Texas Hill Country Summer Fun
by Cindy Morawski
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| Reflections of Summer Fun |
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| Tiny Turtle in a Sunny Spot |
When I think of summer, I am reminded of childhood summer days of fun that I had with the Little Beaver Creek in Pennsylvania. Lazy afternoons of swimming with my brother and friends. Exploring adventures along the water in hopes of finding turtles, tadpoles, and other signs of life. These were all a part of savoring and enjoying the outdoors. It helped me to appreciate many things as I grew up. I still am grateful for those small wonders.
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| Duck Portrait |
I returned to life along the creek this past week. Now that I live in Texas, the water source was the Cypress Creek of Wimberley. Paul and I checked into Creekhaven Inn, a bed and breakfast on the Cypress Creek. On the first day, Paul and I enjoyed an afternoon swim in the local park's Blue Hole, a refreshing spring-fed delight. Watching the boys and girls swing out on the rope and flip into the water, brought countless memories of fun and friends growing up. Splash! The water offered a cool refuge from a recent triple digit heatwave for June. The stately cypress trees lined the banks. The water was so clear that you could see the stones lined up on the bottom. The creek's colors also possessed a blue-green cast. Very inviting! I could see why it was rated as one of the Top 10 Swimming Holes of America.
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| Crepe Myrtles along Mill Race Lane |
Day two led us on a morning hike along Mill Race Lane. The original millrace once extended for 3700 feet from a dam across the creek to a millpond where water could be gathered to start the water wheel of the mill. In the 1850's, William C. Winters built a saw mill and later a grist mill that were powered by the Cypress Creek. The mills served the community for miles around. The hand dug millrace canal or channel is still visible along the road. Although the mills are now gone, the grinding stones are still in Wimberley and located at the Ozona Bank near the city park and bridge.
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| Fern over the Creek |
A walking tour of downtown Wimberley will not only remind you of its history but also of its culture. Art galleries, theaters, and shops offer lots of diversions from the magic and beauty of its outdoors. Good food also awaits its visitors as well. We had the Tuesday lunch special of chicken and spinach enchiladas at the Wimberley Cafe on the Square. The food and service rated four Texas stars! Yum! Lastly, our final stop took us to the Wimberley Glassworks on RR12 outside of town. Paul and I watched a demo of skilled artisans crafting a beautiful hand blown glass art piece. It was an amazing finish to our little hill country get-away. Another treasure to add to the list of "must sees."
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| Relaxing on Cypress Creek |
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| Texas Agave |
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| Summer Highlights |
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| Whitetail Deer and Fawn |
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Along River Road,
A Scenic Landscape
along Cypress Creek |
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| Blue Hole, a Texas Treasure |
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| Downtown Wimberley's Cypress Creek |
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Red, White, and Blue Bunting on the Square
Happy 4th of July! |
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| Summer Reflections |
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Shady Water Oasis,
A Refuge for People and Wildlife |
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| Green and Shady Tree Row on the Creek |
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Wimberley GlassWorks Landscape,
A View from the Inside to the Outside~~ Featuring Hand blown Glass
Wishing you lots of Summer Fun!
Happy July 4th!!!
~~Cindy~~
www.CindyMorawski.com |
