Sixteen women (JacqueA, MarshaK, JoanB, AnneS, GenevaR, RachelA, SusanW, JanetF-B, BarbaraA, JackieD, JaniceB, SusieA, JenL, DebbieG, NancyL, and GloriaB) joined me on an informative and very enjoyable tour of Jacob’s Well Natural Area (JWNA.) Hays County purchased the JWNA in 2010 with voter-approved park bond funds. The Parks Department is working to restore, protect, and preserve the natural area. Our docents, Jeff and John, were very knowledgeable about the history of the the well and the general area. Both are Hayes County Master Naturalists and so they had a wealth of information to share. We toured the North 40 and then we went to the well where we spotted MarilynF swimming with friend Dorothy.
The well is a sight to behold. What a treasure! the 12 foot opening descends vertically for 23 feet. Two restrictions (narrowing) follow through two rooms before the cave continues. The maximum depth is 140 feet and it is approximately 4500 feet long, with over a mile of explored passages. Divers have perished in the cave and only professional divers under specific conditions are permitted to enter it. Due to the difficulty, it took four teams of professional divers working together the last time it was explored.
After the tour, all 17 of us went to the Leaning Pear for lunch. Next time you travel to Wimberley, make sure to stop here. The food was great and they were very accommodating.
I am attaching the link to the video that was sent on the outing announcement. If it doesn’t go through on the Yahoo group and you are interested, email me directly and I will send it to you.
Jacob’s Well video: https://youtu.be/KwSHN0QtlHE
A side note – Just a note about the usefulness of the TOWN Austin stickers on your vehicles. As I drove down RR 12, I spotted a car parked on the shoulder with a TOWN Austin sticker. I had passed the car but pulled over. Almost immediately, JanetF-B pulled up behind the car. Thankfully Jacque had just stopped for a moment for geocaching, but it was nice that two cars with TOWN women immediately stopped to check on her.
Thanks for joining me. I hope to go again someday and maybe the timing will work better for those who weren’t able to join us this time.
Lisa