Mapping the Texas Hill Country
I’ve been meaning to take another drive out into the Texas Hill Country this week, but with the price of gas, I’ve been having second thoughts. With my truck, it takes about $50-$60 to top off the gas tank. More importantly, I started feeling a little disoriented with my search for land in the Hill Country. I was getting excited about the journey, rather than the destination. My mind started questioning my heart:
What is your plan? Do you know what you are looking for?
Well, I know I want land. I want hills. I want trees. Huge oak trees, if possible. That’s all I want. Wait, no, I also want a small creek, if possible. I also need at least 2000 feet for an airplane landing strip!
What about horses? Don’t you dream of being able to ride around your property on horseback and watch the sun rise?
I don’t know what I want, or do I? How far am I willing to drive for the land? 25 miles? 1 hour away from the city?I don’t even know what the Hill Country consisted of! I figured it’s time for a good old fashioned exploration tool…
A map.
I purchased a large Texas Hill Country map at the local book store this morning, the kind that requires the help of two people to open up. Immediately, this put the whole Hill Country into perspective. The big picture. Sure, I’ve heard of Fredericksburg, Boerne, and Kerrville, but I now realize that there are small towns that I’ve never even seen: Bankersmith, Tivydale, Doss, Cherry Spring….and look, the rivers and creeks outnumber the roads! Some towns only had one road passing through! I got on my knees and took a closer look. The Hill Country began to sink in…
Surely, your land has to be out there, somewhere.
A quick measurement from the southernmost part of the Hill Country (San Antonio) to the northernmost (San Saba) shows that there are over 200 miles in a straight line. A rough estimate will show that there’s over one thousand miles to explore!
Gas companies are going to love you.
I tacked the map to my office wall. It covered half of it. It looked great. The journey awaits. Now, just need to figure out what it is I want, devise a plan, and do it!. I know what I want, but need to think with my head, not my heart.
Update: Check out a digital map I made of the Texas Hill Country. I’d like to hear your feedback on it. Does it help give you a better idea of the area?