I was in and out of Camp TomWooten for a few years. Maybe 1957-1960. Before I got involved in sports cars. I fondly remember spending a week at "Aquatics Camp". Swimming, canoeing, diving, etc. Merit Badges for all. I was unaware of, or forgot, the opportunity to hike to Mansfield Dam, then canoe back. That's something I wish I had done. It would have been a 10+ mile hike over very rugged country. Maybe as long as 20 miles. I was aware of multi day hikes. The camp had a quite impressive waterfront on the west side of the Lake Austin Bull Creek Arm.
Before the property was "developed", I understood it belonged to the Boy Scouts of America and expected the camp to be there forever. After it was sold, I developed the erroneous impression that the land had only been loaned to BSA. The website below set me straight: the camp was sold by BSA and the proceeds used to develop a new and larger camp in Bastrop County.
I remember the mentioned Jack Swenson. I believe a son was a classmate. I knew where they lived: just east of now Mopac and south of Hancock Dr.
The Highland Lakes were VERY attractive. Very little traffic and "development". I had a collection of small boats. An Old Town canoe with a motor mount, an 8' pram which could be used with an outboard or rowed. Later, a small hydroplane. I remember pulling water skiers, with limited success, behind the hydroplane. with a small, perhaps 10hp, outboard. For a while, the family had a "Terra Marina" houseboat which was kept on Lake Travis. I've been all over Lake Austin and Lake Travis, mostly in my small boats. I remember having my 1.5hp outboard quit running on me while I was in Devil's Canyon across the lake from Hudson Bend. I ended up swimming the mile back across the lake pulling the pram my dog was sitting in. Back then, Devil's Canyon was always near deserted. I also remember my dog throwing up in the boat while on a trp. Motion sickness I suppose. I was impressed when he cleaned up after himself by eating again.
http://westtexasscoutinghistory.net/CTW/index.html
http://www.race-cars.com/carsold/elva/1592879196/1592879196ss.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment