West Texas Road Trip

Ishtim · 8th Sep 2008, 11:06 PM

Y'all ever seen a western movie? John Wayne style?

A lot of the "westerns" were filmed out in arrid west Texas. Tumbleweed, saloons, sheriff with big badges, and lots of livestock and people on horses (won't catch me on a horse).

Thought you might want to see it through my lens...

This is my 5th (but my wife's first) trip out to west Texas. My dad used to take me hiking and 4x4'ing until I moved out. The trip brought back alot of good memories of my childhood in Texas. Here are some pics...

West Central Texas is FLAT!
That's not a hill... it's an over pass (Interstate highway, I-20 near Midland/Odessa).
80 m.p.h.? Hammer DOWN!

Texas has LOTS of OIL!
Here is a working derrick... Pump on Brothers!

Pump that is used to surface the oil once it is found (powered by electricity). When we were little my brother and I called these "dinosaurs". You could hear them pumping away all night.

"Dinosaurs" as far as the eye could see...

One of many refineries just outside the oil field.

Destination #1 - Fort Davis State Park, Indian Lodge
Taken from a 2.5 hr. hiking trail we went on the first morning.

We always tent camped in the past. Paula gets spoiled and this is my first time in the lodge. Pretty nice rooms considering it was built in the 1930's by CCC workers...

Plenty of critters running around... Lots of Whitetails, saw bucks in velvet, but only managed to get a pic of a doe. See her?

Anyone ever heard of a Javelina? Man, they STINK!!! No, it is NOT a pig. :idunno:

In the distance (13 miles) are the 3 domes of the Univerity of Texas' McDonald Observatory as seen from the state park. This played a BIG part in what got me going as an astro-nut as a youngster.

Atop Mount Locke (6280' above MSL, thats 1.1 miles above full pool

) are the 82" and 107" diameter (pictured, completed 1968 & 3rd largest in the world at the time) telescopes. Dang, was it cloudy. :brickwall:

The newer (1997) neighbor Hobby-Eberly Telescope was getting ready to break ground last time dad and I were there... It's mirror segments add up to the equivalent of a 433 inch diameter mirror.

OK... here are some more...

Rattler...

The "Big House" (Casa Grande)

Don't sit on this...

The Window.

Some wierd flower.

Cactus Flower

More...

Another...

Thirsty Desert goer...

more when I get home...

lee_what2004 · 8th Sep 2008, 11:44 PM

love the The "Big House" (Casa Grande)

got another shot of it?

Chai · 9th Sep 2008, 07:58 AM

Wow, more pics!!!

PsYkHoTiK · 9th Sep 2008, 09:39 AM

That is awesome! And I do miss the Texas speed limits...

Ishtim · 10th Sep 2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lee_what2004

love the The "Big House" (Casa Grande)

got another shot of it?

Sure Bro!

FYI: The peak is 2232m above sea level.

I got more pics but have no free time atm.

Adrian Wong · 10th Sep 2008, 01:12 PM

Wow!! A speed limit of 80 mph??? That's 130 km/h! Sweet!

Texas sure looks nice. How's the weather there? Is it hot and dry throughout the year?

BTW, never heard or saw a Javelina before. Looks like a wild hog. Are they common over there?

Ishtim · 10th Sep 2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

How's the weather there? Is it hot and dry throughout the year?

BTW, never heard or saw a Javelina before. Looks like a wild hog. Are they common over there?

West Texas is usually dry & hot, but late summer (Aug/Sep)usually means monsoons and cooler, more humid weather.

The javelina (or peccary) are found in this area, typically Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico and Texas & S. America

Wiki has a decent wirte up...
Peccary - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Adrian Wong · 10th Sep 2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishtim

West Texas is usually dry & hot, but late summer (Aug/Sep)usually means monsoons and cooler, more humid weather.

The javelina (or peccary) are found in this area, typically Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico and Texas & S. America

Wiki has a decent wirte up...
Peccary - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ah! Just read them up here - Peccary - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That's interesting! They cannot be domesticated.

Hmm.. Are they edible????

Ishtim · 11th Sep 2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Hmm.. Are they edible????

