Archive for the 'Rivers' Category

Jun 17 2008

Posted by CyberCelt under Kayak/canoe/tube, Rivers, Sports

Unofficial Results TWS

Unofficial winners of the 2008 Texas Water Safari that started at 9 am on Saturday. You may find more information on the remaining entrants on On3Go.com.

Yes, there are still people on the river at 3:34 am on Tuesday.  It is a demanding race.  I will try to get more updated records posted.  I believe there were some records broken during this race.

Arriving Position Number Name Time In Time Out Comment
1 23 Cochran; Glock; Yonley; Rendon; Mynar; Mynar; Rask Mo 00:34
2 314 Stephens; Russell; Lopez; Cruz; Romero; Cruz; Stephens Mo 02:15
3 8006 Qualls; Wytaske; Ameen; Hoffart; Maika; Prochaska; Stinson Mo 09:02
4 221 Rask; Yonley; Kittle Mo 10:03
5 807 Harras; Daniel; Pye; Dupont; Stafford; Stafford; Daniel Mo 10:59

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Jun 16 2008

Posted by CyberCelt under Day Trips, Family Fun, Museums, Nature, RV Parks, RV Travel, Rivers

Dinosaurs in Texas

You may view and walk upon dinosaur tracks in many areas of Texas.

Austin

I will never forget when I was walking to class at University of Texas-Austin and stumbled upon this old building that housed an entire dinosaur trackway from the Paluxy River. These tracks are famous because they depict the tracking of a plant eating dinosaur by a meat eating dinosaur. These tracks are impressive and are currently undergoing restoration.

Big Bend

Many bones and fossils have been found in Big Bend. I am going to research it and put it together as a separate post.

Blanco River

Outside of Blanco Texas in the Blanco River, you will see sauropod tracks. Read this post for more information: Have You Ever Seen Sauropod Tracks.

Boerne

The Boerne Lake Spillway has been made off limits to visitors. You may see casts of these tracks at the Cibilo Nature Center.

Canyon Lake

Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country has the most dinosaur tracks in Texas. These tracks were made formed in the upper part of the Glen Rose Formation, approximately 100 million years ago.

Heritage Museum of the Texas Hill Country Association

Canyon Lake Gorge

The Canyon Lake Gorge was created by floodwaters that escaped over the Canyon Lake Spillway during the Flood Event of 2002. A group of paleontologists from the University of Texas–Austin are “documenting fossil invertebrate fauna” within the Glen Rose formation exposed by the Gorge. “One especially fossiliferous unit has yielded specimens representing at least 60 species of 40 genera.” These fossils will be exhibited in the new Canyon Gorge visitor’s center. I have heard that there are dinosaur tracks, but cannot find any mention of them on the Canyon Lake Gorge site.

Dinosaur Valley State Park

The Paluxy River is one of the more scenic tributaries of the Brazos River and widely known for the dinosaur tracks exposed at various places in its streambed. Some of the tracks were collected and placed on exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History in New York; other tracks collected nearby were put on exhibit at the Texas Memorial Museum in Austin. Luckily, there are many left to view!

Dinosaur Valley State Park contains some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world. The tracks are located in the Paluxy River, so call to make sure they are visible: 254/897-4588 The park’s Interpretive Center features a section of these sauropod and carnosaur (meat-eating dinosaur) tracks.

Facilities at the park include campsites with water and electric hookups, a picnic table, fire ring and/or grill; restrooms with showers. Backpack campsites are 1 to 2.5 mile hike in the North Primitive area (no restrooms in the area, water is available at the trail head); Day use only horseback riding is allowed in the South Equestrian Area; There are 12 miles of hike and bike trails. The area hosts many species of both resident and migrant birds including the endangered Golden-Cheek Warbler and the Black-Capped Vireo along with wildturkeys.

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

Dinosaur Roundup will be on display June 7 through September 27, 2008 on the first floor of the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the temporary home of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History while a new facility is built. Explore Lone Star Dinosaurs online.

