De Reis van Texas rv blog

Het Natuurlijke Gebied van de Staat van de Rots van Enchanted

16710 Weg 965 van de boerderij
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(325) 247-3903

Aan Inheemse Amerikanen, was de Rots Enchanted de gateway aan de volgende wereld. Zij noemden het Gahe, het betekenen Geest van de Berg. Kiowas, Apaches en Comanches reisten aan Rots Enchanted om verlichting te bereiken. Er zijn sommige fenomenen die houden geesten van levende Rots Enchanted. De lichten van het spook, jammerend, worden knarsend en trommelend gemeld periodiek door bezoekers aan en ingezetenen van het gebied.

Bestaat het Natuurlijke Gebied van de Staat van de Rots van Enchanted uit 1643+ acres op Grote Zandige Kreek, het noorden van Fredericksburg, Texas, tussen Provincies Gillespie en Llano. Bij het aansporen van Dame Bird Johnson, kocht de Milieubescherming van de Aard van Texas Rots Enchanted in 1978. In 1984, opende het onder de hoge bescherming van De Parken en het Wild van Texas. De Rots van Enchanted is een reusachtige, roze koepel van de granietafschilfering, die 425 voet boven grond, 1825 voet boven overzees - niveau en dekking 640 acres toeneemt. Het is slechts één van vele batholiths in het gebied en verscheidene in het park.

De eilanden van vegetatie, genoemd LentePools, op de naakte graniettop van Rots Enchanted zijn een aantal van de het meest ecologisch significante en streng bedreigde eigenschappen van dit staats natuurlijke gebied. Terwijl in SNA, stoor GEEN plant of dierlijk leven, geologische eigenschappen, of Indisch of historisch artefacten. Geen aanhangwagens of RVs worden meer dan 20 voet toegestaan. Enkele kamperen is primitief (stijging binnen), worden de branden slechts toegestaan in brandringen bij elke plaats, en het houten verzamelen zich van om het even welk type wordt niet toegestaan.

Dit is een schitterende rots en een prachtig natuurlijk gebied. Voor een antenne of het lopen reis, te bezoeken de beelden vanaf de bovenkant, en veel andere beelden en informatie, gelieve E-rots website, gehandhaafd door een aficionado van de Rots Enchanted. 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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The San Marcos body farm has finally found a home on the Freeman Ranch, leased to Texas State University. A body farm is a forensic anthropology site that is used to study bodies buried under different conditions: on the surface, at different depths, in a car trunk, under water, taking into account variables such as time of year and weather conditions.

The TV series, Bones, is about Temperance Brennan, a highly skilled forensic anthropologist who works at the Jeffersonian Institute in Washington, DC.Texas State University-San Marcos has their own Bones, Dr. Melbye, who is an expert in the field of physical anthropology with specialization in human skeletal biology. Dr. Melbye is the director of The Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State, Department of Anthropology.

Not that the Body Farm will be a hot tourist spot, but it is something of interest and provides a necessary service to students of forensic anthropology. It will also give Dr. Melbye a place to put all the bones that are sent to him by law enforcement officials.

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Texas has miles and miles of coastline and as many rivers and lakes as there are stars in the sky, so you can always find somewhere close to scuba or snorkle.  What you may not know is that Texas has some very unusual dives.  The three in this post, Athens Scuba Park, Aquarena Center and Valhalla are about as different as night and day.

Athens Scuba Park

The park facilities were designed by divers for divers. The quarry depth varies from 20-35 feet, with visibility ranging from an average of 35 feet to a maximum of 70 feet. Full training is available, all ages and specialty diving certifications. All diving equipment may be rented.

Explore 30+ wrecks, from Ray Price’s Greyhound bus to a Lockheed C-140 Jet Star plane. There are boats, another airplane, motorcycles and a space capsule below the surface, guaranteed to provide hours of diving fun and to make some of the most amazing backgrounds for underwater photographers.

Amenities include 12 docks, shade pavilions, gear rinse stations, bath house, heated pool, hot tub, camping and RV hookups, sugar sand volleyball court, metal detectors, kayaks, and golf carts.

Hours

Winter (Jan-Feb) Sat-Sun 10am-5pm (call to confirm)
Spring (Mar-Apr) Wed-Sun 10am-5pm
Summer (May-Oct) Wed-Fri 10am-5pm | Sat & Sun 8am - 6pm (camp & night dive Fri & Sat)

Prices

Diver with C-card $15
Night Diving $5
Fills $5

Non Diver $15
Camping $5
Electricity $20

Aquarena Center

Declared a critical habitat in 1980, Spring Lake, the water impounded at the headwaters of the San Marcos River, is home to eight federally listed species and is governed by the rules and regulations of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Spring Lake is also registered as an Archaeological site governed by the rules of the state of Texas Antiquities Law.

So, there is no recreational diving allowed. Aquarena’s Diving for Science program is a great way to dive in the cleanest and clearest water in Texas while helping with one of the largest habitat restoration projects in the country.  The water is crystal clear and 72 degrees all year.
LEVEL 1 Scientific Diver Authorization course $220

LEVEL 2 $220

April 21 & 22 and June 9 & 10

Underwater Photography-Taught by David Eation of wetdigital.com, the training will focus on digital photography and computer editing.

June 23 & 24

Underwater Archaeology- This program will take up where Dr. Shiner left off. The two day program will be taught by Texas State Anthropology staff and include lots of diving and work underwater.
March 17 and May 19

Underwater Naturalist- Taught by Aquarena Center Staff, the training will be Aquarena/San Marcos Springs specific and the flora and critters of San Marcos System.

Note: Below the dam that impounds the lake, you may snorkle and scuba dive for miles down the San Marcos River, the natural aquarium of Texas.

Dive Valhalla

The water is 60 degrees, 130 feet deep and crystal clear. The scuba experience is enhanced by realizing that you are diving in an Atlas ‘F’ Hardened Missile Silo that used to store Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). The silo is 60 feet in diameter and everything is 50-70 feet underground.

Dive Valhalla is not open to the general public, but dive reservations are easily arranged through Family Scuba Center. To reserve, a group must consist of an instructor or insured divemaster who will be responsible for coordinating the diving activities and maintaining safety divers ready for any problems. Dive Valhalla staff help coordinate getting the gear and divers from the dressing room level to the water and back safely, as well as doing some of the underwater photography and videography.

Divers should have prior deep diving experience, or be in an advanced or master class with this as your deep dive. Divers should be in good physical condition and habituate themselves to cold water dives in full gear. Divers from all over the world use Valhalla for advanced open water training in deep diving, altitude dives, nitrox, rebreathers and for other specialty courses. There is no light underwater, so you need a dive light, backup dive light and marker light.

For your convenience, Family Scuba Center has training facilities in one location. Five heated indoor pools (4-17 feet deep), class rooms and scuba shop. Family Scuba Center also conducts open water training in Texas lakes and springs and in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Specialty Dive Classes

• Deeper Diving
• Search and Recovery
• Underwater Photography
• Stress / Rescue
• Wreck Diving Nitrox Diver
• Boat Diving
• Equipment Specialty
• Drysuit Diving
• Full Face Mask Diving
• Altitude Diving
• Underwater Archeology
• Underwater Sign Language

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