Eisenhower State Park TX

The park is located in Grayson County TX and is 423.1 acres in size. It was opened to the public in 1958 and named after Dwight D. Eisenhower who was born in Dennison, TX. The park is open throughout the year and offers opportunities for picnicking, hiking, fishing, boating, and water skiing among other sports. 

Here is JoAnn at the park entrance. The weather was quite nice with warm temperatures.

We have parked at a marina on an small arm of the lake. Boat docks can be seen in the background. Not many people were out today.

At another spot on the lake is the gas station and grocery store for the boaters.

Panorama of shore and lake.

Telephoto view of the lake from the pier across from the gas station. On the other shore is Oklahoma.

Panorama of small inlet with dock houses.





Here is JoAnn sitting at the entrance of the yacht club which is located within the park.

Travertine Nature Center, OK

On August 3, JoAnn and I traveled to the Travertine Nature Center located within the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The recreation area has many places to visit including streams, falls, swimming areas, and bison. Our time was limited so we only traveled to the nature center.

Upon entering the area, we first encountered Bear Falls. Here is JoAnn at the falls. The area has several streams which have falls such as shown.

This part of the stream above Bear Falls. The water is clear and tranquil.











Bear Falls from another angle.

JoAnn at the front of the nature center. The architecture was designed in a Frank Loyd Wright sense.

Part of the interior of the nature center. The center contains exhibits and a 100-seat auditorium in which lectures are given.

The center is so long one end had to be built over a stream bed

The next and last stop was at Little Niagara Falls

This part of the stream below Niagara is exceptionally clear

We didn't have time to look at everything but as the map indicates,
there is a lot to see here.

Tucker Tower Nature Preserve, OK

Tucker Tower Nature Preserve is located within Lake Murray State Park in Oklahoma. The lake is 5700 acres and the park is the largest (12500 acres) in the state. The park is located near Ardmore and is named for OK governor William H. Murray.

We have arrived at the nature center and JoAnn is posing at the entrance. There isn't an entrance fee but donations are welcome. The area is quite fascinating to visit.








The nature center is across the lake from a marina. Here folks are enjoying a slide into the water to cool off. The temperature was over 100 degrees today.



Here is the front of the nature center. The egg-shaped artwork is made by the silhouette of flying birds overlapping. The center contains exhibits of animals that have existed in the area eons past and also those that live in the present. The exhibits are well done and provide much information.

In this view, the Tower is visible behind the nature center.











Before we went into the center, we watched some geese slowly swim by looking for a handout. Unfortunately, we didn't have anything for them.









JoAnn at the front door of the nature center. The center is equipped with cold water, air, and restrooms.

Partial view of the interior of the nature center. There are several displays describing the geology and wildlife. The visitor could spend a lot of time just looking at everything in this room.







After looking at the exhibits in the center, we went out the back door and walked up a steep flight of stairs to the Tower. It's bigger than it looks from this angle.

This is on one of the sides of the Tower. JoAnn is taking a break after climbing the stairs from the nature center. The front door to the Tower is just out of sight on the right.








The interior has a very large fireplace that is lit at night when the evenings get cold. It also has stairways to the top of the tower. Right now, JoAnn is watching a movie explaining how the Tower was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's.

Near the top of the Tower is a room with a spiral staircase leading to the top. 

The trip was fantastic. The exhibits were informative and the architecture of these buildings fascinating. 

Bonham State Park

We were at Bonham State Park on June 16th enjoying a mild breeze and temperatures in the mid-80's.
The park is 261-acres in size and has rolling prairies and woodlands all around the lake.

This sign shows the lake and various trails in the area. It also gives some information to understand the area better.



















Ranger Station and JoAnn

Ranger Station from front. Easy to tell which way the wind blows in this area. Everything tilts to the left including the flagpole.

Ranger Station and pavilion with a view of the lake in the background.











Panorama of Bonham Lake with the pavilion, pier, and boat house in view.


Here's JoAnn sitting at a picnic table viewing the lake. It was fun to sit and just enjoy the area.

