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Farm to Market Road 3078

2012-01-15T15:20:00.000-06:00

It seems all I can do these days is reminisce and dream of road trips and camping days of long ago. Well, not too long ago but in these work days and winter doldrums, it just seems long ago. The days here in West Texas are warm and sunny and very inviting for traveling and camping. The nights are very cold but it often warms up quickly. The wind, she blows, and will really be gearing up soon as she always does for a windy spring which usually dies down sometime around late June.

Today, I reflect back on a happy trip through Balmorhea, Texas, in which I overnighted a couple nights at the state park. In the late evenings, I always enjoy a hour long bike ride into the Chihuahuan desert west of the state park on Farm to Market Road 3078. Not many people take this two lane highway because they are in a hurry and stay on the Interstate. I am glad because it gives me the peaceful highway all to myself.

Eventually, I came upon what seems like an abandoned church but I do not think that it is empty.

Here, I encounter the nice little store near the state park that sells odds and ends for the visitors to the state park. Very nice inside and the owners are very nice, too.

The century plant blooms in majesty here in the desert. It will soon give up its life so that young ones may take root and start their long journey to rise and bloom.

The Artwork of Grief

2012-01-08T18:26:00.000-06:00

As I was reading Find an Outlet's blog recently, I remembered a country cemetery near here that reminded much of what Debra's article was saying. So, with camera in hand, I headed off to see what this resting place could offer to me on a cold, windy and dreary day.

Ben Ficklin Cemetery is on top of a lonely hill that once over looked the river that washed away the little community of Ben Ficklin long ago. The flood was so severe that not only did it destroy the community and its inhabitants, it also destroyed the cemetery and caused graves to open up and float downstream. The community was never rebuilt but the citizens did create a new cemetery on this hill in the hopes it will never be washed away again.

Floods may not erase these graves but time certainly will as I saw this afternoon. Most of the graves are unmarked except for the broken rocks and monuments that are hanging on for as long as it can.

Some of the graves a have large rock walls and gates surrounding plots of the deceased. I don't know if it was to protect the graves or serve as a kind of monument but they were built with great care and great labor.

A family rests together in eternity.

Rusty old gates still protect and preserve a forgotten soul.

The oldest grave I saw today was dated as a burial in 1907.

Many of the headstones and markers had been destroyed I guess by vandals but caretakers had pieced them together as best they could. A caretaker group still monitors and cleans up this cemetery.

Over the decades and through the previous century, these graves have seen much take place from its lonely hilltop. What was once quiet prairie and river country, now is a bustling community of over 100,000 living souls. Noisy highways and bridges have replaced the solitude and busy people pass by these markers by the thousands every. The travelers are too busy to notice these stones or the stories they tell on their fading markers. And I guess that is the way it is even with modern cemetery's. Life goes on...

Above, the most recent of internments.

Some of the graves above had these concrete monuments for the family members buried here.

I guess it is not an entertaining way to spend a Sunday afternoon but sometimes I think coming face to face with reality is often very healthy. A little unsettling but still healthy for the soul...

Overnight in Marathon

2012-01-07T17:04:00.002-06:00

Still reminiscing about my camping trip to Big Bend National Park. Still homesick, too, for a return to such a nice place to hike, camp, chill, and soak up some good old fashioned contentment and serenity.

My first night on the road was a stay in Marathon, Texas. Not much here but I love visiting the place and just hanging out at the cool motel, hotel, community garden, etc.

I parked overnight across the street from the Gage Hotel. I knew it would not be a very quiet night because of the highway noise and the train traffic. My camper was just next door to the train track. But I still rested well and very much enjoyed the next morning's breakfast at a little place near the Gage.

The Gage Hotel

I took a break (below) at a rest area on the way up to the Chisos Basin. I call it the bear stop because black bear are known to frequent the area. This is October and the landscape is still plush and green from the summer rains. It was beautiful.

Below are cottages that are available to rent. Just perfect. No TV or other intruders are in the rooms to distract your quality time with nature.

Homesick for Big Bend Hiking

2011-12-31T17:00:00.004-06:00

It has been a long while since I have been camping and hiking in Big Bend National Park. Other things get in the way of taking care of important things like camping there in one of my favorite places. I think you know what I mean because sometimes it happens to you. So, when I can't go, I go through my old files and photos which help make me even more homesick for the beautiful desert mountains called the Chisos.

I really enjoy the campground there in the Basin. It is a perfect home base for taking off in any direction to explore and enjoy nature at its finest. I guess one of the best hikes in Texas is always the South Rim loop trail in the high country. And that brings me to these photos of a trip I made long ago.

The beautiful Chisos Mountains.

I hope this trail photo inspires you to get up and get outside. Take a walk.

A welcome trail sign sets me straight on my path.

Hiking by myself and just enjoying the green landscape and wildflowers along the trail, I soaked up all the beauty that I could. I am no flower photographer, but I still enjoy snapping photos with my cheap camera to help me remember. My aimless mind forgets things all the time and so these photos help me remember a wonderful hike long ago.

"Don't wait! Tomorrow starts now!", right Barney?

the photos are clcikable

Casa Grande stands tall above the Chisos Basin.

One of my goals for the new year is to try and get out more and more often and do the things like I have shown here. I am a big believer in that being in the outdoors is good medicine. Even if you are not ailing or anything, the outdoors is still good for the soul, spirit, mind, body, attitude, etc. One hike that is on my list is to hike the new Emory Peak trail here in Big Bend. I've hiked it many times over the years but I have not been on the new trail. Maybe this is the year for me.

I hope you can get out as often as you want and deserve this year. Best wishes to you and yours for a happy, prosperous and most especially, a healthy 2012. You deserve to be a happy camper.

Thanks for checking into my stories.

Kerrville Kroc Center

2011-12-29T20:28:00.002-06:00

Me and the folks took a nice day trip today over to Kerrville, Texas. Just such a perfect day to get away for a two hour drive to the hill country. We really enjoyed visiting this nice town. One of my main things to visit was the Kerrville Kroc Center, a new community center sponsored by the Salvation Army and the original owners of McDonald's, Ray and Joan Kroc.

I did not get to stay but for just a quick tour of the place but I stayed long enough to know I would really like to be a part of this place. It bills itself as "Fitness & Fellowship," and I believe it 100%. What a wonderful place to get and stay in shape, meet neat people that think the same as you do in fellowship and even worship.

Winter, spring, summer, and fall, this place is a cool place to be. We walked around and enjoyed its very user friendly and upbeat atmosphere. I live too far off to become a member but it does make me wish I lived closer to one of these centers.

Above photos are from their website as I did not see all of what the center has to offer. Below are my photos.

If you are ever near a Kroc Center, you will certainly enjoy a stop. Just ask for a visitors pass and they will let you take a look around at a wonderful concept.

A Winter Walk

2011-12-28T17:14:00.004-06:00

The brilliant sun, gentle breeze, and warm West Texas temperatures this afternoon enticed me to take about a 5 mile walk around the perimeter of the North Concho River. It was a spectacular day to get out and just explore some country that I had never seen before.

Granted, the winter vegetation is all either gone now or brown and not very pretty but it did not matter to me because just being outdoors was all the medicine I needed. There were a few other folks out today just enjoying the same thing.

The river is almost bone dry now and has been for a while. With only about 40% of our normal precipitation this year, it has been a devastating time for everyone including the wildlife and plants. We are hopeful that 2012 will bring all of the drought stricken areas some much needed relief. December has been encouraging with better than average precipitation. There was much wildlife seen during my hike this afternoon. During about a couple of hours, I saw armadillo, deer, several kinds of birds, turtles, frogs, horses and prairie dogs.

photos are clickable

The entry to a popular and extensive bicycle and hiking trail is dedicated to the prominent outdoorsman below.

The area has a pavilion with stage, tables, restrooms and other accommodations to fit anyones need.

A beautiful day to get outdoors and soak up some sunshine recreation. Vitamin D is always good for what ails you!

Merry Christmas from West Texas!

2011-12-24T01:00:00.000-06:00

A Cowboy's Christmas Prayer
by S. Omar Barker

I ain't much good at prayin',

   and You may not know me, Lord --
For I ain't much seen in churches,
   where they preach Thy Holy Word.
But you may have observed me
   out here on the lonely plains,
A-lookin' after cattle,
   feelin' thankful when it rains.
Admirin' Thy great handiwork.
   the miracle of the grass,
Aware of Thy kind Spirit,
   in the way it comes to pass
That hired men on horseback
   and the livestock that we tend
Can look up at the stars at night,
   and know we've got a Friend.

So here's ol' Christmas comin' on,
   remindin' us again
Of Him whose coming brought good will
   into the hearts of men.
A cowboy ain't a preacher, Lord,
   but if You'll hear my prayer,
I'll ask as good as we have got
   for all men everywhere.
Don't let no hearts be bitter, Lord.
   Don't let no child be cold.
Make easy the beds for them that's sick
   and them that's weak and old.
Let kindness bless the trail we ride,
   no matter what we're after,
And sorter keep us on Your side,
   in tears as well as laughter.

I've seen ol' cows a-starvin' -
   and it ain't no happy sight;
Please don't leave no one hungry, Lord,
   on Thy Good Christmas Night --
No man, no child, no woman,
   and no critter on four feet
I'll do my doggone best
   to help you find 'em chuck to eat.
I'm just a sinful cowpoke, Lord --
   ain't got no business prayin'
But still I hope you'll ketch a word
   or two, of what I'm sayin':
We speak of Merry Christmas, Lord--
   I reckon You'll agree --
There ain't no Merry Christmas
   for nobody that ain't free!
So one thing more I ask You,
   Lord: just help us what You can
To save some seeds of freedom
   for the future Sons of Man!

S. Omar Barker; reprinted with permission from Cowboy Miner Productions

I am certainly no cowboy but much of this poem still resonates within me and I think it does with people from every walk of life. So, I hope you can relate to this little Christmas message and especially that you will have a happy and healthy Christmas. Best wishes to you.

The courtyard at Indian Lodge, Davis Mountains State Park, TX

Christmas Artwork from Paige Bridges

2011-12-18T17:04:00.000-06:00

I hope Paige Bridges is okay with me sharing her paintings with you during this Christmas season. I think her art work captures much of what the RV lifestyle is like and I very much enjoy her perspective. Here are a few of her holiday paintings. I hope you will head over to her website to check out more of her work and items.

Catalytic Heater

2011-12-18T12:22:00.000-06:00

After draining my RV furnace heater on trips without electricity, I had always been interested in a way to heat the inside without being reliant on turning on the cook stove for heat or other methods that were unsafe or inefficient. So, after years of reading and learning from Tioga George's experience with an Olympian Wave 6 catalytic heater on his travels, I decided to try out one myself.

I bought it and set it up inside my house for the trial period and made sure I read and followed the directions that came with it. It did not take long to set up and initial start up was as easy and trouble-free and could be. It instantly started to provide comforting heat. It provides a soft glow down at the bottom of the heater. It is so quiet that I would not know it is on if I did not feel the heat. It requires no power source at all except for the simple connection to a propane tank. I use Blue Rhino propane tanks. I just need to remember to allow for a flow of fresh oxygen into the area so the heater (and I) can breathe. :) I double checked the directions to make sure I was operating everything safely.

For the test run, I kept the control on high but eventually I tried the medium and low settings. Each were very comfortable. I intend to take the heater with me on my weeklong camping trip to the mountains during Christmas break to see how well it works inside my 22 foot travel trailer. I am curious how long a tank of propane will last. From what I can see so far, it may well last longer than I expect because it seems to be a very efficient heat source.

I have sometimes been without my gas furnace heater at home when natural gas supplies or electricity are interrupted during rolling blackouts or other problems. I expect this catalytic heater will be a good backup for when I may really need it most.

The heater cost me about $220, which is kind high I thought. But on cold mornings with no power, I bet I will think it is a good bargain, don't you?

The heater can be permanently attached to a wall (a template and screws are included) or you can buy a couple of leg accessories for the bottom of the heater to make it portable. As I prepare for my Christmas camping trip today, the forecast calls for snow during the holiday. I hope this heater makes me more prepared.

