Thursday 12-18-25 New State Park & Walking

 

Buescher State Park

 

We had a muggy day. It rained early in the morning and left the roads wet. The rain wasn't hard but it was steady. The temperature when we woke up was 62 degrees and it got up to 75 degrees. It was overcast until 1:00 when the sun came out. At 3:00 the wind came up and cooled things off. This made it very pleasant, we just ran a fan.  

We moved on to Buescher State Park. It was only 12 miles away and we didn't want to get there too early. We left Bastrop State Park a little after 10:30 am. We were at Buescher by 11:00. 

As we were leaving Bastrop State Park we drove to the lake. The original dam was built in 1913 and in 2015 the embankment failed. In 2018 they constructed a short-term solution and the new dam opened in 2024. We drove over the dam to look at the lake but there wasn't a lake. Due to the drought the lake hasn't filled up. Hopefully it will come back. After going over the dam we drove to the entrance of the park. We went to highway 71 and drove 12 miles to Smithville and exited. Buescher State Park was to the left and just down the road. It was a very short drive but nice.

 

Welcome Sign

The lady, who checked us in was very friendly and helpful. She gave Larry both the park map and a trail map (bicycles and hiking). She told Larry there was a wood fire ban due to the drought. Larry said that was good, we wouldn't have to smell the fires from campfires. She laughed and so did he. 

After checking in we drove to Cozy Circle, we have been here many times and love staying in Cozy Circle. It's small with 14 sites (one is the host site) in a cul-de-sac. It's close to the day area and hiking trails. We will be staying in site #10 for three nights. Larry backed the Minnie into the site and plugged it in. We setup the Minnie for our visit. 

 

Camping at site 10 in Cozy Circle

Then we shared a pasta salad for lunch. About 1:00 we decided to take a walk around the park using the road because the trails were very muddy due to the rain. We walked for 1 hour and 15 minutes for 3 miles. We walked to the walk-in sites, day area, Lakeview Camping Area, screened shelters (3), cabins (4) and CCC Refectory and main entrance. As we walked through Lakeview Camping area we walked by three mini cabins, they look over the lake. Then we walked to the day area where you can launch your canoes and rent canoes. There was a beautiful building for renting canoes but it was closed. Next was the main entrance, where we turned around and headed back to Cozy Circle. Along the way we walked through the area where there were screened shelters (3) and a mini cabin. They all had a lake view.  There was a huge building built by the CCC called the Group Recreation Hall. By the time we got home we were hot and tired because it was overcast and humid.

 

One of the mini cabins 

 

Lake Buescher

 

Canoe Rental building

 

Screened Shelter to camp in

When we got back to the Minnie it was warm inside so we opened the windows and turned on the fan. Then we setup our chairs by the fire ring and read. I waited for the Minnie to cool down a bit and then I went inside to take an hour nap. On the way inside a neighbor was walking her dog and I asked if I could say hi. She said sure, we ended up talking for awhile. The dog laid under the tree, she needed to cool off because she had a heavy black coat. We said our good-byes and I went inside for my nap. Larry stayed outside.

When I woke up Larry was on the couch reading. While I walked around for an hour in the evening Larry read and finished a book. I also read a little.

 We had tostadas for dinner. After dinner I walked for an hour around the campground and day area I ended up doing 2.70 miles. I walked around Cozy Circle to the day area and where the screened shelters are twice. While walking I saw six deer at the day area. The day area had a CCC Group Picnic Pavilion and bathroom that was built by the CCC, there was also a tent area and a field to play in. When I walked by the screened shelters I saw an armadillo in the high grass and a deer. That area also had a nice playground. While walking around I also saw a cottontail. I had a beautiful relaxing walk.

 

Sunset at Buescher State Park

 

CCC Group Recreation Hall

 

CCC Group Picnic Pavilion

 

CCC Bathroom by the group picnic pavilion

 

Deer grazing in the field in the group day area

 

Park Residence built by the CCC

 

Armadillo

 

Amphitheater

 

By the end of the day I had gotten 15,000 steps. I need to go camping more often because it motivates me to get my daily step goal of 12,000 steps.

I played my Daily Challenges of Solitaire and Mahjong. The event was Event: Easy Street Min of 15 games. It took me 31 minutes and 11 seconds, which put me in 12th place in my group. I played Angry Birds Friends and Angry Birds.