Good Friday on Goodwater Loop

Go West!

Our next leg on the Goodwater Loop. Again starting at the Overlook trailhead this time heading west after parking our second vehicle at the Jim Hogg Park Trailhead. This is supposed to be roughly 3.7 miles. A wonderful way to spend Good Friday.

Blooming

Several trails lead west out of this area and eventually they converge to the main trail. The instructions are simple "Just keep heading west."

Prickly Pear (also one of our new favorite varieties from Shiner)

If you haven't tried the Shiner Special Edition Prickly Pear give a go before it's all gone. I believe it's only available as part of the variety/sampler pack. Probably too early in the hike to be anticipating the end of the trail beverage already.

The Vanna Pose

A few boats and fishermen down below. Sun was well up as we started around 10:35 am today.

Mr. Safety

No backpack today. Just a UTG carry bag with three bottles of water, sunscreen, figs and trail mix. I did upgrade the footgear for the 2nd hike to Merrill Moab Ventilators. They're "dreamy."

Eventually you will see all of these on this blog

 There were a few moments on the trail where it felt like hiking in Maine or Wisconsin but nature has a way of reminding you you're in Texas.

Can you spot the safety green?

Saw the sign. Didn't really see what the sign was pointing out even after diverting a little ways off the trail. You can still google "Chert" with an iphone at this point on the loop.

New Shorts, New Shirt, New Shoes

Merrills were very comfortable. I took the risk on new shoes since the planned hike was only 3.7 miles.

Oh, crap. You're going to kill me!

At about the mid-way point of our hike, I hear (and I'm paraphrasing here) "Oh crap, You're going to kill me."  My lovely wife, in an effort to avoid carrying unnecessary weight on the trail, had left the keys of the vehicle we were hiking towards in the console of the vehicle back at the trailhead. I don't normally carry a key to her vehicle but today I got to be the hero as after a few seconds I pulled out my spare key.

 

Just add water!

The drought has certainly taken down the water levels at the lake. It's perhaps most apparent at the inlets the trail takes you around. Looks like the water has been down long enough for some to beat a shortcut across the way. We chose to follow the trail.

Look! Flora!

This picture might be out of order. Given the edging, I'm guessing it was back at the beginning of the trail.

Almost no trail traffic today. A couple of trail runners, one with dogs, one without. Near the Jim Hogg Trailhead a father and two young sons more likely on the park trail then the loop. About two and a half hours today followed by some excellent Carne Guisada and a couple of cervezas. The Merrills did a fine job on their maiden voyage. Coming next: Jim Hogg Park to Russell Park.

Goodwater Loop Trail, Lake Georgetown, Texas

Tina looking happy and eager to start hiking

On March 23, 2013 we discovered the Goodwater Loop at Lake Georgetown after living in Georgetown, Texas for over ten years. In an effort to begin a healthier lifestyle we are going to attempt to hike more frequently starting with some short section hikes around Lake Georgetown. Having never been to the trail before, we looked at some information on-line including a .pdf map of the loop and decided to give it a go with a simple out and back hike starting at the Overlook Trailhead.

 The facilities here are nice with good parking, a sheltered bulletin board and a sheltered bench area. Just a few yards down the trail from the here there are restrooms. Once passed the restrooms you will make your decision to turn left or right. On this day we chose left and proceeded down a paved path until we came to the bridge over the dam. On the bright side you have an excellent view of the Lake from the top of the dam. On the down side you're hiking for more than a mile over paved surfaces.

Marker near the parking lot at the Overlook Trailhead

 My skills with the panoramic feature need improvement. The trails shown are actually at right angles to each other.


First glimpse of the Lake

View from the dam

 

Eventually the sun came out

Once you enter the Cedar Breaks Trailhead area you get off the paved roads after having passed two mile marker signs (25 & 26) coming across the dam.

Not a lot of traffic on the trail itself. On this Saturday we passed about maybe a half a dozen distinct groups, mostly in twos or threes, about half with a dog present.

 

 There are definitely some rocks to be careful of when hiking here. As nice as the scenery is you will spend plenty of time with your eyes on your feet.

The road taken.

  

 The trail ascends as you approach Mile Marker 1. Well above the lake as you can see.

 

Watching her step!

 

 There is a nice mix of trail along the lake and trail through the woods.

I may be biased but the picture is always better and my day is always brighter with her in it.

 

 

We finished our hike in about three and a half hours having covered about 4.5 miles. This includes a few rest breaks along the way and about a 20 minute sit down while we shared a dozen or so figs at the half way point. We were just the right amount of tired at the end and coming back across the dam in the afternoon sun was drudgery but in all a good first effort.