Texas - Gatesville to Buchanan Dam

Travelling from Gatesville we were fortunate enough to come across military personnel taking part in an exercise at Ft. Hood.  We had seen dust flying as we were coming up the highway but were pleasantly surprised when we found out what was creating it.

We found an rv park on Lake Buchanan which is a reservoir built primarily for water supply and hydroelectric power.  The dam completed in 1938 stretches for more than two miles and is the longest multiple-arch dam in the nation.  Unfortunately because of the recent drought the lake is 28 feet low.  We have seen deer foraging on the lake bottom.

lake front property does not always mean water access

The last day of November found us exploring Longhorn Cavern State Park.  We took in a narrated tour which lasted 2 hours.  Our tour guide, Cliff was knowledgeable and humorous.  Longhorn Cavern was formed by the water action of a river.  The interior of the cavern is a constant 68 to 70F. 

stairs leading down to the cavern entry

part of a  stalactite formation shaped like a dog that was repaired and placed here - nickname 'Rocky"

lots of headroom - used during prohibition days as a bar, restaurant and dance hall

crystals

sink hole that leads to entry of cavern

This State Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1935 to 1938.  Tons and tons of rubble was removed exposing rock formations never before seen by man.  Hundreds upon hundreds of man hours saw the completion of pathways and buildings in the park.

main building now a CCC Museum

observation tower



a view of the distant castle and hill country



From the observation tower we could see a privately built castle.  Falkenstein Castle was built from plans of a castle in Barvaria.  The family lives on the top two floors.  If you wish it can be booked for weddings and other events.



Falkenstein Castle




note the garage to the right of the castle



Texas - Waco

Drove into Waco this morning to take in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. 



Major George B. Erath - Father of Waco

 For anyone who is into guns, there are lots of long guns and hand guns in this museum.

And remember the era of The Lone Ranger and Tonto...

We saw a display for Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.  Apparently when Clyde stepped from the vehicle a Ranger shot him in the head and then the other Rangers let loose on the car, killing all of those inside.  Bonnie Parker was 23 and Clyde Barrow was 25.  Just goes to show, you don't mess with a Texas Ranger!

Texas - Hords Creek Lake Park

Hords Creek Lake Park is near Coleman, Texas and is an Army Corps of Engineers Park.  We met up with our new camping friends, Bob and Norma on November 21st. 

Bob and Norma invited us to partake of a Thanksgiving dinner with them.  We gorged ourselves on turkey and ham and all the trimmings.  It was yummy! 
They also took us to Brownwood to the famous Underwood's Barbeque and it was delicious.  Clark had the chicken and I had the ribs.  We got there for lunch and we certainly did not have to eat again that day.

The camping sites are spacious and the table and benches have a covered roof.  Almost all of the trees are Live Oaks, a deciduous tree that doesn't shed its leaves in the winter.

The sunsets were beautiful every night at this park.

You are allowed to feed the deer in this park.  They have a couple of corn feeders out all winter for the deer.  We were fortunate enough one night to have 26 deer and two of them were young bucks.  It was quite the show sitting and watching the deer as the sun went down.

This lake is 18 feet low from the effects of the drought that a lot of the states are having.  We took a walk down to find the boat ramp one evening and there is no way that you could launch a boat without damaging it.

boat ramp

A lot of the lakes are suffering the same fate.  We have seen so many dry creek and river beds.  

Our continuing saga with motorhome troubles occurred again this morning with the 'check engine soon' light came on again.  We stopped at a Ford garage in Brownwood and found out that the guys who had changed out the spark plugs and coil packs initially didn't hook up the #1 cylinder right.  More money shelled out but we should now have a rig that runs properly.  We are crossing our fingers for the future!

November 26th finds us in Gatesville, Texas southwest of Waco.  We will get the wash done and some groceries gathered so we can head to the next State Park.