46 Things To Do Within 46 Miles of Hwy. 46

There are many great things to do outdoors.  There is bound to be something on this list that will get you, your kids, and/or the whole family outdoors.  Below are 46 ideas of what to do outdoors.  I have not pulled up Google Earth and measured specific sites and such, but I'm willing to bet my paycheck that all of these can be accomplished to some degree within 46 miles of Hwy 46... In other words, right here in the Texas Hill Country!

1. Whitetail Deer Hunting  This species is one of the easiest and hardest to hunt.  While being quite abundant and fairly easy to pattern, they will frustrate even the most seasoned hunter with their keen senses and ability to sense danger.  This is a great way to spend Thanksgiving weekends and Christmas holidays with friends and family.  The good times and stories produced in deer camp are legendary.
2. Turkey Hunting One of my all time favorite hunts.  If I had a place where turkey were consistently abundant, I would guide these hunts.  There is something about the interactive nature of this hunt that makes my pulse race.  The ability to call a turkey within 30 yards or so is an experience you won't soon forget, and it is best done with a partner to call while you hunt. That makes it a great opportunity for family and/or friends!
3.  Hog Hunting Over the years I have had the opportunity to hunt these creatures with a multitude of means and methods... rifle and bow, from a blind, a tree stand, a jeep, the back of a pick up truck, spot and stalk by moon light or during the day, trapping, with tracking dogs and attack dogs.  
4. Quail Hunting Another great hunting experience here in Texas.  Best done with dogs. This is alot of walking over all kinds of different terrain.  It's a great opportunity for exercise, but get a good pair of waterproof snake boots.
5. Small Game Hunting A great opportunity to get kids started hunting.  This can be a static endeavor sitting in a blind or a jeep or truck.  Or if you want more exercise, cover some ground!
6. Dove Hunting This is another great event for groups.  Bring the family AND the dogs.  A little campfire action after a good hunt and some fresh dove kabobs are hard to beat on a cool September night!
7. Shed Hunting An opportunity to get back into the deer woods and learn something about their habitat while looking for the antlers they shed in the Spring.
8. Scouting Start looking for patterns, scrapes, and rubs on those bucks in late summer and early fall.  Bow season is right around the corner. Don't just go sit in your blind, get a broader view so you can see the bigger picture.  
   
9. Camping Camping is an outstanding opportunity to get the family together and enjoy a campfire.  Sleeping bags, tents, s'mores, ghost stories.  Awesome fun under the stars!
10. Hiking Whether it's hiking into a camping spot or just a walk in the woods, this is a great way to enjoy many of nature's wonders, and the slow pace is great for teaching kids about nature.
11. Night Hikes Up for a little adventure? Take a flashlight and go for that hike after dark.  Many state parks have guided night hikes.
12. Trail Running A great way to change up that exercise routine.
13. Orienteering Basically a hike or run using a map and compass.  Off the beaten path using using specific points along the way for bearings.
14. Adventure Racing Usually combines running, orienteering, some sort of water sport like kayaking, and a mystery obstacle. 
15. Geo-Caching This activity is like a world wide scavenger hunt.  Find little trinkets and leave something for the next person to find it.
16. Cycling Another great opportunity to exercise.  Great scenery and all the hills you want to endure.
17. Mountain Biking Take those two wheels off road.  Many great places for this activities and trails for beginners and experts.
18. Horseback Riding A trail ride is a great way to enjoy the outdoors.  Again, many state parks offer equestrian trails, but bring your own horse.
19. Rock Climbing Whether it's a rock wall at the gym, or a bluff somewhere outdoors, or Enchanted Rock, you will get a great workout climbing. The views you are rewarded with are priceless.
20. Zip Lining This is a fun activity for just about anyone who doesn't have a heart problem.  Go sailing through the trees or across canyons and rivers.
21. Spelunkering (Caving) Take that rock climbing adventure underground and see the interesting things caves have waiting for you. Or, just take a cave tour.
22. Wildlife Safari Whether it's on a ranch somewhere, a commercial drive thru safari with african animals, or just a Sunday drive in the country, there are many beautiful things to see in nature. take the binoculars and look close. Scan the horizon and spy on a herd of deer.
23. Bird Watching If birds are your thing, head out to local lakes, ponds, parks and look around. Sometimes, the backyard can be a productive place for this activity.
24. Bat Watching Head out to one of our many area bat caves at Sunset and see the bats come out.  Forr you city dwellers, there are bridges and buildings where you can see this on a smaller scale.
25. Star Gazing Find a comfy place away from the city lights and relax while looking for constellations or shooting stars.
26. Outdoor Photography Many of these activities can be done with camera in hand.  get a good camera and start documenting your trips, the birds you are seeing, interesting flora & fauna, etc.
27. Picnicking A classic way to enjoy the outdoors.  
28. Archery Puchase a bow and start shooting.  Hunting, 3-D ranges, and competitions await you.
29. Canoing/KayakingGood old fashioned family fun on the water.  Take a trip on the river or a clm peaceful paddle on a lake.
30. Stand Up Paddle Boarding Great exercise and yet another way to enjoy the water.
31. Tubing A lazy float on the Guadalupe or Comal River may be just what the doctor ordered.  Get some Vitamin D!
32. Rafting When the river is up, we have some pretty aggressive rapids nearby.  Take the opportunity to live on the edge with a little white water rafting.
33. Paddle Boating Whether it's white water or just a lazy afternoon paddle, the scenic rivers and lakes offer great opportunities to experience the outdoor life.
34. Kayak Fishing Arguably the fastest growing segment of the fishing industry, fishing from a kayak
    
