While driving through East Texas, in Newton County, we crossed Big Cow Creek. As many people probably do when they cross Big Cow Creek, we at once wondered, what is Big Cow Creek? What does it look like? What is it all about? Where does it get its name?
So, first of all, we turned our touring vehicle around (safely of course) on the two lane highway and carefully parked on a nice area perfect for parking a vehicle on a lovely Saturfay. We then assembled the quadcopter and set it up in the air. And what we saw was a really neat creek which seemed to horseshoe right before our very eyes.
While we were doing this, one of my daughters (Siarah) discovered a rope swing and immediately made use of it, swinging happily and with sheer joy and thrill over the cute creek and fortunately not crash landing on land or in water. As we were putting up the quadcopter, we heard Siarah scream. She had made her way somehow to a sort of peninsula in the creek (where it horseshoed) and her curiosity as to what was in the creek got the better of her… and so she slid slowly and uncontrollably (and apparently uncomfortably) into the creek… there was nothing we could do to help… it was shallow, so she climbed out safely.. Her sister laughed, a lot (big mistake)… of course Siarah was absolutely furious at the creek and not herself as it was clearly the creek to blame that her clothes were covered in water and mud. And, of course it was slightly my fault as well for not paying close attention to my risk-hungry 15 year old sweet daughter. That was the way she felt anyway. She returned to our side of the shore, muddy and grumpy, and threw a fist full of mud at her 16-year-old sister for laughing.
After this, in the absolute silence of the next few minutes of the drive as Siarah pouted about her favorite jeans (they are all her favorites), I learned this from the Texas Historical Association: BIG COW CREEK. Big Cow Creek rises eight miles southeast of Browndell in northwestern Newton County (at 31°05’ N, 93°53’ W) and flows south-southeast for fifty-six miles to its mouth on the Sabine River, ten miles southeast of Kirbyville (at 30°34’ N, 93°44’ W). The stream, intermittent in its upper reaches, traverses gently undulating to hilly terrain where loblolly, shortleaf, and longleaf pines grow… and this, from Texas Parks and Wildlife: Big Cow Creek rises in the northwest corner of Newton County and flows southeast approximately 90 miles to meet the Sabine River. The creek derives its water supply from the many spring-fed branches in the area. In the upper reaches, it flows through an area of rolling sandhills, open mixed forests, and scattered pine groves. The lower section flows through a bottomland area composed of beech and other species of hardwood and pine. Water flow is sufficient on most of the lower section for recreational use; however, the best section for recreational use is reportedly from SH 87 crossing (2 miles southeast of Newton) to the Sabine River. … Just in case anyone else was curious.
Neat how you can find treasure around every corner and bend… My daughter, on the other hand, finds the creek a bit yucky. For me, however, I am pretty sure any time I hear of Big Cow Creek or traverse it, I will fondly remember the experience. And I’ve no doubt my daughter will too… Eventually !