Owens Family: New hiking paths

Over a year ago Rick and I, quite by accident, discovered a new hiking area. It was quite fun, lots of Texas trees, cedars, live oaks, and another tree with an unusual seed ball. I need to do research and discover its name, but I do see it all over and kind of looks like a live oak. Anyways...

When we first discovered the trail it had just rained a bunch the night before and the trail was muddy and slippery, had steep places with uneven rocks so we didn't go far. It was before Rick got his hip fixed and he didn't want to fall.

This morning at 7am we got up, drove there (not far, just off 620). It was overcast, temp had dropped from the high 90s to 70s this morning, but still warm and quite humid. It begins in a nice park, concrete sidewalks, then to an asphalt trail, and then to a path, rocky and dirt. I had read some reviews on it back then and one review said it eventually led to a meadow and perhaps you might see some wild pigs.

We began walking, got to the meadow about 1 1/2 miles (by the steps on my Fitbit), which was actually quite small, to a fenced gate that said it was the Balcones Refuge area, fragile plants and such, no one allowed in. Saw no wild pigs (really wanted to see one, drag it home and throw it on the Traeger). OK. We turned around and headed back. We came to a turn in the path and I turned. Rick said that wasn't the way, and he led on straight following a trail. Soon the path got smaller and smaller, rockier, weedier. We had to jump across a small stream. I told him I didn't remember it being this narrow. Finally we were ducking under tree branches, tripping over rocks and other forest debris. I said I don't think this is the right path. He went ahead, now there was no trail (we had been joking about getting lost and the zombies getting us).

Eventually we turned around and went back to the path that forked and took the other fork. About 15 feet from the up path was our path, turning right. It was a little tricky to find going the other way, I understand even more how hikers in larger wilderness areas can get onto wrong paths so easily. We got on the path leading us back to the park and all was well. The entire hike, including wrong turn, was 3 miles. We were both dripping with sweat from the humidity. Good thing it was early, overcast, and not hot.

The path is really quite pretty, with the trees almost forming a cave-like covering that went for most of the trail. Definitely want to return, perhaps with Paige and/or Jason. I will be so sad when we can no longer do our walking (hopefully will be 20 years from now).