    offers a whole new set of skills and thrills.
35. Fishing (rod & reel) Fishing is probably one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors.  It can provide a challenging experience and keep you guessing. Skills required are few to get started but there are endless techniques and strategies to learn.
36. Fly Fishing Maybe one of the most exciting ways to fish and enjoy the outdoors.  Some advanced skills required, but fun to learn and even more fun to catch.
37. Bow Fishing A great way to help manage invasive species as this method is not lawful for taking gamefish, but it sure is fun and will test even the most skilled bow hunter or angler. 
38. Boating An afternoon boat ride, weather it's to enjoy the wind in your face, or view the marine life, boating is a great way to enjoy the water. Stop and take a dip along the way.
39. Personal Water Craft Jet-Skis, Sea Doos, pick your poison... Get out there and have a blast on these funwater toys, but have some respect for other folks enjoying the same water you are!
40. Water Skiing A great way to spend a weekend on the water.  Take your turn! Slolom maybe?
41. Wakeboarding A close cousin of traditional water skiing.  Take it to the next level with tricks and jumps.
42. Wind SurfingA surfboard with a sail... what could go wrong? Worst case scenrio, you get wet... but isn't that why you are on the water anyway?
43. Sailing Can be a little work, but rewarding when you and mother nature work together to get you where you are going.
44. SCUBA Diving Explore the depths of area lakes.  There are two towns that were flooded when Canyon Lake was impounded.  
45. Swimming Why would you want to go to the pool when you have the beautiful rivers and lakes we have around here to enjoy a swim or just play in the water. Rope swing anyone?
46. Hammoking   Yes, I said "hammoking".  The art of napping in the shade while swinging peacefully between two trees. RELAX in the Texas Hill Country!                                                                                                                            

There are a ton of things to do int this area and wherever you might be.  Get out there and look for them.  Weather it's land based fun in the sun or a day on the water, all of these things provide a great opportunity to experience what nature has to offer.  Remember to pack sunscreen, life jackets and other safety items needed for your trip.

Pick something on the list and go do it! 

Adventure Files: Family Canoe Trip Gone Wrong Part 2

Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

Our trip down the Guadalupe continues.  If you haven't read Part 1, please take a look. We are about 3/4 of the way through our trip and there is more drama to come.

After we thanked the couple for helping us get as much of our things together as possible, we headed off again.  Not too far downstream, we encountered another rapid that had a small drop.  There was a small gravel bar with maybe an inch of water running over it to the left side of the river. I motioned to Laura to head over there with me and she did.  We got out of the canoes and the kids played in a small eddy out of the current while I tried to figure out the best line to get through these rapids.  At some point, I became aware that this was the rapid the man spoke about where there was a chute off to the right side.  I watched as some tubers went through the rapids and some went around through the chute. I guess he had given up on waiting for us. 

