This park is another "sleeper", best kept Secret Park. To a person that likes trees, hills and quiet, this is the place. There are only 15 sites in the park and it seems like all of them have electricity and water. Bathrooms and showers are really good and were never full. Lots of privacy between sites with lots of trees, great scenery and trails. Bikers be fit for the roads, you will need it with the hills in the park. We hit over 27 MPH on the bikes and had the brakes on the whole time. Our friends Shawn and Susie met us for the weekend and stayed a few sites from us. The Saturday night dinner was a winner with Filet Minion, Pepper Steak and goodies to go along with it.
The park is pretty much without breeze because of the placement of the sites in the hills so cool weather camping here would be the best.
The park is full of history since it is right on the El Camino Real, which was at one time the main road to Mexico. On grounds is a great log home and the first Mission along the route. One of the high points is the attention to detail the park puts into preserving history. Want to learn something about Texas history? This is the place for that. There is a park employee named John T. that gives exhibit demonstrations on period woodworking. This is an interactive presentation and well worth attending. He will be more than happy to tell you about the log home, Mission and take you through the woods to see the original El Camino Real used hundreds of years ago. This is the best educational experience we have had at a State Park yet.
Rain? Yes... We had some rain Saturday night that was no big deal and Sunday night that was a bit more but still didn't bother us. We barely made it out of the park Monday afternoon before a really good daytime drench happened. That would have been a problem. Once again we made it out just before the rain started.
A panorama shot of our site. The rolling hills made this site a really good one.
All set up and ready for some serious hill riding. The new camper stabilizers worked great and were sure needed in this site.
But first it is time to pack the camera on the back and do some road hiking.
A park employee took us and other campers into the woods for some education on different trees and shrubs.
This is John T. an employee of the parks. He is a walking history book. He is now doing a demonstration on old woodworking tools.
John showing how to drill holes in shingles without electricity. Imagine that!
Showing how to cut logs flat on the sides for cabin making.
There seems to be a different tool for every type of cut.
Explaining how the early pioneer life revolved around wood.
Of course Tim had to hang out around the wood show.
We each had to go make a shingle using John's neat tools.
It actually looks like a shingle too.
Rhonda decided that in order to get her new roof, she had to start sometime. One down and 25,000 to go.
Whack that Fro Rhonda!
Now, on the Draw knife, remember to hold your elbows to your side.
This is the Rice Home. Moved to the park site in 1974. In terms of cabins, this place is huge. One portion of it was even a Stagecoach Stop.
One of the fireplaces in the Rice Home.
Group shots taken in the Mission. Shawn and Susan camped with us at the park this weekend.
This really is a "Rock Star". It is inlaid at the entrance of the Mission.
No, this lizard does not sell car insurance.
Tim is practicing his fire starter skills. This time the fire is only in the fire ring.
Some good conversations before the Saturday night dinner.
Shawn, Susan and Lilly at their site.
As a side trip, we took in the Caddoan Mounds State Historic Park. Real nice area with a lot of history.
Rhonda was helping the Caddo Indians fix fresh corn for dinner.
After the mounds, we took a drive back into the back woods. We found this bridge made of wood planks.
Another weird bridge. Metal grate screen for the bridge top. It makes an interesting sound when you drive across.
Taking a drive into Crockett, we found this neat rounded front building downtown. It seems that other buildings are being restored. Maybe this one will be too.
After a small rain Saturday night, it was time to dry things off a bit.
Fathers Day comes with a Froot Loop breakfast with nearly frozen milk, coffee, buttered toast and a nice Fathers Day card.
Rhonda at the park entrance sign. This is a tradition to take a photo at the park sign.