Community Garden

2011-12-11T15:45:00.001-06:00

Driving around town this afternoon I encountered a large sign:

"Garden of Eden"

A community garden that has 38 large garden plots that is tilled, fertilized, planted, watered, cared for and harvested by local citizens who want to take part in helping provide home grown vegetables for their own tables and for those who may not have enough of their own food.

The garden is managed by a local church organization, Rust Street Ministries, here in San Angelo. They are a non-denominational church and they run a very well organized and structured community garden. Of course today during my visit, winter was very much in charge of the place but even then I could see the potential of the garden. Over 1.5 acres is set aside for the project and anyone and everyone is welcome to pitch in and partake in the rewards of good old fashioned hard work that even can take us back to the roots of our pioneer ancestors.

photos are clickable

You can learn more about this successful project by clicking here.

Fred Lucas Passes

2011-12-09T17:00:00.000-06:00

You may never had heard his name or seen him in your travels or even read about him. But most assuredly you have seen his paintings over time. You may have seen them in a lobby of a hotel or office building. You may have seen them while waiting in a doctors or dentists office. More likely, you would have seen his works in fine magazines like Arizona Highways or Readers Digest. I remember his awesome landscape and wildlife paintings on calendars or Christmas cards.

Fred Lucas passed away recently after suddenly becoming ill.

I don't know much about the man except he lived for painting and his wonderful story may go untold. But his magnificent projects will live on hopefully forever. The Grand Canyon paintings of Fred Lucas are my favorite. They capture the essence of what the canyon is to me and they inspire me to want to load up and head out West to the canyon country.

An interesting story of his life can be found here. You can learn more about Mr. Lucas by Googling.

Buckhorn Lake Resort, TX

2011-12-09T12:20:00.001-06:00

This weekend marks the 8th anniversary of my first camping trip with my new travel trailer. Up until this point my camping trips were always tent or sleeping in the cab of my pickup. Those were excellent trips filled with unforgettable times with friends and the outdoors. However, the time had come for a step up in convenience that would allow me extended time camping and traveling. Yes, I had evolved into a wimp.

On my first camper trip, I wanted some place to go that would help me work out any kinks and issues with my brand new camper and I wanted it to be a low stress trip. Learning all the ins and outs of my camper and learning to tow would be enough on my travel plate without having to deal with other problems that may compound the trip.

So, I decided to go to Buckhorn Lake RV Resort near Kerrville, Texas. During this first weekend in 2003, it was great to get out of town and to enjoy the Texas hill country. The camper towed very well and I was enjoying everything about the trip. I pulled in to the resort and was greeted just like you would like to be greeted by a very friendly and accommodating host inside the gift store. This place is spectacular and comfortable in every manner. Their prices were comfortable for me and they set me up in a pull through in the adult section of the campground. There were several other campers that weekend and it didn't take long before I got accustomed to that campers are the friendliest people. This campground is very kid friendly, too, with pools and playgrounds all spread out the place.

One thing that keeps me coming back to Buckhorn, besides all the amenities, is to check on the continued expansion of their RV homes that are across the bridge in the resort. These places are where folks buy/lease these nice properties like snowbirds perhaps that tend to spend their winters here or whenever they like.

Yes, I know I could never afford such a nice place but it is fun to dream about.

Photos are clickable.

Even though I was not supposed to be driving through the neighborhood, I was careful not to be an unwelcome guest. I drove slowly and waved to folks that smiled and waved back.

Yes, I wouldn't mind waking up to such a nice view every morning here in the Texas hill country.

I don't know that I would want a flowing stream next to my house but it sure looks nice from here.

Looks like Mayberry, RV style to me: peaceful and contentment.

Buckhorn is a really nice place to set up camp for a while or even put down roots. I like that it is near town but not too near. From my experience here, Buckhorn hospitality is second to none.

Here are a few Internet photos of this resort that I smuggled from Google images:

December 7: Seventy Years Later

2011-12-04T07:35:00.001-06:00

Wednesday marks the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the beginning of WWII to the United States. My dad was in the war. My mom served in Washington, D.C., in one of the bureaus that supported the war effort against the Japanese and Germans. My parents and all those who were (and are) a part of the Greatest Generation did not have any idea that their efforts during this difficult time would change the course of history for the world.

I am grateful for these soldiers that sacrificed so much so that our country can enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today, including going camping whenever and wherever I want.

Now, even though many of these from the Generation are passed, there are still many today who are alive and well. They are willing to tell their story to those who will listen. I love hearing their stories. My local newspaper found a few locals who served in the WWII and have profiled them in today's newspaper. You may enjoy reading of their experiences.

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2011/dec/03/rick-smith-two-tales-of-world-war-ii/

http://www.gosanangelo.com/photos/2011/dec/03/54309/

Here is a relevant story about the end of a long time tradition amongst these real heros.

The Las Vegas Review Journal has produced this fitting tribute to those of WWII. Take a look:

Packing Up

2011-11-26T06:44:00.001-06:00

Departure won't be until Sunday but I am already packing up, mentally, that is. You know how it goes; when you know you are about to go somewhere, you start thinking of things that need to get taken care of. And as I age, I can tell I need to have more than a mental list of things. I forget things easily and while I have never been much of a multi-tasker, I most certainly am doing well nowadays to get one thing done without a snafu of some kind.

It is gearing up to be a not-so-fun day outdoors as the weather has turned cool but sunny. Most especially, the wind is going to turn ferocious today with gusts predicted to be as high as 50mph and I am glad I will not be towing into it.

All is quiet at the state park this weekend. Folks are milling around and enjoying their time outdoors. The burn ban is off and so they are also appreciating a BBQ outdoors and maybe a campfire.

Texas Parks & Wildlife has produced this profile of my state park and I thought you may enjoy watching it:

Thanksgiving in South Entrance

2011-11-24T19:50:00.001-06:00

I am still working out the bugs experimenting blogging with my phone vs. a computer. It is a little clunky but I find it is much more convenient than carrying a laptop and always looking for a reliable wifi spot. Wifi seems to be almost everywhere today but I am nervous about open networks. You never know.

A nice hike this afternoon and plenty of food, family, football, and thanksgiving. The days here in the park are very nice with cool mornings and warm sunny afternoons. Little to no wind. Perfect for outdoors. There is a weather change coming bringing us hopefully at least a little chance of rain Friday night.

At first glance it looks like bison are running loose in the park but they are only iron profiles which looks pretty good on the park landscape.

It has been nice having some time off to take care of a few chores, rest, relax and visit with family and old friends.

Solar Power in the Park

2011-11-23T09:40:00.001-06:00

Camp workers are in the process of installing a nice array of solar powered services at San Angelo State Park. As you can see, it is quite an impressive install.

I did not talk to anyone about the set up but I sure do like what I see. I am not sure it is yet operational but it is all wired and ready to go. Maybe I can learn more about it before I leave.

UPDATE: November 25, 2011: I found this news release in regards to the solar panel farm at several state parks in Texas.

It is Thanksgiving here and while there has been several campers and visitors come in to enjoy their holiday at this state park, there are no crowds or noise. It is peace on Earth. Just happy campers.

I hope You and Yours have enjoyed some good time to visit and relax and enjoy a meal or two. Take care.

Thanksgiving Escape

2011-11-20T18:33:00.001-06:00

Even though it is not a long drive to my Thanksgiving destination, it might as well have been anywhere because as I have mentioned before, sometimes it is not so much the scenery of my camp this week, it is more about the quiet, serenity and peace that draws my appreciation. And here at San Angelo State Park, I have found that serenity and peace. It used to be a former Corp of Engineer camp before it became a state park. When they took over, they cleaned up the sites and made several improvements. The huge lake is now only 1% full and dusty but I have seen it full several times and it will be full again, I predict.

Today, the nice uniformed full time employee was very welcoming and helpful in getting me registered in one of my favorite spots in the park. He also informed me of the awesome camping discount if you stay a full week, which was the deciding factor of my trip. Along with my Texas annual passport, it was a very inexpensive and camping spot with electricity, water, and a very nice view outside my IMAX window. (A term I borrowed from my Box Canyon Blogger friends.)

It was a very cool and cloudy day as I set up camp and took a stroll around the immediate area. The park map gives a much better idea of the large property surrounding the lake.

I checked the new (to me) addition to the campground area: a new sunken amphitheater. It is well designed and constructed. I like it very much. I especially like that campers and friends of the park bought pavers which helped to establish their visit and name permanently as friends of this lonely and somewhat desert state park. My only concern was that it looked unkept and weeded. Maybe I could volunteer some of my time this week to pulling some of the weeds so that it will look more inviting. The folks here at the state park are very courteous and enthusiastic about their home park. Maybe they would not mind if I offered to help a little. I will ask about it.

Only a little more than a mud puddle, this lake has seen much better days. Those good days will return and so will the campers and fishermen.

Autumn colors are making their way here in this part of West Texas. Even the mesquite tree has its own version of fall colors.

Bicycle paths are a big attraction to visitors to this park.

Yes, camping in a scenic and beautiful national park would be nice but with the scenery comes crowds and problems. This week, it is nice to have peace and quiet. I hope it stays this way.

My Life Outdoors Blog

2011-11-18T20:22:00.001-06:00

The folks over at My Life Outdoors has published an inspiring and rewarding post recently. I really enjoyed every part of the entry from beginning to end and I thought you may enjoy it, too.

I wish every youth could experience such a trip as this. Not just the outdoors aspect of it but I am talking about the whole enchilada. I really do commend the adults who work with young people in meaningful and spiritual adventures. I am convinced that these are life changing trips for many of the youth.

Bald Eagle Creek Campground

2011-11-13T16:28:00.001-06:00

Today, I took a leisurely drive to the north part of our local state park, San Angelo State Park. I wanted to check out their Bald Eagle Creek campground area for a possible destination for my Thanksgiving break. It was only a 15 mile drive but distance is not necessarily what make a vacation for me; it is nature, peace, quiet, serenity and most importantly: hookups! :)

The volunteer attendant on duty was one of those very friendly and helpful folks who could not have been more congenial and helpful. I wish some of the full time paid staff would take a few lessons from some volunteers on how to be so helpful.

I drove around the campground areas and was pleased to see they were being well used this weekend. It was perfect camping weather and people were out enjoying nature in this out of the way state park of West Texas. There were several widely spaced sites with electric and water hookups. And then there were many other primitive sites that were available for those needing only the basics.

...campsites begging for some welcome campers...

Maybe Thanksgiving will bring some folks together at these lonely spaces.

Lots of huge pecan trees with golden leaves gave the whole setting a wonderful feel for autumn and outdoors. Even though the trails were closed this weekend, I still managed to take a stroll around the perimeter of the camping and recreational areas.

This is a popular equestrian park and they have a special campground with and without hookups just for those folks who bring their horses. The sites each have their own horse corrals. Also, this park is a popular bicycling park with lots of challenging and easy dirt trails for these hardy bicyclists. Although the lake in the state park is bone dry, the setting for the whole area is a treasure trove of great outdoor hobbies. You can't go wrong by taking a visit to San Angelo State Park.

Rob Junell, Our Hiking Hero

2011-11-11T16:58:00.001-06:00

Over at our friends blog, Texas Mountain Trail Daily Photo for November 11, 2011, they had an interesting story about a volunteer who had plans to make his 100th hike to the top of Texas, Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It is a great and inspiring story that you will enjoy very much.

It caught my attention especially because I happened to run into Mr. Junell on this same mountain trail back in April, 2008, when I was hiking with my students on Guadalupe Peak. I knew Mr. Junell when he was a representative for us in the San Angelo area. He was very gracious on the trail and at the peak he ate with us and visited with the kids and took several pictures of and with us on the top of the mountain. He was a great guy to hike with.

I am proud to show you my photo with him of that particular hike. I am excited to hear about his successful 100th climb today and know he had a good time.

Congratulations, Mr. Junell! Happy trails to you!

Thank A Veteran!

