Two Parks around Houston:

Just on the edge of the Addicks reservoir is the beginning of the Terry Hershey Park riding and walking trails, which has trails right down to the outer loop at Highway 8.




The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) completed construction of Addicks Dam itself in 1945 and the outlet facility in 1948.



Runoff collected by the reservoir eventually flows into Buffalo Bayou.



The watershed is located in West Harris County and a small portion of eastern Waller County, encompassing portions of the cities of Houston and Katy.



We rediscovered part of it a few weeks ago, when I joined Hazel at Bear Creek Park, ended up having a very filling and unhealthy, but great, late breakfast at a Kolache shop and had to go walk it off.

The Addicks Reservoir watershed covers about 136 square miles and includes four primary streams: Bear Creek,South Mayde Creek, and Horsepen Creek and Langham Creek which backs onto the area where we live.

There are about 151 miles of open streams within the watershed, including the primary streams and tributary channels.




The whole area is a great sanctuary for wildlife and the weather has been great the last few weekends to be able to get the best out of the area.




Some Local Mexicans seem to go there every week to catch fish.

I used to ride there around the reservoir and since having been there many years ago they have done a lot or work there opening up biking and walking trails.
I have since been back with Timothy last week where we rode for near to 4 hours and then the then went back and took Macie for an couple of hours walk the following day.
Here are some of the photos from the riding expedition with Timothy.

The Western ride is very open and you can either ride on the paved area or on the reservoir wall looking down over the vast expanse of trees and flood plane.

As we headed off West along the Reservoir Timothy spotted this caterpillar we of course stopped to take photos.

We saw many of these in fact, and thay are very similar to the Hawk Moth Caterpillars in the UK. Unfortunately I cant find my North America Insect books to research what this is. Books misplaced since the disruption of the flood. No doubt in a still to be unpacked in a box somewhere.

There are some parts of the biking / walking path that back onto gardens and some people had put out benches to sit on in the evenings and there were butterfly gardens and benches placed in interesting but unusual places by what I can only assume are residents of the area.

This was a little more purposeful but was hidden behind a tree lined area on one of the small hills at the back of the houses.

Other benches put in place by the county are truely functional and placed in open areas overlooking grassed areas along the paved paths.





There were many areas of grassland and meadows that opened up. Many well manicured, and many that will be full of wild flowers in the spring.






There are many wild areas along the Bayou which are just left to nature to grow and do its thing.








The tall treees lined the banks of the river and the Autumn colours still awaited. Some trees had turned colour but usually most trees in Houston the leaves either turn brown or suddenly autumn appears and lasts a few days and then all the leaves fall of in a cold spell, only to start growing again a few weeks later.




Down by the brown coloured water in the river it is truely another world. Browns and greys large areas shaded by the trees. Iit almost takes on a mystical feel as you look down upon it.
Here are some Vultures feeding on a very large fish. Usually we see them soaring around high above our house.
This was truely their underworld life.





Bridges cross the creeks and rivers and lead to move areas to explore. As you ride the bikes over then it sounds like thunder or a deep earth tremor.

Woodpecker. There were many of these around the area.

I believe this one to be the Downy Woodpecker.

Another stop. This time for Racoon prints in the bank of the river.

The turnaround point for us was the Highway Tollway. Of al the times I have driven over this I never realized the area of interest just below.

Bear Creek Park:

Bear Creek Park is an area many go to picknick or play soccer or just walk around. There are many different animals caged there as well as rescued birds such as Eagles and Owls on display in cages.

North America Bison or Buffalo if you prefer.

Sunset. In fact taken at Herman Park over looking the zoo some weeks earlier.

Timothy's birthday on the 20th. We had neighbours around for cake the following day.

On his birthday we went to see James Bond ,(oh that had to hurt)
and afterwords we went to PF Chang, joined by Jonathan for both events which these days is a welcome, but unusual thing.





Today I tried my hand at a favorite of mine . Welsh cakes. The morning trial run was a disaster but the afternoons batch were pretty good. Never likely to be as good as Nana Ruth used to make, but Timothy believed he remembers the taste, so I must have been close.