Bonnie and I are just back from several days in the Big Thicket. Specifically, we went to The Forks of the Angelina and Neches Rivers. We entered at Martin
Dies Jr. State Park on B.A. Steinegen Lake, and went by canoe for three hours to get into the Forks area, where we camped for the next several days and nights.
The Forks is a de facto wilderness of cypress and tupelo swamps, sloughs, cuts, creeks, and backwaters of the two rivers. Spanish moss hangs thick, and in
places it's more like dawn at noon on a sunny day.
For some our trip would have been a lonesome experience, with only owls and alligators for company. We saw one 'gator about 2/3 as long as the canoe, or some 11 feet. This big guy was sunning on a point, from which it took a flying leap into the air, propelling itself at least four feet high and more than its body length forward. It landed with a kersplash and disappeared underwater. Bonnie said immediately, "Let's not go that way." In fact, that had been our intended direction, but we did take another route.
Lots of dogwood, Carolina jessamine, wild azalea, and Carolina silverbells were blooming, and the woods were in a general state of advanced spring, a real relief from the cold we've had recently. Really enjoyed this trip, except for tipping the canoe over when I was alone, and having to swim it to shore to empty it of water and get going again. Probably not wise to have taken that little excursion by myself with Bonnie back in camp. If I'd not come back, she wouldn't have known what happened to me!
Some bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush, among other wildlfowers on the drives up and down, but mostly a little early for the peak season. Don't know what effect the dry winter will have on the spring show.
Take care, enjoy spring.
Dave McNeely
For some our trip would have been a lonesome experience, with only owls and alligators for company. We saw one 'gator about 2/3 as long as the canoe, or some 11 feet. This big guy was sunning on a point, from which it took a flying leap into the air, propelling itself at least four feet high and more than its body length forward. It landed with a kersplash and disappeared underwater. Bonnie said immediately, "Let's not go that way." In fact, that had been our intended direction, but we did take another route.
Lots of dogwood, Carolina jessamine, wild azalea, and Carolina silverbells were blooming, and the woods were in a general state of advanced spring, a real relief from the cold we've had recently. Really enjoyed this trip, except for tipping the canoe over when I was alone, and having to swim it to shore to empty it of water and get going again. Probably not wise to have taken that little excursion by myself with Bonnie back in camp. If I'd not come back, she wouldn't have known what happened to me!
Some bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush, among other wildlfowers on the drives up and down, but mostly a little early for the peak season. Don't know what effect the dry winter will have on the spring show.
Take care, enjoy spring.
Dave McNeely
