Inks Lake State Park is about a 45 minute drive west from the Gault Site in Florence.

The Colorado River carves deep valleys within the canyons of Central Texas and feeds Inks Lake, creating one of the most picturesque state parks in Texas with pink gneiss rock formations and combinations of thick hardwood and desert habitats.

The campsites are spacious and many sit on the edge of the lake.

It’s a bird watcher’s paradise.

With camera in tow, Mark and Boomer head out for a morning of birdwatching.

The Mockingbird is Texas’s adopted bird.

Robin fluffing feathers to stay warm on a cold morning.

A male Cardinal

Canadian Geese heading south.

Sunset at our campsite on Inks Lake

It’s just a short 12 minute drive from Inks Lake to Buchanan Lake where we take a tour of the Colorado River and the Canyon of the Eagles on The Vanishing Texas River Cruise.

The river flows through shallow rushes—

And around tall bluffs

With outcroppings and tall monoliths.

Springtime is the best time to spot an eagle in the canyon.

We rouse a Great Blue Heron from her stalking.

The beaver is undisturbed from its snooze as we pass.

A rare sight—an American White Pelican.

After a day cruising the river, we make camp at Colorado Bend State Park—

And relax in the shallows.

A Fisherman’s paradise. There are only 12 campers here. It’s so peaceful because it’s so difficult to get to! Don’t bring a big RV here —a path well taken, never to be taken again.

A humongous storm came up, washing away the road and marooning us. We, along with the other 12 campers, took refuge from the storm in this little outhouse.