Big Thicket

This morning was sunny with clear blue skies, but cold! We decided to take a trip to Big Thicket.

Big Thicket was once an impenetrable forest, a place to be avoided; while the Indians hunted there it was uninhabited until settlers started farming the perimeter in the 1820’s. Big Thicket is now only a fraction of its original size with the Preserve covering 97,500 acres, split into separate sections.

We had a nice drive and arrived at the visitor center around 11:00ish. We weren’t sure if or where we’d be able to hike as everywhere around here is so wet, with standing water in lots of places, but after the orientation video the ranger suggested the Kirby Nature trail.

It’s a nice trail not particularly long or arduous and leads you through different sections of the park, signs tell you not to get off the trail and I can quite see why it would be so easy to get lost if you did. I mean one section of trees looks pretty much like another to me.

See what I mean, turn around twice and you’re lost!

Although it was windy high up in the trees, it was quite sheltered on the trail and the sun was warm apart from the birds it was so quiet I thought it was a little spooky, I wouldn't like to be in here in the dark.



The cypress slough was very weird, with the cypress knees, part of the tree, but other than that don’t ask as I have no idea, sticking up out of the water. We sat for a while looking around, but we were too early in the year for wild flowers and didn’t see any animals either, although a couple of hikers reported seeing a cougar cross Village Creek.


We heard lots of birds but couldn’t actually see them – forgot the binoculars. No-one else had signed in on the trail before or after us so we had it entirely to ourselves and we faithfully reported that we’d not seen any hogs either. I have to say I’m quite glad about that.


We drove home through the back roads across The Big Sandy, which was a nice drive along quiet two lane roads.

We had a little tussle with propane changeover when we got back, but I’m happy to say we won and it is now working again so we’ll be nice and toasty tonight as it is forecast to get down to 29F. Thankfully the forecast also says it’s going to warm up after this.

Have fun, we are!