Traveling Square Dancers: Balmorhea State Park, Texas

Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Balmorhea State Park, Texas

Davis Mountain foothills

We overnight in the Balmorhea State Park in Texas.

The park is small (46 acres), located in the foothills of the Davis Mountains.

The park's main attractions are created by the San Solomon Springs. The springs fill a 'cienega' (desert wetland) and the canals of a refugium (a protected aquatic refuge), home to an endangered species of fish, assorted invertebrates, and turtles.

The springs also feed a large pool differs from most public pools in several respects: the 1 3/4-acre size, the 25-foot depth and the 72 to 76 degree constant temperature. It also has a variety of aquatic life in its clear waters, and ducks fishing from the surface. With a capacity of more than 3 1/2 million gallons, the pool has plenty of room for swimmers, while offering a unique setting for scuba and skin diving.

As we walked around the rim of the natural bottom pool, we spotted large catfish, multitudes of tiny fish, and an occasional turtle. Wonder if a turtle ever tries to dine on a bare swimmer’s toe?

Another unusual feature of the park is it’s observation windows to the underwater life. The endangered Comanche Springs Pupfish live nowhere else except in the refugium here. Another protected species is the Pecos Gambusia, which are excellent mosquito population reducers. This tiny fish is found only in a few places in Texas and New Mexico. Click HERE for our photos of the refugium, pool, and the aquatic life.

Although the small park does not hold enough attraction to warrant a future visit, it is an interesting overnight stop.

The next morning, we were on the road again, headed for Kerrville, TX and a visit with good friends, Donna and Glenn. The drive is scenic, even though we are on the interstate.