Colorado River

This post is late, my once per season objective having gotten a bit behind with the passing of my Mom at the end of August, and unreliable internet access here at Rio Vista.  It has been backdated to keep it seasonally appropriate and in order.

The now flooded vegetation in the riverbed provides a haven for a variety of wildlife.

Next above me is Inks Lake, and the largest above that, Lake Buchanan.  It is from Buchanan that it is possible to travel the Colorado all the way to Colorado Bend State Park.

The lakes here in the Hill Country consist of the Colorado River sectioned off by a series of dams.  Lake Marble Falls is below me, with Rio Vista situated on Lake LBJ, at the junction of the Colorado and Llano Rivers.  My previous post travelling the Colorado was on this lake.

The app from Rever.co is designed to track motorcycle rides, but has been useful on the water as well!

The entrance to the river is marked with a series of buoys to guide boats through the vegetation that grew up in the riverbed during the long drought.  The first can be easy to miss, so look for it across from the camping area on Cedar Point
Not far past Tow (pronouned like town without the n) is Fall Creek, presumably named for the waterfall as it flows into the river.  A nearby rock formation sits watch over the falls, prompting me to nickname it "The Guardian".  Looking closely, it also reminds me of the statue "The Thinker".

Fall Creek Falls

"The Guardian" at Fall Creek Falls

Between here and Colorado Bend State Park it is easy to imagine going back in time to when only the indiginous people inhabited this area.  There is only the occassional sign of habitation, though every turn feels as though there are spirits watching from the rocks.

We turned around just past the state park, where the water became very rocky and shallow.  Also of consideration was having enough fuel onboard to return to our starting point at the Burnet County Park.

Lake Buchanan has several creeks and coves dotting the shoreline, making it easy for newbies on the water to be uncertain which will lead them home.  There are cliffs near the road not far from Morgan Creek that are easily seen out on the water.  These have become the marker we use to find our way back to Ponderosa Point.

Maybe someday I'll know the name locals have given these cliff near Morgan Creek

Ponderosa Point between the North and South Forks of Morgan Creek

Ponderosa Paradise

I love being back among the hills and lakes and rocks!  It will take time to fully acclimate to the temperature swings, but I look forward to exploring the area more, both on land and water!