2011-11-05T13:28:00.002-05:00

THE THINGS THAT MAKE A SOLDIER GREAT
By Edgar Guest
The things that make a soldier great and send him out to die, To face the flaming cannon's mouth nor ever question why, Are lilacs by a little porch, the row of tulips red, The peonies and pansies, too, the old petunia bed, The grass plot where his children play, the roses on the wall: 'Tis these that make a soldier great. He's fighting for them all. 'Tis not the pomp and pride of kings that make a soldier brave; 'Tis not allegiance to the flag that over him may wave; For soldiers never fight so well on land or on the foam As when behind the cause they see the little place called home. Endanger but that humble street whereon his children run, You make a soldier of the man who never bore a gun. What is it through the battle smoke the valiant soldier sees? The little garden far away, the budding apple trees, The little patch of ground back there, the children at their play, Perhaps a tiny mound behind the simple church of gray. The golden thread of courage isn't linked to castle dome But to the spot, where'er it be — the humblest spot called home. And now the lilacs bud again and all is lovely there And homesick soldiers far away know spring is in the air; The tulips come to bloom again, the grass once more is green, And every man can see the spot where all his joys have been. He sees his children smile at him, he hears the bugle call, And only death can stop him now — he's fighting for them all. +++++

I hope each and every one of us can find time this week (and every week) to thank a Veteran for their unwavering service to our country.

Sons of the Pioneers

2011-10-30T20:25:00.003-05:00

I guess I am giving away my old fogey-ness age but I don't care. After reading how the Bayfield Bunch enjoyed the music of the Sons of the Pioneers today on his blog, I just had to echo how influential and enjoyable their music has been to me and millions of others out there both young and old.

Their songs had a way of expressing an idea, thought, mood or emotion. Usually having to to with the cowboy way, they also had wonderful songs about many other things too, including favorite hymns. Just the titles of their songs is enough to entice a new listener to give them an ear: Blue Shadows on the Trail, Pioneer Heaven, Way Out There, Don't Fence Me In, Sagebrush Symphony, A Touch of God's Hand. Beautiful, huh?

I would see them often on old Roy Rogers and Gene Autry movies but their CD recordings are what sets them apart for me especially when I am on the road, on the trail or just in the house or camper. They worked so well as a team and lasted a long time.

I remember listening to them when I was very young. My dad would have them on the radio and I would think they were awful. But it doesn't take long for their songs to grow on you and attach themselves to your soul and psyche. I would catch myself singing along long after the song was over.

I guess today's generation would laugh at the very thought of the sounds and music of the Pioneers. But hopefully there are enough of the youngsters today that enjoy and appreciate this lost art that these Sons will carry on the tradition of the Pioneers. I love them.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Arizona

2011-10-24T18:00:00.002-05:00

While waiting for my Grand Canyon river trip friends to arrive, I stayed several days with my camper in the national forest campground near Sunset Crater N.M., north of Flagstaff, AZ. It is a very nice campground with no hookups but enough amenities to help make may stay comfortable and quiet. The volcanic rock surrounding all the sites was quite unique and made the whole area different than other campgrounds. At a high elevation, I did not need any air conditioning and the days and nights were very comfortable.

During my week long stay there, I used the campground as a home base. Every day I would head out in a different direction and enjoy all the wonderful sights of this part of Arizona. One of the really nice things about this campground was how quiet and peaceful it was. Because it did not have hook ups, people did not stay long here.

The campground hosts were very good caretakers here, too. They would police the area without becoming a Barney Fife about it. If something needed attending to or correcting, they had a mannerly way of the getting the job done quickly and efficiently.

I must really compliment the campground hosts there. They were an elderly couple from Prescott, I believe, if my memory serves me well. They made sure that my stay was very good and gave me welcome answers to the few questions I had. They were like mom and dad of the campground. They shared their duties with another camp host couple enjoying the same type of summer lifestyle.

The evenings were polished off sometimes with an evening program led by park rangers. A slide program and talk about park resources was always a great way to end the day. The only thing missing is the traditional campfire. I guess the park has their reasons but all too often campfires are banished from campgrounds, probably because of the real fear of a forest fire.

The nice drive up to the campground is a preview to the solitude of the area. Apache plume blooms all around the park.

West Rim Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

2011-10-16T15:29:00.000-05:00

Well, still anchored here in West Texas. Maybe I shouldn't write anything unless it is a fresh and recent trip but when I reminince by looking at my old photos it does provide some kind of mental trip for me so today I recall my awesome hike on the West Rim trail of the Grand Canyon that heads over to Hermits Rest.

I have hiked this long and rewarding trail several times and I never tire of it. It is relatively level and it provides some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen, especially in the late afternoon hours. Even during the very busy and crowded summer tourist season, I have always found solitude and welcome companionship from folks all around the world. You can hike the entire distance or you can hike and then use the shuttles that make frequent stops up and down the pull outs every where along the road that kinda parallels the trail.

Helpful signs and rest areas make the trail even more user friendly and welcoming.

During the busy season, only shuttles are allowed on the narrow road and so you will not be bothered by lots of heavy loud traffic. The trail is well established and marked. Hermits Rest is always a great place to end your hike by taking a well deserved rest, a snack, photo ops and looking at the historical scenery that is provided.

There is something about this high desert country that gets under your skin and won't let go. It always is pulling me back to the land of canyons, cliffs, mountains, and wonder.

I found this little video of the same trip I took. They did a better job of portraying this 8 mile hike along the west rim of Grand Canyon.

Accidents do happen...

2011-10-09T17:56:00.002-05:00

Since I am stranded in work-land, I must rely on my memories and photo files to reminisce some of my former travels. This particular one takes me back to a week-long river rafting trip through the magnificent Grand Canyon from about Lees Ferry to Lake Mead, some 200+ miles. It was an extraordinary trip filled with great memories and great fun with some great folks from around the country.

I happened to put together a trip with former students and their parents. We made up about half of the group of about 30 of us on this Canyoneers trip. They are the river company who met us in Flagstaff, took us to the river, took us out and returned us to Flagstaff a little over a week later.

Above are a few of my former students on the first night of our river trip. Great views. The roar of the Colorado River nearby helped to lull everyone to sleep despite the fact that the temperature was still very warm.

Below, our trip had two boats stocked with a weeks worth of provisions. Sometimes the motor was used and other times we just drifted quietly along the Colorado River.

While we had a mostly trouble free trip, we did have one mishap that caused our trip leaders to call for emergency help with a National Park Service helicopter. It had to land in the canyon, pick up the injured visitor (one of my former students) and take her to the hospital Grand Canyon Village and eventually Flagstaff.

The lady had been swimming at one of the beautiful water falls and had twisted her knee badly on the slippery rocks there.

Everyone kept their cool and the park rangers who flew the helicopter and took care of the injured lady were very professional and top notch helpful to us all. Here is the accident scene a few minutes before the injury.

Below, the boat crew takes the injured woman to a waiting NPS helicopter for evacuation. I bet that cost a little bit. A satellite telephone was used to contact the park rangers. I thought we were totally out of contact with the whole world but soon learned there was no such thing.

We had to wet the sand down all around the landing site so the chopper would not kick up so much of it during landing.

She and her family returned home to have the injury better taken care of.

Drought Ain't Over, But...

2011-10-08T14:41:00.000-05:00

Our relentless record breaking heat and drought here in Texas has eased up a little today with bountiful, beneficial and wonderful widespread thunderstorms. Wave after wave of heavy thunderstorms are moving through the state with more expected even through Monday. This is unheard of for us this time of year. It is almost what we may expect from a hurricane that may move inland but there is no such storm; just a good old fashioned cool front meeting humid air at just the right time. Until now, my town had only recorded less than 5 inches of rain for the year. The farmers and ranchers were really hurting like I have never seen before.

I also worried about the effect the drought and heat had on the plants & wildlife since we were stricken in summer, 2010. Hopefully, this rain hasn't come to late for them.

It ain't a drought breaker but we are certainly appreciate and are thankful for what we about to receive.

Update: 7:30 pm- we have enjoyed over 2 inches of rain so far today and the radar continues to show more headed our way and much of Texas. Two inches may not seem much to most of the nation but for us, it is a very welcome amount.

Update: 8:00 am, Sunday, October 9: Well, the rain has finally moved East of us now giving welcome and thankful soaking rains from the Texas border down to the coastline. At my rain gauge, I have a healthy 3+ inches to shout about. What a great way to celebrate Sunday.

Autumn Getaway

2011-10-06T09:29:00.003-05:00

I try to get a way from home at least once every autumn and I still hope to do so this year. Too early to tell, yet. But when I do getaway, I usually enjoy escaping to Big Bend National Park or to the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico and Texas. They are the closest mountains and canyons to me. A couple of years ago, I started staying at this spot near White's City or more accurately, near Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Rattlesnake Springs has a private ranch nearby that allows me a few nights stay where peace and quiet prevails.

As you can see, the mountains are very nearby and the wildlife and water are abundant, especially for a desert region. The springs run all the time and the pools are always full. Wildlife are attracted to this and they can always be seen here looking for a drink and rest.

I enjoy hiking in during my stays here and it is prime time to do so. I also enjoy a short day drive and one of my favorite day drives are the back roads of Carlsbad Caverns. Here is a hiking trail that runs along the crest of the overlook on a day hiking trail at the caverns. It starts in the parking area and not many people seem to take this hike but it is surely a pleasant one.

Here I can enjoy quiet like not many other places I camp where there is usually lots of people and automobiles. There are no loud mechanical noises here. I may see only one or two people during the day and these are the ranch owners and managers. I can hear only the rustle of the cottonwood trees that stretch over my camper. All day long, the animals drift in and out as they enjoy what comfort the springs give them. Ducks are having fun. Deer, javelina, birds, you name it and they are most likely taking advantage of this oasis in the desert.

So am I.

Below is a view of the Guadalupe Mountains from my camp.

Home sweet home.

Let's take a hike. Do you see the Guadalupe Mountains in the distance? They make their way back towards Carlsbad Caverns from which they are carved from.

Below are the offices and residences of the rangers of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. They were built by the CCC during the Great Depression.

If I manage to visit out there soon, I will give you an update from this year's travel to the area.

Moody Skies at Balmorhea State Park, TX

2011-10-02T16:30:00.001-05:00

There is something about a sunset (and sunrise) that makes me want to capture it and save it forever. Not only are they beautiful to look at but they have a certain calmness and quietness signature to each one of them. Here, in Far West Texas, Balmorhea State Park was recently the setting for one particular sunset that really set the tone for the whole day.

I had arrived earlier in the day, set up camp, enjoyed some swimming, met and dined with friends from Fort Davis. After they left, I took a little bike ride and came back to the scenes of a mix of storm clouds and sunset.

Forgive me as I have a little over kill of photos from the evening but I can't help myself...

Peace and contentment filled my mind and it was a nice way to end the day. Every time I thought I had a perfect picture, a moment later another pretty scene would take its place.

I wish I could paint a decent picture of a sunset scene. Bobbie does great painting of such scenes and I wish I had only even a fraction of her vision, patience and talent. But I don't and so I must rely on my trusty point and shoot Nikon.

Happy travels to you!

Vintage Trailer Art

2011-09-25T19:03:00.000-05:00

Paige Bridges over at Vintage Trailer Art does some wonderful work with her paint brushes. She can dream up images with her older travel trailers in scenes that will put your mind at rest and ease. She collects all of the emotions and feelings to camping with your trailer. You can tell she has a passion for this type of lifestyle.

Take a few moments and check out her website and see what wonderful prints she has to offer. I noticed today that she has added a 2012 calendar of some of her popular prints. The price is a welcome site, too, at only $5.99. Most calendars I see nowadays are in the $15-$25 range. Outrageous. But she has other offerings for her prints and the Christmas cards are my favorite.

Kinda makes you want to hitch up and go!

Even if you buy nothing, you will sure enjoy looking at her handiwork of blending RV-ing, the outdoors, and painting in a most beautiful product. Enjoy!

I have been home bound by my job (yes, believe it or not, some of us still enjoy working a little bit) and other duties around the house but I am planning a little getaway to the mountains in a couple of weeks so hopefully I will have something current to show you soon.

My RV Talk

2011-09-24T13:30:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite websites to read is over at My RV Talk.

Whether it is for technical, mechanical, moral, spiritual, humorous, or anything else you may need related to the RV lifestyle, they have it all. It doesn't even have to do anything with RV's; if you want to talk about it, chatter it away. Sometimes on rare occasion, the conversation gets testy and even downright ugly but by and large it is well mannered and monitored.

If you have a question or a problem, you can easily post it online and within a matter of minutes there will be someone there to make a helpful or sarcastic comment to help you along. You don't really even have to be a member.

