2/26/2015

February 24–25, 2015 Cold in Louisiana

We did not leave the motorhome at all during the past few days.  It was windy, rainy, cold – highs were around 43 degrees and lows in the 30’s so we just put on the heat and stayed warm.  So what did we do for two days?  Well, watched the barges and the birds and TV series, read, and I did some beading, well, actually finished up some necklaces and bracelets (Katy and Sue, you would be proud of me – Smile)

This is what our Bella did for two days – watched the barges and the birds:

02-24-15 Hackberry (6)

This white pusher tug was there were we got here.  On Tuesday afternoon, it started up and away he went down the channel leaving the barges tied up to the island.  Very interesting.

02-24-15 Hackberry (19)

So what did Dusty do?  He did not leave my side or my lap.  We don’t usually hang out and sit like this so I think he was just enjoying it..  (That’s my story and I am sticking to it.)

We have really enjoyed this park and will mark this as a stop when we come this way again.  Tomorrow we continue our journey east so stay tuned and enjoy today.

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2/23/2015

February 22- 23, 2015

On Sunday, 22nd, we woke to heavy cloud cover, packed up, said our “see you laters” to Carolyn and Pete and headed east, bypassing San Antonio and on our way to Houston.

This flag was just east of Houston – it was huge:

02-22-15 A Travel I10 Hondo to Border (2)

Traffic coming into Houston – so glad we did this on a Sunday.  But I made a mistake Sad smile.  I directed Andy to travel the Sam Houston Parkway around the city.  The road was good, not much traffic but it was a toll road that charged every 6-8 miles – Yikees!  Not cheap and won’t do that again.

02-22-15 A Travel I10 Hondo to Border (5)

Yep, we are heading over the bridge:

02-22-15 A Travel I10 Hondo to Border (6)

02-22-15 A Travel I10 Hondo to Border (7)

Lots of industry going on down there – check out the huge coal pile – notice the bulldozer on top:

02-22-15 A Travel I10 Hondo to Border (18)

One of the many huge ports in this area (notice the blue skies – Smile):

02-22-15 A Travel I10 Hondo to Border (23)

We stopped at a lovely little rest area.  The rest rooms were in this house surrounded by picnic areas:

02-22-15 A Travel I10 Hondo to Border (32)

The main visitor center:

02-22-15 A Travel I10 Hondo to Border (39)

This is the last exit in Texas – 880 miles of I-10 – WOW!

02-22-15 A Travel I10 Hondo to Border (43)

Into Louisiana:

02-22-15 B Travel on I-10 (4)

And we settled into a beautiful spot at the Intracoastal Park near Hackberry, LA.  What a lovely spot, facing the intracoastal waterway and watching the birds and barges:

02-22-15 C Intercoastal Park Hackberry LA (6)

Check it out:

02-22-15 C Intercoastal Park Hackberry LA (17)

And we get all the views, plus electric and water for only $12.00 a night.  In 2011, Carolyn and Pete had told us about this park so we spent a few days here then.  Since that time, they have done quite a bit of work and now have 28 sites – 6 of them face the water.

We will be here for a few days.  There is a cold front coming thru all of the south and we figure this is a great spot to sit it out.

Stats for the 22nd:

Miles Traveled: 416 Miles (Yes, we are crazy!)

Routes Traveled:

Texas:  SR-17; SR-118; US-90; CR-422; CR-5216; CR-422; US-90; I-410; I-10; Sam Houston Parkway/SR-8 (VERY EXPENSIVE); I-10

Louisiana: I-10; SR-27; Intracoastal Road

Today, Monday, 23rd, we decided to take a little road trip with a final stop at the grocery store before the rain and wind starts.

Our park is part of a series of five county parks in the Calcasieu Parish.  We decided to check out one of the other parks.  This is Holbrook Park – another lovely place to stay:

02-23-15 A Holbrook Park near Westlake (3)

Coming back we noticed this curvy trees – how strange:

02-23-15 B Near Westlake (2)

02-23-15 B Near Westlake (4)

02-23-15 B Near Westlake (10)

We come back a different way and were surrounded by truck traffic.  A lot of construction happening here!

After shopping and lunch, we made a small trip to Hackberry and over the bridge for pictures of the area.  Here is the park – our home is on the left:

02-23-15 C Hackberry Area (14)

The intracoastal waterway – many barges coming and going as well as being staged – very interesting:

02-23-15 C Hackberry Area (17)

The other side of the waterway:

02-23-15 C Hackberry Area (19)

What a beautiful area.  By mid afternoon, the temperature dropped and the rain started.  So we will be staying warm in our little spot watching the birds and barges.

Stay tuned and enjoy today!

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2/22/2015

February 18 - 21, 2015 Hondo Texas

On Wednesday, 18th, we were up before the sun rose and on the road east as the sun was rising.

02-18-15 A Travel Fort Davis to Alpine SR-118 (2)

02-18-15 A Travel Fort Davis to Alpine SR-118 (7)

02-18-15 A Travel Fort Davis to Alpine SR-118 (11)

02-18-15 A Travel Fort Davis to Alpine SR-118 (16)

It turned out to be a beautiful day for traveling.  We took US-90 most of the way.  It is this nice two lane road with little towns sprinkled here and there. 

