Date: 2009-02-13
To: Lake Somerville Trailway -- Day 2
Miles today: 0.0

Day 2: ThursdayI never sleep very well the first night out and last night was no exception. It didn¢t help that I heard an engine knocking all night long. Somebody seriously needs to give that engine some oil¢¦I wander if it was one of the oil pumps. I checked my watch several times throughout the night and the coldest temperature reading I saw was 29 degrees at 6:30am. I decided that I had all day to do the scheduled 12 or so miles, so I was in no hurry to get out of my warm sleeping bag and face the cold. I wanted to make the Birch Creek Unit to fill up on water and then head back to the Flag Pond Campsite for the night. I finally crawled out of my sleeping bag around 7:45 after the sun had come up and started to warm the day up. I love the warmth of the Texas sun!There are several sun shelters along the way and I took the time to stop at these for breaks during the hike. Although I always sat on the side where the sun was shining and not in the shade provided, let me tell you it was not warm enough for me to be looking for any shade. I don¢t start looking for shade until the thermometer hits the high 90¢s.   I made it to the Birch Creek Unit around 11, found a sunny picnic table to dump my pack, used the facilities, got water and ate lunch. I also took my boots off and took care of a couple of hot spots. I didn¢t see anybody. The only RV I saw in the campground was the Park Host, but they were not around. After my break, I headed back the way I came. I stopped at a small beach area to have a gander at the lake. I saw a bunch of ducks out on the lake, but nothing else. At least the lake had water in it. I hiked on and stopped again at the Wolf Pond campsite for another break. Saw more opossums getting a drink. I thought opossums were night creatures and was surprised to see them in the middle of the day wandering around the camp.I hiked on and saw 6 people within 10 minutes. Two looked to be volunteers in a ranger truck, but they only waved as they drove past. Then I saw two people, husband and wife, preparing to go on a horseback trip. I stopped and talked to them for a few minutes and they were kind enough to offer me some water, but I had just filled up and didn¢t need any. As soon as I left them, I saw two rangers in another truck and just waved as they drove past. I walked past the oil storage tanks again and was thinking that I hoped someone oiled that stupid knocking engine sometime during the day. However, it was desolate with not a person in site.I had heard someone say that the Flag Pond Campsite was their favorite winter campsite, because of the many ducks out on the pond. Alas, no water, no ducks, but I stayed there anyway. I showed up there about 4:30 and proceeded to set up camp. I learned from Jayne, a wildlife biologist, that you can check to see if a fire ant hole is active by tapping on the ground around the hole. If it is active, the ants will come out and see what is causing the commotion. There were all these holes around the campsite and the last thing I wanted to do was set my tent on or near a fire ant hole. I used my hiking pole to tap around the holes and many were active, but I finally found a spot to my liking and had no problems with ants. I had a lovely dinner as I watch the vultures circling overhead. I don¢t know why they were circling; maybe I was in dire need of a shower. ha.   I tried staying out a little longer to watch the stars, but the cold quickly made me head to my tent.