It’s a long ways to anywhere in Texas

 Texas is So BIG! Haven’t I been driving through Texas for months?

Today it was Ranch country. I would have loved to stop and take photos of Many of the elaborate gates, all closed, some with RVs just inside to presumably house the “guards.” A sandy two track leading through desert scrubland to a somewhere out of sight. Of course if I stopped for them all, I’d never get anywhere and I’m slow enough as it is. Plus if you stopped for every “Historical Marker” it might take a day to go 50 miles. Lots of history here in Texas.

Flower besides camper in Cotulla

I saw SO many birds. Hundreds of turkey vultures kerneling over the land with something else very big that had a large white spot on the underwing and a light tail. There were kestrels and a couple other falcons sitting on the wires. Many hawks. I even saw another caracara sitting in the top of a tree, and then later one dead along the road made me sad. (No bird pics at 65mph.)

Well, I didn’t quite make it to Mom’s on Thursday. My over 200 miles were mostly back roads through little bodunk towns…

…and past the evidence of our glut for oil (self included).

As I got closer in the late afternoon I didn’t want to get into traffic so stopped for the night just out of Edinburg.

Besides I was tired from the long yesterday.

SWF – What a difference a minute makes

I may have stayed a little longer than planned in Alpine, TX due to truck troubles, but the sunsets were sure nice. I took this one a minute before this one.

To view more skies from around the world, or to share your own, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

It must be spring!

Texas Redbud

At least it seems like that in West Texas. Trees are budding, the temperatures in the 70s F, and the wind is blowing like crazy.

Left Alpine this morning after a wonderful visit with old friends from my Mount St. Helens Rangering days almost 20 years ago.

Looks like limestone on the bottom topped by shale and some conclomerate

I love roadcut geology.

By Doug J

Twice I saw a Caracara at road kill. (This image is from the web.) A lifer!

Pecos River

Started looking for an RV Park about 4pm near Eagle Pass. All full, mostly with oil workers. Drove another 125 miles until I found a place in Cotulla. Way too many hours for a day but does put me closer to my destination. A little over 200 more miles to go.

Truly Nolen At Colossal Cave?

Truly Nolen is a Tucson based pest and termite exterminator. Can’t find out why this car is parked at Colossal Cave Mountain Park. Wonder if they have a bug problem?

A. G. Services in Alpine Texas

This should stand for “A Good Services” because that’s what I got from Daniel, his wife Danielle and their 2-year old Danny. (Apologize if I spelt any names wrong.)

A.G. Services is where I was towed to by another nice couple, Rose and Luis, from Affordable Towing. Daniel replaced the burnt battery cable and fixed the electrical short on my truck this afternoon. And if the job couldn’t have been finished today they would have let me stay in my camper for the night, with an extension cord.

This marvelous young couple recently bought this motor repair business. I couldn’t even find them online or in the yellow pages. Sure glad Good Sam found them.

Danielle wants to paint some old mowers they bought in flashy colors with flames, and racing stripes and such.

So tonight I’m back at the Lost Alaskan RV Park and tomorrow I’m visiting with friends in town. Then back on the road again.

MWT - Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Morning view from camp

Pulled into the Colossal Cave entrance just as they were closing at 5pm. But the lady at the gate took my $10 camping fee and radioed the guy at the campground gate not to close it as I was on my way.

Campground to left in valley

A beautiful and primitive campground, I believe I was the only person there except for a few employees.

Visitor Center

The gate was reopened at 9am and I drove out of there and around a few miles to get to the cave opening and visitor center by 9:30. Only waited 30 minuets for a tour along with nine other people.

Our guide, Adam, knew his stuff and talked about the geologic formation of the cave and the local history.

Colossal is currently dormant, a dry cave with no new formations growing. After exceedingly heavy rain there is dripping in the cave.

Scientists believe the Colossal Cave was formed about 10-15 million years ago as hot water filled with sulphuric acid welled up from below the ground dissolving the rock. Later, surface water seeped through cracks in the rock and left the formations like stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone.

Over two miles have cave have been explored and mapped extending 600 feet (182.88 m) into the mountain and 40 feet (12.19 m) below the main entrance.

