On Sunday we ladies slept in for a bit later than the men, who seem to rise with the sun. Then we had leisurely breakfast while we planned our day. Since Bill really doesn't like to drive into cities, Gloria and I decided to take a spin into Albuquerque to see Old Town and do a little Michael's shopping. Bud wanted to watch the race from Vegas and Bill opted to stay with him. No surprise there! LOL
As we went down the Main St which also happens to be old 66--sight of our Tulsa debacle and far more traffic-y than that day--I was taken with the art deco and modern art architecture. What a very artistic city---it is quite obvious from downtown that there is much going on culturally. Old Town is quite quaint and St Phillippi Neri is a beautiful mission Church. We went into a little shop and Gloria got the most adorable knitted finger puppets for Lisa and Gia, her grandbabies. One puppet was a lion, which I just loved. She had had a lamb that was cute, too, but discovered a monkey with a banana that is a scream. I picked up a cute little vase for my shadow box--sort of Spanish white with a blue flower and an Alb shot glass for Jeff, a friend back home. We chatted quite awhile with the man that I think is the owner about living in NM from NE. Then we strolled along the way taking in the wares of several Indians. Lots of really pretty jewelry but Gloria and I agreed that we have so much jewelry that we don't wear some of it. We tend to have favorite pieces that we wear often and others that we forget we have. She has told Bud to stop buying her jewelry. There was some interesting pottery and I was taken with one glassy black one that was etched with cultural symbols and had a dragonfly etched inside. Dragonflies are protective and so this one would protect whatever went in the bowl. Her price was reasonable and she was a nice lady but, while I liked the bowl, I didn't love it. For some reason my back started to bother me and I just couldn't walk anymore. I had taken two Aleve before we left home hoping to hold pain off but for some reason it did not work! I felt so badly that Gloria had taken us all the way up there and in no time at all I couldn't enjoy it. We went over to a Mexican market but I just decided I had to rest for a bit more.
At Michael's we did a bit of scrapbook shopping and picked up a couple of dolls for the girls. One is named Olivia and that is Lisa's favorite name. So even though we didn't stay out as long as we might have we still had a lot of fun. We find so much to chat about.When we got home, Gloria taught me how to do iris folding. I'm so excited--it is so easy and is so beautiful when it is finished. I'm even going to buy the book she has because it has so many great patterns. Also, the lady that runs the Hen House is going to sell me a great holder for my sparkly glues--the name of which escapes me at the moment. I want to say Sprinkles but that isn't it. God,it's a pain getting senile!
We joined the guys for the end of the race and then had some of Gloria's homemade Chili. I know I rave about that girl's meals but she is one of the best cooks I know. I've never eaten anything she's made that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed and Bill says its yummy, too.
We all watched Harry's Law and Them Idiots which is the new road show of
Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and that other guy. Talk about pissing your pants funny. Those guys are terrific. We stuffed our faces with popcorn and it was just like being at the movies! LOL Fun!! and then bedtime once more!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
On the Way to Gloria and Bud's
Well, said that we left Texas on Saturday--how I lie--we left on Friday and spent Friday night in Roswell. Fortunately, 285 went right by the motel door so we did not have to go back through all that Roswell garishness to move on. We headed out toward Vaughn which is basically an over 50 miles of open space. A lot of wind blown snow and grazing cattle. We'd been this way before and had picked a different route but it was more elevated and we wanted to avoid really heavy snow conditions. Vaughn is another of those towns that once was on the beaten track, had lots of tourists and thrived and is now empty and forlorn. The wintry weather made it even more so, although there is a thriving railroad activity since it is rather centrally located in this area.
One of the things that is so amazing out here, even in thriving towns and cities, is that once you've left the business and residential section you are right back out into no where--the wide open spaces for miles and miles. Bill and I love it but many Easterners are frightened by it. Then again Westerners have told me they feel truly claustrophobic in the east with the trees and mountains just crushing in on them.Route 60 joined us but in time it turned westward and we went with it to Willard. At Laguna del Perro, where one of the chief entertainments is hunting wild historical signs, we looked out over not only the large dry lake beds but also the Manzano's, beyond which lay Belen, home to Gloria and Bud.
I thought I remembered a Hotel Willard, where we had eaten lunch last year. I guess NOT. Their Church is very well kept, however. Within a few miles we reached MountainAir which I had many times steered clear of since the name implied heights I was not willing to climb. Last year, Bud assured me there were no sheer drops to worry about so we did leave by this route out to Clovis. Things look different from opposite directions but the hotel I remembered was here and it is the Hotel Shaffer. The stained glass is original to the building but it has been redone inside and Paco's Cafe is a large open room with a large fireplace and scattered tables. I took pictures of it last year.
Since we were close to Belen but past lunchtime and not far from dinner we decided to just have a small snack to tide us over, having eaten nothing since breakfast. I ordered an Indian taco--fry bread topped with all the usual suspects. I expected a taco sized plate--uh,uh--it was a flat bread the size of a dinner plate with tons of stuff. Bill had some kind of salad and his, too, could have fed an army. Delicious and unbelievably inexpensive--his was $7.95 and mine a dollar cheaper! We finished as much as we could without feeling stuffed but boy it was just too much!
Love the fact that the railroad station is pink and only handles freight! Like the outfitter building, too. It is just a cute little town and with three historical missions nearby it is able to manage through the winter doldrums of few visitors.
On we wove through the mesas and mountains to the other side where there was no snow. Continued through the valley on route 47 which cuts diagonally to Belen avoiding Bernardo and arrived at their home with a mini-fridge filled with almost 3 lbs of good Vermont Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese which you just cannot find in the West. The only stuff they have is that awful yellow orange cheddar from who knows where. If Cabot is sometimes in a co-op it is outrageously expensive.
At that point, I put away my camera. We had a wonderful reunion--I gave Gloria a rednek wine glass--a stemmed Ball Jar--she and Bud just loved it. She and I retired into her newly reorganized scrap room and just caught up on tons of topics that the ladies can probably figure out--kids, grandkids, scrapping, friends, what we've been up to since last year. The guys were listening to some TV show and catching up too. Lots of laughter reverberating from all directions.
Gloria grilled some rib eyes and the grill went aflame. Bud thought the steaks were charcoal but as it turned out they were not only NOT burned to a crisp but were cooked to perfection--medium rare. She couldn't duplicate that with all the flame and activity if she tried! LOL Add to that a great burgundy, baked potatoes and Gloria's fabulous salad and it was a feast for the gods and goddesses, of course. Just a great time!
One of the things that is so amazing out here, even in thriving towns and cities, is that once you've left the business and residential section you are right back out into no where--the wide open spaces for miles and miles. Bill and I love it but many Easterners are frightened by it. Then again Westerners have told me they feel truly claustrophobic in the east with the trees and mountains just crushing in on them.Route 60 joined us but in time it turned westward and we went with it to Willard. At Laguna del Perro, where one of the chief entertainments is hunting wild historical signs, we looked out over not only the large dry lake beds but also the Manzano's, beyond which lay Belen, home to Gloria and Bud.
I thought I remembered a Hotel Willard, where we had eaten lunch last year. I guess NOT. Their Church is very well kept, however. Within a few miles we reached MountainAir which I had many times steered clear of since the name implied heights I was not willing to climb. Last year, Bud assured me there were no sheer drops to worry about so we did leave by this route out to Clovis. Things look different from opposite directions but the hotel I remembered was here and it is the Hotel Shaffer. The stained glass is original to the building but it has been redone inside and Paco's Cafe is a large open room with a large fireplace and scattered tables. I took pictures of it last year.
Since we were close to Belen but past lunchtime and not far from dinner we decided to just have a small snack to tide us over, having eaten nothing since breakfast. I ordered an Indian taco--fry bread topped with all the usual suspects. I expected a taco sized plate--uh,uh--it was a flat bread the size of a dinner plate with tons of stuff. Bill had some kind of salad and his, too, could have fed an army. Delicious and unbelievably inexpensive--his was $7.95 and mine a dollar cheaper! We finished as much as we could without feeling stuffed but boy it was just too much!
Love the fact that the railroad station is pink and only handles freight! Like the outfitter building, too. It is just a cute little town and with three historical missions nearby it is able to manage through the winter doldrums of few visitors.
