Snapshots from Enchanted Rock

Photograph by Blake, 1991


Photograph by Blake. Charlie and Tara, 2011



Photograph by Blake, Amy and Joel, 1990



Photograph by Blake 1991



The tent from which an armadillo was spied by Blake. Photograph by Blake 1991



Before I was struck by the curse of the rabid fire ants... Photograph by Blake, 1991



Photograph by Sarah, 1991



Photograph by Blake, 1991




Photograph by Sarah, 1991



Photograph by Blake, 1991



Photograph by Sarah, 1991

Enchanted Rock, Texas

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, near Llano, Texas, is one of my favorite places. I never knew about this place while growing up in Houston, but saw pictures of it in a Texas tourist publication during an airport layover on my first visit home from college for the holidays in 1987. A couple friends and I made the eight-hour round trip drive from Houston a couple weeks later. It’s a tough place, and over the years I spent time there with folks who were open to its sometimes-elusive, stark, and subtle beauty, and with people who couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Blake

Sarah and I spent a couple days camping at Enchanted Rock in 1991. It was hot as hell, Sarah was fairly miserable, and I wished she could have experienced the place in winter or spring. I expect she’ll write about the fire ants. Maybe someday we’ll go back.



Blake took me camping to Enchanted Rock once. It was beautiful, but I wasn't drinking enough water so I got a really bad headache and had to go and sleep it off. I missed the armadillo outside our tent, but the 30 fire ants didn't miss me and left holes all over my body that itched and itched for weeks afterwards. Blake got too close to a cactus and hurt his ankle - I helped him pull out the spines. It certainly is a tough place. I would like to go back again. I have painted Enchanted Rock three times, because Blake loves the place, and it's a easy way to please him, which in turn, pleases me.

Sarah