Archeological evidence of early native use by the Hohokam indicates the cave openings were used for shelter about 1100 years ago and there is still black soot on the entrance area ceiling from fires.

The cave was rediscovered in 1879 by Solomon Lick and was opened briefly for tours in 1917.

In 1905 a 75-foot (22.86 m) tunnel was excavated into the cave in order to mine bat guano.

In 1922, Frank Schmidt filed mining claims on land occupied by the cave. He is responsible for the first extensive survey of the cave and traveled in it for six days before using up the food and water. Although Frank relinquished his lease to the State of Arizona in 1934, he continued to lead tours for many years.

Then from 1934-36 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built trails, handrails and lighting in the cave and built the visitor center.

Several movies have been made here, but the most notable is a Walt Disney Production The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave filmed in 1975.

In 1992, Colossal Cave Mountain Park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Today, over 2,000 acres include the cave and the working La Posta Quemanda Ranch, which I didn’t explore.

The cave is a balmy 70 degrees F (~20 C) and the tour lasted about an hour. Well worth it.

View back out of park

To tour more of the world, or share some of your own, go to My World Tuesday by clicking here.

Road trip to Texas, or hell

Every thing has been wonderful, until Saturday. Before getting ready to roll in the morning from Little Vineyard RV Park in Deming, New Mexico I checked the oil. Full. Then started the truck and it made an unusual noise. I opened the hood to look around, not that it would do much good, and no parts flew out so I closed the hood and put her in gear.

Leaving Deming, New Mexico on I10 east

Good thing I was barely rolling. NO brakes. OK, I exaggerate a little. More like when your power brakes have no power. So I coasted to the park’s office, went in and asked if they knew a mechanic open on Saturdays. The lady behind the desk made a couple phone calls and, surprise, the local Ford dealer’s service department was open. (I won’t divulge the dealer’s name yet.) I described what happened and the mechanic said “it’s the vacuum pump, bring it in.” I carefully drove about 3 blocks to the dealer, they ordered the part, put it on and I was back on the road within 1.5 hours. Not bad, except for the huge hole left in my pocket. (No, I don’t need a bail out, but of course donations are always gladly accepted.)

About an hour down the road every bump, and there were many, would cause some gauge(s) to bounce or idiot light(s) to blink. Hmmm…. I said to myself, what does a vacuum pump for brakes have to do with dashboard electronics? I continued on down the road.

Just out of El Paso the oil pressure gauge started bouncing on L(ow) erratically which made the engine light blink on and off. Now that could be a problem. So I pulled over and let the engine cool (no it was not running hot) to check the oil. Still full. Hmmmm….. Called Mike for a second opinion about screwed up dashboard and he concurred. So off I went again.

Spent Saturday night at KOA in Van Horn, Texas, which BTW, serves excellent catfish in their Kafe.

Sunday morning I again check the oil which was full.

Then down the road I’m still watching the gauges bounce and lights blink but the truck is running great. This could drive me crazy.

I am heading for Alpine, Texas for the night. Friends from long ago live there but must be gone for the weekend.

I decide to take a little side trip to the Woodward Ranch where plume agate is found. It’s closed because Mr. Woodward died on Saturday. My condolences.

So I’m heading back to town to find an RV Park for the night when Slam and Wink, all the gauges peg somewheres and the brakes give out. I down shift and pull over slowing down with what little bit of brake is left.

The welcoming dog at the ranch 

Everything electric is not working, so I don’t turn off the engine for fear it won’t start again. Look under the hood, nothing changed there, no smoke. Engine is still running strong and I’m only four hilly miles from town. Pumped the brakes and they worked.

Rock shop

Plus two miles to the Lost Alaskan RV Park where I made it safely. When I finally got leveled and ready to turn off the truck it wouldn’t turn off. Disconnected both batteries and she ran on. Then a fellow camper pulled the plug on the alternator and she fell silent. I called Good Sam and they will send out a tow truck in the morning and take me to a mechanic.

Someone commented that my photos are looking dark. If anyone else notices this could you please let me know.