CREEKSIDE AT THE CIBOLO
Water! It is what makes Earth special and gives it the ability to support life. Every continent on Earth is governed by a primary watershed which always leads to the ocean.
Some water is more desirable or palatable than others, and location is everything. Here in the Texas Hill Country, we are blessed with availability and access to water which we use on a daily basis.
The other day in my small group we were discussing water and how it was perceived over time. We all agreed about the daily uses of water around the homestead, but what about the “wild water” within the Texas Hill Country?
“Wild water” occurs in many forms: springs, streams, seeps, creeks, ponds and rivers.
Throughout time, people have gravitated to these special places to drink, clean, commune and generally absorb the sense of place. Modern days are no different although we don’t head to the creek for our weekly bath, however it is fun to do so. “Meet me at the river” is a time-honored offering to commune and share time with others.
Access to natural, wild water during the warmer portions of the year is an exceptional treat since it cools our body and moderates our temperament. The buoyant properties of water surround and support us in many unknown ways as the gentle currents transport us.
A larger topic of discussion focused on how water was seen as an agent of chaos. Large bodies of water can become chaotic quickly with the onset of a storm. Rivers, creeks and streams once seen as places of peace and healing hold great potential for chaos. The chaos of water is evident from the limestone under our feet and carved landscapes of the Texas Hill Country.
People are naturally inquisitive creatures, so they will always find the wild water to seek understanding and quench their adventurous spirit.
The Bible mentions Leviathans within the dark depths which adds to the mystery of the long deep bends of the river, just ask Jonah and Captain Ahab. We search for Leviathans but many times we end up with the periodic nibbling of sunfish to let us know that we are not alone.
There is a sense of wonderment among the areas of wild water. These locations are typically shrouded in dense vegetation that shields them from sunlight and cloaks the subtle bends and shoals that are not apparent to the casual observer.
These special places still exist in the Texas Hill Country and we hold them in high regard as stewards of the land.
So, what does this all mean? Find your nearest wild water.
Take some time to find a shady respite and enjoy the diversity of native flora and fauna within the boundary of the water course. I see people sitting quietly by Cibolo Creek almost every day, and I ask them if they are “OK,” and they say, “I’m just listening.”
I move along, since this brief time of solace at the creek clears your mind and warms your heart.
Acknowledge the power within the water and reflect on its duty to us all. Soak in the early morning sunlight stream side while quietly casting your fly rod. Listen to the evening woodlands and rest among the deliberate pace of the water.
See you on that gravely shoal where the syrupy current lives.
David Touchon is land manager for the Cibolo Center for Conservation
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