The Gift...

Without a doubt, one of the best gifts that I received this past Christmas was a one-year pass to any and all Texas State Parks. A new state natural area, Government Canyon, recently opened and it's about 5 or 6 miles from my house. The park is over 8,000 acres and was created to help protect the Edwards Aquifer, San Antonio's primary drinking water source. The park lies almost entirely within the Aquifer's recharge zone which is what makes it so important.

Since it's so large, the park has miles and miles of trails which are mostly rocky and rugged with some good elevation changes. I've already been a few times since we've been having an unseasonably warm winter. The temperatures have been in the 60s and 70s, and it's been my favorite winter here so far.

So this afternoon, I'm heading out to use my new gift that keeps on giving! It's sunny and about 70 degrees right now. In my book, that's perfect weather! Since a cold front and rain are on the way, I'll probably wind up doing a very long hike at least 10 miles. That way when it's cold and rainy tomorrow and I'm a little sore, I won't be chomping at the bit wishing I were out on the trails. I tend to overdo things, that's just my way I guess.

Okay time for sunscreen and I'm off...

Wildfire

One of the things that I like best about my house is that it backs up to a greenbelt. There's a dry creek bed and associated flood plain with lots of tall grass, small trees, and bushes. The nearest neighbor behind me is about 600 yards across the creek bed on a small bluff. This time of year the greenbelt would better be described as a brown belt. With our lack of rainfall last year, the grass and brush are very, very dry.

The entire State is under a burn ban and by now most have probably seen the wildfires wreaking havoc in north Texas. Up until a few days ago, we've been pretty lucky to have escaped the wild brush fires. The other day San Antonio had a raging brush fire on the far northern end of town in an area called Fossil Ridge. More than 100 acres were ravaged by fire, but luckily no people or homes were harmed.

This afternoon I stepped out into my backyard with Nickolas who immediately saw smoke billowing towards the house. We both ran through the gate in back to check it out, and we saw a brush fire spreading frighteningly fast. I ran in to call 911 and shook through the very short and to the point call. We started pulling our water hoses as far as they would go, and I had Erik spray down our fence and the brush behind it. My next door neighbor moved out months ago, but many of their things remain while they're in the process of relocating. Their house was actually a bit closer to the fire so I ran to get their hose to spray down their shed, fence, and grass. By the time I was spraying, many of the neighbors had mobilized with either shovels or hoses to try and douse the flames. By the time the fire department arrived about 20 minutes later, the neighbors had a good part of it under control.

There were a few very scary minutes before the fire was brought under control where the wind seemed to shift and swirl, and the flames got quite high and seemed to almost run toward the fenceline of my neighbor two houses over. Luckily the water that we were all spraying was enough to douse the large flames. The fire got within 50 yards of my yard, and that was more than close enough!

It was nice to see how the neighbors coordinated and acted so quickly. Many may not know their neighbors more than to wave hello in passing, but everyone pitched in to help each other today. Today's cooperative effort and camraderie among the people in the neighborhood renewed my faith in human nature.

It's suspected that kids were playing with fireworks out back. I'm not sure anyone was actually caught, but how careless and reckless. At the very least, I hope it scared the crap out of them so that they never do such a thing again.

Both my boys also did a great job of helping out, and tonight I'm more proud than usual. I had quite an adrenaline rush today and from start to finish the whole thing lasted a little over an hour, but the effects will be a bit more lasting.

Oh well, at least that area is no longer in danger of burning! Dang, I hope tomorrow is the usual uneventful Sunday. I've had my allotment of excitement.

A First...

If I were to drive up to you in my car right now, what would you see? Well for one thing, you'd see a gaping hole on the front passenger side where my turn signal should be. You may wonder if perhaps my turn signal was broken and had to be removed. Oh no my friend, you'd be wrong.

Yesterday while I was hiking merrily away at my favorite park a thief was busy stealing my front passenger turn signal. Now I don't mean just the bulb, I mean the housing and all. All that's left is the electric plug and a hole!

So this is a first for me. I know people will steal just about anything, but a turn signal??!! The parts for my Passat can be expensive, but I had to have the other one replaced last year and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't too terribly much. And yes, I'm sure that it was stolen as well as when and where. The evidence was quite clear!

The funny thing is, the park was fairly busy yesterday and there was quite a bit of activity in the parking lot both when I arrived and when I left. So the thief or thieves were quite brazen as well as adept in their thievery!

I suppose it could have been worse and they could have broken into my car. That's happened to both Sarah and Brad, and both had their laptops stolen as well as other things.

I guess I should be glad that all my thief was after was a turn signal from a Passat. It's a mad, mad world!

Cheers! And Happy New Year! I'm off to the dealer tomorrow!