I thought about the options and although I saw tubers go in and tubers come out, the safety of my family squashed and notion of adventure here.  The kids were having fun playing and Laura really wanted to keep going.  I didn’t want to put my family through that again, so I decided I would walk the canoes through the rapids myself, which I did.

Once I reached the other side, We set sail again for Bigfoot Canoes with the hope that we had just crossed our last rapid.  There was a short peaceful paddle to the FM 311 bridge (also known as Esser’s Crossing) where we encountered another rapid.

Brother and sister at Nichols Landing
Photo: Chris Carson

This one seemed to be pretty tame in comparison to the last two. No drop in elevation, just about 500 feet

of fast running water over a rock garden.  We began to encounter trouble again when we bottomed out. Laura hit a larger boulder that tossed Caitlyn out like a ragdoll.  Caitlyn actually seemed to be having fun. To hear her tell the story, she just bailed out.  As she bailed out, Laura fell to that side and began taking on water. She rolled out held on to the canoe for what seemed like an eternity.  I kept telling her to let go and she just kept looking at me. It was a tremendously amazing feat of strength I was watching as she held on to that canoe in fast moving water while it was filling up with rushing water.

I was stuck, bottomed out in my canoe.  If I stood up, and helped her, it would have floated off with Cole and Cody in the rapids.  I was not in a position to help her without putting my two son’s in danger.  Finally, after pleading with her to let go, she asked “Where is Caitlyn?”  She didn’t see that Caitlyn swam to shore just like I told her to do before we ever left home. She finally let go.  I found out later that she never saw Caitlyn swim away, and couldn't see her over the canoe. She thought Caitlyn was trapped or on the other side of the canoe and was afraid that she would get run over by the canoe if she let go. 

About the time she did finally let go, a woman who had been there with some other folks came out to help.  I stood up and pushed my canoe with the kids in it across about 30 feet of VERY fast moving water about 4 inches deep or so.  I literally had to push this canoe running behind it as fast as I could to get it to shore. It reminded me of many football workouts 30 years ago pushing the sled.

Guadalupe River
Photo: Brian Taylor

With the drift I encountered, I was about 25 yards downstream from where Laura was when I finally got it beached. I went back for her. The woman grabbed the canoe and was in some deeper, slower water where she could anchor it.  Laura was sitting in the rapids where she turned over still catching her breath.  I knew she was safe there and was not ready to stand up and make her way across the rushing water, so I grabbed the canoe and this nice woman helped me with getting the canoe (full of water) across the fast moving water and beached again now about 30 yards downstream. I went back again for Laura as she made her way to the canoes. 

The woman, who came to help, assisted me in flipping the canoe to get the water out. About this time, a man who seemed drunk came to help Laura who was sitting in the water near the canoes still catching her breath.  As he was trying to help her up or something, he dropped the woman’s dog in the water. She quickly snatched up the dog and gave him an earful as they left. It was a very awkward situation.  Later, Laura asked me “What was that guy doing?” Truthfully, I was baffled.

We got back in the canoes and paddled downstream again hoping we had seen our last rapids before the take out at Bigfoot.  Low and behold, the next turn in the river was the take out. Laura and I were glad to see it.  The kids still wanted to play.  I called the office at Bigfoot and told them we were at the take out.  The man told me that the driver would be back soon.

We let the kids play in the river while we waited. Another group of tubers showed up, picked up their tubes and headed up the hill for their cars.  Another group with some tubes and canoes showed up.  It had been 30 minutes or so since I called.  They were going to leave their rented canoes there and just head back to their cars.  I wasn’t about to haul our borrowed canoe uphill a half a mile to the truck, but I considered going to get the truck.  About the time I prepared to hike to the truck, the old beat up Scout II that took us to Nichol’s Landing showed up.  We loaded our things and headed back to the truck.  

The golf ball sized lump on Laura’s arm was holding steady.  She had good mobility and we were all hungry, so we decided to stop at Beefy’s Backyard in Spring Branch to eat some dinner, lick our wounds and decompress a little before we headed home. On the way into the restaurant, we ran into some baseball friends coming back from a tournament. Even telling them the ordeal then didn’t seem to do it justice.

