San Marcos

On the last day of our stay in New Braunfels, Monday, we drove to San Marcos. It still looks a bit like winter down here as the deciduous trees are bare of their leaves. However I was pleasantly surprised to see in San Marcos two flowering redbud trees.

One mile northwest of the town is the headwaters of the San Marcos River at Aquarena Springs. It was the last day of February and many people were either swimming in the river or on the rocks sunbathing.

The clear flowing river stays at a temperature of 72 degrees year-round. The town has numerous bike trails following along the river and through several parks, including a park reserved only for Texas State students. While we were there students were taking to the waters with canoes and kayaks. What a lovely town to attend college!  Riding around town on our bikes we saw a statue of Chief Placido and the Tonkawa Tribe. The Native Americans inhabited central Texas and befriended the early "Texans".  Chief Placido was a scout for the Texas Rangers and a friend of Sam Houston and Stephen Austin. In his right hand is a peace pipe.