Rides, ramblings and rants on a motorcycle.
- We are scientists, too!
7.04.2007,10:22 PM
Texas Hill Country: Water and tunnels
Rivers run through them.
Rivers give geographical areas their personality and their life. I've always had a fascination with river life; how they attract life, give life and even take it away. Water is an element that gave our planet life; our ancestors were water-dwellers. And if this weather keeps up here in Texas, we may become water-dwellers again.
The major principle of water, the law that governs its behaviour, is gravity. How simple can it be? Water flows downhill. I remember a lesson when learning to build a house: "Imagine you are water and the only law you obey is gravity. Keep that in mind when you design and build, and you won't have any water problems." That law pertains to water everywhere. (Exceptions are geysers, but a significant natural force shoots the water into the air, after which the law of gravity still wins.)
The Llano river drains part of the Edwards Plateau which is where the Hill Country of Texas is situated: the eastern half of the plateau. Two major rivers, the Llano and the Perdenales, drain the plateau west to east into the Colorado River which runs north to southeast. The Llano is the larger of the two tributaries and runs through the town of the same name.
The four-span bridge over the river (Hwy 16) in Llano was built in 1935 after the former 1892 bridge was swept away in a flash flood.
I pulled off and bid Hill Country adieu for the meantime. And promised I would return.
Trip mileage: 778 miles
Total OD: 21,406 miles in 12 months.
Happy First Year Anniversary, Whee.
You rock.
Rivers give geographical areas their personality and their life. I've always had a fascination with river life; how they attract life, give life and even take it away. Water is an element that gave our planet life; our ancestors were water-dwellers. And if this weather keeps up here in Texas, we may become water-dwellers again.
The major principle of water, the law that governs its behaviour, is gravity. How simple can it be? Water flows downhill. I remember a lesson when learning to build a house: "Imagine you are water and the only law you obey is gravity. Keep that in mind when you design and build, and you won't have any water problems." That law pertains to water everywhere. (Exceptions are geysers, but a significant natural force shoots the water into the air, after which the law of gravity still wins.)
The Llano river drains part of the Edwards Plateau which is where the Hill Country of Texas is situated: the eastern half of the plateau. Two major rivers, the Llano and the Perdenales, drain the plateau west to east into the Colorado River which runs north to southeast. The Llano is the larger of the two tributaries and runs through the town of the same name.
The four-span bridge over the river (Hwy 16) in Llano was built in 1935 after the former 1892 bridge was swept away in a flash flood.
Situated by the side of the river, this log cabin represents what existed when the town of Llano was first conceived in the mid-1800's. Back then it was nothing more than a small frontier community containing such buildings and catered to white settlers and Indians traveling by land and river.
Hwy 16 traverses many creeks and streams. Most are seasonal with running water only during heavy rains. This year the floods cut banks and etched their angry presence in roads, pastures and woodlands.
I pulled off and bid Hill Country adieu for the meantime. And promised I would return.
The last several-mile section of 218 W was closed on the way south Friday, so I had to take a detour. On the way north it was reopened. So I changed my planned route in a split second; I wanted to see what Indian Gap was all about, and the "Watch out for curves" sign tantalized me.
I'm glad I did.
I'm glad I did.
Home at 4:45 pm: Pulled in carefully (to miss water crossings in my gravel drive), soaked to the bone, cold, front yard is a pond, roof shingles blown off and water damage to roof/ceiling............
Everything was fantastic until Cresson. Then the sky opened and condemned me.
Everything was fantastic until Cresson. Then the sky opened and condemned me.
Trip mileage: 778 miles
Total OD: 21,406 miles in 12 months.
Happy First Year Anniversary, Whee.
You rock.
Labels: Adventures, Texas
