— I truly believe there is not a place near Austin where I can find such tranquil scenes as in Lake Bastrop South Shore Park. During the COVID lockdown in 2020, I used to go to this park to hike or bike its trails and just sit by the lake. So, it was with great joy that soon the park began renting kayaks again. Then, earlier in March 2021, when this photo was made, I spent some time at the park along with a couple of friends. Some of the mini-cabins by the lakeshore had just been renovated. In fact, we were the very first guests in two of those cabins.
Lake Bastrop South Shore Park is only 45 minutes from my house, but the scenery there is miles away from what one would expect in Texas. This is called the Lost Pines region. As you can see in the photo above, the name is very appropriate because of the loblolly pines present throughout the park. In addition to a system of trails, including one connecting the north and south shores, the lake is also excellent for kayaking. On this particular day, winds were extremely calm. I was able to stop my kayak and soak in the beauty and tranquility around me without having to paddle to stay in place.
According to Wikipedia, “the reservoir was formed in 1964 by the construction of a dam by the Lower Colorado River Authority” (LCRA). This is the cooling pond for LCRA’s Sim Gideon Power Plant. The lake is rich in largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and sunfish.
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