Texas RV Travel blog

Just wanted to keep my readers updated that I will be out of touch for a few days. I had a surgical procedure and must take it easy. I thought I could just shrug it off and keep going, but my body is saying, “Not this time, you don’t.”

During this time, please some of my favorite places in the world by the magic of virtual reality. Visit this website: http://www.fullscreenqtvr.com/

Visit a place or two or three and leave me a quick comment of where you went and your overall experience. When I return in a few days, I will pick out the best most-detailed comment and that visitor will win a 125×125 ad for one month on any of my blogs.

If you would rather write a post on your blog and link to this post, please do. Just make sure you let me know you participated.

Note:

Fullscreenqtvr.com is a collaborative effort between Hans Nyberg of panoramas.dk, and Marco Trezzini of VRMAG.org, the Virtual Reality photography and travel magazine hosted by VRWAY Communication. This website is one of various common steps finalized to establish high quality fullscreen QuickTime Virtual Reality as a standard for photographic virtual reality exploration on the Internet

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Can you imagine the gas mileage of a s-t-r-e-t-c-h Hummer? This is a real car, seen on the streets of San Antonio.

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Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

16710 Ranch Road 965
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(325) 247-3903

To Native Americans, Enchanted Rock was the gateway to the next world. They named it Gahe, meaning Spirit of the Mountain. Kiowas, Apaches and Comanches journeyed to Enchanted Rock to achieve enlightenment. There are some phenomena that keep the spirits of Enchanted Rock alive. Ghost lights, moaning, creaking and drumming are reported periodically by visitors to and residents of the area.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area consists of 1643+ acres on Big Sandy Creek, north of Fredericksburg, Texas, between Gillespie and Llano Counties. At the urging of Lady Bird Johnson,The Nature Conservancy of Texas purchased Enchanted Rock in 1978. In 1984, it opened under the aegis of Texas Parks and Wildlife. Enchanted Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet above ground, 1825 feet above sea level and covers 640 acres. It is only one of many batholiths in the area and several in the park.

The islands of vegetation, called Vernal Pools, on the bare granite summit of Enchanted Rock are some of the most ecologically significant and severely threatened features of this state natural area. While in the SNA, do not disturb ANY plant or animal life, geological features, or Indian or historical artifacts. No trailers or RVs over 20 feet are allowed. Some of the camping is primitive (hike in), fires are only allowed in fire rings at each site, and wood gathering of any type is not allowed.

This is a gorgeous rock and a wonderful natural area. For an aerial or walking tour, pictures from the top, and many other pictures and information, please visit the E-rock website, maintained by an Enchanted Rock aficionado. Another website that has some wonderful photographs and useful information, please visit the Enchanted Rock page on American Southwest. Enchanted Rock is a wonderful place to learn to climb. Check the ErockOnline forum for help.

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Picture courtesy of http://free-stock-photos.com/

Annual Rattlesnake Roundup

March 6-March 9, 2008
Nolan County Coliseum
Sweetwater, Texas

Rattlesnake Facts

The Western Diamondback rattler can exceed seven feet in length and is the biggest of 20+ species and sub-species of Southwestern desert rattlers. Rattlers belong to a class of 100+ species of poisonous snakes generally called pit vipers.

Rattlesnakes can be a problem to ranchers, hunters, campers, hikers and anyone else who wants to enjoy the outdoors. For this reason, rattlesnake round ups began as a way to cull the rattlesnake population.

Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round-Up

The official kick off to the Rattlesnake Round-Up is the Rattlesnake Review Parade, held Thursday, March 06, 2008. This is followed by the Miss Snake Charmer Pageant held in the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium.

The actual roundup begins Friday, March 7, and is held at the Nolan County Coliseum and the park adjacent to the coliseum.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, experienced snake hunters guide groups of registered hunters out to assist in the hunting and handing of the live rattlesnakes. Registration, license and fee required.

• If you do not want to hunt rattlesnakes, guided bus tours leave periodically throughout the day to view, film or photograph live rattlesnakes in their natural habitat.
• You can watch rattlesnakes being weighed, measured, milked and handled. If you wish, you may touch a live rattlesnake or eat a piece of deep fried rattlesnake. Other snacks are available as well.
• There are snake products and other crafts available for sale in the coliseum and at booths in Newman Park during the weekend.
• The Rattlesnake Round-Up Cook-off is held Saturday only in Newman Park, a 25 acre city park with creeks, trees, camping tables and pavilions.
• The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club sponsors a Gun & Coin show in the Coliseum annex.
• A large carnival is held outside the Coliseum all weekend long.
• Dances are held on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm. Friday night features rock-n-roll music, Saturday night is country music. $15 per person/$25 per couple.

Controversy about Rattlesnake Roundups

The rattlesnake roundup is controversial. Snake advocates claim that the snakes are mistreated at the round up. On the other hand, the proceeds from the roundup benefit many charities and community agencies (see list HERE). This event is also important to the Sweetwater area because of the economic impact of tourism. You will need to decide for yourself if this is a worthy family activity.

I do know that the snakes are captured, milked, displayed, killed, skinned and their meat is cooked or sold. Last year the gall bladders were also sold. The skins are cleaned and sold. The heads are mounted and sold. No part of the snake is wasted, as best as I can determine. If we do it to cows, sheep and goats, I do not see a problem with doing it to snakes.

RV Parks in Sweetwater Area

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We were sitting on a large flat rock, watching the kayakers in the Olympic Team Trials Qualifier on Sunday, February 17. Suddenly, we were surrounded by men and women in dress clothes. Next, a man in shorts and t-shirt jumped in the water and turned to the group. Finally, two people, dressed in white robes, jumped in.

A woman was squatting next to where I was sitting, so I asked her what was happening. She said, “You are going to witness an old-fashioned baptism.” Sure enough, first the man and then the woman were dunked in the cold waters of the San Marcos River. Then, they jumped out and dried off, made a short, moving speech and left.

It was pretty amazing. All the family came by and apologized to us for taking over the rock on which we were sitting. We had big smiles on our faces and we kept saying, “No. Thanks! We enjoyed it.”You never know what might happen when you visit the San Marcos River. I did not know some people choose to be baptized in the San Marcos River. I may have to start checking the river on Sundays to see what I am missing.

Take me to the River

I haven’t seen the worst of it yet
I wanna know, can you tell me
I’d really like to stay

Take me to the river
Drop me in the water
Take me to the river
Dip me in the water
Wash me down, wash me down
Wash me down, wash me down

I don’t know why you treat me so bad
Think of all the things that we could have had
Love is an ocean And I can’t forget my sweet sixteen
I’ll never fret
I wanna know, can you tell me
I’d really like to stay

Take me to the river
Drop me in the water
Take me to the river
Dip me in the water
Love me, squeeze me
Love me, tease me
Till I can’t, till I can’t
Till I can’t, till I can’t

I don’t know why I love you like I do
All the trouble you put me through
Sixteen candles blowin’ on the wall
And here I am the bigg’st fool of all
I wanna know, can you tell me
I’d really like to stay

Take me to the river
Drop me in the water - come on, come on, come on yea…
Dip me in the water
Drop me in the river - come on, come on…
Dip me in the water
Drop me in the river
Push me in the water…

Written by Al Green (sung by Talking Heads, Delbert McClinton, and many other artists).

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