Chat
04-12-2019, 09:00 AM
Now that I'm done bragging about my goats, I'm going to take a moment to brag about the wonderful folks at Davy Crockett NF, and in particular I want to give a shout-out to Linda Reynolds who worked with us. Not only did she make it possible for us to use the campground with the pavilion and running water bathrooms, but she actually posted "reserved" signs around the entire circle of campsites that we had not paid for so we wouldn't get other campers in our spot. Granted, the weather meant that overcrowding never became an issue that weekend, but it was wonderful of her to be so thoughtful.
Linda gave me her card and said that if folks want to have more packgoat events in Texas and need to work with rangers in other parks, they can call her and she'll give us a good report. She also said she would be willing to talk to the state park people if we want to pursue having the Texas state parks open their regulations to packgoats. I'm very excited to have her on our side!
The coolest thing about Linda is her goat story. She has deep roots in that part of Texas. When I first met her, she said she knew a lot about packgoats and I was immediately intrigued and asked how. Her grandfather, she said, cut cedar trees to make fenceposts for the area, some of which are still standing in various parts of what is now Davy Crocket NF. Her grandfather did not use horses or mules for the work of hauling out logs. He used goats! He had a string of nine big goats that pulled the logs on travois. The man would cut the cedars, tie them in bundles, then load them on the goats to drag out of the woods. Linda's grandfather didn't like working with mules or horses for that kind of work (he kept one mule for plowing the garden, but that's all it did). No, he preferred to use his faithful, hardworking goats!
Linda gave me her card and said that if folks want to have more packgoat events in Texas and need to work with rangers in other parks, they can call her and she'll give us a good report. She also said she would be willing to talk to the state park people if we want to pursue having the Texas state parks open their regulations to packgoats. I'm very excited to have her on our side!
The coolest thing about Linda is her goat story. She has deep roots in that part of Texas. When I first met her, she said she knew a lot about packgoats and I was immediately intrigued and asked how. Her grandfather, she said, cut cedar trees to make fenceposts for the area, some of which are still standing in various parts of what is now Davy Crocket NF. Her grandfather did not use horses or mules for the work of hauling out logs. He used goats! He had a string of nine big goats that pulled the logs on travois. The man would cut the cedars, tie them in bundles, then load them on the goats to drag out of the woods. Linda's grandfather didn't like working with mules or horses for that kind of work (he kept one mule for plowing the garden, but that's all it did). No, he preferred to use his faithful, hardworking goats!