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SWIMMING
TO MEXICO
Part
III by
John Troesser WATER:
Medina River, Sabinal River,
Nueces River, Leona River & Rio Frio
TOWNS: Medina, Vanderpool, Utopia, Concan and Uvalde |
Swimming
to Mexico, part II
MEDINA
RIVERLeaving
Kerrville on Hwy 16
you encounter a rise in elevation until you descend into the Medina River Valley.
The small town of Medina is near the headwaters of the Medina River which
flows past Bandera
and into Medina Lake in Medina County. Today’s word is Medina.
At
Medina head west on 337. The east-and-west route of FM337
is a scenic route not to be missed. It would be best if you had the sun behind
you. Take this road in the early morning if you can. If not, strong sunglasses
would be in order especially in the late afternoon to navigate the uphill and
downhill curves of the road on steep slopes overlooking cloistered valleys. While
on-coming traffic is sparse, you’ll probably encounter it on a curve. An abundance
of Texas mountain laurel would make this a trip to take again in the spring when
they bloom in profusion. |
SABINAL
RIVER LOST
MAPLES STATE NATURAL AREA
At Vanderpool
go North on 187 to Lost Maples
State Natural Area. Besides the bigtooth maples there’s a forest of sycamores
thriving on the waters of the Sabinal River. Fall foliage makes this area a must
for return visits when the color peaks in early November. Because of the crowd,
it’s best to come during weekdays. The Sabinal flows parallel to the Frio and
after a dip in our sixth river, one can now head south on 187 following the course
of the river and detour to Utopia before continuing on 337. |
| | Lost
Maples State Natural Area
Photo Courtesy TXDoT |
LAND
OF WATER AND HONEY
To Utopia:
you will encounter several places for access to the river and a few places with
rentals right on the river. This is the home of Utopia Water and the whole area
is famous for its Huahillo honey available in specialty stores in Uvalde.
From Utopia FM1050 will take you west to both the town and river of Rio Frio.
Since you have come this far, you would not want to miss the rest of the
spectacular drive on 337.
Head back to Vanderpool
and take 337
West to Leakey.
From here head south on 83 through the Frio River Canyon to Garner State Park.
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RIO
FRIO
GARNER STATE PARK
Garner State Park is one
of the most photographed parks in the state. During the summer its visitors make
it the largest "town" in the county. Besides the tree lined river, there’s
a mountain view that is truly memorable. It’s a park you won’t confuse with any
other.
After visiting Garner
State Park head south on Hwy 83 towards Concan. RR1120 offers several
picturesque points of entry. Concan has one of the most inviting accesses but
the parking is limited, so try to arrive early. Stone steps carved by nature on
riverbanks, white pebbles and clear water makes the Frio River very enticing.
Uvalde
Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
Uvalde
From Concan head south on Hwy 83 toward Uvalde.
Suggested Motto: "Our name doesn’t mean anything in Spanish either."
Uvalde is a corruption of the surname of Capt. Juan de Ugalde, a Spanish
officer who rid the area of Indians before they became Native Americans.
A SUCCULENT LANDSCAPE
As the road flattens out, you’ll
notice an abundance of prickly pear cactus . Acres of it. Oceans of it. Pioneers
used to have to put on chaps just to go to the outhouse. While we are mentioning
cactus, Uvalde was the home of "Cactus Jack" Garner, namesake of the
state park, and FDR’s Vice President. His nickname comes from his attempt to have
the Cactus Rose declared the State Flower of Texas. Famous for his pithiness before
LBJ, he is most remembered for his remark: "The Vice Presidency isn’t worth
a bucket of warm spit". Pithy enough for you? Uvalde was also home to The
Newton Boys (Willis, Doc, Isaac, Huey, Fig and Wayne), and in the nineteenth century,
King Fisher. |
 | A:
Huey "Kingfish" Long with
B: a Kingfish
C: A Kingfisher
D: Uvalde’s King Fisher |
A dandified
bully who wore leopard skin chaps, silk cumberbunds and ascots (and got away with
it!), Fisher was ambushed in a San
Antonio Vaudeville Theater with Austin
bully and gunfighter Ben
Thompson. Both were killed instantly, Fisher with 9 bullets, Thompson with
13. As the comedian Jake Johansen said, "Guns don’t kill people, it’s those
darn little bullets."
Uvalde
Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
LEONA
RIVER The
Leona River flows through a nice town park in Uvalde
on Hwy 90 but swimming is done south of town near the site of historic Fort
Inge, four and a half miles southeast of town off FM 140. Eventually the Leona
meets the Frio (near Dilley) and they flow as one to Choke Canyon Lake.
Uvalde
Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here & Save
|
NUECES
RIVER
As we bid farewell to Uvalde,
heading into the sunset, we’ll cross the Nueces River which reminds us
of Mr. Garner’s remark. (The amount, not the viscosity). The photo here is the
river as it was in the middle of the '98 drought. Some moisture (and interesting
life forms) can be found by turning over the larger rocks. If you didn’t get something
to drink in Uvalde, try sucking on a pebble until you get to Brackettville
and Ft. Clark Springs. The distance between them varies from map to map, but the
reality is, Ft. Clark Springs and Brackettville
are separated only by Hwy 90. ..........
Swimming
to Mexico - Part IV > |
Click here to continue:
Swimming
to Mexico - Part IV >
next page
Water: Fort Clark and San Felipe Springs, Lake Amistad and Devil’s River
Towns: Brackettville, Del Rio and Ciudad Acuna
Getting There
from Dallas: Paluxy River |
SWIMMING TO
MEXICO
Introduction
SWIMMING TO MEXICO
- Part I
Water: McKinney Falls, Aquarena Springs, San Marcos,
Blanco and Pedernales Rivers
Parks: Blanco State Park, Pedernales
Falls State Park
Towns: San Marcos, Wimberley and Blanco
SWIMMING TO
MEXICO - Part II
Water: Guadalupe River
Parks: Guadalupe
River State Park, Kerrville-Schreiner State Park
Towns: Boerne, Comfort,
Center Point and Kerrville
SWIMMING
TO MEXICO - Part III
Water: Medina, Sabinal, Nueces and Leona
Rivers and Rio Frio
Parks: Lost Maples State Park, Garner State Park
Towns:Medina, Vanderpool, Utopia, Concan and Uvalde
SWIMMING
TO MEXICO - Part IV
Water: Fort Clark and San Felipe Springs,
Lake Amistad and Devil’s River
Parks: Devil’s River State Natural Area
Towns: Brackettville, Del Rio and Ciudad Acuna
Getting There
from Dallas: Paluxy River, Dinosaur Valley State Park
Rivers
Included in This Trip
Their Lengths, Sources, and Termination Points |
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