On we wove through the mesas and mountains to the other side where there was no snow. Continued through the valley on route 47 which cuts diagonally to Belen avoiding Bernardo and arrived at their home with a mini-fridge filled with almost 3 lbs of good Vermont Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese which you just cannot find in the West. The only stuff they have is that awful yellow orange cheddar from who knows where. If Cabot is sometimes in a co-op it is outrageously expensive.
At that point, I put away my camera. We had a wonderful reunion--I gave Gloria a rednek wine glass--a stemmed Ball Jar--she and Bud just loved it. She and I retired into her newly reorganized scrap room and just caught up on tons of topics that the ladies can probably figure out--kids, grandkids, scrapping, friends, what we've been up to since last year. The guys were listening to some TV show and catching up too. Lots of laughter reverberating from all directions.
Gloria grilled some rib eyes and the grill went aflame. Bud thought the steaks were charcoal but as it turned out they were not only NOT burned to a crisp but were cooked to perfection--medium rare. She couldn't duplicate that with all the flame and activity if she tried! LOL Add to that a great burgundy, baked potatoes and Gloria's fabulous salad and it was a feast for the gods and goddesses, of course. Just a great time!
The Beginning of a New Mexico Sojourn
Saturday found us headed toward New Mexico through West Texas, which is truly oil country. It is here that are found Midland and Odessa, two of the more well-known oil cities, though we did not go through them this year. We started the day, cold and rainy and worked our way through LaMesa, home to the Golden Tornadoes and Seminole, which was a town that served as the gateway to Texas cotton fields. When I saw the first gin sign I thought, well, no junipers around, must be a cotton gin. Only a few minutes earlier I'd asked Bill what he thought would be planted in the fields, some of which were groomed and awaiting seed or seedlings. He thought perhaps sorghum but the gin and, then, some fields with leftover last year's crop answered the question. Somehow, I've never associated West Texas with those cottonfields back home when I was just a little baby and my Momma rocked me in my cradle! LOL
At Hobbs we entered New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment. It really is a magical place. We have been all over it except the mountains around Taos--the weather is always treacherous there when we come out. I do think that I may have Bill convinced to do a Fall trip next. I have my fingers and toes crossed.
I have sent a NM map as a separate picture for those of you who are geographically interested in seeing where we roamed. If you have followed us in other years, you also will have a chance to see where we've gone before. As I'd mentioned before I somehow have managed to leave the maps for this whole area of the country at home. As a result we are always on the lookout for an outlet for the State's official transportation map. In Hobbs, as it had been in Texas, the chamber of commerce was once more the place to go.
I don't remember the towns being so competitive with the beauty and size of their welcome signs last year. They may have done this in 2010--the centennial year--when we were detained in Oklahoma and stopped our Westward path. Last year we were on Interstates quite often because we entered through Colorado and through heavy snows.
By the time we reached Livingston the temperature had dropped to 32 and the rain turned to dry snow. By the time we reached Tatum we were quite cold and hungry and decided to stop at Tiny's. I ordered what was listed as a steak sandwich on Texas toast. I was tricked--Chicken Fried Cube Steak drowned in pallid white milk gravy!!! How Betsy laughed when I told her. I mentioned the gravy and she replied knowingly--that's how it's served. It is just as gross as I'd always thought and is right up there with biscuits and gravy as two of the most abominable economical American gastronomic inventions. They go down hard and then sit in the bottom of your stomach like a pile of lead. Just AWFUL!!!!!
The street signs in Tatum are beautiful--I couldn't get them all. The fellow across the street made some of them--he also owns Tiny's. He was gone to lunch--but WAS NOT at Tiny's--and would not be back until 2ish. It was only about 1230 so we couldn't wait. I've marked it as a place to which to return--I love the iron sculptures and have just the log wall on which to place it. It would look nice with Katie's structural steel Life Is Good.
And so we moved on along the long empty road of the LLano Estacado. Though the activity has changed a great deal and the wild life has been seriously depleted and fences and roads erected, I could not help but believe that the area's appearance hasn't changed terribly much. Between the weather and unchanging landscape the ride was almost hypnotic.
And then we were passed by a truck which passed the car in front of us. Another car passed us and the fellow in front and pulled in behind the truck. It was interesting to watch the oreo sandwich before us as the flashing lights came on and the truck was pulled over. That'll teach him to drive about 90 on a road posted 75! Exciting! Easily amused at times on these long stretches.
This is the first time we've approached Roswell in this direction but it was so cold and miserable we just didn't feel like taking the time to check out the bottomless lakes. At our motel the brochures for the park showed some lovely blue lakes beneath equally heavenly skies. Not today!
A few miles outside Roswell, however, we thought the Bitter Lake Wildlife Refuge might have a few cranes and ducks and herons to admire. On such a cold wintry day the two guides were thrilled to see us. Most every bird has headed North but the ranger focused a telescope on a red tailed hawk who was hunting from a tree right outside the visitors' center. I went out on the deck to take his picture--the wind was just howling and blowing me and the camera around. When using a telephoto lens any movement is magnified, which is why the shot where he is looking at me is blurry and he is almost out of the frame. Once he'd decided I wasn't a threat--just one of those dumb bird-watching types,I couldn't get him to look at me again!
We decided to take the 7 mile drive despite the lack of numerous birds. There is something very restful on these refuges and after a somewhat difficult day it was a perfect way to de-stress
Went back by the Pecan orchard we'd passed on the way in--here were saplings. Seems it takes a really long time for a pecan tree to mature and bear a crop. Not sure how long--need to research that.
Downtown Roswell is just so touristy--a Space Alien Museum and RESEARCH CENTER!!!!! is probably the most prominent in an old movie theatre. There are so many more gift shops, artifact stores etc. We just try to ignore it all and move out of the center of town, past the beautiful courthouse and out to the more sedate and sensible outskirts. The motel, here, is the only one that provides complimentary water. Probably should have worried that aliens had spiked it with something but banished such thoughts from my mind and drank a bottle. Feel fine, so far, three days later.
We went to eat right next door at Tia Juana's Mexican Cafe. Lovely patio on which to eat but not in 32 degrees. Just loved the migrant worker truck in the parking lot. We gringos entered and loved Tia's picture on her menu--as well as the play on the name of the cafe. Brandon, our bartender, recommended Chile Verde so that is what we ordered with a side of Charro Beans. Delicious. Dos Equis on tap and a perfect meal. Brandon moved down from Santa Fe. The topic at the bar as we arrived was the NFL destination of Peyton--after resolving that issue--LOL we talked of snowfall, Taos and Santa Fe in winter, snowboarding and Brandon's goal of becoming a chef since he prefers cooking to all restaurant jobs followed by bartending. He is quite personable and apparently liked us too since he gave us four beers free. Bill always gives a big tip in cases like that---he is always an excellent tipper but ups it--says he'd rather pay the worker than the house. LOL We then made our way the long distance home to the Comfort Inn and a bit of TV before bed.
At Hobbs we entered New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment. It really is a magical place. We have been all over it except the mountains around Taos--the weather is always treacherous there when we come out. I do think that I may have Bill convinced to do a Fall trip next. I have my fingers and toes crossed.
I have sent a NM map as a separate picture for those of you who are geographically interested in seeing where we roamed. If you have followed us in other years, you also will have a chance to see where we've gone before. As I'd mentioned before I somehow have managed to leave the maps for this whole area of the country at home. As a result we are always on the lookout for an outlet for the State's official transportation map. In Hobbs, as it had been in Texas, the chamber of commerce was once more the place to go.
I don't remember the towns being so competitive with the beauty and size of their welcome signs last year. They may have done this in 2010--the centennial year--when we were detained in Oklahoma and stopped our Westward path. Last year we were on Interstates quite often because we entered through Colorado and through heavy snows.
By the time we reached Livingston the temperature had dropped to 32 and the rain turned to dry snow. By the time we reached Tatum we were quite cold and hungry and decided to stop at Tiny's. I ordered what was listed as a steak sandwich on Texas toast. I was tricked--Chicken Fried Cube Steak drowned in pallid white milk gravy!!! How Betsy laughed when I told her. I mentioned the gravy and she replied knowingly--that's how it's served. It is just as gross as I'd always thought and is right up there with biscuits and gravy as two of the most abominable economical American gastronomic inventions. They go down hard and then sit in the bottom of your stomach like a pile of lead. Just AWFUL!!!!!
