell Consumer Show is one of the largest consumer bicycle trade shows in the nation. Visit old friends and make new ones in the exhibit Hall of the Multi-Purpose Events Center (MPEC), 1000 Fifth St. in downtown Wichita Falls.

Thursday 3 -8 pm
Friday 1-10 pm
Saturday 9-3 pm

There are lots of opportunities to camp–from full hookups to tent camping to indoor camping in a hall with A/C. Visit the camping page of HH100 website for more information. There are also hotels listed.

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