One of my favorite sites for finding things to do in our area is www.freefuninaustin.com. She has a weekly list of ten or more free
We started out first at Dies Ranch Treasure Cave which was located in a beautifully landscaped neighborhood park. Upon reaching the entrance, we saw 40 or more people in line behind what appeared to be a hole in the ground with a propped open metal grid covering. Rumor had it from the back of the line that the wait was up to 2 1/2 hours to enter. We decided that since there were other caves on the tour, we would ditch the first one and move on.
At the trail head there were maps to other caves in the vicinity. We made our way to the second cave, with the long name of Twin Creeks Historical Area- Dies Ranch Shelter. Strangely enough, the directions told us to again enter a neighborhood, drive into a cul-de-sac and then find a small, steep path down the slope to a footpath. We found the trail, but it seemed very odd. Here we were in a very nice, new, upper middle class neighborhood, and in the center of it, in a cul-de-sac, there was a very narrow, steep, unmarked footpath that allegedly led down to a creek, historic log cabin, and a cave. There was no indication whatsoever that this was a legitimate path. It was right next to a house. It wasn't paved, just eroded a bit to expose some rocks and dirt in the weeds and grass. This is a park owned and operated by the Cedar Park Parks Department? It didn't seem likely and a bit dangerous.
Curiosity and an adventuresome spirit took over and we decided to just go for it. We carefully skidded down the steep embankment. About a third of the way down, the boy very calmly, said, "There's a snake. I'm going back up." I, on the other hand, didn't bother to verify that there was indeed a snake. I don't recall the treacherous journey back up, but I'm pretty sure that before the words, "I'm going back up.", ever left his lips, I was already up the hill and on the street. Back in the car, the boy quoted Indiana Jones, "Snakes. Why does it always have to be snakes!"
I knew that if the parks department owned the park, and there was a historical log cabin onsite, there had to be a proper marked entrance. I decided to drive around the neighborhood to see if I could find it. It was one of those big subdivisions that go on forever with sprawling, winding streets that have no outlets. I gave up after circling around a few cul-de-sacs. Later when I got home, I found that not only is there a proper marked entrance, but a parking lot, and a paved concrete path all the way to the log cabin and cave. I have absolutely no idea why the Texas Cave Conservancy wrote out directions to go the dangerous secret squirrel route when a safer, more direct route exists. The last cave was the Avery Ranch Cave. Again, this was right in the middle of a neighborhood, across the street from tennis courts. This cave is only open two days a year. There was another long line, this time about 30 people long, but seeing that in the few minutes we watched, no one crawled down, nor did anyone come out of another hole in the ground with a propped open metal cover, we decided to just make our way home. Cave day was a bust for us.
