2021 Summary and Reflection Post

I have 3 more hikes to post from earlier this month, but the impending turning of the calendar says that it is time for my annual summary and reflection post.  2021 has been a challenging but rewarding year.  We hiked 52 new trails this year for a total of 127.2 miles.  The hikes came across 21 different states including 2 new states: Oregon and Washington.  With the addition of those two states, 49 states (and Canada) are now represented in this trail journal.  I had planned a trip to Hawaii for December to complete the 50 states, but the ongoing pandemic combined with my back injury from October told me that this would not be a good time to visit Hawaii.  We completed the transition from Mathprofhiker to Parking Full Time this year, and we added disc golf reviews to the fleet of blogs that comprise Parking Full Time.  The YouTube channel saw roughly a tripling in views this year, and we did our first foray into Bible study and prayer times with the Colossians Bible study on YouTube this past summer.  Overall, it has been a rewarding year on the trail with God's creation.

Looking forward to 2022, normally in this post I give a list of hiking trips I hope to do in the new year, but I am not going to do that this year.  2022 is going to be a transition year for me: it will mark my final year of math professing (hence the aforementioned rebranding of this project) and the first year of whatever comes next.  So I probably will not be doing my usual schedule of hiking trips this year.  My first priority is to let my back heal, which is happening but slowly.  I still hope to get out on the trail, and we will probably cross 900 hikes in this trail journal in the first half of the year.  IF I take a long summer hiking trip, it will be to the sand dunes around Lake Michigan.  Continued growth of the disc golf review blog and the YouTube channel is also desired.  Finally, we might add a stadium review blog for sports fans in 2022; we'll see.

Lord bless and see everyone on the trail in 2022,

Big Dave the Parker

Martin Creek Lake State Park: Island Trails (Blog Hike #883)

Trails: Island Trails
Hike Location: Martin Creek Lake State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Tatum, TX (32.27315, -94.56653)
Length: 1.2 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: December 2021

Overview: A short loop around an island in Martin Creek Lake.
Park Information: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/martin-creek-lake
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=895779
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: From Tatum, take SR 43 south 3.8 miles to CR 2183 and turn left on CR 2183.  Drive CR 2183 0.8 miles to the signed park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and park at the rear of the large day use parking area for the boat ramp and picnic area.

The hike: For my general comments on Martin Creek Lake State Park, see the previous hike, which explores the two trails on the north side of the park.  This hike features the appropriately named Island Trails: they form a loop around a small island in Martin Creek Lake.  As you would expect, the lake views are numerous and excellent, and many people think the Island Trails are this park's best hiking option.

Bridge leading to island

            Start by walking across the iron bridge with wooden deck that leads to the island.  As you walk across this bridge, an ugly power plant towers to the south, but the park's boat ramps and swimming area sit to the north.  When you reach the island, continue straight to walk among the island's 12 primitive campsites and begin a clockwise journey around the Island Trails' loop.

Park boat ramps and swimming area

            After passing through the primitive campground, the main trail curves right and climbs slightly.  In general you want to choose the left fork at each trail intersection to hike the longest possible loop around the island, but occasionally this strategy will lead you down side trails that end at the lake's edge.  If you accidentally or intentionally take a side trail, enjoy the lake view and then retrace your steps back to the main trail.

Hiking through pine forest

Hiking through the prairie

            The island features an interesting mix of loblolly pine forest and grassy, sunny prairies.  Interpretive signs identify common plants on the island.  After looping around the south side of the island for another fantastic view of the ugly power plant, a final right curve brings you back to the primitive campground to close the loop.  Walk back across the bridge to the mainland to complete the hike.