enchanted rock

After a rough first week at school and a weekend filled with homework (thank God there's only a week left for these two classes... then I'm halfway done with my program!!) I decided to have a day dedicated to (at least one) thing(s) I love. Isis and I got in the car bright and early and headed out on an hour and a half long drive to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. On the list of things I need to do before leaving Texas, Enchanted Rock was near the top. I've heard so many great things about it! So, on our way we went... until something nearly catastrophic happened! Out in the middle of nowhere (aka the Texas Hill Country) the air conditioning in my car stopped working. I was cruising along at about 75mph so I turned off the A/C and cooled off with the windows down. Then I looked at my dashboard and did a (Scrubs) J.D. head-cock and wondered what could be wrong. Something didn't look right. Then I noticed it. I was overheating. I immediately put my hazards on and started crawling down the interstate at 45mph. A quick call to my dear old dad and I knew I needed help soon. Lucky for me, my exit to Enchanted Rock was right up ahead!
Now, I'm typically lucky with stranger-kindness and today was no exception. Some lady approached me at the gas station and told me her boyfriend was a mechanic and maybe he could help. Turns out he was doing some work on a transmission and I'd have to wait for 4 hours... it also turns out that that very same boyfriend also had a wife that showed up about an hour later... also willing to sign him up for the job. Not to fear! Another lady (not involved in the previous, strange, relationship) appeared and told me to wait; she'd go home and get her husband. And that's exactly what she did! Her hubby Shawn really helped me out. We filled up my radiator tub-thing and chewed the fat while he messed with the A/C and stepped on the gas. Turns out my car was just thirsty... and really... could you blame it in the hot, Texas heat? So I went on my way confident that neither I, nor my vehicle, would blow up... at least today.
This encounter brings me to a surprising revelation I will share with you. While I am not a fan of Texas, I am a fan of the hill country. First, it's beautiful. Second, the people are helpful and friendly. Third (and this is my favorite reason of all), when you are driving down the road and the person in front of you is going too slow, THEY WILL MOVE INTO THE SHOULDER FOR YOU TO PASS! It's very fun and exciting and a country practice I took part in today both as a passer and a pasee.
But I digress. Enchanted Rock was enchanting. I met some nice people on the Summit Trail and Isis drank more water than I did. The view from the top was very pretty and also very windy. She and I sat at the top for a while enjoying the scenery and a call to mom. Then it was time to head down. And I'm glad we did when we did because, unfortunately, I am a little sunkissed from the day's events. So, Enchanted Rock really is just a giant rock (I think) and some of you may know my fear of slipping and falling when I go down hills. I tried to overcome this fear on a snowshoeing trip with the boys once upon a time, and glissading is a useful technique (and fun!) when you're in the snow! As it turns out, sliding down over normal earth is not too overwhelming either... and I again practiced that skill this past summer. Making it down a sheer rock face through gliding or glissading or whatever you want to call it is impossible... but once I got a rhythm going I was able to make it down the hill just fine. Phew! The next time I head to Enchanted Rock I think I will make a plan to stay the day, or weekend, in Fredericksburg. Don't get me wrong... it was a great hike with great views, but a little too short of an adventure for the drive. And there you have it!