Thursday 20 March
Again a short drive, this one to Hords Creek Lake Campground. It's a COE park I discovered when trying to find a route home that took us in from the west instead of on I-35. I-35 is an okay route these days, but the western route hits less traffic. Usually.
Anyway the day's drive was very ordinary and the park was very nice. It was about an hour south of Abilene, I think. The lake was very low--all the boat docks were dry--but it had enough water to support a lovely, small contingent of ducks, coots, cormorants and a few pelicans.
White Pelican
Ruddy Duck with his head turned back, groomingGreater YellowlegsOn the first day I identified Ruddy Duck and I think that was about it.
COE parks are often very nice, especially out of the summer season. This one was huge even though the lake it surrounded was very. very small--in about two hours I could have walked all the way around it. But the park had at least six camping loops. There were two entrances, too, but one was closed down. It's clear that a lot of money had been spent on this place some time back, but it seemed awfully wasted at the present.
Molly and I went for a long walk along the roads. One thing COE parks lack are trails, real trails--that's one point in favor of state parks. I only remember having ever hiked three trails in COE parks--the park at Canyon Lake we went to at the start of this trip; Cedar Ridge Turkey Roost Area; and Dana Peak park. But most of them, like this one, the best we can do is take long walks along the road or along the lake edges.