Ever wonder how those stunning river photos in Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine happen? How do photographers get to those impossible-to-reach spots? What gear do they pack? And most importantly—how do they stay safe while chasing the perfect shot?
This Thursday night in Bastrop, you’re getting the inside scoop straight from the people who live this stuff.
What You’re Getting Into
The team behind those jaw-dropping Devil’s River, Pecos River, and Rio Grande stories will be spilling their secrets at The Painted Porch Bookshop. We’re talking editors, photographers, and the adventure junkies who actually took these trips.
They’ll tell you:
- How they scout private land access (the #1 thing that stumps most paddlers)
- Their never-leave-home-without-it gear list
- River safety tricks that could save your life
- What inspired them to tackle these epic waterways
When: Thursday, July 31, 6-7:30 PM
Where: The Painted Porch Bookshop, Bastrop
Cost: FREE (seriously, free)
You even get a copy of their Rivers issue to take home.
But Wait—There’s More
Here’s where it gets really good. Angell Expeditions is raffling off a guided Big Bend adventure for four people. Your choice: driving tour, hiking expedition, or river trip. That’s a $600 value, and you have to be there to win.
The best part? Every raffle dollar goes to Texas flood relief efforts. So you could win an epic adventure AND help your fellow Texans. Win-win.
Why You Should Drop Everything and Go
Look, you could spend another weekend scrolling through other people’s river adventures on Instagram. Or you could spend 90 minutes learning how to create your own.
These aren’t just pretty pictures—these are stories of real Texans exploring the wildest corners of our state. And now they’re sharing exactly how they did it.
Whether you’re already planning river trips or just dreaming about them, you’ll walk out of there with a head full of ideas and the knowledge to make them happen safely.
The Bottom Line: Show up early (first-come seating), bring a friend, and get ready to start planning your next weekend adventure.
Your couch will still be there when you get back from the river.