The street signs in Tatum are beautiful--I couldn't get them all. The fellow across the street made some of them--he also owns Tiny's. He was gone to lunch--but WAS NOT at Tiny's--and would not be back until 2ish. It was only about 1230 so we couldn't wait. I've marked it as a place to which to return--I love the iron sculptures and have just the log wall on which to place it. It would look nice with Katie's structural steel Life Is Good.
And so we moved on along the long empty road of the LLano Estacado. Though the activity has changed a great deal and the wild life has been seriously depleted and fences and roads erected, I could not help but believe that the area's appearance hasn't changed terribly much. Between the weather and unchanging landscape the ride was almost hypnotic.
And then we were passed by a truck which passed the car in front of us. Another car passed us and the fellow in front and pulled in behind the truck. It was interesting to watch the oreo sandwich before us as the flashing lights came on and the truck was pulled over. That'll teach him to drive about 90 on a road posted 75! Exciting! Easily amused at times on these long stretches.
This is the first time we've approached Roswell in this direction but it was so cold and miserable we just didn't feel like taking the time to check out the bottomless lakes. At our motel the brochures for the park showed some lovely blue lakes beneath equally heavenly skies. Not today!
A few miles outside Roswell, however, we thought the Bitter Lake Wildlife Refuge might have a few cranes and ducks and herons to admire. On such a cold wintry day the two guides were thrilled to see us. Most every bird has headed North but the ranger focused a telescope on a red tailed hawk who was hunting from a tree right outside the visitors' center. I went out on the deck to take his picture--the wind was just howling and blowing me and the camera around. When using a telephoto lens any movement is magnified, which is why the shot where he is looking at me is blurry and he is almost out of the frame. Once he'd decided I wasn't a threat--just one of those dumb bird-watching types,I couldn't get him to look at me again!
We decided to take the 7 mile drive despite the lack of numerous birds. There is something very restful on these refuges and after a somewhat difficult day it was a perfect way to de-stress
Went back by the Pecan orchard we'd passed on the way in--here were saplings. Seems it takes a really long time for a pecan tree to mature and bear a crop. Not sure how long--need to research that.
Downtown Roswell is just so touristy--a Space Alien Museum and RESEARCH CENTER!!!!! is probably the most prominent in an old movie theatre. There are so many more gift shops, artifact stores etc. We just try to ignore it all and move out of the center of town, past the beautiful courthouse and out to the more sedate and sensible outskirts. The motel, here, is the only one that provides complimentary water. Probably should have worried that aliens had spiked it with something but banished such thoughts from my mind and drank a bottle. Feel fine, so far, three days later.
We went to eat right next door at Tia Juana's Mexican Cafe. Lovely patio on which to eat but not in 32 degrees. Just loved the migrant worker truck in the parking lot. We gringos entered and loved Tia's picture on her menu--as well as the play on the name of the cafe. Brandon, our bartender, recommended Chile Verde so that is what we ordered with a side of Charro Beans. Delicious. Dos Equis on tap and a perfect meal. Brandon moved down from Santa Fe. The topic at the bar as we arrived was the NFL destination of Peyton--after resolving that issue--LOL we talked of snowfall, Taos and Santa Fe in winter, snowboarding and Brandon's goal of becoming a chef since he prefers cooking to all restaurant jobs followed by bartending. He is quite personable and apparently liked us too since he gave us four beers free. Bill always gives a big tip in cases like that---he is always an excellent tipper but ups it--says he'd rather pay the worker than the house. LOL We then made our way the long distance home to the Comfort Inn and a bit of TV before bed.
Friday, March 9, 2012
We Made It-- We Are In New Mexico!
Today is a short post-left Big Spring,Texas by 9am and headed to New Mexico. Will fill you in on the details in a few days. For now know that we hit snow and 32 degree weather. We do have studded tires though it wasn't necessary at all--this snow is so dry it just blows away. Staying in Roswell tonight so if we don't get back in contact by mid week you'll know the aliens took us to replace their lost citizens! We are going to be off line for a bit since we will be with our friends, Gloria and Bud, in Belen for at least a night or two. Too much fun to use the computer and too busy. Until we're on the road again--you've got time to catch up if you'd like. Talk to you soon!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Long Windy and Finally Cold Day
When we got up this morning the heat and humidity that hit us in the face when we opened our door was almost unbearable. The manager in no way splurges with A/C in the public places. Even breakfast was uncomfortable. It also wasn't helped by the continuing news of our possible involvement in Syria!
One of the problems of staying in a motel is that it is usually near the Interstate--this causes a problem when one arrives on a back road, but it is even more frustrating when trying to find a back road on which to leave. The easiest thing to do this a.m. was to get on I 35 toward Waco and go a bit East in order to get to FR 107 which would take us Westward once more.
All in all, the day was not starting out to terribly well and upon finding 107 the skies opened up. The weather report last night warned that we would be driving into scattered thunderstorms, some severe. Fortunately, the rains held off, more or less. The temperature on the other hand was problematic--in one hours time it dropped from 70 to 48 degrees! Needless to say that produced severe winds with which Bill had to struggle for the entire day. Nevertheless, we had fun and enjoyed the varied geography of West Texas.
As we tooled along 107 through Moody we chatted about our stay in Temple..particularly about Becca, our leggy,cowboy booted barkeep at Texas Roadhouse. Not quite sure what brought her to mind but I laughed about how she y'alled us to death and I think Bill even got a honey with his second beer. He didn't like her--said she was friendly but not warm--I said she was programmed and he agreed. With that we topped a crest and the most incredible stretch of fields in various stages of cultivation lay at our feet and as far as the eye could see. Unfortunately, the rain and haze made the picture too hazy to do the scene justice.
107 ended at Texas 36 and the city of Gatesville--the home of five of the eight Texas prisons for women including the death row unit. I've never seen such a big prison with the highest fences and the fiercest looking razor wire atop. Each corner of the campus had a high gun tower. It was impressive but too big to photograph adequately. Frightening, too. More imposing than any movie could make it. As we drove along Bill passed a car with Texas plates--as I said " You're passing a Texan??!" He said, " Look at That, I passed a Texas car! " A bit later we passed a real operating Drive-In theatre and then the skies opened once more. For 32 miles it rained and the winds rose and the temperature dropped to the 40's. It was difficult to see much, much less photograph it. By Hamilton, the rains let up but the wind continued. We passed a DQ where I had wanted to get an oreo frosty drink but it had gotten too cold to have it. I probably should have stopped at the Walmart for a battery and some cards, however!
The next road, another farm road 218, passed through one forlorn town after another--Pottsville, Indian Gap, Priddy and Zephyr. This is definitely a very poor area of Texas--the fields are wind eroded to rocks and there is little evidence of any cattle, oil or agriculture. Two of the large schools are empty and vandalized. Just sad and in this weather, eerie. At one corner there was a field of grazing lambs with their adorable babies. About all the pastures will support. One Mom was on her hind legs reaching for the tree branches and her baby was trying to jump up--so precious. For one fleeting moment the sun came out and we stopped to enjoy a few minutes break and stretch of leg. In the far distance, two fences away there was a grazing herd but one fellow was very curious about our presence. There always seems to be one who just becomes interested in our passing car or our stretching our legs. The rest of the herd goes on but the nosy one just stares and stares. Funny. There were some lovely daisy-like flowers in bloom here, too.
Our enjoyment was short lived--the darkening skies and dropping temperature threatened and the wind became truly strong. Nonetheless, there were a few moments of levity--such as the Democrat Cemetery--Repubicans need not apply? and the Priddy Pirates miles from any navigable water.
Hoarde's Creek, which was narrow and totally dry, I wondered if that was why Hoarde's Lake State Park was closed. Bill laughed and said if that creek was its source--foolish man, I meant the drought. As we took a bend in the road there was the neatest white wrought iron fancy arched entry to a ranch. In the arch in curlicue letters was its name: Oleo Acres and beneath it : Just a Cheap Spread. A rancher with a sense of humor.We passed through several more small towns of varying stages of stagnation--though one was the home of Rogers Hornsby a Hall of Fame baseball player from the 20's. Bill suspected ole Rogers hadn't retired in Winters.
Soon, we made a turn onto the last series of Farm Roads. Initially, the land was rocky and non-agricultural. The Blackwell area was oil country with new wells being dug. The MaryNeal area was nothing but a huge wind farm. The mist was so thick it was difficult to discern the windmills from the sky and background. The MaryNeal post office, about the only thing in town, was a cute little stone house. Wonder if it is one the USPS will close?
