Here Comes the Cavalry! - Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Sometimes, we are very lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Today was one of those days.

Our 10k Fort Concho/Water Lily Garden Volksmarch this morning started at Bosque on the River Park. The Concho River flowed on our left this morning instead of on our right. We passed quite a bit of the same territory as yesterday, but today we went farther along the river. This got us into the vicinity of the Water Lily Garden. I will spend this blog highlighting the things we didn't see yesterday.

The history of the International Water Lily Collection (IWLC) [taken from a Visitor Center brochure by the Elegant Lily Fund]:

In 1629, the abbot of the Franciscan monastery in Isleta del Norte near present-day Albuquerque sent two monks to the Jumanos' fantastical garden. The Jumanos, in order to enhance their petition, told of having seen at various times a human apparition of a female wearing a blue dress. The mysterious figure was said to have spoken Spanish even though no Spaniard was yet to set foot in this flowery refuge. Spanish and Roman Catholic legend came to identify this haunting image as "The Lady in Blue."

In the 17th century, Franciscans found the land as described by the Jumanos with a crystal-clear pond covered with water lilies. The lily was later named Nymphaea elegant. This is the elegant lily celebrated today. The monks were so impressed with these flowers that they named the stream that flowed from the pond, El Rio Florido (the Flowered River). 

In the 19th century, two hundred years later, US Army cartographers named the same stream the Concho River.

The Lilies (info taken from the same brochure): 

San Angelo is blessed with the most extensive collection of varieties of water lilies of any other city in the United States. San Angelo native, Ken Landon, became interested in growing varieties of water lilies in the 1960s. He became sufficiently well known in the 1970s that he was designated as supplier of the University of Texas' Lundell Herbarium. In the mid-1980s, the Council of Garden Clubs received sanctions and funds to establish one pond for the IWLC in Civic League Park, San Angelo.

Civic League Park is one of the oldest parks in San Angelo, dating to 1903. Today there are seven ponds boasting more than 150 varieties of lilies. The park is owned and maintained by the City of San Angelo. The collection is open every day at all times and is free to the public.

San Angelo's International Water Lily Collection is touted as blooming from April through October, with the peak blooms showing in September. I was hoping for at least a few early bloomers; however, we didn't see any. 

IWLC ponds. 

Close-up of a water
lily pond.

Since there were no lilies blooming, I took photos of the Civic League Park sign. You can see lilies on that. I even took a few close-ups.

Nymphaea "Blue Star."

From Civic League Park, the route meandered through a neighborhood of gorgeous homes overlooking the Concho River. For a few blocks, we felt like we lived in a ritzy neighborhood. LOL. 

When we arrived at the Sunken Garden, there was a rock path down into the park. I started down and Bob said, "That's a drainage ditch."

I told him, "No, it isn't. It has arched bridges you can walk under."

Well, I got down into the park all right, down being the operative word. I was about three feet below the walkways in the park. Bob was right. It was a drainage ditch. The arched bridges I saw had only about a 2-1/2' clearance, so I scuttled under one trying not to hit my back on the ceiling under the rock bridge. Bob was able to pull me up out of there. I found a rock sticking out of the wall, put my foot on it, and Bob pulled me up. It was the cleanest and prettiest drainage ditch I have ever seen.

The Sunken Garden as seen from
"the drainage ditch." That's the
bridge I ducked under.

From the Sunken Garden, we walked up by the road to see the Sculpture Garden. It wasn't our type of art: most of it was modern or abstract. Take a look.

Bob in the Sculpture Garden.

"Flor de Alegria," by GiGi
Miller, Austin, Texas.

"Oasis," by Ben Woitena of
Houston, Texas (painted steel).

"Oasis," by Ben Woitena of
Houston, Texas (painted steel).

"Human Nature, Figure No. 2-3,"
by Art Garcia.

From the Sculpture Garden, our route took us by the Visitor Center, along the Concho River, through downtown, then across the river on the Celebration pedestrian bridge we were on yesterday, and past the Art Museum. Then the walk headed for Fort Concho. 

Up until we came to San Angelo, we didn't know much about Fort Concho. Tourist information told us that the fort was built to protect the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, the Goodnight-Loving Cattle Trail, the Military Road to San Antonio, and protect frontier settlements. So, let's go take a look. 

Immediately upon entering the historic site, two historical markers told us a lot about this fort. We also learned soldiers from the fort patrolled and mapped the vast West Texas region, and quelled hostile threats in the area. The specific location for Fort Concho was quite strategic at the junction of the three Concho Rivers.

Buffalo Soldiers, Tenth Cavalry.

Bob at Fort Concho, San Angelo, Texas.

We checked in at the Visitor Center for the fort. Even though the sign out front says it's a National Historic Landmark, the lady inside said it's run by the state so our National Park Pass did not give us free admission. However, seniors were only $2 each. No. Big. Deal.

Fort Concho traces the American military experience from the end of the Civil War to the turn of the 20th century through various exhibits, displays, and artifacts. Comprised of 24 original and restored structures, the site's buildings have a mixture of original and replica furnishings, equipment, and artillery. Six fort structures represent various building interiors from the 1870s and 1880s. A modern Living History Stable houses wagons, the Fort Concho mules, and other equines.