Pier on the lake. It's nice to stand out on the pier and view the lake and shoreline.











Looking back at shoreline and boat house.

Cattails were growing along one side of the pier.

About to leave the park but stopped along the way for JoAnn to give scale to the trees which border the park. It was a very nice place to visit and we want to come back.

Trails map for Bonham. There are a large number of trails in such a small area.

Lake Ray Roberts State Park

The afternoon of June 9th JoAnn and I traveled to Lake Ray Roberts State Park. A popular area which includes a large lake, shorelines from which to swim and fish from, and boat ramps for launching recreational boats. The lake is a 29,350 acre reservoir located 10 miles north of Denton, Texas. It is filled by a tributary of the Trinity River and was named after Ray Roberts in 1980.

We have driven by car to the park and the entrance is shown above. The park has several amenities for visitors. It was an enjoyable experience.

The above is a constructed panorama (with distortion) view of the reservoir. The size of the lake can handle both the swimmer and boat enthusiast easily.

Here is small pier extending a short distance into the lake. JoAnn is taking a view of the lake and shoreline from this vantage point.

The lake has many beaches and this is the main beach of the area. Folks are swimming and taking in the Sun.

JoAnn near the shoreline. The rocks keep erosion down as this lake (like most lakes in Texas) is a source of water for people. Our next stop will be to walk out along the pier (to the right in the photo)

We have walked out along a pier that extends further into the lake. This is one of the views back toward the shoreline.

We've walked out to the end of the longer pier. JoAnn is taking a look around. 

We have driven a bit around the lake to Quail Run Bay. This viewpoint gives a different perspective of the lake.

Another look at Quail Run Bay. This was our first time at the park and it was very enjoyable.  We really had a good time and we will return!

Day Trip to Copper Breaks State Park, TX

Lake Copper Breaks

Panorama of Copper Breaks Lake and part of the park from a trip made June 1, 2018. The park is hilly and wooded and has bike and hiking trails throughout the area. The park has campsites with restrooms. This area actually does have some copper deposits but in not enough quantity to mine. In the past, the park didn't seem to have lots of visitors but recently the attendance seems to have picked up. 

(Left):  Access to the lake is made from a boat ramp located to the far left of the lake in the panorama photo shown above. There is a cement ramp just visible in the left side of the photo to lower boats into the water. The lake is straight ahead in the photo behind the trees on the horizon.

A no-longer working water pump for cattle. To the left of the pump is a trailhead for access to more remote parts of the park. Photo taken with a Canon AE-1 Film Camera.

Big Pond Lake

This lake lies at the far northeast side of the park in a valley that has a trail for access. This lake is out of the way and rarely has crowds. Look just right of center slightly above where the sky meets the green and a very small black V might be seen. The V are the wings of a bird flying around the area.

Trail to Big  Pond Lake

This is the upper portion of the trail from the parking lot and picnic area down to Big Pond Lake. Not much difficulty in navigating the trail to the lake.

Cement Overflow Dam
This is a view of the overflow dam at one end of the lake. It is actually a cement channel about 30 feet long and 10 feet wide that empties into a gully. The concrete dam is quite interesting considering its location; there are no roads leading to it.

Area Near Big Pond Lake

A photo of the area south of Little Pond indicating how bushy the area appears. It wasn't clear this trip if the park service had improved (and increased) the trail signs in the park. In the past, this park was known for not having very many trail signs nor the signs being very informative.

Although we've been to this park several times, it was good to get out and take a break to travel to this area. BTW, the temperature at the park was 101 degrees with somewhat high humidity. Essentially no clouds in the sky. We were thankful to have a wind as it made being outside more bearable. The park is surrounded by ranches which raise cattle and grow crops. It is unlikely this park land would be suitable for such activities.

Christmas 2017

Kitchen with Tinker

Here is a photo of our kitchen decorated for the holidays with Tinker on the table enjoying the decorations as well.

Festivities will consist of having a small dinner with friends. It will be cold but sunny followed by clouds. But we will have fun!