To me, it is kinda like Floyd's Barber Shop on the old Andy Griffith Show. Take a look at it and maybe over time you can help someone out with your experience or expertise.

Murals at Sul Ross State University

2011-09-16T16:59:00.006-05:00

I am a big enthusiastic fan of murals. Especially ones done decades ago that reflect an era gone by. Some of my most favorite murals are found in the Barton Warnock Science Building on the campus of Sul Ross State University, in Alpine, Texas.

The Big Bend is as rich and diverse in landscapes and wildlife as these murals depict.

No matter how often I visit Alpine, I go by the university and walk through its beautifully landscape grounds and reflect back over 30 years ago when I was a student there. Even then, I was impressed by the murals that depicted a wonderland of desert, mountains, sky and the wildlife that existed within.

When the science building went through a major renovation a few years ago, I was afraid the murals would be removed. But I was wrong. Not only were they retained in their original place, I think they also went through a cleaning and preservation that will help make these large paintings visible for many students and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.

National Museum of the Pacific

2011-09-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

National Museum of the Pacific

I recently enjoyed a solo trip to the National Museum of the Pacific. I enjoy museums much more now than I ever did as a youngster. I enjoy learning about the past history of things that eventually affected my life even though I did not know it. World War II probably impacted every American living today in some form or another. I would not be here if it weren't for the war and the circumstances that it brought about.

The cool museum in Fredericksburg, Texas, is one of the best I had visited. It has many sections and it allows you to flow through the chronology of the war and events leading up to it. You just have to visit it to really appreciate the huge effort that went into establishing this museum.

Some of it is indoors and some outdoors and there are several guided tours of the museum that will impress upon you the magnificent effort our country made to win the war. I enjoyed a reenactment and they have several of these awesome spectacles set up through the year. You can check their website above for more information.

I bet I could spend a week here in this museum complex and still not see everything.

There are seemingly hundreds of really cool bloggers out there who enjoy the travel lifestyle and I came upon new one (to me) that you may enjoy checking out. Click here to visit with the EggRollings. Or you can find it in the side bar on the left.

Happy trails to you.

Tuff Turf Lawns

2011-09-08T20:40:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I go walking in different neighborhoods to get a change of scenery from my normal routine. It is very interesting to see how people have adapted to our searing heat wave of the last year. Many folks have surrendered their yards to the heat and drought. What used to be well watered and cared for landscapes are now barren and void of life. Many large trees that have endured many dry years have succumbed to the record drought and heat of 2011. It is so sad to see these large aged trees dying. If the strong trees are dying, I fear the wildlife has suffered, too.

In this particular neighborhood that I am walking today, I have passed many homes whose yards are hanging on to the little water they may be getting. What a surprise it was to come upon this home that recently replaced their large yards with artificial turf. I understand it is well suited for our climate in that it does not break down from the heat or sun. It also washes well and the only maintenance is raking or blowing away grass and leaves. I like how it looks but wonder about the cost. Some suggested that it may be cheaper than a rocked landscape.

Not too far from this home is a walking path underneath a huge new water tower on the edge of our community. The purpose of the path is to display drought tolerant plants and landscapes that West Texans may consider planting in their yards.

The artificial turf sample is also included in the suggestions. It has been here for a couple of years and still looks good. This path is nothing special but it does give some ideas. Can you see real weeds growing in the artificial turf?

Still having trouble establishing comments. Blogger is aware of many comments issues lately and is working on it. :)

Gage Hotel, Marathon, TX

2011-09-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Out somewhere in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas is a sleepy spot in the road called Marathon. I do not know exactly what draws me to this town but certainly one thing is the cool Gage Hotel. I went there as a side trip recently to visit the Gage Gardens and of course I had to stop in the hotel to see what was going on. During the miserable heat and drought of August, I expected to see the place suffering but boy, was I wrong.

The hotel grounds were just as beautiful as always and I sure did enjoy some quiet time there in the many courtyards they provide for their guests and visitors. They have a couple of outdoor patios that provide a welcome rest from a busy day's work. Good food and drink and especially good friends that a moment before you didn't know you had.

Smiles are abundant.

There are not many people here at this time of the afternoon but rest assured that the place will come alive when the evening comes about.

Can you picture yourself unwinding here under the whistling cottonwoods? Can you hear the trickle and flow of the water fountains and swimming pool? Even the loud rumbling of the long locomotive pulling through town does not distract me from enjoying the contentment I feel on this day.

There is nice music playing nearby and the staff of the hotel greet me as though I was someone who mattered. This is one of those places where you think of friends and family back home and how you would like to bring them here someday so you could all enjoy this nice time together.

Campsite #21

2011-09-05T04:00:00.000-05:00

My favorite campsite at Davis Mountains State Park is #21. It is my favorite for many reasons but I guess the main one is because it provides the greatest solitude. It has full hookups, a great view, some isolation, great wildlife, and did I mention a great view?

I took a nice hike that starts in the campground and makes its way up the mountain towards Indian Lodge, where when you finish the hike, you wind up at a nice state run restaurant called the Black Bear. Then it is only about a mile back to my campsite #21 for some welcome rest.

In these photos, you may see the burned areas in the park and the return of green vegetation that the recent rains have brought about.

Time to go home today as I have hitched up and pointed my truck in the direction of home. It is early.

Skyline Drive

2011-09-03T18:06:00.002-05:00

I am trying to get back into the swing of regular posting. Many of my favorite bloggers have inspired me to contribute whenever possible even if it is a short entry.

I made a wonderful two week camping trip to my favorite Davis Mountains State Park in late July/early August. Of course many of you may remember the terrible fires they have had out there since August. It was awful and I did not know how awful until I visited it.

Below, two photos show the ruins of the old rock building that housed communications equipment. Temporary towers are in place until permanent repairs can be made.

Here, a panorama of the valley from Fort Davis, Texas, towards Marfa.

The scenic drive up Skyline Drive is a testimonial to the damage to the area but even as I was up there, summer monsoons were helping to make the mountains and desert make a comeback. Even though the area has enjoyed beneficial rains lately, the area has still come up way short of their normal rainfall totals. Such is the fate of the terrible and historical summer of 2011 for practically all of the Lone Star State.

COMMENTS: I've not yet figured how to activate my comments section. I have all the buttons on Blogger turned on but yet it does not appear. I know it is a simple fix but I haven't figured it out yet but I am working on it. Thanks.

Gage Gardens, Marathon, TX

2011-08-19T14:58:00.001-05:00

Whew. It has been way too long since my last post but I have been hunkered down here in blazing West Texas waiting for a cool down.

It ain't happened yet.

But I did manage to make a few trips this summer and enjoy some cooler temperatures and even some nice rains in the Davis Mountains of Jeff Davis County.

The thing that really impressed me on my most recent trip is a nice walk through the beautiful Gage Gardens in beautiful downtown Marathon, Texas. It is owned and managed by the Gage Hotel which is quite a spectacle itself. The purpose of the garden is to provide the fruit and vegetables for the hotel restaurant and cafe. Also, they have grapes and hope to soon to provide wines for the the same.

The site boasts 20+ acres of gardens but only a few acres are currently being used. It was a wonderful sight to see the greenery and water in this otherwise barren, hot and dry landscape.

A golf course in the desert? Yep.

The care taker was watering and trimming plants while his dog was enjoying the cool scenery.

It took me about 45 minutes to leisurely walk through the grounds. Afterwards, by late morning, it was getting very hot and so I enjoyed a nice walk across the tracks to the very nice cafe for a home cooked hamburger, chips and excellent chocolate milkshake.

Happy trails to you...

Water Lily Garden

2010-09-23T19:23:00.000-05:00

I have unintentionally been neglecting you.

Sorry about that. I have two reasons:

school has been keeping me very busy lately
I have been anchored to my permanent home and have no travels to report

But, I have tried to come up with an alternative plan and show you some of the sights around my home town of San Angelo. These are the things that visitors and travelers drive for hours to come see and since I live here, I take them for granted.

My little town out here in the dust bowl capital of West Texas doesn't offer much in the way of a tourist destination. Mostly, we are a wide spot in the road that visitors use to get gas and use the restrooms and then they are on their way to some place special.

But I like it just fine that way.

Today after school, I took a walk in our city's sunken gardens of the Water Lily Museum. I would not normally think that such an attraction would be interesting to many people but this past weekend it drew over 400 water lily enthusiasts from all around the world. They were like kids on Christmas Eve!

Apparently, our little dusty town has the most complete and extensive collection of water lilies from around the world. Much work has been done over the decades that has brought this into reality and it shows. It has a great deal of owner pride.

Solar Test!

2010-09-11T08:25:00.004-05:00

After studying solar panels for a long time, I have decided to experiment with my own simple solar panel set up for my two camper batteries. I don't spend a lot of time boondocking but the little bit I have experienced are my richest memories of camping. Usually, I just carry my little Honda 2000 generator which is more than plenty of power for me. But there is nothing like peace and quiet while camping and while the Honda doesn't put out a lot of noise, it isn't as quiet as the sun. So, my purpose of trying this solar panel is simply to keep my house batteries charged up as much as it can so I don't have to worry if I have enough power for basic amenities.

I bought a Sunforce 15 watt solar battery charger unit from Amazon. It was shipped perfectly packaged and came with lots of extras which make setting up the unit on the camper simple and easy. I do not intend to attach the panel to the roof because it will be used not very often at this point. It will be stored in the camper and used on those occasions when needed.

This morning, I set up the project and am now waiting to see how well it performs. I have a few little gadgets that will help me measure how well the panel is working and how the batteries are doing during the process.

They have come a long way in the development of solar panel technology. This panel weighs much less than I thought it would and it has cool technology built into it that keeps my battery from being drained and over charged. I will let you know what I learn from my poor man's set up.

Mid Afternoon Update: Yesterday before setting up the solar panel, I had turned on my battery supply to the camper. They were fully charged and so I wanted to let them use some energy over night. I checked them this morning and they were in good shape before I connected the panel. Only a couple of hours later, the gadgets were indicating a full charge. Much quicker than I had expected.

I am leaving the panel attached and I turned on some inside lights and radio to see how well the charge holds while the sun is still on the panel.

Ouray and Thereabouts

2010-09-04T17:02:00.000-05:00

Nothing very exciting and new is happening right now in my travels so I will reflect back to days gone by when I was a happy camper on the road. Maybe that will help heal the blues I have for having no travel plans until mid-October.

Three years ago, I was on the road for about a month when I enjoyed a 8 day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon with Canyoneers. It was great fun and on the way back home, I decided to take several side trips to places that I had long wanted to see and explore. Ouray, Colorado, was one of those places. I had always heard people talk about it and say it was the Switzerland of America. After a few days at Mesa Verde N.P., I headed to Durango to make a base camp.

One morning in mid week, I drove my vehicle up through the mountains and stopped in Silverton to visit friends from long ago that were making a family trip like they often do. It was great to see them again and know they are doing well.

Later, I drove on up to Ouray and visited several of the touristy spots that were advertised. Some waterfalls, trails, hot springs. I enjoyed them all and later decided to experience downtown shops and restaurants. What a wonderful little town this paradise is. It seemed like everyone was happy. Everyone I encountered were pleasant and helpful. The shop owners seemed to enjoy having tourists and took time to answer questions and make them feel welcome. The restaurants had the same attitude.

Within the last year or so, I have gotten to know more about Ouray and appreciate all it has to offer. My much appreciated education has come from my Internet friends Mark and Bobbie who live and work in Beautiful & Friendly Ouray. If you take time to explore their blogs, you will come away with a much greater appreciation of this part of Colorado because of their wonderful art, photos and essays.

I have good intentions to return to this area with my travel camper and stay a while in the national forests or an RV park in town. I want to stay long enough to enjoy and appreciate much that Ouray has to offer in a summertime experience. I hope it will be soon but you know how intentions sometimes turn out to be. But part of the fun of traveling is making plans from intentions...

The Gracious People

2010-08-30T19:59:00.002-05:00

The Japanese people I spent almost a month with were nothing less than simply gracious. From all walks of life and different parts of the country, these humble folks were always smiling and considerate towards us foreigners and to each other. The Fulbright people gave us plenty of free time and freedom to explore various parts of Japan on our own. This opportunity allowed us to see the culture as it really was and even though I became lost a few times wandering the streets of Tokyo or Okinawa or other locales, I never felt threatened or unwelcome by the Japanese who called the area we were in their home.

