3-31-2023 A Hill Country Adventure

 We stayed at the Nueces River RV and Cabin Resort until after 1:00PM on Monday. The park was very gracious about the extension as they knew we couldn't check into our next stop until 3:00PM and they didn't have someone coming into our spots.  The road from Camp Wood to Leakey is part of the famous Three Twisted Sisters but more on that later. Let's just say it is an interesting and exciting road. Unfortunately there are no pull-offs to get pictures.

Once we reached Leakey, we headed south. Yes, Elaine and I have reservations at Garner state Park for the next four nights. Garner is impossible to get into during the summer but during the weekdays in the off season, we were able to get sites in this very large but immensely popular park.

Checking in at Garner is not fun. They only let one person at a time into the lobby. Even though you have an online account with all your information including license plate numbers, and even filled in the advanced registration form, they never have all the information and you have to give it to them again. They have a really good set up for RV parking while you check in. It's a good thing because I can't imagine how long it takes to check in when there is a crowd. Just be prepared and don't expect any friendly chatter. 

There is a nice pull-off as you drive down the road towards Oakmont campground where we were staying. You can out quite a ways.

The weather was beautiful when we arrived on Monday and people were in the water...not so much the rest of the week as we had mist and rain. Somebody built this rock ring in the middle of the river. The birds were enjoying it.

The cypress trees are huge and beautiful all along the river.

There are paddleboats, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent. the paddleboats were in use when we arrived.

The views are great and there are lots of hiking trails. We walked around the campground but didn't hike any of the trails. Across the river there are rope swings. 

There is a dam on the river within the park so that there is water in the park. Other parts of the river are very low right now as you can see below the dam.

Cacti are growing new paddles and the trees are all leafing out.

This is the boat house but it was not open when we were here. I guess you could rent boats through the shop in the pavilion.

The Civilian Conservation Corps built many beautiful stone structures as well as wood cabins in the park way back in 1935. It gave people jobs instead of handing them money and built many wonderful things for the public which are still in use across the country.

This is the famous pavilion where dances are held on weekends and then every night during the summer. Some people have been coming for many years.

We were walking along the wall near the pavilion when we saw this bird. It was huge...close to two feet tall. We had no idea what it was but after after asking lots of questions and doing some online research, we found out it was a juvenile blue heron. We reported it on the bird board at the Visitor's Center so otherrs could look for it. Lots of birders come here but no one else had reported it.

The trees are very interesting as well as large.

One day we drove south to Concan. It was foggy over the hills when we left the park and rather chilly.

We took the back road on the far side of the river where there were lots of other RV parks and cabins. Glad the river is low since this passes for a bridge.

We stopped at the Visitor's Center in Concan. This mural is painted on the outside of the building. There were three women working there and some brochures to pick up but not much else this time of year.

Another day we drove in to Leakey to look around.  We thought we were going in to an actual drug store when we stopped here.

But this is what we found inside.

It's actually a Coffee Shop and Restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We had a great cup of coffee and used the free Internet. This cup was as big as a soup bowl. They roast their own beans in a nearby building.

It would be wise to bring most of your groceries with you although this store does

have groceries for a relatively higher price. But it's nice to have the choice.

On the way back to the park from Leakey, we took another back road on the other side of the river.

And again saw lots of RV parks and cabins plus another river crossing.

Just thought I would add some additional information about this area. this whole area is a paradise for motorcycle riders. 

The Twisted Sisters refers to three farm-to-market roads that create a 100-mile loop through the heart of the Hill Country. FM 335, 336, and 337E are all two-lane, black-asphalt roads that twist through some of the toughest terrain in Texas. That route makes for stunning views of the sides of the road, which twist up the hills, race down through canyons, and bend along the edges of cliffs. It can also make for dangerous driving. A sign on Road 336 warns that since 2006, 10 motorcyclists have lost their lives on the Twisted Sisters.

Although the weather could have been better, we had a great week together and are already looking forward to the next trip.