Maryneal is an unincorporated community in southern Nolan County, Texas, United States. It lies along FM 608 south of the city of Sweetwater, the county seat of Nolan County.[1] Its elevation is 2,566 feet (782 m).[2] Although Maryneal is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 79535;[3] the ZCTA for ZIP Code 79535 had a population of 181 at the 2000 census.[4]
Founded in 1907 along the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, the community was named for one or more people; the source of its name is disputed. In its early history, the community was more significant than it is today: it won a significant minority of the votes in an election (losing to Sweetwater) to determine the county seat, and a post office was established in Maryneal by being moved from Decker.[5]
Once past MaryNeal where the rain again obscured most everything in the immediate vicinity FR608 took a sharp hairpin turn westward.Within minutes we moved from hilly plateau country with rocky soil into flat farmland. The changing topography in this State is just amazing. We also dropped in temperature to the 30's. The farmers here use a very distinct stepped contour planting. The tiers are wide and the edge of the terrace is bermed and planted thickly with soil holding fine spreading rooted plants. The colors were so vivid--the red soil and the emerald green vegetation--very Irish looking to me. In a field left fallow for a few years the terraces look like a gray flight of stairs.
In Colorado City we returned to an Interstate in order to best reach our Quality Inn at Big Spring. An Interstate gives fast direct travel with boring hypnotic sides. Fortunately, the wind, rain and traffic were not too awful and we covered the last 38 miles to our destination with no problems. Took a spin through town to the Texas Cajun Cafe where we opted for good old fashioned hamburgers. Back to our suite, where I blogged and Bill relaxed in the living room of our suite to watch his shows and I watched Big Bang Theory and Person of Interest. Now, I'll grab a water and watch The Mentalist before retiring for the night.
As a final note, our friend Gloria, emailed to say it is snowing in Belen, New Mexico! Here it is 915 CST and 35 degrees. I got out a sweater, the heat is on and my sandals have been stowed. What crazy weather. Night all--stay warm or have a cold one, whichever is appropriate for your crazy meteorology.
One of the problems of staying in a motel is that it is usually near the Interstate--this causes a problem when one arrives on a back road, but it is even more frustrating when trying to find a back road on which to leave. The easiest thing to do this a.m. was to get on I 35 toward Waco and go a bit East in order to get to FR 107 which would take us Westward once more.
All in all, the day was not starting out to terribly well and upon finding 107 the skies opened up. The weather report last night warned that we would be driving into scattered thunderstorms, some severe. Fortunately, the rains held off, more or less. The temperature on the other hand was problematic--in one hours time it dropped from 70 to 48 degrees! Needless to say that produced severe winds with which Bill had to struggle for the entire day. Nevertheless, we had fun and enjoyed the varied geography of West Texas.
As we tooled along 107 through Moody we chatted about our stay in Temple..particularly about Becca, our leggy,cowboy booted barkeep at Texas Roadhouse. Not quite sure what brought her to mind but I laughed about how she y'alled us to death and I think Bill even got a honey with his second beer. He didn't like her--said she was friendly but not warm--I said she was programmed and he agreed. With that we topped a crest and the most incredible stretch of fields in various stages of cultivation lay at our feet and as far as the eye could see. Unfortunately, the rain and haze made the picture too hazy to do the scene justice.
107 ended at Texas 36 and the city of Gatesville--the home of five of the eight Texas prisons for women including the death row unit. I've never seen such a big prison with the highest fences and the fiercest looking razor wire atop. Each corner of the campus had a high gun tower. It was impressive but too big to photograph adequately. Frightening, too. More imposing than any movie could make it. As we drove along Bill passed a car with Texas plates--as I said " You're passing a Texan??!" He said, " Look at That, I passed a Texas car! " A bit later we passed a real operating Drive-In theatre and then the skies opened once more. For 32 miles it rained and the winds rose and the temperature dropped to the 40's. It was difficult to see much, much less photograph it. By Hamilton, the rains let up but the wind continued. We passed a DQ where I had wanted to get an oreo frosty drink but it had gotten too cold to have it. I probably should have stopped at the Walmart for a battery and some cards, however!
The next road, another farm road 218, passed through one forlorn town after another--Pottsville, Indian Gap, Priddy and Zephyr. This is definitely a very poor area of Texas--the fields are wind eroded to rocks and there is little evidence of any cattle, oil or agriculture. Two of the large schools are empty and vandalized. Just sad and in this weather, eerie. At one corner there was a field of grazing lambs with their adorable babies. About all the pastures will support. One Mom was on her hind legs reaching for the tree branches and her baby was trying to jump up--so precious. For one fleeting moment the sun came out and we stopped to enjoy a few minutes break and stretch of leg. In the far distance, two fences away there was a grazing herd but one fellow was very curious about our presence. There always seems to be one who just becomes interested in our passing car or our stretching our legs. The rest of the herd goes on but the nosy one just stares and stares. Funny. There were some lovely daisy-like flowers in bloom here, too.
Our enjoyment was short lived--the darkening skies and dropping temperature threatened and the wind became truly strong. Nonetheless, there were a few moments of levity--such as the Democrat Cemetery--Repubicans need not apply? and the Priddy Pirates miles from any navigable water.
Hoarde's Creek, which was narrow and totally dry, I wondered if that was why Hoarde's Lake State Park was closed. Bill laughed and said if that creek was its source--foolish man, I meant the drought. As we took a bend in the road there was the neatest white wrought iron fancy arched entry to a ranch. In the arch in curlicue letters was its name: Oleo Acres and beneath it : Just a Cheap Spread. A rancher with a sense of humor.We passed through several more small towns of varying stages of stagnation--though one was the home of Rogers Hornsby a Hall of Fame baseball player from the 20's. Bill suspected ole Rogers hadn't retired in Winters.
Soon, we made a turn onto the last series of Farm Roads. Initially, the land was rocky and non-agricultural. The Blackwell area was oil country with new wells being dug. The MaryNeal area was nothing but a huge wind farm. The mist was so thick it was difficult to discern the windmills from the sky and background. The MaryNeal post office, about the only thing in town, was a cute little stone house. Wonder if it is one the USPS will close?
Maryneal is an unincorporated community in southern Nolan County, Texas, United States. It lies along FM 608 south of the city of Sweetwater, the county seat of Nolan County.[1] Its elevation is 2,566 feet (782 m).[2] Although Maryneal is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 79535;[3] the ZCTA for ZIP Code 79535 had a population of 181 at the 2000 census.[4]
Founded in 1907 along the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway, the community was named for one or more people; the source of its name is disputed. In its early history, the community was more significant than it is today: it won a significant minority of the votes in an election (losing to Sweetwater) to determine the county seat, and a post office was established in Maryneal by being moved from Decker.[5]
Once past MaryNeal where the rain again obscured most everything in the immediate vicinity FR608 took a sharp hairpin turn westward.Within minutes we moved from hilly plateau country with rocky soil into flat farmland. The changing topography in this State is just amazing. We also dropped in temperature to the 30's. The farmers here use a very distinct stepped contour planting. The tiers are wide and the edge of the terrace is bermed and planted thickly with soil holding fine spreading rooted plants. The colors were so vivid--the red soil and the emerald green vegetation--very Irish looking to me. In a field left fallow for a few years the terraces look like a gray flight of stairs.
In Colorado City we returned to an Interstate in order to best reach our Quality Inn at Big Spring. An Interstate gives fast direct travel with boring hypnotic sides. Fortunately, the wind, rain and traffic were not too awful and we covered the last 38 miles to our destination with no problems. Took a spin through town to the Texas Cajun Cafe where we opted for good old fashioned hamburgers. Back to our suite, where I blogged and Bill relaxed in the living room of our suite to watch his shows and I watched Big Bang Theory and Person of Interest. Now, I'll grab a water and watch The Mentalist before retiring for the night.
As a final note, our friend Gloria, emailed to say it is snowing in Belen, New Mexico! Here it is 915 CST and 35 degrees. I got out a sweater, the heat is on and my sandals have been stowed. What crazy weather. Night all--stay warm or have a cold one, whichever is appropriate for your crazy meteorology.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A Ramble Through Texas
Today's pictures--that is to say yesterday's Mar 6--are a bit arse-backwards but once we left Lufkin I got it together. Luckett's Hole in One Cafe is the restaurant in the Lufkin Quality Inn and is quite a nice restaurant with delicious evening meals. We've had something different each of the three times we've stayed there and have never been disappointed. The owner's wife makes all the salad dressings fresh each day. They know their veggies and their chef who, I guess, is more aptly called a cook since he has no formal training, knows exactly how to cook them.