Rotating exhibits we saw today were:

• The Douglas McChristian Collection: The objects displayed in Barracks 1 (donated by Douglas McChristian of Phoenix, Arizona) represent one of the largest privately owned collections illustrating the frontier soldier experience. Comprised of over 1,000 original uniform pieces, equipment, documents, and other items, the collection is showcased in small thematic rotating displays. The theme for the current exhibition: Officer Uniforms.

Infantry dress coats: 1872 pattern.

Dress helmets, Infantry, 1881.

Uniform Group, 1885-1887
Musicians' Dress Coats.

Dress helmet, infantry band.

Read this and then check out the 
next few photos. This is interesting!

A couple or ???

Ha ha!

• E.H. Danner Museum of Telephony: pays tribute to the world of telephone communications. The collection of antique instruments, equipment, and devices chronicles the evolution of communication.

Western Union display.

Magneto Ceiling
Telephone.

Usage of the Magneto Ceiling
Telephone.

Kellogg Switchboard.

Gray Telephone Desk 
Pay Station

Calculagraph - used to measure
the length of long-distance calls.

Stromberg-Carolson & Gray
Paystation, 1900-1925.

• Standard Ordnance - Cannons of the Frontier Army:

Model 1862 Gatling Gun.

Cannon.

Shot, shell, spherical
case, canister.

Shrapnel.

Harness for the six-horse
artillery hitch.

Men were used in harnesses where
horses could not be: steep inclines
and among trees.

Bob reading the men's harness display.

From the Standard Ordnance display, we headed toward the Living History Stable. On the way, we saw a sign indicating the reconstruction of missing barracks and mess hall.

The office at Fort Concho also has posters in a hallway about the Shoshone and Comanche Indians. The posters explain the Indian's shelter, uses of buffalo, food, the making of a Nation, the roles of men and women, the Comanches as "Lords of the Plains," and the transitioning and relocating of Indians.

What we found most interesting was an event coming up the weekend of April 21-23. The lady in the office told us we couldn't walk across the parade grounds to get to the Officer's Quarters today because the cavalry would be practicing there! How cool is that? Instead, we would have to walk all the way around the parade ground. The event is the Regional Cavalry Competition.

While we were walking to the Living History Stable, we saw some people coming out on horses for a warm up. Across the road in a parking lot were a number of horse trailers and horses.

A warm-up walk.

There was one more exhibit to see before the Living History Stable. One of the barracks was set up as the Enlisted Men's Quarters.

Enlisted men's quarters.

The Living History Stables house Fort Concho's mules, a chuckwagon, ambulance wagon, and Wells Fargo coach. In the classroom is an exhibit of the long history of the Buffalo Soldiers. Most notably, the Tenth Cavalry Buffalo Soldier Unit was headquartered at Fort Concho from 1875-1882.

The anatomy of a horse.

The Buffalo Soldiers.

The Fatigue Suit.

Bob was on a work phone call while I visited with the horses in the stable. They loved the attention. After I spent a little time in the classroom reading about the Buffalo Soldiers and looking at the art in the classroom, I walked outside. 

What should I see but a photo op waiting to happen. Most of the horses and riders were lined up and a local photographer was taking photos for the newspaper or the TV news. I asked if it was okay for me to take some photos and they said, "Yes"! I was thrilled.

Here comes the Cavalry! How's that for timing??

Well, that made my day! Then a little later they all came riding out in formation to practice for the competition. Whee! Here's a video...

From the Living History Stable, we completed our tour of Fort Concho: "In Memory of" five Medal of Honor recipients who served at Fort Concho, the Headquarters Administrative Offices, and the Officer's Quarters. 

"In Memory of" five Medal of Honor
recipients who served at Fort Concho.

The Administrative Offices:

The Court Martial Room

Bob on Officer's Row.

Me on Officer's Row.

Officers' Quarters 3.

Sitting room.

Dining room.

Bedroom.

We finished the walk, went back to our RV park, hooked up the 5th wheel, and headed for Roswell, New Mexico. Today, we gain an hour and will be in Mountain Daylight Time.

We arrived in Roswell before 5 pm. I went out and took photos at the RV park. 

Our site in the park.

Looking down a row at the RV park. 
We are toward the back on the left.

Where we stayed.

And the alien hype begins at the 
RV park!

Gift shop at the
RV park.

Red hot chili peppers.

Red hot chili peppers called ristras are 
hanging on the fence.

Bob wanted to take me out to dinner in Roswell. One of the restaurants advertising in the RV park brochure has Taco Tuesday (and today is Tuesday). Beef tacos for $0.99 each! Plus they had a coupon for 10% off. SOLD! We had a very good dinner at Cerritos Mexican Restaurant.

Tomorrow morning, we will finally do the Roswell 11k walk. I have been through Roswell twice before but didn't have time to walk. I also want to go to the Roswell Museum and the UFO Research Center and Museum.

I'll be dreaming of little green men. Ha ha ha ha!