Good Day for a Hike and a History Lesson...

After a day of cloudy, windy rain and overcast skies Saturday was sunny and warmer so we took the opportunity to drive to San Augustine, Tx to check out Mission Delores State Historical Area for the history and some light hiking.  

Of course the Spanish Franciscan Priests probably had good intentions when they first came in 1721 to build a mission but there was some soldiers and politics involved and since there was the possibility of the French employing the same program heading west from Louisiana this and other missions build through East Texas served as an early warning for foreign intrusion. It's a familiar strategy that's still in use today in various places around the world. 

I kind of imagine a young Spanish GI, he's a long way from home. In the 50 on again off again years the mission there might be a few priests, two soldiers and the local Ais Indians. The soldiers probably did the work of hunting, fishing, building and gathering firewood. After a day of this they returned to the mission to be quizzed, "See a Frenchman in the woods anywhere?" 

We know from evidence unearthed at the site that it probably was not this scary for a young solider to see a Frenchman in the woods. With everyone so isolated there seems to have been illegal trade that went on between the groups. Pottery shards made by the Indians and from England, France, Holland and China have been found around the site. Like the song says, come on people now, smile on your brother...           

 

We also visited Lobanillo Swales, the preserved ruts of the El Camino Real. These 12' deep ruts were made by the traffic of 300 years worth of travel by anyone that was anybody going between Louisiana and Mexico City. LaSalle and de Leon passed through here. Early Texas pioneer Gil Y'Barbo had a ranchero nearby. Chances are you know some of his kin folks. They are still in the area. Miguel and Milo, instead of making history on this spot were simply considering the eternal question. Mexican or Cajun this evening? 

Seems reference material indicate two swales but the historical marker indicated three trails running parallel. I could see three provided this is not a four wheeler track since this is on private land. Visitation by the public is welcome just behave. 

Mary and the boys on a creek at the mission campground. Good looking spring water was one of the reasons for settling here and if this flows all year might be a worthy spot this summer to cool it.  

Cathy hikes down the swale. Her shoulder replacement is fine and we will probably resume water aerobics tomorrow. This light hike was good conditioning for some inactivity due to a couple of other ailments that cropped up over the last month. 

We did pick Cajun for supper and the kids would not eat the catfish. The screamed, "Not the same as Pop-Pop's!"