Controlled Burn At Reynolds Creek Parkl

Shortly after 3 p.m. Monday afternoon, we got an unexpected call from our Volunteer Coordinator, Ranger Jay Morris, and were told they had moved the date to burn the 180-acre sea of Johnson Grass prairie behind our motorhome up to Tuesday morning.  Baylor University was predicting the conditions would be best at that time.  So the rest of the day was spent sterilizing and refilling our water tanks, flushing the gray and black water tanks and generally getting prepared for moving to a “dry” campsite for at least the day, possibly more.

Johnson Grass - The objective: to remove

Dave and Sue, our comrades here at the park, had already scouted and found a couple of really nice campsites in the closed section, on a bluff, overlooking the lake.  It wasn’t to be a real “dry camp”; electricity was available.

If this site would have had sewer and running water, you couldn't have gotten me out of here!

With the exception of not opening the gates at 6 a.m., the day started normally.  Professors with their students from Baylor and COE Rangers with their equipment soon began to arrive.  While they were getting organized, we and our neighbors began the move to our temporary home for the next couple of days.

Sorry Folks!  We're closed, for your own good!

Our site and the grass in the back yard?  Johnson Grass, of course...all 180 acres!

Activities began with the burn crews making small “back burns” as a stopgap for fires that might possibly do unwanted damage.

Small back burns were created at first to protect telephone poles, etc.

All the back-burns around the perimeter of the pastures were completed before the crews broke for lunch.  As soon as their lunch was over, Dr White of Baylor University gathered his students and the fire crews and proceeded to go over a plan of action for the main burn.  Emphasis was heavy on the safety aspects.

After a short lunch, Dr White of Baylor University, gave instructions
and procedures to both COE rangers and his students.

After the brief meeting, the business of getting on with the “burn” began.  For those of you who have never seen or experienced a control burn up close, take my word for it.  It is an awesome experience.  It is not by any stretch “fun”.  It is real and dangerous.  The only difference between a controlled burn and a true wildfire, as I see it, is the burn crews start the control process before the real fire ever starts; whereas, with an out-of-control wildfire, all of the efforts are made to bring the situation under control after the fire is well underway and doing unwanted damage.  Both are equally dangerous and constant caution must be taken.
 

Burn crews are working under the most grueling conditions imaginable, in stands of Johnson Grass taller than the fire crew members themselves. Once started, flames jump from one clump of the dry weed to another, sending flames upward to heights of 20 and 30 feet.  Heavy gusts of wind push the flames first in one direction, then off to another.  The oily smoke, heavily laden with soot and hot embers, creates a hell on earth for those in the midst of all of it.  Fire crews must watch not only the burning in front, but the flames directly behind and off to either side.

Next time you are griping over the “inconvenience” of a park or campground closing when you want to go in, think about the following pictures and thank the rangers for opting to close, rather than put you at risk.   As for myself, I thank you, USACE Rangers, for a job well done and a chance to watch you in action. 

I really hope you enjoy these pictures.


~dick~

Dr. White directing crew in starting initial blaze.

Fire with back-fire well under way.

Baylor students creating back blaze directly behind our RV pad

Judy had to escape across the street to get this shot!

The fermament when both fire and back-fire collide!

Ranger Liz Anderson.  Vigilance is a must!  

Shimmering waves of heat can suck you dry.

     

The beauty of the beast!

...and out of the firmament...

This little fellow got the hot foot!

Visibility was less than a car length

 

All of this ... took only about 10 minutes to completely burn and put itself out ... frightening!

180 acres up in smoke!

A Good Day At Reynolds Creek Park

Every day that passes here at Reynolds Creek on Waco Lake carries with it new surprises!  Saturday evening, we were sitting around, visiting with Dave and Sue, our volunteer neighbors, when suddenly two Waco PD cars raced through our entrance silently, with lights flashing.  Dave and I hopped into my SUV and hurried after them (not as recklessly I might add) and found them pulled up on one of the points looking out over the lake.  It seems a group of guys had rented a houseboat to celebrate one of their son's birthday.  Somehow, during their cruise at one point, they fouled the boat's prop in the anchor rode.  We were having steady winds across the lake of about 20-30 mph and the party was, to put it mildly, in deep doo-doo!  While we were there, the approaching Waco Fire Dept. Rescue Boat lost power and they were dead in the water.   Finally, after about another 10-15 minutes, they were able to get under way and make progress to the hapless houseboat, tie a line to it and tow it to one of our boat ramps and floating docks.

Early Sunday morning, they bribed the birthday boy into going for a swim in the freezing water and freeing the prop.


Also Sunday morning, I was making my rounds, checking on how much the lake had risen - we had over 2" of rain in the past 24 hours - and the water was rising steadily.  This didn't deter a horde of hopeful fishermen as they launched their craft with the prospects of the heavy rains bringing about good fishing.  I was engaged in a conversation with a couple when I noticed what looked to be a dark shape slinking across the road about 200 yards away.  I immediately grabbed my camera and started shooting, and I was lucky enough to capture a few shots of a fairly rare sight.  It was a really large and very dark bobcat.  I apologize for the lack of clarity in these shots, but my equipment and my ability to hand-hold the camera steady enough was beyond its limits.

Soon afterwards, I arrived home and saw a couple of birds twittering and playing up on our utility pole next to the motor home.  Once again, I grabbed my camera and was able to get a few good shots before they flew away,  The Eastern Bluebird is a regular here, but I usually can't see their colors because the bright back light makes them look a nondescript black or dark gray. 

