Gena's Journal: REWIND... then hit PLAY

We are enjoying a very pleasant autumn in this part of the country. Yes, we've had some needed rain, but at last the daily highs and lows are more temperate... almost... mind you, ALMOST... making it seem as if the unrelenting heat of the summer is worth enduring provided this is always the end result. But only almost!

Rewind to last Saturday afternoon and evening. My cohort and I ventured to the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park to experience the Hindu Festival of Lights Celebration.... known as Dewali. The local south Asian population was out en masse in their cultural garb to share the festivities with their community. The food was excellent and the entertainment enjoyable. We were definitely minorities but that made it all the more special and left us with the feeling we'd truly experienced an adventure. Plus admission was FREE and it only cost us a train pass to get there.

This is a fountain at Fair Park. I was waiting for some elephants to arrive and practiced varying shots of this fountain as the breeze carried the misting spray into the sunlight. I so enjoy experimenting with unique aspects of photographic composition.... like this rising mist.

At last the elephants arrive. The lead elephant is named Lisa and the handler kept saying "this way, Lisa" and "tail up". Lisa was guiding the second elephant by the trunk with her tail. The children were in line for camel and elephant rides during the festival.

Fast forward to yesterday. I've been on a major financial austerity program so it has been ages since I ventured to points beyond the immediate metropolitan area. Deciding I wanted to make a particular trek to a photographic opportunity while in the early hours of sunshine, I calculated it would be wisest to do it before the clocks reverted to standard time and the sun would begin presenting itself an hour earlier each day.

We met for an early breakfast and traveled southwest to find the Brazos River. I had a destination in mind which would offer the setting I desired. It involved following a maze of farm-to-market roads and rural county roads, some nothing more than gravel roads. At one turn we found this sign in a rock.

Jumping back into the SUV and again traveling the road, we soon reached the destination and were not disappointed.

An exquisite, old bridge crossing the Brazos River. It is no longer in use, but remains in good enough condition that foot traffic can access it freely and safely.

From the opposite end...

The river seems rather low but that isn't surprising since the lake which it feeds was a record 12 feet low in recent months. Some areas still need rain desperately.

Ahhh. There is something so appealing to my senses about rust. I truly don't understand it.

View from the current bridge in use.

While seeking the next point on our journey.... a park... we were directed to travel a gravel road. We never did find the park, but we found this wonderful rough-hewn canyon through the rocks for the railroad track. The only thing which would have made this discovery more perfect would have been the approach of a train being pulled by an old steam engine.

Finally finding our park, I surprised my companion with a picnic lunch which I'd prepared especially for the day. This guy decided he wanted to join us!

All destinations featured points along the Brazos River. The parks generally allow both day use and overnight camping. One of these days I am going to give the overnight camping a try.

As we enjoyed our lunch I kept snapping photos of various wildlife.

This white crane/egret entertained my lens for quite some time. Then I started taking telephoto shots through the trees and brush with focus in the distance.