Not sure if this was smoke, dust, or fog:

02-18-15 B Travel Alpine to Hondo US90 (2)

We went thru very flat areas:

02-18-15 B Travel Alpine to Hondo US90 (8)

And some not so flat:

02-18-15 B Travel Alpine to Hondo US90 (23)

US-90 is very close to the Mexican border in some areas.  On the above two pictures, you can see the dirt road alongside the paved road.  In a couple areas, we saw the Border Patrol dragging tires like those below, along that dirt road.  They were checking for footprints and then smoothing it again.  Very interesting.

02-18-15 B Travel Alpine to Hondo US90 (27)

We went across the Pecos River, which was very green:

02-18-15 B Travel Alpine to Hondo US90 (34)

Thru parts of the Amistad National Recreation Area, where the water was very blue:

02-18-15 B Travel Alpine to Hondo US90 (38)

More greenery than before:

02-18-15 B Travel Alpine to Hondo US90 (44)

We arrived at the Alamo Escape Co-op Park in Hondo, set up, and spent the next few days with our dear friends Carolyn and Pete.  It was so good to see them and get caught up with each other.  Lots of food, beverages, laughter, crying, hugging, and talking.  How wonderful!

Please keep Carolyn in your prayers.  She is going for a back operation on Thursday and hopefully all will be well. 

Tomorrow we continue our journey east so stay tuned and enjoy today.

Stats for the 18th:

Miles Traveled: 332 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Texas:  SR-17; SR-118; US-90; CR-422; CR-5216

 

friends

2/17/2015

February 17, 2015 McDonald Observatory

Getting a tour at the McDonald Observatory has been on my bucket list for a long time.  Yesterday I made reservations for the day tour and solar viewing since the weather forecast was “sunny”.  Well we woke this morning and it was very wet, icy, and foggy.  OH NO!  We decided to head up the mountain anyway and were glad we did.  Our tour consisted of four of us – so it was like a private tour.

This was in their parking lot – notice the ice on the trees and grass:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (3)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (4)

Very thick fog:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (5)

Sundial – too foggy to work:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (9)

We started in their classroom with our tour guide who took us thru information on the sun, solar flares, stars, and so much more.  Since it was so cloudy, we did not see the sun real time from the observatory, however, he did show us the sun from other observatories in real time.

Here is a great site to see lots of that information – some in real time: http://www.spaceweather.com/

From there we headed up the summit of Mount Locke to the Harlan J. Smith telescope.

http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/research/telescopes/HJSmith

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (17)

We first took a walk around the building- it was soupy out there – Smile:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (19)

The Superintendent’s house:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (21)

More ice (it was very cold and windy up there):

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (26)

We first went into the lobby where we were told the history of McDonald Observatory and the telescopes there.

In 1968, when this telescope was finished, it was the third largest in the world.

“For almost a decade, the telescope also reflected a laser off mirrors left on the Moon by Apollo astronauts, in a program called “lunar laser ranging.” These results have helped refine the distance to the Moon and enabled a better understanding of its interior, and provided a test of Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity. That program has since moved to a dedicated laser ranging telescope on neighboring Mount Fowlkes.”

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (27)

From the lobby, we walked down a long hallway into an elevator.  The lights went out in the elevator right before the doors opened and this is what we saw when they opened – I was in AWE!

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (36)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (38)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (32)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (39)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (42)

Our guide took us the thru all the details of the telescope and the instruments around the room.  In order to have the researcher get closer to the telescope, the floor moves up:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (44)

The telescope moves and the dome moves:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (48)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (60)

Here are two videos on the movement – THIS WAS AWESOME!

Telescope Moving

Building Moving

Can I continue to say WOW!!!!!!!

And the tour continues.  We walked out the back door and the sun was out – YEA!  The shutter doors that open to the outside:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (67)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (70)

Our next stop was the top of Mount Fowlkes to see the Hobby- Eberly Telescope.  It was housed in this building:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (80)

Dan Weedman and Larry Ramsey of Pennsylvania State University were the inventors of this telescope.  More information can be found here: http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/research/telescopes/HET

The telescope is currently being retrofitted to do a study on dark energy.  Astronomers all over the world are finding that the universe is expanding faster as it gets older.  This study is to determine why (how cool is that!).  More info can be found here:  http://hetdex.org/

We were taken into the HET visitor center for a background of this telescope and then we were able to see some of the work being done:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (83)

From the outside:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (87)

We were taken to the visitor center for the end of our tour where we had lunch and explored the museum.  Notice the clear skies:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (88)

The HET Telescope Building:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (89)

The sundial now working:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (91)

After lunch, Andy and I explored that area. The telescopes on Mount Locke:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (99)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (110)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (123)

The views from Mount Locke:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (104)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (118)

Heading toward Mount Fowlkes and the HET building:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (127)

Views from that area:

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (141)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (135)

02-17-15 McDonald Observatory Fort Davis (76)

We slowly made our way down the mountain and to our spot in Fort Davis.  If you are ever in this area, please put this on your list and take the guided tour instead of the self tour.  The guided tour will take you places where the others do not.  (And plan to spend a few hours there too.)

We were back by late afternoon, put some things away, and relaxed.  Tomorrow we continue our journeys into east Texas so stay tuned and enjoy today.

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