Even the homeless people were so incredibly happy and upbeat even though they only had a cardboard box to live and sleep. As I walked home from school some days, I would see the homeless sweeping out their box and making the place tidy. In the mornings on my way to school, they would be sleeping or making their beds and they always greeted me with a smile and a slight bow. I mentioned to my chaperon that maybe I could give them some money and I was told that was forbidden because it would be considered an insult to the homeless. The same idea was shared with giving a tip at a restaurant or cab driver. Never once did we tip because we were told it was insulting. The Japanese people consider it an honor to serve guests. What a concept! Even when I tried to offer a small tip, it was graciously but forcefully denied. photos are clickable

The Japanese people incorporate martial arts very heavily into their curriculum. Competitions are held regularly and every student is taught how to take up the skills of defending themselves.

Above, boys are herded into a circle and at the sound of a whistle, attack each other and fight to kick and drag each other out of the blue ring. The last kid in the circle is the winner. Then the girls got their turn. Can you imagine something like this in America? It was total mayhem but it is an accepted practice and everyone participates. If a student were to cry, they were banished from the activity which was considered shameful.

Above shows a typical playground in Japan. Such a place would not exist in America for fear of lawsuits a plenty. Below are some final scenes of my trip: lunch time in the classroom...

...all shoes come off in the building and they are placed in cubicles...

I can never put into words what a wonderful experience my time in Japan was. I never would have had the opportunity had it not been for the Fulbright Foundation and the Japanese government.

Students work outdoors during their landscape class to help with the school garden and to beautify the campus...

My Japanese Host Family

2010-08-27T19:33:00.000-05:00

My month long stay in Japan included an extended stay with a volunteer host family. My family was made up of the traditional father who worked at a local university, a stay at home mother who took care of the two children, both about 5 or 6 or so.

They were a very nice family and welcomed me into their home. They had a simple home that was very comfortable and modern. It wasn't lavish or poor so I would have considered them middle class and they were as happy as could be. The Fulbright Foundation provided a fund for the host family to entertain me and themselves and so I think they did things and saw sights that they would not normally have been able to afford. We went to Japan Disneyland, an awesome zoo and aquarium that I will never forget, traditional Japanese restaurants, ceremonial sites, plazas and several other cultural areas.

The only time I felt uncomfortable was when we slept. I am spoiled in America with having my own bedroom with a door and a restroom nearby. But in Japan, we all slept in the same small room on the floor. That was the purpose of the whole trip, to experience the cultural experiences of another world. After a short while, I got used to it and slept well.

The family also took long evening baths together at the same time which I was invited to do but declined. That was a cultural experience I would do without.

The students help with cooking, delivery, and cleanup of the lunch meal. There were no cafeterias; the kids ate in their classroom. After lunch, all of the students pushed all furniture outside, swept and mopped the classroom and hallway. This happened every day and everyone was responsible for a duty. I never saw a carpeted classroom or hallway in any school. There were lots of hand washing areas to combat infectious diseases and the kids were fanatical about washing hands. The lunch helpers wore sanitary uniforms while serving and then would change back to uniforms after clean up.

I had a great time with the family and we stayed in touch for several years.

The Fulbright Foundation spared no expense on every meal while staying in Japan. It was lavish and incredibly furnished with every luxury. I have never been treated with so much respect and regard. I am not saying I deserved it but since I was their guest, I took full advantage and tried to get a sampling of all the Japanese foods I could experience. The Japanese people were such gracious hosts and seemed to enjoy spoiling and taking care of us.

Teaching in Japan!

2010-08-24T18:36:00.000-05:00

Since school has begun (or is it began?), I would like to reminisce about the teacher exchange program I participated in several years ago. The program was sponsored by the Fulbright Scholarship Fund. They provided opportunities for teachers to trade out teaching positions for a certain amount of time in the hopes of improving teaching techniques of teachers around the world.

My exchange country was Japan. I could not have been prepared for the awesome experience I was to enjoy for a month working in classrooms half a world away. Fulbright paid for every expense of the trip and I never opened my wallet except to buy souvenirs for back home. The Fulbright organization is exceptional in every way. They are professional in every aspect and their relationship with the Japanese government was superb. I kind of figured out a ballpark figure of what was spent on just me and it must have been in the area of $20,000 for the whole month long experience.

For my stay in Tokyo, I stayed in this wonderful luxury hotel. It had all amenities and accommodations. It had a fancy toilet that required users to read directions to learn how to properly use it. Quite a contrast to the toilets used in schools in the area, huh? No, I do not have a fetish for toilets but I wanted to capture the entire cultural experience and using the restrooms there are a whole lot different than here.

This fancy toilet's seat vibrated, heated, flushed your bottom clean, and even lifted the seat when it detected you were standing and not seating to do business...

The school toilets below were Spartan. For directions, we were told to squat, hang on, and let 'er fly...

I worked mainly in junior high schools in Japan and especially in an extended stay in Okinawa. Here you see the teachers working with the kids and they were in a math class during this particular visit. I think I got a real education that day as I compared my American classrooms with theirs. The kids were great to work with and they were so happy and positive all the time. Always in uniform, the students were responsible for preparing lunch, cleaning the floors and classrooms of the schools, grounds maintenance and yes, even restroom maintenance. Some schools had working gardens to supplement the school meals and the kids were responsible for maintaining them and the tools.

Very excited junior high students were excited to spend the days working with American teachers. They greeted us daily and sang American songs. They were all very fluent in English.

There were no such things as school sponsored athletics. All sporting events were held after school and they were organized independently of the schools. Many of the teachers were the coaches of these events but they were not paid.

I never saw a school bus the whole month I was in Japan. The parents were responsible for getting the kids to school whether it was walking them, driving or city transportation.

All classrooms were crowded and had outdated desks. Few classrooms were air conditioned. And surprisingly, I saw computers only rarely.

I will share more of my Japan experience in my next entry. Thanks for checking in.

Hoover Dam Bypass Project is Almost Done!

2010-08-20T16:23:00.000-05:00

No, I am not here at Hoover/Boulder Dam but I hope I am someday soon so that I can see this marvel of engineering and construction. Yesterday, the bridge managers held a media day to show everyone around on the bridge and to announce opening day. There will first be pedestrian day for people only on Saturday, October 16. Then, the bridge will open to traffic in early November of this year.

I have been following the construction project online and in the news since it began several years ago. It was wonderful to watch the day by day developments on their live web cam. Discovery Channel did an hour long special years ago and it was remarkable that all that precise planning and work finally comes together through hard work and teamwork. The did have some set backs, though, when a series of towers fell from high winds and a few deaths.

I have been over and in Hoover Dam several times and have never tired of its incredible durability. Once, in 1993 when I worked for a summer with the Department of Energy in Las Vegas, they took us on a tour inside the guts of the big dam. Yes, I did get to see the leaks inside the dam and yes, I did get to see the maze of tunnels and huge generators inside. I don't think they offer the extended tours any longer because of 9/11 but I am still awestruck at the effort it took to make the dam.

I hope I am able someday soon to be able to visit the new bridge and see the dam from a different perspective. Here are about 20 photos taken yesterday during the media event on the bridge. They are taken from the Las Vegas Sun and are best appreciated in full screen and high definition.

A New Life Begins!

2010-08-15T20:49:00.002-05:00

After losing a wonderful kid to an accident last Wednesday, I really needed something to pick me up. Not to forget the boy or to minimize the tragedy; I just needed something to help me pick up the pieces so that I could be more enthusiastic on the first day of school

I found the perfect remedy: a wedding! Not just any wedding, mind you. But a wedding of my former students from about 8 or 10 years ago. They were nice enough to remember their old science teacher and invite him to this wonderful occasion in their life. They were both wonderful students and I know they will make a wonderful pair and even more wonderful: they will make most excellent babies.

The happy couple tied the knot in a good old fashioned church ceremony last night and then they had an enchanting reception and dinner after wards. I don't use the word "enchanting" very often but the word fits perfectly on this night because it really did feel like something really special.

I am really appreciative these kids and their folks remembered me from so long ago. We had a great time together back in the seventh grade. Together we enjoyed collecting bugs, hiking to Guadalupe Peak, spelunking in wild caves in New Mexico, building boats and many other school projects. Their parents were great troopers to join us and participate in all the things we did together. They began getting interested in each other the following year in eighth grade; I was glad it wasn't during my school year! :)

Well, now I can wear a happy smile on the first day of school. The last few days I have learned a lesson more important than any book lesson: life is tough sometimes but most of the time it is really great!

Congratulations, Brian and Mackenzie! Best wishes for a happy and healthy life together.

A New School Year Begins in Tragedy

2010-08-13T15:18:00.004-05:00

The week leading up to the first day of school is always an exciting and nervous time for everyone. The kids are excited because it means meeting new friends and seeing their old ones. Also, the students are wondering what their classes will be like. They are thrilled, in the seventh grade, because now they can participate in athletic events. Parents are jittery because they are seeing their sons and daughters begin to separate themselves somewhat from them and they wonder how much longer they will have the family together.

Teachers are excited because we get a new crop of students that each have their own distinctive personalities. The kids each have their own strengths and weaknesses and the teachers do, too.

But all of our enthusiasm and excitement for the new school year came to a terrible end Wednesday night when we learned that one of our own students died in a tragic accident. He was on the family tractor mowing, as he had done countless times before, when he was attacked by swarms of bees.

Only 12 years old, he was known throughout our small farming and ranching community as the most positive and generous young man you could ever want to encounter. I say young man; of course he was not a young man, only a boy. But his behavior and actions certainly made you feel like you were talking to a young man. I came to know him about a year ago when he held open the door to a restaurant for my elderly mother and myself. A bright and enthusiastic smile he had. Later on at school, I would notice things he did in the hallway or other places on campus where he was caught helping folks. He even helped custodians clean the school when they were short handed. He would come by my classroom and visit sometimes and ask about the things we would be doing next year in my science class. He loved anything to do with the outdoors and so he was very interested in our camping and field trips to Guadalupe Peak, insect projects, catapults, boat building, etc. He was fired up which had a contagious effect on everyone around him. I already had my seating chart made for his class and so his empty desk will be a hard thing to look at every day this school year.

I am a better person for having known this young farmer. He already knew what he wanted to do when he grew up. I am sorry that I won't get to know him better as a student. And I am also sorry for his parents, family, and friends who are struggling right now with the loss of such an awesome kid. I think everyone will agree that we won't forget him and we will work hard to emulate what he so often gave to others.

God bless you, Jason.

San Solomon Springs

2010-08-11T07:55:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I spent a few days at Balmorhea State Park in Far West Texas. It is a rural state park in the Chihuahuan Desert that attracts many visitors because of the San Solomon Springs. San Solomon Springs has provided water for travelers for thousands of years. Artifacts indicate Indians used the spring extensively before white men came to the area. In 1849, the springs were called Mescalero Springs for the Mescalero Apache Indians who watered their horses along its banks. The present name was given by the first settlers, Mexican farmers who used the water for their crops and hand-dug the first irrigation canals.

The main reason for my visit this time was to check out the renovations and improvements made by the park to help the flow of water in newly upgraded canals and channels in the park. Now, they have much better control of the flow of the water and they have been able to thin out invasive plants and re-introduce native plants around the park.

It is difficult for you to appreciate the improvments unless you had seen the park before they started but I think anyone can appreciate the finished product of environmentally engineered landscaping of the park. The RV and tent campground is separate from the springs but not by far. It is still within easy walking distance as are the cottages/cabins that are on the banks of the springs. These cottages were built by the CCC back in the depression years.

Photos are clickable

Can you picture yourself in an easy chair listening to the flow of the spring water pass by you?

The park had placed me in the spot reserved for the campground host. I did not know this until several campers and visitors began knocking on my door asking questions. Finally, I walked around the camper and saw the sign. No problem; I actually enjoyed answering questions and delivering directions about the park.

Below, I am breakfast camped in the Davis Mountains

The spring water pool is always fresh, clean and welcoming to swimmers and snorkelers and anyone who enjoys water recreation. In a few hours these still waters will be filled with swimmers from all over the area trying to escape the summer desert heat. Over 2,ooo folks will be crammed in here and I do not want to be here then. I have been here during crowded times and it all seems to work out well with folks getting along.

