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...
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?
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????
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.
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???
Going back with my father at the end of the month for 2 weeks. 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! New thread to come....
