Lake Balmorhea

     On Saturday we got up early and headed to Balmorhea. Stephen and Bruce had a day of fishing in mind and I had plans to show them things they have not had the opportunity to see. The plan was to go to Lake Balmorhea but as we arrived in Balmorhea I said we should go to the state park so Virginia could feel the cold spring water and feed the fish. We all walked to the spring fed pool but Virginia was only brave enough to put one foot in the water. The water is a constant 72-76 degrees all year round. The temperature outside was only 57 so the water was actually warmer than the air around us.
     After leaving the pool area we headed over to the small stream that was also fed by the spring. It is one of my favorite spots because you can always see huge softshell turtles and lots of catfish. If you put peanut butter on your fingers the catfish will eat it right out of your hand. We didn't have peanut butter so I had to get Virginia to feed them sandwhich meat. At first she was afraid but we told her that now is the time to live and be brave so she got down on the bridge to feed the fish. Her arms were too short so she could never reach them. Stephen fed them from his hand so she could see and she was able to throw them some food. They are such pigs but amazing to watch as they splash on top fighting over food. The huge softshells love to be fed as well. Bruce enjoyed watching them and wished he could fish right there.
     Next we headed to Lake Balmorhea. The lake is almost a hundred years old. The dam was built in 1913 and is the oldest lake in Texas. The view was beautiful and there was a lot of great fishing spots. I think Bruce really enjoyed the fishing which was literally in the middle of the desert. How many times in a person's life can they say that they went to a beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert and caught some fish?
     Bruce and Virginia really enjoyed the day and we still had an amazing drive back home, that awaited us....