Breakfast , on the other hand, is a different story. The first year we stayed the room was filled with guests and there was a nice menu. ( this is the only choice hotels we've ever stayed at that does not serve a free continental breakfast.) Last year when we came down the owner greeted us by saying his cook had not turned up and so he had a limited selection. Well, yesterday, we found the same situation. So for $14 I had dry toast, a huge glass of OJ, two slices of bacon and a cup of coffee and Bill had dry toast, two strips of bacon, a potato patty and a scoop of scrambled eggs. And we waited forever for it--I don't think anyone else had come here for breakfast and there certainly was no one there with us. I think he had to fire up the stove for us and then he forgot my bacon--took a few minutes for it to come out and he said, good thing I had this in the oven! A really nice man so there was no way you could get angry BUT if we come again we must remember to go to the Cotton Patch for breakfast! I would guess that there must be some condition in the hotel contract that requires them to be open for breakfast but, not being lucrative, I think the service is designed to eliminate customers and allow them to get rid of the need to open before dinner.
(Back from a break, watching Peyton Manning and Jim Irsay officially announcing Peyton's departure from the Colts. Sad but optimistic too.)
That welcome to Lufkin sign is directly across the road from the hotel driveway and on an elevation. Can't tell you how many times I've tried to get a decent picture of it. This is the best and the last attempt.
Left on 59 south because I let Bill pick the route to Temple. Stopped at a rest area and while waiting for Bill I saw this old guy, so crippled he couldn't straighten up or walk without leaning on the car and his cane, get from behind the wheel of the car next to us! I don't know, of course, how stiff or how much pain he suffers but I do know that the way my legs have been lately that I could not drive without serious difficulty--or at least with less than speedy reaction time. How is it that he drove here from Ohio? People wonder why I don't enjoy driving anymore--trucks, crippled drivers etc. Too crazy.
We came to a large rest area and stopped, hoping to get an official Texas map but it was brand new, and though the rest rooms were all set up the desk where the info stuff will be given out by a clerk was not. Eventually, there appeared a tourist info sign and we came to a chamber of commerce for some town. Bill went in and obtained an official map---so, I'm back in business!!!!!! Hooray---farm roads here we come!
At Livingston we picked up 190 again and headed toward Huntsville, passing by Lake Livingston. It was interesting to see how the low causeway protects one side of the Lake from the wind. The Lake and the sky with its clouds just made such a pretty view I just could not resist taking lots of shots. We'd watched the little cumulus clouds that line the edge of a front approaching as we moved South out of Lufkin. Now they were consolidating into larger masses of cloud and the wind was rising.
I've been on this road before--Barb, this is the road we took from La to Round Rock. I didn't get to see Sam Houston's grave this time, either. Bill didn't think I wanted to go and, if you remember, Huntsville traffic is heavy, especially at lunch time. I'll get there someday!
Henderson King Yoakum (September 6, 1810 – November 30, 1856) was a Texas historian. He was born in Claiborne County, Tennessee, and graduated from West Point in 1832. Yoakum served in the Tennessee Senate from 1839 to 1845 and strongly advocated for the annexation of Texas. Yoakum served as the director of the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, beginning in 1849. In 1846, Yoakum authored a two-volume work entitled History of Texas from Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846. An 1805-1819 map of Spanish Texas is found at the front of the text. Yoakum County, Texas, established in 1876, was named after him.
Just thought you might be as curious as I as to why, in addition to Sam Houston flags--he did live and die in Huntsville--they would have some dedicated to Henderson Yoakum. So now we know! LOL
Texas is very proud of its history and there are many historical signs and monuments on all of its roads. We like them and, if the road is quiet enough we stop and read them aloud. It depends on whose side the sign appears as to who does the reading. Bill got Hillary and I got the Baptist Church. It is interesting to see the old names--I thought Hillary would be a woman. Maybe a double L is male and a single one, a female?
We noted that we had left the piney woods of the Big Thicket pretty much behind and were now entering the Texas Hill Country. We also noted the lack of traffic on 75 as we glanced across fields at the trucks and traffic on I 45 which paralleled our path to Madisonville. We passed through its historic downtown but did not find it particularly worth lingering.
Shortly out of town we came to a corner on which an oil well sat idle and here we turned onto our first Farm Road of our Texas trek. FR 1452, which came to a T with 39 toward Normangee. On the map 1452 ends here but farther up 39 it turned to the left and I was tempted to go with it. Yet, one is never sure what direction a FR may go so we proceeded to the intersection with OSR--the Old San Antonio Road. Here we found a pink marble monument which was very difficult to read. I don't know if you will have the option to magnify it but if you do and are interested it is quite easy to read when enlarged. Basically, it is one of many El Camino Real that are found in old Spanish West. It was blazed in 1691 by a Catholic priest and explorer and connected the missions in San Antonio with those in East Texas.
This part of Texas is mostly cattle for one guy is making his money from both cattle and oil. That is a big rig--a true derrick. While there are many Black Angus and Hereford here there are also quite a few Brahman. Bill says they are meat animals too but are probably used for breeding purposes as well. Originally from India they are tolerant of drought conditions and are able to survive on sparse grazing grasses. Something desperately needed in recent years. The drought has done a job on grains which in turn has caused a shortage of feed which in turn has caused the starvation of my head of cattle. I did see one herd that looked rather skeletal. Even as a bio teacher I sometimes forget these interconnecting chains in the web of life!
As we continued out of Normangee, by the way,1452 came in from the left so I guess I should have ventured more bravely--but then I would have missed the pink rock! On we continued to Wheelock and more history. Wonder how old those buildings are--sometimes what looks really ancient is just weathered by the elements and not very old at all. I really loved the double verandered building at the beginning of FR 391 and it was for sale, too. Also they are improving 391 so it wouldn't be as rural as one would think. Actually, not happy to see them widening the road--I love the old, narrow ones but the FR are for the most part wide and smooth. Just travelled only by the locals and therefore pretty empty and that is great.
I must say, that though that long ago welcome to Texas sign said drive Texas style--friendly,it didn't say that the speed limit is for the most part 70 and that the locals all drive 90! Friendly and fast! And when they have to hit their brakes as they come around the curve upon those pokey old Vermonters they nicely flick their headlights instead of giving you a heart attack by laying on the horn.
Crossing over the tracks and looking down we saw the little burg of Hearne. The name seemed so familiar but I just figured, since 190 runs through it, that I just remembered it from a prior trip. Even the sign to Camp Hearne didn't ring a bell until we came to FR 485 and went by its entrance. Made Bill turn back and we came to the visitor's center only to find it is opened Wed-Sat! There isn't actually very much to see of the camp but what we could see anyway--but the film and museum would have been interesting. You might note the warnings about going out to the Officers' area and the remains of the fountains and theatres the prisoners built. Chiggers, mosquitoes, fire ants, poisonous snakes, boar, stray dogs to say nothing of poison ivy! A film would suit me fine. The place is operated by a local outfit but, I imagine, as money allows, those things will become more easily accessible. This is the second WW II camp I've seen--the first was Tule, Ca which was a Japanese internment camp. One thing for sure--they were isolated. Even so Nazi prisoners were able to develop a communication system and the names of Anti-Nazi prisoners were relayed so that they would get their just rewards when the war was over and they all returned to the Vaterland. I guess it is ever true, when there's a will, there's a way.
As the day came to a close we arrived at Rt 53, soon to become Adams Av and the road into Temple. A couple of quick turns and we arrived at the Quality Inn. Checked in and then headed over to Texas Roadhouse for Prime Rib. Delicious meal, at the end of a tiring day.
Today we are remaining in Temple. The sky is overcast and it rains periodically, though the wind seems to have died down. Decided it was a perfect day to hole up and take it easy. Catch up on laundry, blogging and reading. Bill is watching some of the Big East Tournament--UConn vs W.Virginia. The winner of this game plays Syracuse, a Bill fav, tomorrow.
So, I'll say good bye for now. Think I'll redo my nails and wash my hair--not necessarily in that order. Chinese order in sounds good for dinner--haven't had Chinese food in ages. The manager here is Chinese so hopefully there is a bit of a community and the restaurant is good.
