Headed down Texas way

[rusty_tripod]

Leave here on May 27. In Weatherford on Memorial Day. Brownwood on Tuesday. Abilene on Sunday and Wednesday. And passing through Lubbock on the way back to Arizona on Friday.

If you know of anything interesting happening in any of these spots, drop me a hint. Mostly, we will be there to visit family and go through Mother's estate. Since I will not be traveling alone, I reckon my shooting will be confined to candids and snapshots.

[Hanky]

Have a nice trip, sorry I don't live out that way be cool to meet ya.

[texkam]

A lot of cotton, oil and wind.

[ChrisTX]

Just make sure you go to the Pizza Place or Alvin Ord's, then go to Hutch's for a fried pie when you hit Weatherford.

[StevenGWebb]

The sign at the state line should read, "Welcome to Texas where you can look further and see less than any state in the nation". Enjoy your visit. I don't know much about W. Texas. Weatherford will offer you some rustic scenery if you are into that kind of stuff. I don't envy your chore. My grand parents passed within a couple of years of each other and the estate settlement was not a pleasant experience at all.

Steven

[rusty_tripod]

Thanks Hanky. I enjoy connecting with other shooters whom I only know from uploads and written words.

A fried pie sounds more than delicious. Those were a favorite in my childhood when they were homemade. Nowadays, no one seems to make them.

I saw lots of wind turbines outside of Colorado City. In most cases they seem to have replaced the oil rigs that were so prevalent when I was a boy.

Steven, I understand about the barren vistas that plague a driver from El Paso to just beyond Midland. However, I was so used to them for such a long time in my life that when we spent a time living in Utah, I got down claustrophobic because the forests and mountains blocked the wide open spaces. I'll bring a book to read while the son-in-law drives.

In these trips, I am usually so connected with family, that I do not have much time for exploring. An added challenge is the fact that so much of the area has changed as well.

[lfmerrell]

Coming in on 1-10? I-10 to I-20? Returning how, route?

[rusty_tripod]

In: El Paso, Odessa, Midland, Abilene. Leaving: Snyder, Lubbock to Albuquerque. Would have tried to hit Plano to see my brother but he will be in Tennessee.

Monday: Weatherford Tuesday: Cross Plains, Brownwood Wednesday: Abilene Thursday: Lubbock

The trip will definitely be faster than I would like.

[lfmerrell]

Off the top of my head.

East of El Paso
Toyah, Texas almost ghost town, midway from I-10/I-20 split and Pecos. On the Interstate north side. Toyah Texas.

Abilene: South just off I-20, Dyess AFB. Easy to get onto, believe you are waved on. Impressive museum of 1950-60s era military aircraft on static display. Easy to see on Google earth. They are in a park like setting along the main drag. Can see up close and personal. Photos allowed. Listing: Aviation Museum: Dyess Linear Air Park

Midland/Odessa. Commerative Airforce (Old name Confederate Airforce)
-= COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE =-
Do not know what active displays are there. Last flying B-29 FiFi is based there. They are supposed to have a 1930s era flying Polikarpov I-L16 Rata Side note Polikarpov was employed by Igor Sikorsky pre-revolution Russia. Post revolution Sikorsky came to the USA.


Lubbock: If heading to Albuquerque via I-40 and Amarillo.
In Amarillo: Your choices are Cadillac Ranch on I-40 and Ozymandias legs are located at I-27 & Sundown Lane, Amarillo, Texas. Amarillo Texas Stanley Marsh 3 Legs Sculpture 2008 P3126210 | Flickr - Photo Sharing! and The World's Best Photos of amarillo and marsh - Flickr Hive Mind

Albuquerque: Boca Negra Canyon. Western border just off I-40 to the North. Easily and quickly accessed. Lots of petroglyphs. Boca Negra Canyon- Open Space - City of Albuquerque
Sandia Peak is great also: Sandia Peak Tramway Both easily done in an afternoon or morning

Weatherford: To Brownwood will take you down Hwy 281. Five miles south of the I-20/281 cut-off there is Natty Flats Smokehouse BBQ (closed Mondays) Their peach or blueberry cobblers and BBQ are to die for.
NATTY FLAT, TEXAS - Is The Place To Be

Brownwood: A favorite of the Texas Country Reporter on his Hill Country series is the Regency Suspension Bridge. This is about an hour or so south of Brownwood.
YouTube - ‪Regency Suspension Bridge‬‏ I’ve been across it twice this year.
Co-ordinates 31°24'38.50"N - 98°50'46.92"W

[rusty_tripod]

lfmerrell You have definitely given me some food for thought. Since I am not driving and will have three grandchildren with me, some of these spots will have to be put on hold until I am alone.

One cannot find good Texas cooking out here so I eat a Texas diet when I am down there.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will keep the list.

[Dobick]

Lubbock:
one thing that is kinda neat for photo ops that the kids will enjoy as well, is the various prairie dog communities around. If you want specifics on their location, send me a pm and I will tell you where to find them...

The windmill museum is a neat thing to see, and the ranching and heritage museum is also kinda cool.

Lubbock just put up a small park near the depot district where they relocated the Buddy Holley statue.

and if you haven't been through here is a while, Texas Tech is always a nice place to visit to see what all has changed

[rusty_tripod]

I m looking forward to checking out the photo leads.

[mdparthum]

While in the Abilene area, check out Fort Griffin.

Fort Griffin : Texas Historical Commission

Neat place to check out where Wyatt Earp met Doc Holliday.

[Atfulldraw]

while in weatherford, Baker's has pretty good barbecue AND fried pies

there's a mexican food place I like too, right next to the blue beacon truck wash -- can't remember the name of it, but great service and much better mexican food than you can find in arizona!