Government Canyon in San Antonio

We are back in San Antonio. 
So for the next 2 months, most of the posts will be about life in this area. 
Hope you enjoy seeing life in South Texas.
We'll try to leave out the stuff you see in advertisement brouchures.

After just a few days here, we decided to go to Government Canyon State Natural Area, 
for a little walk with the dogs. 

It's an 8,600 acres park, with 40 miles of trails, and is close by, 
just outside of the San Antonio city limits.
It shows what the central Texas Hill Country is like.

Some might call what we did "hikes", but only about 1/4th. of the park is open to pets, so these are simple, easy walks, we think.

If you are more adventurous, you are welcome to hike the "back trails". 
And, at this time of the year, with early morning temperatures in the 40s and up to the 60-70's in the afternoon, we think they would be a delight to explore.

They say you can go on the Gov't. Canyon Wall trail, and see the wall which rises 80 feet above the canyon. 
(To Texans, from a relatively flat place, that it quite high.)

Or take the Chula Vista Trail. From there they say you can see the Tower of the Americas, our "needle" form the 1968's World's Fair or HemisFair, all the way in downtown San Antonio!

But, if like us, you have your dogs with you, and are confined to the "easy" trails,
you will still be able to see what Texas was really like for early Spanish and Mexican explorers, when they first crossed this state: 
lots more brush and obstacle than the general publics thinks of, when they think of Texas.

You won't find mch grasslands here, but you'll still expereince  thorny mesquite.

And lots of low brush and cedar, which must have been really thick when those explorers first passed by here.
Today the cedar does cause discomfort for those allergic to it, specially when the northern's blow it's products into town

If that was not enough of an obstacle,
take a look at this:

Did you notice the prickly pear cactus, down by the shrubs?
And how about that Spanish Dagger? Some just call them Yucca. 
But their leave's needle-sharp points will take your eye out if you don't watch out.
Or, if you get off the trail, the short ones might poke you in the leg!

And then there was this at lots of spots along the trail:

Was it from deer digging the dirt? 
Or was it from javelina boars doing some rooting?
Just kidding. It's probably deer...javelinas are more common closer to the Gulf of Mexico than this far west.

Our conclusion:
This country must have been pretty rough on those early explorers, we think.

Check out their website at:         http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/government-canyon