The pools are natural and have depths of 3 feet to over 26 feet. Fish are happy to share the pools with us

Can you see the trademark craftmanship of the CCC?

Home Away From Home

2010-08-07T17:34:00.003-05:00

We enjoyed a family road trip today about a 150 miles from home. We wanted to meet up with my brother and his wife who is having his 61st birhtday today. On our way to Kerrville, Texas, we decided to pull into Buckhorn Lake RV Resort which is just a few miles north of Kerrville on I10.

This is a very awesome place for you to check out some time. It is a very well designed and managed RV park with excellent ammenities. Instead of seeing a bunch of rude signs of don't do this or don't do that or such, I saw welcoming signs and happy workers and campers throughout the park. Even their free wifi works very well throughout the park!

I have stayed here several times and I have never encountered a negative experience. One thing that always catches my attention here is the separate RV community that allows you to buy a small home and park your RV at the same place. I think it is designed for snowbirds or maybe folks who have more than one home and use this community as a second or third temporary home.

Click on the photos for a better look

As you can see, it is well planned and developed. You can see some homes are occupied this weekend because their rig is parked at their residence. Can you see how well the house and RV blend well together and both compliment the surrounding homes? The homes are beautifully landscaped and maintained by the RV staff. Water features are scattered all throughout the complex. There is a large pond/river that separates the RV park from the RV community.

I don't know how much these homes cost but I am sure they are too high for me but just driving through the nice streets gave us all a feeling of peace and contentment. The residents were out on their patios or sweeping. They gave us a friendly hello. As you can see, they are still building and adding to their little RV community one new home at a time.

I would love to learn more about how this community operates but not today. We are scheduled to meet the rest of the family at Mamacita's Mexican Restaurant in Kerrville in 15 minutes and so we headed off that way. What a great place to enjoy family and food in a very nice setting. Excellent food and service was waiting for us here and they did not disappoint. You know you are having a good time when you look at your watch and realize you have been there nearly two hours.

Their chicken fajitas are exceptional but I don't know of anything that they do not prepare well.

Thanks for reading.

Lady Bugs!

2010-08-02T17:16:00.006-05:00

Friday, I enjoyed an evening visit to McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. It is always refreshing and enjoyable to visit Mt. Locke and the little community that has contributed so very much to the world of astronomy. Managed by the University of Texas, it is a star attraction for visitors any time of the year.

I had the mountain all to myself on Friday evening. I am sure there were lots of astronomers on the complex but they were preparing for their night work with the telescopes. As you can see, it was very cloudy around 6pm when I was there but you can bet it will clear up quickly after the sun goes down. The summer rains have really blessed the whole area of the Big Bend country with an abundance of rain all summer long. It is probably the greenest I have ever seen these mountains and I found myself awestruck at the beauty and color of the whole area, mountains, desert, canyons and rivers.

I walked the telescope grounds on top of Mt. Locke and noticed that large concentrations of lady bug beetles had been collecting on the tips of some cactus. The agave were the main areas of these collections and it caught the attention of my camera. I have always noticed this phenomena on the top of Guadalupe Peak, Mt. Livermore, Mt. Emory and other high peaks and have often asked around why this occurs. I still have not gotten much of a satisfactory answer but that doesn't take away from the fact is it a beautiful sight to see. Kinda like the Marfa Lights: I still don't know what causes them but I still enjoy seeing them as often as I can.

photos are clickable

As I was driving down the mountain about 7:30 pm, I noticed a large collection of visitors collecting at the visitor center as they prepared for their evening star party that the observatory presents every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evening. It was very chilly and they were prepared for an evening of cool temperatures and cool star gazing under one of the very darkest skies in the country.

I returned to my camp at Davis Mountains State Park and enjoyed a quiet evening in a nearly full campground. During my stay the whole week, the thermometer outdoors dropped down into the mid 50's at night and upper 70's during the day. Rarely did my droning roof top AC ever come on. Now that is what I call having toooooooo much fun!

Thanks for checking in.

Site #21, right Barney?

Lonely Rest Areas

2010-07-24T19:28:00.001-05:00

Boy, I sure am struggling with learning this new photo uploader tool on Google Blogger tonight. I like it; I just don't have the hang of it yet so please bear with me while I tinker with it.

An old postcard showing the old highway that lead travelers up through Guadalupe Pass

I often search for old abandoned rest areas on my travels. Sometimes I see them along the highway that parallels an older highway that is no longer used. I can see the old pavement and sometimes it comes across the old rest area that was used by the many travelers of long ago. What stories these rest areas could tell if they could talk. They could tell us many things about the people that stopped to rest here. I guess my favorite rest area is the dramatic rest stop below El Capitan in the Guadalupe Mountains. I used to hike to it many times when I was a ranger there. Some of us rangers would get together after work and carry a picnic basket up there full of great food, usually fried chicken. It would take us over 30 minutes to hike there along the old highway that let up to the stone curbs, tables, benches and columns that supported the shelter made of mesquite logs. We would have a grand time eating and talking shop about rangering in the Guadalupes. By the time it was dark and we had our home made pie, we would make our way back down to our cars in the twilight of the beautiful starry skies that made great memories for me.

photo courtesy of visitbigbend.com

Sometimes I come across abandoned rest stops along hiking trails that were once roads or highways. They can still be used today but often you can tell that they are not used at all. Sometimes park maintenance passes by them on routine grass cutting and they look even more lonely.

Some of the lonely rest areas I have been to were built by the CCC boys of the depression era. They are strong and sturdy and it will take a long long time for them to be erased from the landscape.

I wonder if other hikers or drivers see abandoned and lonely rest areas as they travel.

Heron Lakes State Park, New Mexico

2010-07-22T20:54:00.002-05:00

New Mexico really is the Land of Enchantment. It has everything except the ocean but you would never miss it because of the variety of landscapes and environments that it has to explore. Heron Lakes State Park in northern New Mexico is one of those enchanting places. Near Chama, it sits at a very high elevation to make any summer day a welcoming and rewarding stay.

I happened to pull into the visitor center to get information on a Wednesday morning. The volunteer staff inside were most helpful in advising me where they thought I would most enjoy my camping experience. So, I took their advice and drove up the country road a few miles until I entered one of the many campground loops in the state park. First, I thought it best to visit the dump station on the way in. While there, here comes the campground host who struck up a conversation. He was very friendly and introduced himself as Rusty Irons. I said your parents must have had a sense of humor. He laughed. Rusty and his wife have worked this campground for many summers. They winter in Alpine, Texas, a favorite destination for me.

Rusty told me that he just saw a camper pulling out of campsite #19 and that he was sure I would love it and told me he would hurry over and hold it for me until I got there. Wow. How nice!

By the time I got to site #19 a few minutes later, Rusty's wife had joined him in their government issued golf cart to help me get settled in and informed about what to do at this nice park. This part of the lake is no wake; only people powered boats here, no motors. It is a wonderful fishing area and that is the main reason people come here to camp: fish. While it did rain nearly every day I was here, it never rained enough to spoil my time outdoors which included hiking and riding the narrow gauge train in Chama. I stayed at the park for several nights and found myself extending my stay for a while. It was just that nice.

I saw many ospreys while in the park. They are well protected here

Home sweet home...

I think you will agree that this is a nice camping spot

Saturday night the visitor center was opened up so the ranger on duty could provide a slide presentation on birds of the park. This park is quite an attraction for birds this fact seems to draw lots of bird watchers from all over the country. What a great time I had here at this state park. It was the perfect home base for me to take daily excursions to several beautiful spots in northern New Mexico. Pagosa Springs was one of my favorite spots to visit. More about that in my next entry.

Thanks for reading.

Bloys Camp Meeting

2010-07-20T10:05:00.002-05:00

About this time every year, I enjoy spending a week or so at Bloys Camp Meeting out in the Davis Mountains of Far West Texas. This week long church gathering has been attracting folks from all over the country for well over one hundred years. Started by ranchers in the area in 1890 who felt the need to come together to worship and have fellowship with each other once a year. The camp meeting has grown stronger and bigger over the years. It is a non-demoninational gathering and I have seen a cross section of folks all across the board. There are folks from all walks of life and skin colors. They come in cars, RV's, Harley Davidson motorcylces, walk, fly; you name it and they have come together to put aside differences just so they can worship freely with each other. They bring their families and sometimes I have seen three generations sitting at the table or cabin. It makes me feel good to see so many people celebrating their right to worship together.

There is no preconcieved judgement or intimidation here amongst these sinners, including myself. They don't come to preach to each other or to point out problems with today's world. They have a large open air tabernacle that these volunteers have built long ago and continue to make improvements as needed. They have a large area they have spread out through the mountains that have worship areas for childrens Bible study and other worship offerings. There are daily activities that people choose as they like to go to and there is lots of casual time for folks to enjoy conversation, games, hikes and porch time. There are many cabins scattered all through the camp area that have been in many generations of campers that come out every year. The RV area has basic hookups and reminds me of the old Wagon Train days of long ago when they circled up and made a temporary village for the time being. As I walk through the camp near dark, I see young and old alike that play guitar and sing old folk songs. There are many campfires that burn and I could almost envision Ward Bond walking through the camp along with some of the others.

There isn't a dress code at camp, only a degree of respect during worship services which are three times a day and each last for about an hour. Old fashioned bible songs are shared and you can hardly go an hour without meeting someone that you enjoy visiting with for a little while.

Perhaps one of the biggest draws for fellowship at this camp are the many cook kitchens that are scattered all through the hills here. Each is sponsored by a family or group of campers and have been in the Bloys family for many many generations. There is no better food any where than people come together to worship their God. It is prepared and cooked outdoors and the aroma from all the other kitchens blend together to make a Heaven on Earth atomosphere. While each camp does accept donations, there is no charge at all for any of the camps activities for the whole week. It is all sponsored by those who come together for worship.

One of the cook sheds

The beans are always warm. Help yourself

Summer rains are always welcome at Bloys and last year they had plenty of rain but never enough to spoil the events

I have been in many wonderful churches and would not want to live without them. But the best churches I have been in have been in the mountains and the Bloys camp meeting is my favorite church. I don't see how anyone could come away from this camp meeting feeling blessed and more appreciative of God's blessing. No, I am not a Holy Roller, but I do want to invite anyone who is interested in meeting some wonderful folks who share a common goal to worship God, to join us for a week of casual and informal fellowship.

Instead of camping at Bloys for the week, I camped at a state park near there

Click here for an external link from a Bloys camp participant.

Brantley Lake State Park, New Mexico

2010-07-11T10:09:00.003-05:00

Certainly one of my favorite places to camp is Brantley Lake State Park near Carlsbad, New Mexico. As most campers would agree, the New Mexico state park system is very good and this little fishing park is no exception. I found the staff more than friendly and accommodating when I am checking in or asking for information.

I have never made this park a destination park because I am usually on the way somewhere and use it as a stop over. But often I have enjoyed the quiet and solitude so much here that I have extended my days unexpectedly. I know I am really having and good time and enjoying myself when the thought and opportunity comes to mind, "Hey, why don't we stay and extra day or two here. It is a nice place."

If you like to boat or fish, it is a good place for you. I don't care much for that at all but I think it is a good campground to accommodate any kind of recreation you may fancy. Good hiking trails, birds, low humidity, no mosquitoes, excellent summer storms to make things interesting for a while. I really like the wide open vistas and scenery here. It is close to the town of Carlsbad but plenty far enough away as to know you are way out there. These photos are an accumulation of the several trips I have stayed there but I also used some photos from this camper who has much more extensive experience in the park than I. I think he can give you much more of a feel of what I am trying to say. My photos:

Below are photos from the camper mentioned above. He has stayed here a lot.

Empty spaces. Does the photo below welcome you to serenity and tranquility?

Sometimes for me it is not so much the scenery I enjoy but the peace and quiet.

I wonder if being a hermit pays very much...

Los Alamos, New Mexico

2010-07-09T10:04:00.000-05:00

This small mountain community has always been a fascinating draw to me. Northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the area is a beautiful high country of Ponderosa pine and spectacular scenery of colorful canyons. I enjoy staying at Juniper campground at Bandalier National Monument. The campground is closed this summer because of major renovations and when it reopens, I hope to make a special trip up there to see what improvements have been made.