Guadalupe River
Photo Bryan Taylor

I was just thinking about starting this blog back then and it took me quite some time to write about this

experience.  Some of the details are a little fuzzy at this point, but I know some things for certain.  Caitlyn and Cole were tested that day and they proved to be smart and good listeners even though there was some pretty dangerous situations.  They handled it well. I guess we didn’t do a very good job of preparing Cody for this adventure. He had no idea what to expect. I believe this is why he was so scared to start off the trip.

In the future, I will always inspect the craft in which we travel. As I’m thinking about it now, I don’t ever remember more than a basic once over in looking at either canoe.  Don’t ever take for granted that things are in good condition.

I will also have back up plans for these kinds of trips.  Where can we take out along the way if something were to happen?  How will we get back to where we need to be? etc.

We have not let this dampen our adventurous spirit. Laura and I have discussed it with the kids and pointed out things we could have done better or been better prepared for. 

I should have known that a canoe trip with two adults and three kids (one of which was 4) with experience being little to none was not a good idea. A trip to a lake in a protected cove out of the wind would have been a much better idea. I might have even been able to fish a little with that kind of trip!

Most of all, I thank God for watching over us and putting those helpful souls in our path. Without the help of these people, we would have probably lost a canoe and many other things at the very least. Laura is still upset about her ring to this day, but I am thankful it was only the ring that was lost when you consider other alternatives like our lives or our kids.

Adventure Files: Family Canoe Trip Gone Wrong Part 1

Brother and sister in the most peaceful setting
they have ever known.
Photo: Chris Carson

When I was about 10-12, years old, I spent half of my summers at Camp Stewart on the Guadalupe.  I participated in sports like tennis and golf among other things.  We were trained in outdoors actvities as well, such as: archery, horseback riding, riflery, hiking, camping, and of course canoeing.  We learned a lot of techniques including how to flip and re-enter a canoe, the J-stroke, and how to work together in a tandem canoe. None of these things were helpful during the events that were about to occur.

Last July (2015), I took a Guadalupe River canoe trip with my family.  I thought it was a fun idea.  I had been trying to take my son Cole (who had just turned 10) on this trip to do some fishing the summer before and didn’t get a chance to do so.  This time, Cole wanted his 11 year old sister to go with us. 

I don’t generally like to be outnumbered with these two, so I spoke with my wife and agreed that we would drop the fishing portion of the expedition and just take an easy going, serene canoe trip with the entire family including Cody (the 4 year old). 

Before we left, I had a safety talk with the two older kids.  In this talk, I covered all the basics. I told them that we were going to the river and that it could be a dangerous place and that no matter what happened, if there was an emergency they were to swim to shore.  I told them they would keep their life vests on at all times and listen and do exactly what we say when we say. As it usually goes with talks like this; it began to get out of control with their descriptions of what they would do if something happened.  I brought them back to reality by telling them to listen and that these could possibly be life or death situations.

Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

We borrowed a canoe from a friend and went to Big Foot Canoes on the Upper Guadalupe, where we rented a second canoe. This is a beautiful working cattle ranch on the Guadalupe that also rents Canoes.  I went there years ago when they used to let you camp there and fish all night. Once everything was paid for, we were transported to Nichol’s Landing upriver where Spring Branch road crosses the Guadalupe. 

After getting our gear situated we thanked the driver and the gentleman that rode with us for helping us get everything down the trail to the water.  They had been talking about a particular chute that went around a rapid toward the end of the trip and weather it was blocked by debris.  He said it might be fun for the family and would wait and let us know if it was blocked or not. We shook hands and I said that would be great.

I drug the canoes half way or more into the water and got everyone situated.  My daughter Caitlyn and my wife Laura were in the canoe we rented from Bigfoot and I was in the longer one we borrowed from our friends.  I shoved the girls out into the water first, and they got off to a great start.

Immediately upon pushing our own canoe into the water and entering myself, Cody began freaking out.  We had him down in the bottom of the canoe sitting on a folding seat designed to fit a canoe with a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) on top of it.  He also had one of the struts of the canoe in front of him that he could hold onto. Of coarse all of the kids were wearing their PFD’s as well. But, all of this was no comfort to Cody.  The smallest rocking or weight shift had him screaming.

 

I kept talking to him in an attempt to soothe him.  I paddled up next to Mom hoping that would make him feel better, but no luck.  About 5 minutes into this trip I realized that this was a huge mistake.  Not only was I in a canoe with a screaming, frightened, unconsolable kid, there was no return at this point and we were signed up for about a 2 hour trip!

