Nueces River

It's hard to imagine such an oasis in South Texas, but there is a reason they call this area of South Texas the Winter Garden (even though it's spring).

When I was a younger, much younger, my family would spend Easter in the Nueces River. Being good Catholics, we'd go to Mass on Saturday (usually two hours long) and leave for the river early Sunday morning.

The Nueces is the most beautiful river I've ever seen. It's the one that I compare all other rivers to. The clear water covers a rock bottom that keeps it from turning into brown slush (at least in the area we frequently went to). During my latter teen years there was a pretty serious drought and the river did not flow as beautifully. I stayed away and later, well, I never made time to go.

But for y'all, I made time yesterday. Plus, I knew the cold snap would keep most people away.

Enjoy.



My river guide.



Yes, the rocks do blind in the summer.



See the rocks underwater?



Big rock



Shallow area--where I always parked myself because there was enough water to keep me cool, but not enough where I freaked out. (I don't know how to swim, but I can float pretty good.)