Katy to Luling and back this Saturday

[venchka]

A friend and I are going to drag our big cameras out on Saturday. We both have new lenses we are itching to test drive.

We plan to go as far as Luling. Take all day. Anything we should look for going to-from Luling? Places off the beaten path? We know about the painted churches that get all the publicity and bus tours. Any churches that don't get a lot of attention? Good place for lunch and cold Shiner Bock? Luling Central Market BBQ?

What say ye?

Thanks.

Wayne

[kenw]

the decorated pump jacks in downtown Luling are showing their age but always looked inviting with the architectural background potentials.

the old railroad girder bridge over US90 just east of Luling has some potential, as does the major 3-section ancient RR thru-truss bridge over the river just west of Katy (Peach Ridge ? Rd exit). Not sure how much longer those spans will remain, they're already severely load limited and there's only one business that keeps them needed (the rock place in Katy).

While we're on trains, the rr bridge in/just east of Columbus is easy to shoot in afternoon light. You can off-road to a good shooting spot on the east side of 90 as you approach it from the south/IH10), or you can park and hike a bit from the park located along the west side of 90 just north of IH10. Get under the 90 bridge along the shoreline to shoot the rr bridge. Best light in the afternoon.

What it looks like:
http://www.railroadforums.com/photos...521/ppuser/136

yes, we travel US90 often to SA......it follows the tracks. Or could you tell?

[venchka]

Thanks Ken. The bridge in Columbus is on our list for Saturday. We will look for the one in Luling as well.

We went to the bridge west of Katy on our first ever outing a year+ ago. I was too green to get any photos worth keeping. Like I'm any better today. We'll get back to that one one of these days.

[hotshot38]

Look out for the speed trap as you come over the hills nearing Luling on I10 :)

[kenw]

Originally Posted by hotshot38

Look out for the speed trap as you come over the hills nearing Luling on I10 :)

stay on 90 and you'll miss it, altho they use 90 (behind Love's) to go back to their bear den.

Wayne, the bridge near Katy is tough to get a decent angle on and the lack of an access road complicates it bigtime. Years ago a friend and I burned many gallons of gas trying to find a decent spot to shoot, we never found one that didn't involve a boat......

[kenw]

more:

In Luling, Hwy 80 crosses US90 in midtown. A smidge south of town on 80 before you get to IH10, there is a bridge over the San Marcos river. Unless you sit up high, you’ll miss the old mill dam/waterfall just to the west of the road. Best wide angle shots for me have been from under the road’s bridge, enter from the park on the eastern side of the road. The water fall flows east, so morning light finds favor.

Otherwise, afternoon light looks awful... like this:

[venchka]

Thanks Ken! Morning at the dam in Luling and afternoon in Columbus. BBQ and Shiner Bock in between. Sounds like a plan!

[venchka]

Ken,

As luck would have it, we were scouting the bridge in Columbus. Camera in the car. Train goes by. Not once. Twice. Dumb me. We'll be going back.

Stay tuned for photos from the old grist mill. I swear I read on the internet that this was an old sawmill. Not true. It was a grist mill and cotton gin. The city of Luling is spending big bucks on a massive renovation/building project. That's probably good/bad news.