Chisholm Trail Crossing & Mansfield Dam -- July & August 2014

Chisholm Trail Crossing Park (Round Rock, TX) – July 2014

Located right of Chisholm Trail Road, this park contains statues commemorating the pioneers who traveled this area during the 19^th Century cattle drives.  Each statue has an informational plaque about the history of the Chisholm Trail.

 

 

Brushy Creek crosses to the north, and on the other side of the road is where you’ll find the actual “round rock” the city is named after.  This served as the marker for the pioneers, as it a recognizable mark which allowed them to tell water depth (if it was safe enough to cross).  Even today the water level can vary during different times of the year.

 

 

A few hundred feet to the east are the marks made by the wagon trails going down the stream bed.  Because the wagons traveled a consistent route, the continued motion of the wheels wore down the rocky bed to create the ruts which are still visible today.

 

 

This is a municipal park, so it can be visited at any time.  Of course the best is during the early part of day before it’s gotten too hot, so you can take some time to absorb the history.

Mansfield Dam Park (Austin, TX) – July 2014

At the turn of the 20^th Century, Austin used to be subject to frequent floods, so a series of dams were built to control the Colorado River, which created the Highland Lakes.  Mansfield Dam was the largest of all these, and Lake Travis formed behind it.  On the west side of the Dam is a small area with views of the area downriver, as well as a municipal park that is open during the daylight hours.  There’s a $10 admission per carload to get into the park, which is where the boat launches and picnic areas are.  It also provides the best views of Lake Travis.

 

 

Thanks to the drought conditions the area has been under for the past few years, as well as the new housing developments in the area, the water levels have been significantly reduced (at least 30-40 feet below where they should be).  This has created many new islands on Lake Travis which weren’t previously there, and extended the shore lines.  (To get an idea of that for those who weren’t familiar with the area, I’ve attached some pictures I took in 2003 for comparison purposes.)

 

 

 

When first uncovered, these new islands were chalk white, but have slowly had grass, shrubs, and other plants return to their surface.  As far as the water level is concerned, you can start to get an idea of the winding path the Colorado River before the dam was constructed.

 

 

While I was here this time to show my out-of-town guest the area, I also showed her pictures from earlier years to get a perspective of how quickly the face of Lake Travis has changed.  Standing on the new shore, we could look across at The Oasis and Steiner Ranch Steakhouse (both of which will provide a different view of the lake due to their elevation).  Also viewable is the wide beach area of Hippie Hollow (which is a clothing-optional location).

 

 

The small area at the top of Mansfield Dam is where you can clearly see how previously Route 620 went across here, before being diverted to how the road is now.  That section is free to stop and park.

 

Elements Massage (Louis Henna, Round Rock) – August 2014

I visited here because there was a deal which appeared in Groupon, and I’ve never had a professional massage done before.  The website had a lot of good information for me to decide what was the most appropriate for me, and the receptionist answered some other questions.  It was easy to schedule an appointment for after work.  Since it was close to home, I figured I could keep that relaxation feeling for the remainder of the evening.

I opted for a trigger massage, to work on those stress knots in my shoulder and lower back.  The room was low-lit, and the temperature was comfortable.  This was an hour-long session, and it was only the beginning of what I’d need to fully loosen my muscles.  The technique which was performed really felt good, and my massage therapist made me feel very relaxed.

This was an enjoyable experience, and do recommend everyone having a professional massage done at some point.  Look for a place that’s convenient for you, but if you live near Elements, you should have yours done here.

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