Phenomenon at the Ditch

While the ice on the road was thick and I was holed up in Midland and Odessa I did not get to get out and see to many things. We just enjoyed the company of friends and family. However if you are observant unusual things are always around. Here are a few:

While driving through a neighborhood in Midland I saw a elderly crossing guard at a elementary school doing her duty. She had a stop sign in her hand and was wearing a day glow orange vest over her mink coat. It was cold out side.

I was at Jack Jordan’s Barbecue on West County road in Odessa buying some of their great barbecue brisket when I spotted a gallon jar full of bills on the counter with a hand written sign inside stating, “Please Help Us Pay for College.” Apparently it was working.

As I was leaving Jack Jordan’s I saw a monster truck all deck out with light bars and huge tires and wheels. On the back window was a message, “If you cant stop please smile as you go under.” But the real kicker of this truck that would take a 6 foot ladder to get to the running boards was the handicap license plate.

But finally the real phenomenon was seeing the water wheel on “The Ditch” in Menard, Texas frozen to a stop. I wonder if this ever happens to Niagara Falls.

Texas Bob (On the Road)

Snow Day

It's icy in Midland.

They are slipping and sliding on the streets of Laredo.

The Alamo in San Antonio is cover with snow.

When we will get to go home,

Only clouds really know.

Texas Bob (On the Road)

Wintry Mix - Odessa

Wintry Mix, that's what weather.com calls it. What it really is is cold. In West Texas it's often called as cold a well diggers clutamas maximus. The good news is that even during the great flood Odessa only got a half an inch, so the ice and snow so far has been held to a minimum.
Not everything is frozen. Last night I parked my pickup under a tree and the birds left their little gifts all over it. Have you ever tried to find a car wash when the outside temperature is 22 degrees F and the wind chill is 5?

Texas Bob (On the road)

Life is Good in McCamey, Texas

Having a good life is a very relative thing. I lived in McCamey, Texas for about 14 years 15 years ago. McCamey, population 1600, is what is left of an oil field boomtown. In its boom days, thousands of folks called it home. I use to say, “McCamey has a population of 100,000 … 2.000 at a time.” Many have called McCamey home only to leave later. It is by far the friendliest town I have ever lived in. There are no strangers in that town. I believe that you could move to McCamey and six months later run for mayor and have a fair chance at winning.

Recently the McCamey Badgers played in the 1A High School Football State Championship game. The game was played at Gordon Wood Stadium in Brownwood, Texas. The stadium holds 7500 football fans, 3750 0n each side. The McCamey side was full. Most of the town was there. There were a lot people there that use to live in McCamey and then there were the McCamey Exe’s. The man sitting behind me graduated from McCamey High School in 1954 and had not been to McCamey in 40 years, but he was at the game.

McCamey is not the prettiest town and other than the mesas that surround it McCamey could be called an ugly town. The expansion and contraction of the oil patch has taken its toll. However even an ugly baby is loved by his mother.

Texas Bob (On the Road)

Road Trip

Tomorrow I’m going on a road trip. It’s not a vacation but a trip to visit family members who need a visit from us. As often happens this time of year a blast of artic air is racing across the state leaving a sheet of ice on all the roadways in the northern and western parts of Texas, just the places that I had planned to go. Now we’ll have to go westbound Interstate 10 and up through Big Lake, Texas to avoid the ice. Maybe later in a few days we can go east on Interstate 20 and visit the others in Abilene and Ranger before heading back to Katy. If possible I need to stop in San Angelo either coming or going.

Because of the weather we will be leaving our travel trailer home. I think I can handle four wheels on the ice but not eight. We will be back in a few days. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Fish and company both smell in three days."

Roughing it

Nobody ever accused me of “roughing it” while on the road. I can count the nights I spent awake in a tent on one hand, awake because I never managed to sleep in a tent. I have stayed in some neat places too. Like the Hotel Limpia in Fort Davis, CCC Cabins on the edge of Palo Duro Canyon and numerous bed an breakfast across the state of Texas.

Last year we made a big decision. I bought a Palomino travel trailer. Now where ever I go I have my own pillow and my own “blankie”. With a full kitchen, full bath and air conditioning the closest we have come to roughing it is the time I forgot to pack my satellite dish. I’ll never do that again.

Texas Bob

Travelin' Texas

That's what I like to do. Whether it is to see the sights or drive 300 miles to see the 1A Football state championship game, traveling Texas is my favorite past time.

There is nothing like waking up in Palo Duro Canyon and sleeping in Houston that night. It's a real Texas drive.

Years ago there was a wagon train moving West. They came upon a big sign that said "This way to the Promise Land". Those that could read followed it. Those who couldn't came to Texas. ... and Texans have been traveling Texas ever since.

I hope to take you along with me "traveling Texas".

Texas Bob