The plan tomorrow is Big Springs and then New Mexico the following day. So Gloria and Bud---about three, maybe four days and we'll be there. Will call from wherever we wind up in NM to give you some lead time. Will that work?
Breakfast , on the other hand, is a different story. The first year we stayed the room was filled with guests and there was a nice menu. ( this is the only choice hotels we've ever stayed at that does not serve a free continental breakfast.) Last year when we came down the owner greeted us by saying his cook had not turned up and so he had a limited selection. Well, yesterday, we found the same situation. So for $14 I had dry toast, a huge glass of OJ, two slices of bacon and a cup of coffee and Bill had dry toast, two strips of bacon, a potato patty and a scoop of scrambled eggs. And we waited forever for it--I don't think anyone else had come here for breakfast and there certainly was no one there with us. I think he had to fire up the stove for us and then he forgot my bacon--took a few minutes for it to come out and he said, good thing I had this in the oven! A really nice man so there was no way you could get angry BUT if we come again we must remember to go to the Cotton Patch for breakfast! I would guess that there must be some condition in the hotel contract that requires them to be open for breakfast but, not being lucrative, I think the service is designed to eliminate customers and allow them to get rid of the need to open before dinner.
(Back from a break, watching Peyton Manning and Jim Irsay officially announcing Peyton's departure from the Colts. Sad but optimistic too.)
That welcome to Lufkin sign is directly across the road from the hotel driveway and on an elevation. Can't tell you how many times I've tried to get a decent picture of it. This is the best and the last attempt.
Left on 59 south because I let Bill pick the route to Temple. Stopped at a rest area and while waiting for Bill I saw this old guy, so crippled he couldn't straighten up or walk without leaning on the car and his cane, get from behind the wheel of the car next to us! I don't know, of course, how stiff or how much pain he suffers but I do know that the way my legs have been lately that I could not drive without serious difficulty--or at least with less than speedy reaction time. How is it that he drove here from Ohio? People wonder why I don't enjoy driving anymore--trucks, crippled drivers etc. Too crazy.
We came to a large rest area and stopped, hoping to get an official Texas map but it was brand new, and though the rest rooms were all set up the desk where the info stuff will be given out by a clerk was not. Eventually, there appeared a tourist info sign and we came to a chamber of commerce for some town. Bill went in and obtained an official map---so, I'm back in business!!!!!! Hooray---farm roads here we come!
At Livingston we picked up 190 again and headed toward Huntsville, passing by Lake Livingston. It was interesting to see how the low causeway protects one side of the Lake from the wind. The Lake and the sky with its clouds just made such a pretty view I just could not resist taking lots of shots. We'd watched the little cumulus clouds that line the edge of a front approaching as we moved South out of Lufkin. Now they were consolidating into larger masses of cloud and the wind was rising.
I've been on this road before--Barb, this is the road we took from La to Round Rock. I didn't get to see Sam Houston's grave this time, either. Bill didn't think I wanted to go and, if you remember, Huntsville traffic is heavy, especially at lunch time. I'll get there someday!
Henderson King Yoakum (September 6, 1810 – November 30, 1856) was a Texas historian. He was born in Claiborne County, Tennessee, and graduated from West Point in 1832. Yoakum served in the Tennessee Senate from 1839 to 1845 and strongly advocated for the annexation of Texas. Yoakum served as the director of the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, beginning in 1849. In 1846, Yoakum authored a two-volume work entitled History of Texas from Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846. An 1805-1819 map of Spanish Texas is found at the front of the text. Yoakum County, Texas, established in 1876, was named after him.
Just thought you might be as curious as I as to why, in addition to Sam Houston flags--he did live and die in Huntsville--they would have some dedicated to Henderson Yoakum. So now we know! LOL
Texas is very proud of its history and there are many historical signs and monuments on all of its roads. We like them and, if the road is quiet enough we stop and read them aloud. It depends on whose side the sign appears as to who does the reading. Bill got Hillary and I got the Baptist Church. It is interesting to see the old names--I thought Hillary would be a woman. Maybe a double L is male and a single one, a female?
We noted that we had left the piney woods of the Big Thicket pretty much behind and were now entering the Texas Hill Country. We also noted the lack of traffic on 75 as we glanced across fields at the trucks and traffic on I 45 which paralleled our path to Madisonville. We passed through its historic downtown but did not find it particularly worth lingering.
Shortly out of town we came to a corner on which an oil well sat idle and here we turned onto our first Farm Road of our Texas trek. FR 1452, which came to a T with 39 toward Normangee. On the map 1452 ends here but farther up 39 it turned to the left and I was tempted to go with it. Yet, one is never sure what direction a FR may go so we proceeded to the intersection with OSR--the Old San Antonio Road. Here we found a pink marble monument which was very difficult to read. I don't know if you will have the option to magnify it but if you do and are interested it is quite easy to read when enlarged. Basically, it is one of many El Camino Real that are found in old Spanish West. It was blazed in 1691 by a Catholic priest and explorer and connected the missions in San Antonio with those in East Texas.
This part of Texas is mostly cattle for one guy is making his money from both cattle and oil. That is a big rig--a true derrick. While there are many Black Angus and Hereford here there are also quite a few Brahman. Bill says they are meat animals too but are probably used for breeding purposes as well. Originally from India they are tolerant of drought conditions and are able to survive on sparse grazing grasses. Something desperately needed in recent years. The drought has done a job on grains which in turn has caused a shortage of feed which in turn has caused the starvation of my head of cattle. I did see one herd that looked rather skeletal. Even as a bio teacher I sometimes forget these interconnecting chains in the web of life!
As we continued out of Normangee, by the way,1452 came in from the left so I guess I should have ventured more bravely--but then I would have missed the pink rock! On we continued to Wheelock and more history. Wonder how old those buildings are--sometimes what looks really ancient is just weathered by the elements and not very old at all. I really loved the double verandered building at the beginning of FR 391 and it was for sale, too. Also they are improving 391 so it wouldn't be as rural as one would think. Actually, not happy to see them widening the road--I love the old, narrow ones but the FR are for the most part wide and smooth. Just travelled only by the locals and therefore pretty empty and that is great.
I must say, that though that long ago welcome to Texas sign said drive Texas style--friendly,it didn't say that the speed limit is for the most part 70 and that the locals all drive 90! Friendly and fast! And when they have to hit their brakes as they come around the curve upon those pokey old Vermonters they nicely flick their headlights instead of giving you a heart attack by laying on the horn.
Crossing over the tracks and looking down we saw the little burg of Hearne. The name seemed so familiar but I just figured, since 190 runs through it, that I just remembered it from a prior trip. Even the sign to Camp Hearne didn't ring a bell until we came to FR 485 and went by its entrance. Made Bill turn back and we came to the visitor's center only to find it is opened Wed-Sat! There isn't actually very much to see of the camp but what we could see anyway--but the film and museum would have been interesting. You might note the warnings about going out to the Officers' area and the remains of the fountains and theatres the prisoners built. Chiggers, mosquitoes, fire ants, poisonous snakes, boar, stray dogs to say nothing of poison ivy! A film would suit me fine. The place is operated by a local outfit but, I imagine, as money allows, those things will become more easily accessible. This is the second WW II camp I've seen--the first was Tule, Ca which was a Japanese internment camp. One thing for sure--they were isolated. Even so Nazi prisoners were able to develop a communication system and the names of Anti-Nazi prisoners were relayed so that they would get their just rewards when the war was over and they all returned to the Vaterland. I guess it is ever true, when there's a will, there's a way.
As the day came to a close we arrived at Rt 53, soon to become Adams Av and the road into Temple. A couple of quick turns and we arrived at the Quality Inn. Checked in and then headed over to Texas Roadhouse for Prime Rib. Delicious meal, at the end of a tiring day.
Today we are remaining in Temple. The sky is overcast and it rains periodically, though the wind seems to have died down. Decided it was a perfect day to hole up and take it easy. Catch up on laundry, blogging and reading. Bill is watching some of the Big East Tournament--UConn vs W.Virginia. The winner of this game plays Syracuse, a Bill fav, tomorrow.
So, I'll say good bye for now. Think I'll redo my nails and wash my hair--not necessarily in that order. Chinese order in sounds good for dinner--haven't had Chinese food in ages. The manager here is Chinese so hopefully there is a bit of a community and the restaurant is good.
