NEAR THE HEADWATERS: This is where the story is supposed to begin,
but it took half the day to get there; and stuff happened on the way.
This is my view from Nigel the Land Rover.
UPPER GUADALUPE RIVER RUN
I was going to write this piece starting from the headwaters of the Guadalupe River
and work my way back downstream... okay, downroad.
That doesn't make much sense now, so I'll just start with what happened.
Story & Photos by IRA KENNEDY
Back before The Flood of '02 --last month-- proprietor Wayne
Whatshisname of Guadalupe Canoe Livery near Spring Branch contacted me. Asked if I'd
be interested in taking a canoe trip and he'd provide all the necessaries. Then came
the flood. It's a good thing I didn't jump at the opportunity otherwise you'd a seen
me on CNN News dangling from a long rope twirling in the wind below a helecopter while all
across America folks mighta been saying to their TVs, "Who's that idiot?" |
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 he rain finally quit and the weather cleared. So Ms. Intrepid and I
commenced pondering this month's road trip. I mentioned Wayne's offer knowing full
well I'd have a better chance getting Nigel the Land Rover in a canoe. You see, I
learned long ago that there are three things you can't withhold from a woman: a
comfortable place to sit, a real bed and a roof over her head (or at least a decent shade
tree).
But Wayne's offer got us to thinking about the
Guadalupe River and a part of it we'd never seen before -- from the headwaters up past
Hunt down to the Guadalupe River Bridge on Highway 281. If we had the time
we'd work our way all the way down to Gruene near Interstate 35 and New Braunfels.
I had a clear vision of the story and it would
begin after we headed straight up Interstate 10 to Kerrville and from there to Hunt and
beyond. We'd head back, taking backroads, and then I could make this nice clean line on
the map that went all one way and, like the line, the story would have this neat little
beginning, middle, and end. (I musta been a member of the Flat Earth Society in a former
life.)
When I still had all of my faculties I could spot a
fool notion right off, or at least early on, instead of sooner-or-later, or eventually.
Ms. Intrepid is pretty good about letting me wanter off into Never-Never Land
without putting up a fuss. Besides, I usually come back in one piece.
From San Marcos we headed lickety-split toward
Kerrville. When, right near Comfort, we had our fill of the Interstate and its
hyper-active, attention deficit disorder driven vehicles. Along the way we passed
the exit sign for the community of Welfare which has more than its share of rich folks.
Never-the-less, there is a saying in these parts that one thing or another is "too
close to Welfare for Comfort". (Actually, that never came up, so I don't know
why I'm mentioning it now.)
We stopped at a Diamond Shamrock just off the
Interstate at Comfort for gas and a snack. While I was trying to lure ice out of
the soda machine Ms. Intrepid was bent over along the candy isle. She never gets
candy so at first I thought she was sick or something.
"You okay?"
"Look what I found. An RC Cola. Now all we need
is a Moon Pie."
Just in case you're too young or from out of state,
an RC Cola and Moon Pie was something of a sacrament in Texas. Together they are
really sweet, and if they don't kick-start your day nothing will.
Down on the bottom shelf, almost hidden, were the
Moon Pies. They're not really pies. They're three round graham crackers sandwiching
two layers of marshmallow cream filling all wrapped up in a thick coat of chocolate.
If it's hot outside you'd better eat them Moon Pies
quick or you'll be spreading chocolate and cream filling all over the place. They're
really good though. Especially if you're young or a sugar junkie. Ms. Intrepid
and I didn't finish ours but we're glad we tried. From there we headed into downtown
Comfort with its clusters of tasteful
antique and gift shops.
PAGE 1: THE UPPER GUADALUPE /
PAGE 2: COMFORT
PAGE 3: CAMP VERDE /
PAGE 4: THE HEADWATERS
PAGE 5: DOWNSTREAM / THE MAP
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