No trip to the area would be complete without visiting Los Alamos. It is a government designed community when it was originally built during World War II and was instrumental in the development of atomic bombs. Whatever your stance on the bomb, you will still find it an interesting journey through history. There are walking trails in town that take you through historic structures, buildings, museums and other fascinating structures. There are scenic drives in the area that take you not only to scenic national forests and parks but also wilderness areas high up into the alpine mountains that became too cold for me to enjoy even in the heat of July.

The landscaped grounds and museums of Los Alamos

The lodge where boys' ranch and later scientists resided during WWII

Hiking and exploring in Bandalier National Monument

a brief video clip from Lower Falls trail in Bandalier NM

Hiking the Crest Trail!

2010-06-30T17:20:00.001-05:00

The White Mountain Wilderness of Lincoln National Forest has countless miles of wilderness hiking trails to fit almost anyone's level of skill and difficulty for exploring. I am headed back there next week for a couple of weeks of hiking new trails in the area that I have not been on. In planning my trip, I have referred back to earlier trips to get a bearing on where I have been and maybe where I want to go this time.

The Crest Trail is a long and splintered trail that rides the backbone of the mountains that make up the White Mountain Wilderness of south central New Mexico, very near Ruidoso. By some accounts, the trail is over 25 miles long but others may argue that it is much longer since it connects with many other national forest trails. My trip this day was no longer than probably 5 or six miles round trip. I started my hike in the parking lot of the Sierra Blanca mountain known as Ski Apache. As soon as I stepped on the trail, I was in thick, green and rich ponderosa pine forest. The rains had been good so far this summer and the wildflowers and animals were very happy.

I was already in high country elevation and so the trail did not climb a whole lot in altitude. But I still took it slow and easy because I had not yet adjusted to the 8,000 foot elevation that I was hiking and camping in. I had started at mid morning and wanted to be done by mid afternoon or even earlier because I did not want to get caught on this high country trail in a surprise thunderstrom that frequents these areas during monsoon season. I have been in those events before and I must say it is the most terrifying experience I have ever encountered.

I was on the trail for maybe 4 hours and it ended by coming down the slope of the ski area. It was interesting to see the technology and engineering that makes up a ski recreation area. I saw no one on the trail until I encountered the ski area and there were several visitors that had made the scenic drive up the mountain and visited the cafe and tourist shop.

My little abode in the Lincoln National Forest

I had finished my hike, had a candy bar, rested and then made my way back to my national forest camp at Southfork Campground a few miles down the road. I was in the middle of a restful nap in mid afternoon when one of those loud and electrifying thrunderstorms moved through the campground.

My dad would have called this rain a "real turd floater."

Lightning all around and loads of rain. Boy, that was so nice feeling protected by the rain inside my little abode...

I hope that I can enjoy several new trails and adventures on my July trip to share with you when I return. Thanks for reading my pages.

A Day Kayaking the South Llano River

2010-06-26T16:14:00.001-05:00

My friend Cindy called me up this week and asked me to go kayak the South Llano River near Junction, Texas. What a great way to escape the heat! Yes, I said and yesterday we were in the truck headed down the road for a day of fun and relaxation on one of the cleanest and purest spring water rivers in the state. We had a great time talking on our drive to Junction. We drove through town and met Rhonda which would be our shuttle guide. She and her husband operate a canoe/kayak rental and shuttle business on their property which sits on the bank of the South Llano river.

Rhonda drove us up to the drop off point. She made sure we had everything in order and waved goodbye. Our 6 hour kayak trip would be a rewarding and fun time. The river has an excellent mix of great flowing rapids and calm water, always keeping us on the move. We would often stop and take a break on a sand bar or bridge. We had snacks and water. The water temperature was excellent and was inviting to jump into at least once an hour. During the entire day on the river, we only saw two other folks. They were fishing and just enjoying some quiet time on the river. They were in two boats and headed eventually to the state park take out point.

Cindy had her own kayak. She really loves her boat and handles it very well. I rented one from Rhonda which sat down pretty low for me; I liked to ride a little higher in the saddle... Oh, well. Renters can't be choosers. Maybe next time I will have my own cool kayak like Cindy. My town has several shops that provide a good variety of kayaks to buy and they even let you try them out before buying them.

We continued down river throughout the afternoon lazily meandering down the white water and then the calm water. Large cumulus clouds gave us relief from the sun but we were always happy to see the sun come out to warm us up help us to jump back in the water for a while.

By late afternoon, we had come to the take out point at Rhonda's home. We cleaned up and loaded Cindy's kayak and headed into Junction for some very tasty BBQ at Lum's BBQ. We had a nice drive back visiting about the day's events and everything under the sun. It was a great way to spend a summer day.

My Grand Canyon Video Channel!

2010-06-24T17:55:00.016-05:00

I have been busy converting my video clips from my Colorado River trip through Grand Canyon. I am trying to make them available for any readers who may be interested but especially for those kids and parents who were with me during that week long adventure. What great fun we had and because we were not distracted by cell phones and other electronic gadgets for the entire week, we really got to know each other and shared some great conversations and laughs. We get very busy after we get back and I am not sure how much we forget of our trip in the last three years since we enjoyed our time together so I hope these YouTube video clips will help bring back some wonderful memories.

Here is a short video on fabulous Red Wall Cavern in Grand Canyon.

Here is a nice little video clip of one of our kids taking her turn tubing through the rapids. The turquoise water was so clean and beautiful. It fed right into the Colorado River.

Let's run one of the cool rapids:

Whew!

2010-06-22T17:28:00.002-05:00

Gosh. It is so dang blazing hot here in West Texas that I think I am gonna expire. We are used to hot temps here but we have already had more 100+ degree days than normal at this time of year and summer has only just begun. There are not even any clouds to give us a little relief. You better get your outdoor exercise or mowing done by 11am because after noon, you're gonna get little accomplished except for maybe a heat stroke.

These hot days remind me of my Grand Canyon trip three years ago in July, 2007. (How's that for a segway?) There was a group of about 15 of my students, their parents and a few friends that enjoyed 7 days and nights on the Colorado River from Lee's Ferry to take out about near Hoover Dam. We knew the days were gonna be blistering hot so we were prepared for it and the boat guides were careful to watch our liquid and food intake. They were great at making sure we were hydrated and safe. But even I was unprepared for the 128+ degree days of going down the river in full sunlight with the rays bouncing off the canyon walls and the water. We were cooked like lobsters even though we were covered in sunblock and long sleeves. No shade.

But for relief, we did have the wonderful Colorado River. At first when we launched, the river was about 40 degrees because the water was released from the bottom of Glen Canyon dam and never saw sunlight. But as the days went on down river, the water warmed up to where we could get in it and enjoy a cool off.

We even got to enjoy side trips to many waterfalls and streams that came out of side canyons feeding into the Colorado. It was like a tropical paradise with all the plants and water. The river guides were excellent at making sure our meals were prepared with the finest chef supervision. We would enjoy bountiful and plentiful meals on the beach where we camped or when we would pull over for lunch. They would set up this elaborate buffet with all kinds of delicacies of foods I never knew where they were stored on the boat. Steaks, chicken, fish, salads, desserts, and drinks all are a part of the ticket price and we river runners could not have been more contented. We thought we would gain lots of weight on the weeklong trip but because we were sweating and active almost all the time, we actually tightened up our belts a notch or two. Photos are clickable.

Dutch oven dessert treat!

Where did he store that pit on the raft?

I have some short video clips in my files somewhere. I will try to convert them to YouTube format and share with you some of my adventure on this most excellent trip.

Bonito Lake, NM

2010-06-19T09:11:00.002-05:00

We were looking for a quick escape from the heat here in dry and dusty West Texas. June is usually a wet and green month for us here but the rains have come to a screeching halt with the waning of El Nino. Hot, hot, hot. So, Tuesday afternoon this week we knew Ruidoso, New Mexico, would provide relief from the heat and a nice little reconnaissance mission for a future camping trip up into the White Mountain Wilderness of Lincoln National Forest in south central New Mexico.

The drive was long, about seven hours one way, but it was well worth it once we got into the high elevation of Ruidoso. Low humidity and cooler temperatures made for a nice 3 day stay here. It was in the middle of the week and so rates were lower and so we stopped at the Lodge in town which offered very nice rates for their beautiful hotel on the Links, a well manicured public golf course operated by the city of Ruidoso. We did the touristy things while staying there but my main goal was to check out South Fork campground north of town near Bonito Lake. The lake is owned and managed by the city of Alamagordo which relies on the lake for the city drinking water. With the wonderful snows and rains the area recieved over the last year, the lake is beautifully full! It has been a while since this lake has been this full and healthy. They stock it with fish and allow folks to catch 5 a day. The fishing was was in full force and it looked like everyone was having a grand time.

I checked out the campground and made arrangements to bring my camper up for about a 14 day stay in the high ponderosa pine country. There is no burn ban and they are eagerly anticipating their monsoon seasons of afternoon thunderstorms to begin soon. The campground host was there and making sure the campground policies were being followed and adhered to. This is his 14th season to work this campground and he and the other hosts have a ownership mentality about supervising the place and that is the main reason I like it here. They make sure everyone is compliant with the campground rules. No rowdy drinking. No littering. No loud music blasting all night long. Quiet hours are enforced here and everyone knows it before they enter the camp. If you want to do all the other stuff, there are plenty of campground down the road that will put up with it but not here in the Lincoln National Forest.

Around the town of Ruidoso, I've noticed this flower and it is mainly used in landscaped areas like lawns, pottery, and golf courses. I asked around what the name is and no one could tell me, not even the ranger at the ranger station for Lincoln National Forest. Anyone have any ideas?

Well, all too soon our short vacation had come to an end and it was time to make it back to the heat back home...

The Lodge at The Links:

Stay cool this summer...

Boyhood Friendships Renewed!

2010-06-14T08:50:00.001-05:00

Eight years ago this week, Gary and his son, Brad, joined me on a week long backpacking trip to Grand Canyon. We had long talked about this trip and finally made the commitment to do this trip before we (me) got too old and his son graduated college. We made the 1,000 mile drive in one long day but we all took turns driving and made it to South Rim before sunset. We set up our tent camp there on the rim with plenty of time to eat and see the sunset from El Tovar.

The next morning at 4:30, we packed up our gear and met the canyon shuttle bus which took us to our Kaibab trailhead. What a great hike down we had. It wasn't daylight just yet but we enjoyed the canyon hike down as the sun did begin to rise and temperatures began to warm up. We enjoyed the different colors of the canyon and we took casual breaks with no hurry and no stress. The photos were taken with old film type cameras and later scanned. By the time we had made it to Phantom Ranch, is was mid afternoon and we set up camp in the tent area along several creeks and brooks that made their way to the Colorado River.

We had two days to make Phantom Ranch our base camp. From there we struck out in a different direction to see what the canyon could show us. The highlight of Phantom Ranch for us was Ribbon Falls which was a nice hike. I would like some day to hike the canyon from north rim to south rim but I must plan on doing that soon before time runs out. I know I don't want to do it in summer.

Gary is a lifelong friend. We go way back to second grade a million years ago. We grew up together and stayed in touch even though our paths separated after high school. Later, we enjoyed hiking trips together and I was the best man in his wedding. Patti, his wife, is the best wife and mom anyone could ever want. They would take their kids on hiking and camping trips and still do to the point that now their kids are hooked on it themselves. I am glad Brad came along because he really enjoyed the canyon hike. I had wished he had brought along a friend his age but I guess work schedules and girlfriends get in the way sometimes.

Come on old man, you can make it!

On the hike back up from Phantom Ranch, we took the Bright Angel Trail. We started hiking way early like 3am because we wanted to beat the heat and make it to Indian Gardens for our next camp overnight. It was early afternoon when we got there and blazing hot. By evening, I was amazed at all the campers that had settled in. Several married couples in their seventies had made camp with nothing more than just a blanket and food. I could write a book! The next morning, we got up early again to make the final hike out of the canyon. Whew! Despite a few blisters on Brad's feet, all went well and we made a quick stop at a restaurant and headed home because of work schedules for Gary and Brad.