The plan tomorrow is Big Springs and then New Mexico the following day. So Gloria and Bud---about three, maybe four days and we'll be there. Will call from wherever we wind up in NM to give you some lead time. Will that work?
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Big Thicket
Our motel was at exit 18 last night so we had to head north an exit to pick up 190 west. For one fleeting moment we had the option of going to Lafayette but no, we decided last night to forgo it so we stuck with our decision. I swear the car tried to swerve out of Bill's hands but he was firmly in control and off we went through downtown Opelousas. I was so distraught I didn't think to take even one picture! Don't think we missed much though.
As we came around a bend in Lawtell a red truck caught my eye and it looked so much like a toy that I knew it had to be vintage. Knowing my friend, Glen, likes such things I took a quick shot of it--unfortunately, not my best picture of the day. When I enlarged and cropped the windshield I think I found that Glen probably wouldn't care about it since only the chassis seems to be original. Even the paint job is new. Oh, well, it WAS cute. We passed a bone yard and there were several vintage autos--Bill suggested I take a picture of that for Glen but I knew seeing those poor old rusty neglected cars would make him sad---so I didn't. Should I have, Glen?
On we continued through the last of Acadiana and its crawfish growing rice paddies. I love how the shallow pond is used for both. There were several fields that have been drained and I was amazed at how shallow those ponds really are. There was a man in a flat boat in one of them collected crawfish. I'd not seen that before in our travels.
Entering Elton we came upon the first of several rice dryers and storage facilities along this highway. The chutes feed the dried rice into trucks to be taken to rice mills and packaging plants. Bet there are a few vermin in there and maybe a few big cats to keep them in line. What do you think, Jack? Those Konriko kitties ain't seen nothing yet! ( Konriko is the rice plant in Lafayette-New Iberia area that I wrote about several years ago ) Also in Elton we stopped at the PO to mail Betsy's birthday card. ( Which reminds me, I forgot to get one for SIL Sally and a sympathy card for my cousin's family. He died last night of cancer--at about 6 o'clock. Sad but he has been ill for awhile and did well until fairly recently--it was not unexpected.)
At Ragley 190 joins 171 and heads straight North toward DeRitters. The railroad had run right next to us from Opelousas but now it took a slight southern path and we went North. Both of us would meet again in Merryville. When we came to 110 I realized that it went to Merryville too and that it was a diagonal shot. Going to DeRitters took us slightly north of the town and then we had to swing southwest to reach it. Driver never blinked --just made that left when I said to. He's pretty cooperative even though I've gotten us into some interesting situations in the past. Anyone remember the levee road yesterday? But, like a Navy Seal, I try to have several alternatives in case the first idea doesn't pan out.
Fortunately, this time it not only worked but it saved us about 20 miles. This part of Louisiana--which by the way is NOT Arcadiana is a little higher and much drier. It is piney woods and rolling hills--much like the Texas to which we were headed. The scenery is pretty unchanging for many miles and tends to bore me but travelling with Bill makes it interesting. He enjoys it because he understands what is going on here. A forestry operation that works over a 50-60 year cycle. The thickly wooded area of young trees, the culled areas that are maybe 5 years older, the thinned areas that are another 5-10 years older, the really thinned area where controlled fires have eliminated the understory and the trees are growing tall and straight another 10 years older, the area that looks the same except the trees have more girth, probably 20 years older and ready to be harvested. And then the areas that look awful because they have been harvested recently and the pretty areas with all the small seedlings where the area has been reseeded--instead of the old seed tree method. When you have such narration by someone who has studied and taught forestry you realize that the scenery is NOT the same after all! And to think Botany was my least favorite of all my major courses and the least interesting to me to teach. I got better at teaching it by being married to Bill. And when I tutored my last student he was my guest lecturer who took us on several field trips and taught us both so much.
The time passed so quickly and before long we reconnected with 190 in Merryville, which wasn't much of a place, and crossed the humane bridge across the Sabine and entered Texas. With a pang, I left Louisiana behind. Who knows we may return through the upper part on the way home but not Lafayette this trip. :-(
There was no welcome center on this entry and the local information center in Newton is not open on Mondays. We stopped at a gas station and BOUGHT a map--unheard of---where did I leave my maps of the southern tier? This map does not show the farm roads and so I'm a navigator with an inferior tool. The roads here are long roller coaster rides.
We headed for Lufkin by way of Jasper and Zavalla. We'd travelled farm roads that criss-crossed 63 and 69, which we took today after the accident in Tulsa that totalled our Cobalt. Our Westward motion was stopped and we took farm roads south to Beaumont, where we turned eastward making a large loop through Louisiana and other parts of the South and then home.
Just outside Jasper we came to an historical sign about the Forestry Service and the industry. After Bill read it he commented on two things--the area forested is as big as Vermont if not bigger and that the value of the board feet figure was a little off. I pointed out that the sign had been placed there in 1968! A short while later I saw smoke drifting lazily through the trees on Bill's side and a sweetish smell, like new mown hay filled the air. On a rise we could see that off in the distance there was a controlled burn going on. The smoke traveled through those spaces between the rows of trees, quietly and eerily, over a very long distance.
In Zavalla we found that 69 had been widened and repaved and the road has sort of changed around the farm route intersection. It would be almost unrecognizable but for the fact that the Eagle's Nest Cafe is right where it was two years ago when we passed by and ate lunch there. I wondered if they ever found the bull they had posted a missing bull sign about on the outside bulletin board. We post for lost dogs and cats, in Zavalla Texas a bull goes missing and they ask if anyone has seen him outside the cafe. Farther down the road stands Zavalla High School with the wonderful carving of an Eagle right on the edge of the road. I suspect he was carved in woodshop or maybe art class by a student or students. I wonder how long he has been there--I know he's been there four years. Quite realistic. This is the town where I spent a half hour chatting with the postmaster but today I didn't notice the PO.
Came to the former location of Jonesville--we had not seen this marker having traveled both times in the opposite direction. We passed the road to the cemetery and would have loved going down to check it out but we were getting tired and traffic was picking up. Arrived at the motel where we'd stayed to sign the insurance release on the Cobalt and where we stayed again two years ago. Checked in and then went downtown to my favorite antique shop. Had hoped to find a replacement for my change purse but no luck. Got a sugar and creamer and two antique silver spoons--one from Lansing Mi and one from NeuAmsterdam.
Made the dreadful mistake of chatting up a woman who was looking for a small creamer and sugar to use for toothpicks. She was quite a sight--a wig of blond and light brown braids and teeth that I wished I could stare at. Many of them were gold which was easy to see but some in the front appeared to be another metal that was etched--like flat silvery plates etched with floral designs. In an odd way they were fascinating but I so wished I could get up close and look at them. Her complexion was cafe au lait and looked so smooth and soft I wanted to touch it. The reason chatting with her was a mistake is because once started it was nearly impossible to extricate myself.
She went to the check out lady before me and continued to chat--the lady came and unlocked the spoon case and returned to her. I then busily examined the spoons, hoping that she would check out and the lady could help me. No such luck, I chose my spoons and went to the desk. My new friend decided that she didn't want the items for which she already paid--so that whole transaction had to be voided. Mind you, this is a consignment antique mall so voiding the sale is not a simple procedure--in the meantime she continued to chat us both up. I was actually becoming a little uncomfortable, wondering if, by chance, there was some kind of scam or distraction ploy in play. Eventually, she purchased other items and went on her way.
After she left the saleslady said that she comes in often and that she has laid away items but that, once she was allowed to do that, she has returned and wanted to do it again and again. It is a complicated process because she chooses things from various vendors and when she makes a payment the store has to divvy it up among the vendors. So, because it is always many items not amounting to much and the process so time consuming and complicated they have refused to do it anymore for her. The lady says she feels badly but that it is just too much bookkeeping and there is too much chance of mistakes.
By the time we got back to the motel, I was hot and tired and my joints were incredibly stiff. There is a wonderful restaurant in the hotel and so I had pork medallions in a Madeira mustard sauce with fresh asparagus spears and steamed broccoli. The vegetables were perfect with just the right amount of snap and the pork and sauce made me want to lick my plate. I opened a bottle of Barefoot Riesling to go with it ( part of my have wine will travel cache). There is also a salad with bleu cheese dressing that I'll use as later snack.
