West Texas Road Trip

Discussion in 'Ishtim' started by Ishtim, Sep 8, 2008.

  1. Ishtim

    Ishtim Super Moderator

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

    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... :hug:

    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.? :o Hammer DOWN! :clap:
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    Texas has LOTS of OIL!
    Here is a working derrick... Pump on Brothers!
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    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.
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    "Dinosaurs" as far as the eye could see...
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    One of many refineries just outside the oil field.
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    Destination #1 - Fort Davis State Park, Indian Lodge
    Taken from a 2.5 hr. hiking trail we went on the first morning.
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    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...
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    Plenty of critters running around... Lots of Whitetails, saw bucks in velvet, but only managed to get a pic of a doe. See her? :think:
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    Anyone ever heard of a Javelina? Man, they STINK!!! No, it is NOT a pig. :idunno:
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    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.
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    Atop Mount Locke (6280' above MSL, thats 1.1 miles above full pool :wicked: ) are the 82" and 107" diameter (pictured, completed 1968 & 3rd largest in the world at the time) telescopes. Dang, was it cloudy. :brickwall:
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    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.
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    OK... here are some more...

    Rattler...
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    The "Big House" (Casa Grande)
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    Don't sit on this...
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    The Window.
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    Some wierd flower.
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    Cactus Flower
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    More...
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    Another...
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    Thirsty Desert goer...

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    more when I get home...
     
    2 people like this.
  2. lee_what2004

    lee_what2004 Just Started

    love the The "Big House" (Casa Grande) :thumb:
    got another shot of it?
     
  3. Chai

    Chai Administrator Staff Member

    Wow, more pics!!! :mrgreen:
     
  4. PsYkHoTiK

    PsYkHoTiK Admin nerd

    That is awesome! And I do miss the Texas speed limits... :haha:
     
  5. Ishtim

    Ishtim Super Moderator

    Sure Bro! :beer: FYI: The peak is 2232m above sea level.

    I got more pics but have no free time atm. :wall:
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

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

    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?
     
  7. Ishtim

    Ishtim Super Moderator

    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
     
  8. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

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

    That's interesting! They cannot be domesticated.

    Hmm.. Are they edible???? :shifty: :shifty: :mrgreen:
     
  9. Ishtim

    Ishtim Super Moderator

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

    zy zynine.com Staff Member

    nice pictures :thumb:

    80mph.. nice too!
     
  11. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    Wow.. The Casa Grande looks like a really "cool" place. Must be pretty cold up there.
     
  12. jamotto

    jamotto Newbie

    I hope Hurricane Ike didn't cause you any troubles down there in Texas.
     
  13. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    I think Ike's only hitting the coastal areas in gale force. Or am I wrong about that? :think:
     
  14. jamotto

    jamotto Newbie

    Although it weaken rapidly when it came ashore at Galveston, it was supposed spawn tornadoes and all that comes with them. I just was not sure how far west those storms traveled.
     
  15. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    Oh, I didn't know that. That would be really bad. :(

    Is it just me, or have this few years not been full of natural disasters??? :think:
     
  16. Ishtim

    Ishtim Super Moderator

  17. Ishtim

    Ishtim Super Moderator

    Going back with my father at the end of the month for 2 weeks. :dance: New moon, and bringing telescopes this time... It's one of the darkest night skies in the continental USA. We will be camping in backcountry for 5 days straight. No cell phone access, no electricity and no wives! :thumb: :haha:

    New thread to come.... :arp:
     
  18. Chai

    Chai Administrator Staff Member

    LMAO! No wives.
     
  19. Adrian Wong

    Adrian Wong Da Boss Staff Member

    ROTFL!! No wives! :haha: :haha:
     

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