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Author Topic: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09  (Read 4011 times)  Share 

Offline RichardM

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Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« on: September 06, 2009, 02:01:41 PM »
I managed to talk most of the family into heading out to Pedernales Falls State Park for a day of hiking and exploring. Weather was warm and muggy, but with an occasional cooling breeze. After checking in and purchasing my state parks pass, we headed down to the falls parking lot and started down the trail. Jennifer quickly spotted a dung beetle, doing his thing.


Then it was on down the trail to the falls. Dawson (age 9) was leading the way, followed by my older brother Brian, my wife Susan, our daughter Jennifer (age 5), my mother, Dad, and me.


We only had the two good hiking staffs, so we had to take turns.


The river was pretty low, but there was still lots of fairly clear water in the deep pools. Here's a shot from the lower overlook (click for larger version):


The view from the upper overlook (click for larger version):


It was pretty easy to walk out onto the falls, as a lot of the area was dry.


This section had a little water flowing. Usually it's a nice cascade.


Brian and Dawson quickly spotted some fish and rand back up to the parking lot to grab their tackle.


more in a while...
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Offline homerboy2u

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2009, 02:11:33 PM »
You're gettin' good with the photo stitching....... :eusa_clap:
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Offline RichardM

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2009, 02:14:24 PM »
Naturally, Jennifer wanted to find some lizards. Several different varieties were spotted, including this little guy which was kind enough to pose for us.


Jennifer had a blast running around the falls. Here she is doing her standard "donkey ears" pose (it's a kindergarten thing...)


There was a cool cave exposed by the lower water levels on the far side of the river.


Looking downriver.


more to come...
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Offline RichardM

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2009, 02:16:01 PM »
Quote from: homerboy2u on September 06, 2009, 02:11:33 PM
You're gettin' good with the photo stitching....... :eusa_clap:
Autostitch did all the work (after taking the pictures in stitch mode).
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Offline RichardM

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #4 on: September 06, 2009, 02:50:04 PM »
Sweethearts posing by the heart-in-the-rock.


Again with the "donkey ears" :icon_rolleyes:


Doing their best bear growl imitations...






We came across a snake, lounging alongside one of the pools.




He finally got tired of us and swam off.


more coming...
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Offline RichardM

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #5 on: September 06, 2009, 02:57:57 PM »
As I mentioned, there were fish to be caught, so Dawson and his Dad stayed busy for the rest of the day.


Jennifer apparently didn't inherit her grandfather's tender feet, as she had no problems climbing around barefoot.


This tree normally has its roots mostly covered by water.


We had lunch down where Brian and Dawson were fishing.


After lunch we left Brian and Dawson to their fishing and headed back to the minivan to drive over to the swimming area.


The rocks on the bottom were pretty slippery, so we only waded a little and threw lots of rocks into the water. Next time we'll bring appropriate footwear.


Afterwards we went back to pick up the fishermen and headed home to Austin. It was a good day.
« Last Edit: September 06, 2009, 03:01:54 PM by RichardM »
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Offline badknees

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #6 on: September 06, 2009, 03:54:02 PM »
Where are the fish pictures?
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Offline chisos muse

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #7 on: September 06, 2009, 04:11:53 PM »
Very nice photos! We went there a few weeks ago and hung out at the swimming area for the day. Well, I guess you could say "wading" area. It's one of my favorite parks, but the water was so low and murky that it sucked. I'm used to the Pedernales being clear and flowing. Oh well. Looks like y'all had a great time!  :icon_biggrin:
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Offline homerboy2u

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2009, 07:06:22 PM »
Where's the Tilley Hat?....... :icon_biggrin:
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Offline RichardM

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2009, 07:55:49 PM »
Quote from: badknees on September 06, 2009, 03:54:02 PM
Where are the fish pictures?
We didn't stick around to wait until they caught any more fish after Dawson's little 4 inch bass. A few carp posed for us a little, as in the attached and in this picture from above.

Quote from: homerboy2u on September 06, 2009, 07:06:22 PM
Where's the Tilley Hat?....... :icon_biggrin:
I ain't wearing that ratty old thing unless I have too! Besides, I didn't think I'd run into anyone who'd need it to recognize me! :rolling:

Oops, looks like the attachment got lost during the latest server move...
« Last Edit: February 26, 2011, 12:20:20 PM by RichardM »
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Offline RichardM

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #10 on: September 06, 2009, 07:57:54 PM »
Quote from: chisos_muse on September 06, 2009, 04:11:53 PM
Very nice photos! We went there a few weeks ago and hung out at the swimming area for the day. Well, I guess you could say "wading" area. It's one of my favorite parks, but the water was so low and murky that it sucked. I'm used to the Pedernales being clear and flowing. Oh well. Looks like y'all had a great time!  :icon_biggrin:
The water in the swimming area was a lot clearer than I expected. Nothing like when the river's flowing normally, of course, but still better than expected. Today we joined the masses in a quick canoe excursion on Town Lake from the Zilker canoe rental place. Left the camera at home, so no pics.
« Last Edit: September 07, 2009, 12:09:56 AM by RichardM »
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Offline BigBendHiker

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #11 on: September 06, 2009, 09:47:19 PM »
Good for you, RichardM!
 
Looks like you all had a great time!


BBH
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Offline RichardM

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2010, 06:41:14 PM »
Maybe we'll make Pedernales Falls over Labor Day weekend an annual event. We only took a couple of pictures today. This excursion was just Jennifer, Susan, and me. It was around 90 when we got to the falls, so we bailed out and headed for the swimming area after a picnic lunch in the shade.







As we were walking down the trail to the swimming area of the river, I almost stepped on a tarantula hawk dragging its prey back to its nest. I was unprepared and had to stop and dig the camera out of the backpack and got a quick pic before they disappeared into the weeds.



This time we brought some water shoes and wore our swimsuits. Well, at least two of us did. Apparently Susan didn't get the memo. After she slipped and fell in and got her denim shorts wet, she decided to spend the rest of the time on the bank reading her book while Jennifer and I swam and played in the river. There were only a couple of hundred other people out enjoying the water.




I think I slipped and fell a few seconds after this pic was taken.
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Offline chisos muse

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2010, 07:03:49 PM »
Awesome, Richard! I'm glad y'all got to go there. Been a while for me and it's one of my favorite parks. I fall multiple times in the swimming area...it's part of the fun!  :icon_biggrin:
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Offline BigBendHiker

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Re: Pedernales Falls 9/5/09
« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2010, 08:00:08 PM »
Hey, RichardM!  Great pictures.   Looks like you all had a great time!
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