From Coldspring, Texas, we headed east to Route 59 since we hadn't been on that section this year. It is an easy ride south to Cleveland and then east on Route 105 to Conroe. A little shopping and some repair on our computer at Best Buy and back on Route 105 to Brenham and north on Route 36 to Lake Somerville State Park.
We arrived close to sunset and were greeted by a herd of about 30 deer. We tried to tell them that a hunt was coming up in a few days. Not sure they heard us. A number of state parks in Texas schedule as many as three deer hunts during the winter to manage the deer population. Usually the park is shut down for campers and visitors during those times.
We have been to Lake Somerville before and stayed at the Corps parks at the south end. This state park was equally enjoyable with large sites set away from each other by trees and bushes. A few have views of the water.
We were surprised by armadillos in our site and around the day use area. We had seen a number in Englewood, Florida in the 1990's, but not so much since. They are fascinating creatures with a look of an animal that maybe should be extinct.
They pretty much ignore people. Also seem to have poor eyesight which causes them peril near roads.
They blend in and spend time here in the low bushes, but also blend in to the field. This website gives other facts.
From Lake Somerville we head north on Route 36 to Milano and then west on Route 79 to Rockdale. The picture above is of the main intersection in this small town. We had stopped here a few years ago for a post office. While there we checked Yelp and saw great reviews of Coronas, a Mexican restaurant just to the right.
Without the sign or Yelp , visitors passing through would not know the restaurant was here---except for locals.
Inside was very pleasant. Good , friendly service and great food. We had tacos and a chicken Fajita. Fresh made and also home made salsa and home made chips.
From Rockdale, we head west , still on Route 79 to Route 95 north in Taylor. That brings us to Granger Lake and Wilson H Fox COE park. Very quiet, but great Corps park with good cell phone and satellite reception. In the day use section, currently closed for the winter, there are over 30 shelters for day visitors.
Lots of room at the day use , right by the lake, and with a large group shelter. It took us a while , as northerners, to realize that the shelters might be used more as shade on hot days then necessarily for protection from rain.
From Granger Lake , we head north again on Route 95 and west at Holland on a Farm to Market road to Salado.This route we have been following takes us through a lot of farm country with some wonderful large homes and small homes and small towns. But in Salado things get busier. It is not too far south of Waco and much closer to Austin. After some shopping in Salado, we head west to Union Grove COE campground on Stillhouse Hollow Lake. We have our own little hill perched above the lake.
The first day is warm enough for shorts and the night is one of the most windy ever in Lady Blue. The next day is winter weather in the 30's and 40's . This is a great new find. Most of the sites are on lakeside sites. You can see Lady Blue in the distance.
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| We head west towards Route 190 and Killeen and then south at Lampasas on Route 281 to Lake Buchanan. We had considered Inks Lake State Park which we enjoyed very much before. But they were totally full for the weekend, so we decided to reserve(something we do not do very often) at Black Rock Campground. This is run by LCRA(Lower Colorado River Authority. |
A small park , but very well kept with a small number of full hookup campsites, a number of these rental cabins($47 per night) on the water, and more.
A group facility is available for rent , fireplace and all.
It even has a good sized smoker, barbecue outside.
A good view of the lake from most sites.
From here, we had planned to go west, but the forecast here was for temperatures in the teens. So we headed south on Route 281 right through San Antonio to Route 37, well outside and a little south of the city. A very comfortable , large private campground with a laundromat that has been great for this cold snap. 25 degrees this morning, but much better than 17 back at Black Rock. Yesterday was below freezing all day as well and the rain froze in a layer over our door. Not nice, but warmer than New England and warmer tomorrow.
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