Houston Museum of Natural Science Hall of Paleontology

The Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Hall of Paleontology contains more than 450 fossils and fossil replicas, providing a vivid glimpse into the incredible 3.5-billion year story of life on Earth. From the humble trilobite to the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, Visit their blog, BEYONDbones.

Waco Mamnoth Site

In 1978, two local residents found skeletal remains of 25 mammoths thought to have lived 68,000 years ago. Researchers believe all these mammoths died at this one place, from the same cause. The find is not available to the public, but plans for a National Park are on the table.

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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

Camping

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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Jun 10 2008

Posted by CyberCelt under Famous Texans, Kayak/canoe/tube, Rivers, Sports

World’s Toughest Boat Race

Cotton Seed Rapids

Photograph by Lee Deviney, all rights reserved

The most grueling boat race in the world, the Texas Water Safari, will start at 9 am on June 14, 2008 in San Marcos, Texas.

Since 1963, thousands of canoeists have started the 260+ mile race. The course of the Texas Water Safari (TWS) begins in the headwaters of the San Marcos River, flows past the confluence of the San Marcos and Blanco Rivers to the convergence of the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers, and then follows the length of the Guadalupe River to the Gulf coast.

Safari entrants must pack all provisions–food, equipment and items of repair–in their boat or on their person before the start of the race. Nothing may be purchased or delivered to a team during the race except water and/or ice. Teams must arrive at mandated checkpoints by specific times to remain competitive and finish within 100 hours to win the coveted Safari patch.

Please visit the new Texas Water Safari website for more information.

For some of the best “safari horror stories” view Bob Brooks personal website.

Canoeman.com has the history of the Texas Water Safari and some incredible historical photographs of the first Texas Water Safari.

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May 25 2008

Posted by CyberCelt under Camping, Family Fun, Hike/Bike/Run, Holidays, Horseback Riding, Nature, RV Parks, RV Travel, Reviews, Rivers, Sports

June & July Bike Rides

Comanche Cyclone

Comanche Cyclone

Comanche, Texas
Saturday, June 7, 2008 8 am
Cross Country

300 cyclists expected

Special route for youngsters 10 and under. Country back-roads, no traffic, and very scenic. There are some scenic routes listed on the website in case you cannot make the race. This is a pretty part of Texas.

Routes

All are PDFs.

Cyclone Route Map - 10 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 22 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 28 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 42 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 55 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 75 Miles

RVers: You may want to stay at Proctor Lake (Army Corps of Engineers Park)

Mesquite Rodeo Bike Ride

You will begin your ride from Resistol Arena at Rodeo Center located at 1818 Rodeo Drive. I-635 (LBJ Freeway) exit Military Parkway/Scyene. If you are traveling southbound, continue through both signal lights to the Arena. If you’re northbound, turn left on Military Parkway, take an immediate left after the overpass at Rodeo Center Blvd.Thousands of cyclists will start out from the Mesquite Rodeo Center. Bring your family, friends and co-workers.

Mesquite Rodeo Bike Ride

Mesquite, Texas
Saturday, June 7, 2008 8 am
2000 cyclists expected.

Route Details

RVers: I would stay at the Plantation Place RV Park.

Peach Pedal Bike Ride

Peach Pedal Bike Ride
Weatherford, Texas
Saturday, July 12, 2008
2500 cyclists expected

Routes of 100K, 39 miles, 26 miles and 9 miles. This course has some tough hills. but the hills are interspersed with flat stretches. Check in advance of the state of the roads in the area. Sometimes spring floods can wash roads away.

After the ride, shuttle buses will take riders from the start/finish to the Parker County Peach Festival in downtown Weatherford, where you’ll enjoy lots of food, crafts, music and country hospitality.

RVers: Stay at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway. The Trailway provides opportunities for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.

Beware of Armadillos in the Road

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