According to some of the 'locals' they are edible, but not for me...

zy · 11th Sep 2008, 04:02 AM

nice pictures

80mph.. nice too!

8th Sep 2008, 11:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ishtim Super Moderator Join Date: 14 May 2003 Location: Alabama, USA Posts: 3,765 Reputation: 3333 Rep Power: 43	West Texas Road Trip Y'all ever seen a western movie? John Wayne style? A lot of the "westerns" were filmed out in arrid west Texas. Tumbleweed, saloons, sheriff with big badges, and lots of livestock and people on horses (won't catch me on a horse). Thought you might want to see it through my lens... This is my 5th (but my wife's first) trip out to west Texas. My dad used to take me hiking and 4x4'ing until I moved out. The trip brought back alot of good memories of my childhood in Texas. Here are some pics... West Central Texas is FLAT! That's not a hill... it's an over pass (Interstate highway, I-20 near Midland/Odessa). 80 m.p.h.? Hammer DOWN! Texas has LOTS of OIL! Here is a working derrick... Pump on Brothers! Pump that is used to surface the oil once it is found (powered by electricity). When we were little my brother and I called these "dinosaurs". You could hear them pumping away all night. "Dinosaurs" as far as the eye could see... One of many refineries just outside the oil field. Destination #1 - Fort Davis State Park, Indian Lodge Taken from a 2.5 hr. hiking trail we went on the first morning. We always tent camped in the past. Paula gets spoiled and this is my first time in the lodge. Pretty nice rooms considering it was built in the 1930's by CCC workers... Plenty of critters running around... Lots of Whitetails, saw bucks in velvet, but only managed to get a pic of a doe. See her? Anyone ever heard of a Javelina? Man, they STINK!!! No, it is NOT a pig. :idunno: In the distance (13 miles) are the 3 domes of the Univerity of Texas' McDonald Observatory as seen from the state park. This played a BIG part in what got me going as an astro-nut as a youngster. Atop Mount Locke (6280' above MSL, thats 1.1 miles above full pool ) are the 82" and 107" diameter (pictured, completed 1968 & 3rd largest in the world at the time) telescopes. Dang, was it cloudy. :brickwall: The newer (1997) neighbor Hobby-Eberly Telescope was getting ready to break ground last time dad and I were there... It's mirror segments add up to the equivalent of a 433 inch diameter mirror. OK... here are some more... Rattler... The "Big House" (Casa Grande) Don't sit on this... The Window. Some wierd flower. Cactus Flower More... Another... Thirsty Desert goer... more when I get home...

8th Sep 2008, 11:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
lee_what2004 Super Active Join Date: 28 Dec 2007 Location: Melaka Posts: 1,313 Reputation: 1106 Rep Power: 14	love the The "Big House" (Casa Grande) got another shot of it? __________________ Once a wise-man said : Chapter 1: Don't ever compare if you want to stay constant..... Chapter 2: Whatever you have done in the internet, you will never get away from it... Chapter 3:To be continued after I thought another one

9th Sep 2008, 07:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 27,884 Reputation: 4630 Rep Power: 81	Wow, more pics!!! __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

9th Sep 2008, 09:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,661 Reputation: 4442 Rep Power: 64	That is awesome! And I do miss the Texas speed limits... __________________ Intel SLAPL 4.3GHz @ 1.35v : 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066 : Asus P5K Premium : WD RE3 250GB x2 RAID 0 : 3ware 9650SE-2LP : G92 8800GTS 512mb 820MHz Core : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Dtek FuZion CPU : Swiftech MCW60 : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze CPU-Z: SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com PsYkHoTiK's Meanderings

10th Sep 2008, 01:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 32,304 Reputation: 3574 Rep Power: 75	Wow!! A speed limit of 80 mph??? That's 130 km/h! Sweet! Texas sure looks nice. How's the weather there? Is it hot and dry throughout the year? BTW, never heard or saw a Javelina before. Looks like a wild hog. Are they common over there? __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

11th Sep 2008, 04:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
zy Dead Join Date: 16 Dec 2002 Location: Buffalo NY / Penang MY Posts: 13,336 Reputation: 2158 Rep Power: 41	nice pictures 80mph.. nice too! __________________

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