— Last week I went for an afternoon hike at Pedernales Falls State Park, just about an hour from Austin. The river was flowing beautifully and provided memorable moments such as the photo above. I sat in this area and enjoyed the peace and quiet. The river sound was entrancing (see video below). As many times as I have been to this park, I am often surprised at the new things I discover. Floods happen quite often in the Hill Country rivers, and the Pedernales River is no exception. A tributary of the Colorado River, the Pedernales is approximately 106 miles (171 km) long. This cypress tree must have withstood many a flood and is still there. Nature is a lifelong teacher.