Sep 19 2016 - Possum Kingdom

On our way out of  Mineral Wells State Park we saw a funny thing.  You have to drive over the dam spillway to leave the park, and the vultures like to congregate there - in the shade with their feet in the water.  There were a few on the sign which we thought was funny....

The town of Mineral Wells was once very grand.  Spurred by sales of the health-giving spring water in the early 1900s it grew very rapidly.  What strikes you now as drive into town is the enormous, dilapidated, deserted hotel right in the center of town. Anyone want to buy it?

Then we are off to Possum Kingdom State Park   Sounds intriguing.  Had to chuckle at what some farmer created out of an old dumpster on the way....

Drove around the empty campsites to see which one we would take if we were staying there. Found a nice one and had our picnic lunch there before a hot hike up the hill to the overlook.

Next stop was the town of Breckenridge.  While creeping around the court house, we were accosted by the city clerk who insisted on giving us a personal tour.  Got to see the jury room and the spiral staircase that lead to the shower room /bunkhouse.  When the courthouse was built all juries were male - and when sequestered overnight they were put up in the courthouse.  That has all changed now of course.

Old and new court houses

When we mentioned to the clerk that we were going to Fort Griffin next, we were taken to the office to meet a co-worker who camped there often and she printed off a map of the park and explained which sites were good.  We ended up in her favorite site - #13.  We also got  to meet her mother and daughter, and found out where to get the ingredients for our supper.  Texans really are  friendly.  Great service!   Then it was off to Fort Griffin   We arrived there as they were closing - they spent some time talking with us and explaining everything there was to see.  They told us to come back in the morning to pay!

The river below our campsite

As it gets towards dusk, a few rabbits appear but stay close to the fence line.  They dont seem to be afraid of humans but we guess they have learnt that there is danger in the skies above. Then a louder rustle announces the arrival of an armadillo.  Curiously this was accompanied by a pair of Red Cardinal birds - we guessed they were eating insects scared up by the armadillo. One of the attractions of this place is its "dark skies".  No light pollution reaches here so its a great spot to kick back and stare at the sky.