Sunset on Cow Creek. West of Austin, TX.
Running water melts the limestone of the Hill Country into surreal compositions worthy of Dali.
Every stream on Austin's west side holds one or two falls framed by swirled, smoothed bubbles of limestone that look like bleached vertebra of some gigantic creature.
This bent limestone forms the Balcones Escarpment, a fault line on Austin's west side, which I've learned marks the boundary of the "American West." To the east, farmers work the Blackland Prairie. To the west, it's iconic "cowboy country," the Edwards Plateau and the high plains.
One of many streams traveling that fault line is the humble Cow Creek, pictured here. It passes through the Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge, polishing its limestone bed and serving up a lovely sunset reflection.