 

Thanks for your interest...more to come.


~dick~

Surprise and Happy Valentine's Day!

The last few weeks, I have continued volunteering in the COE office 3 afternoons a week – answering phones, providing information (with lots of assistance from Rangers), preparing hunting permits, typing forms and proofreading.  Dick has continued patrolling the park, assisting visitors, picking up trash and taking pictures of the wildlife.  He even made a sign so visitors know that the park closes at “sunset” at this time of the year.

"SUNSET" sign

In addition, Dick has been assisting Ranger Liz with various photo projects and, one afternoon a couple weeks ago, I went with him to meet Liz and her husband Steve at Airport Beach Park to take pictures to use for a presentation to teens about water safety.  This park on Waco Lake is closed for the winter, but is apparently packed during the spring and summer with picnickers and swimmers.

Airport Beach Park

Dick and Ranger Liz taking pictures of Steve as
"drowning victim"

One evening last week, I thought the view from our RV as the sun was setting was worth a picture.

Another night, Dick heard noises outside his window and, upon checking, here is what he saw.  Unfortunately for Rocky Raccoon, there was no food in the bucket, which Dick uses for picking up trash around the park. 

Since our friends Dave and Sue moved next door as COE volunteers, we have had another couple to visit, which has been nice.

Sue with Molly, Jody and Emma

A few weeks before my 65^th birthday on Sunday (February 12^th), I told Dick that the only gift I wanted from the kids and him was to see the kids and our 3 grandsons.  I must admit that I felt very sad the last few days before the weekend, as I truly believed Dick when he told me no one could come see us, and it was not a good weekend for us to go to Houston.  Well, on Saturday morning, as I washed clothes and dressed in my warm-ups (with no makeup or hair fixed), I heard Dick go outside and, when I walked to the front of the RV, I realized everyone had come to celebrate my birthday!  I later found out that Mike had called Dick a few weeks ago to see if this surprise would work.  Dick said he came close to telling me when I was so upset on Friday.  However, he kept the secret and I was totally surprised!  We all went to Red Lobster for lunch and came back to the RV for King cake (made by April) – after a tour of the park where everyone saw a fox (except for me), roadrunner and lots of deer (but no pictures).  Mike, April, Colby and Ben had to drive back to Tomball that evening, but Michelle and Logan stayed overnight.  Naturally, I could take a “grandson fix” every day, but it was an awesome visit until the next time.  Michelle and Logan will be back in 3 weeks during their Spring break, and Mike and his family will visit us in Colorado in late May.

Birthday treat at Red Lobster - shared with
Logan, Colby and Ben

King Cake dessert - made by April

Colby, Logan and Ben

Grammy and her "boys"

After Michelle and Logan left on Sunday, I had a laid-back birthday on a cold and dreary day.  Around 4 p.m., the highlight of my day was snow flurries (followed by sleet)!  My friends and family know that, IF it’s going to snow in Texas or Louisiana, it is often on or around my birthday.  I know you probably cannot tell and think I’m silly, but there really are snow flurries on and around me!!

Judy in the snow - honest!!

Sleet!

My birthday was topped off by bacon-wrapped huge shrimp (fixed by Dick), which was my gift from Michelle and Logan – from Rose’s in Kemah, TX.  Yummy!!

Today, Dick and I went to visit the Lake Waco Wetlands - a 10-minute drive from Reynolds Creek Park.  This is one of the only wetlands of its kind in Central Texas, and was constructed the City of Waco in 2001 to replace habitat lost due to raising Lake Waco by 7 feet.  It is located on the North Bosque River and covers over 180 acres, and has become a diverse habitat for a variety of flora and fauna.  We toured the facility, which was very educational and walked to a couple overlooks.  It is possible to walk the trails and sit in wildlife blinds for viewing and picture taking, which Dick plans to do one day soon.  If possible, it was more peaceful than our park!  Check it out at www.lakewacowetlands.com.  We look forward to taking Michelle and Logan for a tour when they are here in March.

I hope all of you have a very happy Valentine’s Day and, until next time, see ya!  ~Judy~

Big Blue

I've commented before on how comfortable some of the animals are getting as we approach.  A perfect example of this is one I have named "Big Blue".  He's (maybe it's a "she", but humor me!) about 3' tall and blends into the driftwood flotilla that he hangs around so well that he is often missed by most visitors.  Here are just a few pictures that really show the beauty of the wild world around us here at Reynolds Creek.

 


Things have been pretty quiet around here.  Our friends, Dave and Sue from Minnesota, have now settled in next door and are ready to do some volunteer work for the Corps.  

Dave and Sue arriving at Reynolds Creek for their new
COE Volunteer position

We cooked dinner for them last Wednesday after they arrived and, when we walked out with them about 8:00 p.m., we were admiring the star-filled sky when all of a sudden a meteor of pretty good size streaked across for a good 10 seconds, leaving a streak of sparks and a long tail before dying out.  Now, I understand that the meteor hunters are searching a 3-county area for meteorite fragments.

Judy and I have taken some time to explore the various campgrounds around the lake.  One new area I have discovered is called "The Wetlands".    I'll save further discriptions and discussions for a post in the near future.

Next week, the Corps has scheduled a burn to start a multi-year attack on the Johnson Grass that has invaded Texas pastures.  The 120+ acres around us have a solid infestation that stands about 4 feet tall and will explode in an instant if someone throws a careless flame into it.  The burn-off should make for some really interesting pictures, but we will definitely move our "house"  to a "safe" location prior to it.