So ladies and gentlemen, a little OReilly Factor, a bit of wine and maybe something on TV. It is very difficult to find show since there never seems to be a guide channel or a paper listing shows. Oh, well, perhaps a book might be better. I KNOW what is on tomorrow! LOL
I will close now, having no idea where we are going though I think Wacko--oops I mean Waco and Abilene look like they may be in my future--and your, vicariously. Til then--happy trails!
As we came around a bend in Lawtell a red truck caught my eye and it looked so much like a toy that I knew it had to be vintage. Knowing my friend, Glen, likes such things I took a quick shot of it--unfortunately, not my best picture of the day. When I enlarged and cropped the windshield I think I found that Glen probably wouldn't care about it since only the chassis seems to be original. Even the paint job is new. Oh, well, it WAS cute. We passed a bone yard and there were several vintage autos--Bill suggested I take a picture of that for Glen but I knew seeing those poor old rusty neglected cars would make him sad---so I didn't. Should I have, Glen?
On we continued through the last of Acadiana and its crawfish growing rice paddies. I love how the shallow pond is used for both. There were several fields that have been drained and I was amazed at how shallow those ponds really are. There was a man in a flat boat in one of them collected crawfish. I'd not seen that before in our travels.
Entering Elton we came upon the first of several rice dryers and storage facilities along this highway. The chutes feed the dried rice into trucks to be taken to rice mills and packaging plants. Bet there are a few vermin in there and maybe a few big cats to keep them in line. What do you think, Jack? Those Konriko kitties ain't seen nothing yet! ( Konriko is the rice plant in Lafayette-New Iberia area that I wrote about several years ago ) Also in Elton we stopped at the PO to mail Betsy's birthday card. ( Which reminds me, I forgot to get one for SIL Sally and a sympathy card for my cousin's family. He died last night of cancer--at about 6 o'clock. Sad but he has been ill for awhile and did well until fairly recently--it was not unexpected.)
At Ragley 190 joins 171 and heads straight North toward DeRitters. The railroad had run right next to us from Opelousas but now it took a slight southern path and we went North. Both of us would meet again in Merryville. When we came to 110 I realized that it went to Merryville too and that it was a diagonal shot. Going to DeRitters took us slightly north of the town and then we had to swing southwest to reach it. Driver never blinked --just made that left when I said to. He's pretty cooperative even though I've gotten us into some interesting situations in the past. Anyone remember the levee road yesterday? But, like a Navy Seal, I try to have several alternatives in case the first idea doesn't pan out.
Fortunately, this time it not only worked but it saved us about 20 miles. This part of Louisiana--which by the way is NOT Arcadiana is a little higher and much drier. It is piney woods and rolling hills--much like the Texas to which we were headed. The scenery is pretty unchanging for many miles and tends to bore me but travelling with Bill makes it interesting. He enjoys it because he understands what is going on here. A forestry operation that works over a 50-60 year cycle. The thickly wooded area of young trees, the culled areas that are maybe 5 years older, the thinned areas that are another 5-10 years older, the really thinned area where controlled fires have eliminated the understory and the trees are growing tall and straight another 10 years older, the area that looks the same except the trees have more girth, probably 20 years older and ready to be harvested. And then the areas that look awful because they have been harvested recently and the pretty areas with all the small seedlings where the area has been reseeded--instead of the old seed tree method. When you have such narration by someone who has studied and taught forestry you realize that the scenery is NOT the same after all! And to think Botany was my least favorite of all my major courses and the least interesting to me to teach. I got better at teaching it by being married to Bill. And when I tutored my last student he was my guest lecturer who took us on several field trips and taught us both so much.
The time passed so quickly and before long we reconnected with 190 in Merryville, which wasn't much of a place, and crossed the humane bridge across the Sabine and entered Texas. With a pang, I left Louisiana behind. Who knows we may return through the upper part on the way home but not Lafayette this trip. :-(
There was no welcome center on this entry and the local information center in Newton is not open on Mondays. We stopped at a gas station and BOUGHT a map--unheard of---where did I leave my maps of the southern tier? This map does not show the farm roads and so I'm a navigator with an inferior tool. The roads here are long roller coaster rides.
We headed for Lufkin by way of Jasper and Zavalla. We'd travelled farm roads that criss-crossed 63 and 69, which we took today after the accident in Tulsa that totalled our Cobalt. Our Westward motion was stopped and we took farm roads south to Beaumont, where we turned eastward making a large loop through Louisiana and other parts of the South and then home.
Just outside Jasper we came to an historical sign about the Forestry Service and the industry. After Bill read it he commented on two things--the area forested is as big as Vermont if not bigger and that the value of the board feet figure was a little off. I pointed out that the sign had been placed there in 1968! A short while later I saw smoke drifting lazily through the trees on Bill's side and a sweetish smell, like new mown hay filled the air. On a rise we could see that off in the distance there was a controlled burn going on. The smoke traveled through those spaces between the rows of trees, quietly and eerily, over a very long distance.
In Zavalla we found that 69 had been widened and repaved and the road has sort of changed around the farm route intersection. It would be almost unrecognizable but for the fact that the Eagle's Nest Cafe is right where it was two years ago when we passed by and ate lunch there. I wondered if they ever found the bull they had posted a missing bull sign about on the outside bulletin board. We post for lost dogs and cats, in Zavalla Texas a bull goes missing and they ask if anyone has seen him outside the cafe. Farther down the road stands Zavalla High School with the wonderful carving of an Eagle right on the edge of the road. I suspect he was carved in woodshop or maybe art class by a student or students. I wonder how long he has been there--I know he's been there four years. Quite realistic. This is the town where I spent a half hour chatting with the postmaster but today I didn't notice the PO.
Came to the former location of Jonesville--we had not seen this marker having traveled both times in the opposite direction. We passed the road to the cemetery and would have loved going down to check it out but we were getting tired and traffic was picking up. Arrived at the motel where we'd stayed to sign the insurance release on the Cobalt and where we stayed again two years ago. Checked in and then went downtown to my favorite antique shop. Had hoped to find a replacement for my change purse but no luck. Got a sugar and creamer and two antique silver spoons--one from Lansing Mi and one from NeuAmsterdam.
Made the dreadful mistake of chatting up a woman who was looking for a small creamer and sugar to use for toothpicks. She was quite a sight--a wig of blond and light brown braids and teeth that I wished I could stare at. Many of them were gold which was easy to see but some in the front appeared to be another metal that was etched--like flat silvery plates etched with floral designs. In an odd way they were fascinating but I so wished I could get up close and look at them. Her complexion was cafe au lait and looked so smooth and soft I wanted to touch it. The reason chatting with her was a mistake is because once started it was nearly impossible to extricate myself.
She went to the check out lady before me and continued to chat--the lady came and unlocked the spoon case and returned to her. I then busily examined the spoons, hoping that she would check out and the lady could help me. No such luck, I chose my spoons and went to the desk. My new friend decided that she didn't want the items for which she already paid--so that whole transaction had to be voided. Mind you, this is a consignment antique mall so voiding the sale is not a simple procedure--in the meantime she continued to chat us both up. I was actually becoming a little uncomfortable, wondering if, by chance, there was some kind of scam or distraction ploy in play. Eventually, she purchased other items and went on her way.
After she left the saleslady said that she comes in often and that she has laid away items but that, once she was allowed to do that, she has returned and wanted to do it again and again. It is a complicated process because she chooses things from various vendors and when she makes a payment the store has to divvy it up among the vendors. So, because it is always many items not amounting to much and the process so time consuming and complicated they have refused to do it anymore for her. The lady says she feels badly but that it is just too much bookkeeping and there is too much chance of mistakes.
By the time we got back to the motel, I was hot and tired and my joints were incredibly stiff. There is a wonderful restaurant in the hotel and so I had pork medallions in a Madeira mustard sauce with fresh asparagus spears and steamed broccoli. The vegetables were perfect with just the right amount of snap and the pork and sauce made me want to lick my plate. I opened a bottle of Barefoot Riesling to go with it ( part of my have wine will travel cache). There is also a salad with bleu cheese dressing that I'll use as later snack.
So ladies and gentlemen, a little OReilly Factor, a bit of wine and maybe something on TV. It is very difficult to find show since there never seems to be a guide channel or a paper listing shows. Oh, well, perhaps a book might be better. I KNOW what is on tomorrow! LOL
I will close now, having no idea where we are going though I think Wacko--oops I mean Waco and Abilene look like they may be in my future--and your, vicariously. Til then--happy trails!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)