We hit a few small rapids, which actually helped somewhat, because Cody was a little less nervous

about the calm water now. About 30 minutes in, with a few rapids under our belt, I could see Cody still had a death grip on the strut in front of him, so I pulled over into a small area of the river where there was a gravel bar in about 2 feet of water. 

I let the big kids get out and play.  We had some snacks and drank some water.  I eased Cody into the river, which he did not like one bit, but we played and I showed him how his life vest keeps him floating and he began to enjoy himself.

Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

Caitlyn & Cole had fun floating in the current and making their way back upstream. They skipped rocks and played their games.  Eventually, I started floating Cody a few feet from me to Cole and Caitlyn.  He was having a blast.

As we were packing up our canoes, I noticed that one of the four rivets (back right) that held Caitlyn’s seat fastened to the canoe was broken.  This would come into play later. We packed ourselves back into the canoe, and pressed on.  The kids wanted to stop at every rope swing we saw, but I had to explain to them that they were on private property and had No Trespassing signs next to them; a point that did not go over well.

We saw a lot of pretty cool sights along the way.  I dropped a few pins on my iPhone for places I wanted to fish in the future. With every turn or narrow in the river, we faced more rapids and Cody was cool as a cucumber now.  That little stop we made did the trick.  He was no longer white knuckled and was beginning to enjoy the trip!

When we got to the 281 bridge, things took a turn for the worse.  For most of the rapids Laura went first, but at this one, somehow I ended up in the lead heading into the rapids.  I picked out what seemed to be a smooth line only to figure out that there was a drop in this area of the rapids.  I quickly shouted commands to Cole to re-route us through a safer passage and began frantically signaling Laura to follow.  We barely made it into the chute I was directing us to. As we did, we hit a large boulder which threw Cole half way out of the boat.  Thank God for his athleticism and strength; he was able to stay in the boat. Cody was still sitting in his little roller coaster like set up not phased one little bit. Fortunately, he was facing away from what was happening next. 

Creek falls into Guadalupe River
Photo: Bryan Taylor

We bottomed out in the rapids. Fortunately, the canoe was not quartered or broadside or we would have taken on water.  That would have been precarious to begin with, but with a 4 year old in the boat it could have been horrific in a multitude of ways. As I was trying to push us off the rocks with my oar, I looked over to see Caitlyn fly out of the boat.  Their boat turned broadside and Laura went in too as the canoe rolled over. It never dawned on me until just now,  but I wonder if she went in after my daughter or actually rolled... I will have to ask.

I immediately stood up and pushed the canoe ashore with Cole and Cody still in it.  There was a couple nearby that came to help. She and Cole helped drag my canoe up on an island that was about 6 feet away, while the man went after the other canoe.  I told Cole to stay with Cody, which he couldn’t do as his mother and sister were in trouble and he couldn’t have that. Caitlyn had scampered ashore rather quickly.  When I turned around, Laura screamed “Chris the cooler”.  I dove into the rapids just in time to rescue our wallets, phones, dry clothes, and the keys to my truck.

We lost a few other things, but I was more concerned about the fact that Laura was just sitting in the river with the water crashing around her. Caitlyn was trying to get to Laura and we were both yelling at her to get back to shore. Cole rescued a couple more items out of her canoe. I finally got him back to shore with Cody and the kind lady who was keeping the canoe and Cody safe. Laura sat in the rapids trying to gather herself as she was having wardrobe malfunction and crying.  I finally made my way back to help her up, and she was hysterical.  She lost her wedding ring. 

I looked briefly in the water, but I knew there was no hope for that ring.  It could have been washed away, it could have wedged between rocks, it could have been come off where she finally settled or where she fell out.  There was no telling.  But I was immediately more concerned about the golf ball sized knot on her elbow.  I just knew she had broken something.  She had mobility in her arm, and I knew we were getting close to Bigfoot again.  So, we decided to get moving because we knew she would need some first aid soon.  

Check back next week for Part 2 of this adventure gone wrong.  We have only made it about 3/4 of the trip to this point and I will recap some of the lessons learned, what we did right and what we did wrong.  Thanks for reading and leave a comment if you'd like!