Balmorhea State Park, Texas

2010-06-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Balmorhea State Park is home to one of the largest spring fed pools in the country. It has a long history way back because it. It is a great swimming hole and also it provides irrigation for crops in the area. I drove in on a weekday and it wasn't too crowded but the ranger at the desk said that the previous weekend they had made an attendance record and had to close entrance to the park twice because they had exceeded 2,000 people. I was glad I came in when I did. In fact, as I have gotten older, I have learned to not travel on holiday weekends.

I set up camp just as afternoon thunderstorms moved in and cooled things down. Lightning always makes me head for cover. The campground is great and spread out well. The desert cactus smelled great after a rain shower.

I enjoyed swimming for a while at the park, talked with some other campers and then I walked through the area and took some photos of the cactus in bloom. My main focus today was the cholla and the agave which were abundant in blooms. Beautiful.

I've heard many campers talk about the "It" factor when they arrive at a campground and set up their site. "it" meaning it has all the things that make their temporary home a comfortable and relaxing feeling; kinda like "home sweet home" feeling. That is the feeling I get when I am here...

Panoramic Overload!

2010-06-10T09:36:00.000-05:00

I have just returned from about a 10 day camping trip out to far West Texas. I have loads to share with you about the trip in words and photos but today I thought I would show you some panoramic photos I have been experimenting with. I used my simple little Nikon pocket camera and my cell phone camera to snap a few photos and then I used some free simple software to stitch and merge the photos into some interesting panoramic views. Actually, I had little to do with stitching because the software did everything for me. The photos are click-able so feel free to click on them for a better view although in most cases today there isn't much enlargement of the photos.

The above photos is from the overlook on top of Skyline Drive at Davis Mountains State Park. We had just finished one of those typical afternoon thunderstorms a couple of hours earlier and it stayed cool and calm the rest of the day. At a mile high in elevation, Fort Davis is one of the few areas in Texas where my camper air conditioner gets a rest from the summer heat. Boy, it sure is nice not have to listen to that constant drumming of the roof top unit. Also, it means I can leave my door open and let in some natural air conditioning in the campground.

The next night, it was much clearer and so here is the same view with no storm clouds.

While camping in Balmorhea State Park after Memorial Day, I was out for a evening bike ride and after about 3 miles out of the park, I came upon this little church out in the middle of the desert.

Here is a panorama of site #21 at Davis Mountains State Park. This one is for you, Barney, because I know you like this site, too. I was here for 8 nights. It was my little ranch for the week.

More storm clouds were brewing from Skyline Drive looking down into the campground. That is Indian Lodge on the left. It is a neat little state run lodge that was built back in the 1930's by the CCC boys & men.

Inside of the lodge is a quiet little reading room. I love this little room because it looks out from the 3rd story of the lodge and provides an escape from everything. They even provide free wifi.

Maybe you can see the reading room from this view. I had parked here while I ran up into the Black Bear restaurant for a wonderful breakfast buffet.

My first experiment this trip with stitching photos: my rig all set up and ready to hit the road.

Another view of Indian Lodge from the opposite side of the canyon on a ridge trail.

Keesey Canyon of the state park.

Desert Plants In Bloom!

2010-05-29T08:21:00.001-05:00

The Davis Mountains have had a nice wet winter and spring and are ready to put on a glorious show of desert blooms. Even though they are now in a burn ban because the moist conditions are now gone for a while, there is still plenty of green and blooms to enjoy. El Nino gave a nice gift to the high desert here in far West Texas and now is a great time to reap the benefit of the rains.

I have over the years enjoyed taking photos of these green mountains and so I thought I would show you a few of the photos that make this country come alive. From the beautiful gateway to McDonald Observatory, to the entry to Davis Mountains State Park, to the wonderful landscape of Sul Ross State University, native plants abound in their somewhat natural settings.

The sotol is one of my favorite plants and the observatory has designed a beautiful entry into their drive up to the University of Texas facility. It is especially spectacular during the growing season when the stalk of the plants shoots up high and provides a beautiful golden flowers that gives the plant a nick name of the "desert candle".

The agave, or century plants, is quite a show stopper as people go by. You can't help but notice it is putting on a spectacular show just this one time in its life and it has taken about 17 years to do it. Once it glooms, it will soon fall over and die, scattering the seeds all around the area for the new generation to start again.

Prickly pear cactus also has its nice colors to show. Claret cup and the ocotillio bloom in Technicolor around here.

I must say that I am easily entertained when it comes to these plants when they are alive and blooming. When I was younger, they would catch my eye but I didn't find myself fascinated by them. Today, I would rather watch a plant grow than watch TV. The birds and other wildlife attracted by the plants are always entertaining and the sky landscape behind the plants is always changing and beautiful.

I wish to learn more about taking better photos of the plants but all I have is an inexpensive digital camera that doesn't take very good macro photos but it seems to do well enough to entertain me for a while. I will be headed out that way on Tuesday to more of this Trans Pecos country and so I hope I will have newer sights and sounds to share with you. I will make an effort to report to you live each day that I am out there.

Memorial Day Salute!

2010-05-26T17:26:00.027-05:00

I feel compelled to diverge from writing about the outdoor trips that I enjoy so much. I would like to draw attention to the Memorial Day observance coming up next weekend. Without the ultimate sacrifice so many American soldiers made throughout our history, I would not be able to enjoy the freedom that I enjoy and that especially includes camping and hiking.

photos are click-able

I don't know how or why we got away from showing respect and appreciation to our military and our soldiers. I was raised to stand at attention with my hand over my heart when I saw our American flag approaching in front of me. I also know how to show respect to our national anthem and pledge. But I am ashamed that our country no longer knows how to do it. Remove a cap during the national anthem? Stop talking and walking during the pledge? It is a rarity to see people doing this today and I am afraid the tipping point has come and gone to try and get folks to go back to those day of reverence and respect towards those who have given so much of themselves so that we could enjoy our freedom. Hopefully, I will be proven wrong.

Today's Memorial Day reference has to do with that popular photo from WWII on the island of Iwo Jima. Also, if you are interested in vintage black & white photos from WWII, you will certainly want to check out this site's archives from the Denver Post. Check it out:

I usually don't get off the subject of my camping travels but I am so worried about the troubles of our country today that I can't help but want to try and do some part of bringing awareness to our country's rich history.

I'll be back to camping soon, I hope. I have another great trip planned out west.

Cardboard Boats Day!

2010-05-22T21:06:00.001-05:00

Well, it is time for our annual cardboard boats contest at school. Every year students research, design and build a cardboard made only of cardboard and tape in the hopes it will float for at least an hour. It is a great engineering challenge and the students have a great time working togehter on it at home for about a month before race day. One lesson they learn maybe as important as how they build their boat, is how important it is to choose the right partners as a team. Getting along in life with others is not an easy lesson to learn and this activity really helps the kids learn how important it is to get along in order to complete a project. Some of the brighter kids struggle with this the most since they have always had success with grades and now disappointment steps in because of changes in attitudes and other things that are important lessons in life.

We had over 45 boats today and about 80 kids participated. We had about 10 sink within the hour but much was learned during that time. We had lots of spectators, parents, students and others who helped pull things together. The rain threatened us a little but the sun came out during our national anthem song and every thing went well. There were gobs of smiles all afternoon.

Monday in class, we discussed our success stories and talked about what makes a good boat vs. a poor one. We learned some good science vocabualry and talked about getting along with each other is just as important as any thing else when it comes to boats, family vacations, jobs, marriages, friends and many other things.

Mom!

2010-05-07T20:53:00.000-05:00

She was there at the beginning
When the world was new to you -
She was there to turn to happy times
Those when, you were hurt or blue.

She was there to listen to your thoughts
And when you asked, to give advice -
She was there to tell you, "Those don't match!"
Or, "Hon, you sure look nice."

She was there with you at nighttime
To help you say your prayers _
She was there to tell you, "It's alright."
When you had a dream that scares.

She was there at morning time
To get you up and out of bed -
She was there when you didn't feel good (or did)
To say, "You'd best stay home, instead."

She was there when you were hungry
And when you had those dirty clothes -
She was there when you needed her
(How she knew? Only heaven knows.)

She was there at the beginning
And she'll be there your whole life through -
She'll be there in your mind and heart
Just like a mother is supposed to do.

Submitted By: Del "Abe" Jones

I am no poet but I do know a good poem when I read one. I have never had a knack for making words rhyme and say something meaningful. But over the years and through endless English and reading classes, I developed an appreciation for the folks who have the gift and talent to sit down and write meaningful poems. I have a real short attention span so long poems don't mean much to me.

It seems like special days like Mother's Day is appropriate for a poem and I saw several that fit that category. Nice ones, long ones and in between. I came across this tribute to a mother today and I thought I would share it with you because it seemed to say something we can all relate to when it comes to our mother. I hope you enjoy it.

Fort Davis National Historic Site, Texas

2010-05-05T19:40:00.002-05:00

Certainly one of the finest hikes in Texas has to be the loop trail up, around and through the mountains that helped to establish this historic fort near Fort Davis. You can make it as long or as short of hike as you like because there are many alternatives, the longest being about 8 or 9 miles round trip. It begins in the heart of the fort area and makes its scenic way through the desert plants of this Chihuhuan desert. Interpretive signs inform the hiker about the plants and history of this special place. The path is well established and marked at each junction. At one point, you can even take an alternative trail which takes you over into Davis Mountains State Park which is north of the fort. The photos are clickable for a larger view! But for the best veiw, get in your car and drive out here to see it for yourself. It is good medicine for the soul and spirit!

One of the best scenic over looks anywhere (I think) is the spot that allows you to look down upon the whole fort and community. Reading the interpretive sign about magnetic north helps you gain a better appreciation into what these early settlers and pioneers had to deal with.

Historic picnic tables built by the CCC are still in great shape and are used by tired hikers even today.

There was a reliable and dependable water source here in those early days which made it a perfect spot to make a fort, a home, a community.

Field Trip, Day 3!

2010-05-01T14:00:00.005-05:00

The camp bell rang loud and clear this morning at 6:30 waking up all wannabe hikers to Guadalupe Peak. It was still dark but that didn't matter because enthusiasm was running high with the youngsters who wanted to hike to the top of Texas at 8, 750 feet above sea level. The dads had been up much earlier cooking and preparing our grab and go breakfast: egg and sausage burritos! They were excellent and just the perfect thing to fuel us up our mountain this morning.

By 7am, there were already a large contingent of cars and trucks heading out of the ranch campground to drive the 30 or so miles to Pine Springs which is where the trail begins for our hike. This area, along with much of Texas and New Mexico, had been inundated with much rainfall this week. The mountains and canyons above our ranch camp had received over 6 inches of rain only a couple of days before our arrival and so the lingering dark clouds and moisture in the atmosphere has made everyone wary about our hike on the mountain. But our drive out to the park showed nothing but promising skies as there was bright sunshine, no wind, and only non threatening clouds. Everyone loaded up with water and their backpacks and struck out on the trail that would lead them to the top about 4.5 miles later.

What a great hike it was to see everyone encouraging each other to rest and keep going up. The weather was great for hiking. Then later in the morning as many of us had already made it to the top and started to head back down, the clouds turned threatening with cold, dark clouds, rolling distant thunder below us. But we all kept on going.

Lightning!

The first flash and then thunder a few seconds later got everyone's attention and we started directing people off of the mountain. There will be other opportunities to come back and hike another day but when it comes to lightning, you don't mess around with that. And then a few minutes later, sleet started falling. Enough so as to cover our hats and shoulders. Then it turned to a steady rain and continued to do so for the next half hour or so. The lightning, while still distant, kept reminding us that it was in charge, no pun intended.

A few hours later by the time we had nearly made it to the bottom, everyone had taken off their sweaters and jackets because the weather had cleared up some and gotten much warmer. We had well over 150 hikers on the mountain and I must say it was a miracle of sorts not to have had an incident. I was surprised no one slipped and fell on the steep trail or sprained an ankle.

I thought the ordeal would have spoiled the whole trip because of the misery of the change of weather but everyone was in great spirits and attitude. Instead of heading back home to find comfort and rest, they all returned to the campground and picked up where they left off the day before: swimming, fishing, kayaking, relaxing, cooking, visiting, and all the other things happy campers generally enjoy doing.