A few weeks ago, I happened to see an advertisement on TV for an event in a nearby town. I knew Vol Fan and I had to go! So last Saturday, we loaded up early and drove 90 miles to San Angelo, Texas. Boy, was I ever right about our need to go!!
If you meet me, I seem like a fairly quiet person. But deep down inside resides a redneck, horsepower-loving monster! If you've got enough horsepower to make me feel it in my chest, I LOVE IT! Air shows. Tractor pulls. Love, love, love it! And Saturday proved no exception with pulling that horsepower love out of me!
Vol Fan and I had made it to Showdown In San Angelo - the drag boat races! We had plans to explore the entire 1/4 mile race site. We happened to enter the race site and go where we probably weren't supposed to go but we didn't care and no one made us leave! We were right beside the ramp where the boats entered the water and were about 75 yds from the starting line. And there we stayed - all day long!
The races consist of several classes of races - starting with souped-up jet skis that were capable of running 80-90mph and ending with the 'Top Fuel' boat class with the top speed of the day being 247mph. Yes, 247mph!! From a dead standstill at the starting line, he ran a 1/4 mile in under 4 seconds!! What I wouldn't give for a ride in that boat!!
In the video below, you hear two of the big boys idling at the starting line. Once the light turns green, the first boat jumps off the starting line, has engine problems, and comes to a stop. Then the second boat comes ROARING by! These boats are unbelievable!!
If you ever get the chance to go to a race like this, GO!!!
And yes, that is my yell at the end of the video :-)
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
The Flat
After visiting Fort Griffin, Vol Fan and I followed the advice of the park worker and visited "The Flat". The Flat was the town that sprang to life in the shadow of the fort. It was situated at the base of the plateau where Fort Griffin was located - on the flat land surrounding the Clear Fork of the Brazos River.
The Flat was one of the first true 'Wild West' towns. The town's principle business was equipping cattle drives and outfitting buffalo hunters. More than 200,000 buffalo hides were shipped from The Flat. Since its main customers were cowboys just off the trail, buffalo hunters freshly in from the hunt, and soldiers, businesses such as saloons and bordellos thrived. It is said that this is where Wyatt Earp first met Doc Holliday. Other notorious characters that spent time in The Flat were Bat Masterson, Big Nose Kate Elder, and John Wesley Hardin.
Since the location of The Flat is not located within the confines of the state park, the owner of The Flat has been able to move as quickly as he pleases with archeology research and reconstruction of buildings. Amazing how much faster things work without the bureaucratic red tape! So he has been able to reconstruct several buildings, using town maps and drawings of the buildings from the era
The only building that was still standing was the town jail.
It was a very cool place to visit. I could just close my eyes and imagine the things that took place on that piece of ground.
The Flat was one of the first true 'Wild West' towns. The town's principle business was equipping cattle drives and outfitting buffalo hunters. More than 200,000 buffalo hides were shipped from The Flat. Since its main customers were cowboys just off the trail, buffalo hunters freshly in from the hunt, and soldiers, businesses such as saloons and bordellos thrived. It is said that this is where Wyatt Earp first met Doc Holliday. Other notorious characters that spent time in The Flat were Bat Masterson, Big Nose Kate Elder, and John Wesley Hardin.
Since the location of The Flat is not located within the confines of the state park, the owner of The Flat has been able to move as quickly as he pleases with archeology research and reconstruction of buildings. Amazing how much faster things work without the bureaucratic red tape! So he has been able to reconstruct several buildings, using town maps and drawings of the buildings from the era
The only building that was still standing was the town jail.
It was a very cool place to visit. I could just close my eyes and imagine the things that took place on that piece of ground.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Fort Griffin
On Saturday as we explored, we visited Fort Griffin State Historic Site, which was an Army fort established to protect settlers as they moved into the area and forced native Kiowa and Comanche peoples from their traditional lands. In its heyday, it was home to almost 500 soldiers, officers, their families, and civilians.
It was hot on the afternoon we visited and so the lady at the visitor's center offered to let us use the golf cart reserved for staff to aide in our visit. The remnants of the buildings were pretty far flung so her offer was most welcome. Once we got to the site of the fort, we were the only people around. We enjoyed our tour with nothing but the wind to keep us company.
Well, nothing but the wind and a bazillion grasshoppers! We couldn't get over how many there were! It brought to mind a plague of Biblical proportions. As we would walk or drive the cart, a haze of grasshoppers would scramble to get out of our way. At one point, I told Vol Fan that I was scared to open my mouth for fear one would fly in!
The life of a soldier on this windy plateau must have been pretty tough. Vol Fan and I commented that we could not imagine what life would have been like back then. Not really, even with all the reading materials with accounts of daily life. This is a shell of the type of barracks that were constructed at the fort. Four men were housed in each. So much for privacy!
It was hot on the afternoon we visited and so the lady at the visitor's center offered to let us use the golf cart reserved for staff to aide in our visit. The remnants of the buildings were pretty far flung so her offer was most welcome. Once we got to the site of the fort, we were the only people around. We enjoyed our tour with nothing but the wind to keep us company.
Well, nothing but the wind and a bazillion grasshoppers! We couldn't get over how many there were! It brought to mind a plague of Biblical proportions. As we would walk or drive the cart, a haze of grasshoppers would scramble to get out of our way. At one point, I told Vol Fan that I was scared to open my mouth for fear one would fly in!
The life of a soldier on this windy plateau must have been pretty tough. Vol Fan and I commented that we could not imagine what life would have been like back then. Not really, even with all the reading materials with accounts of daily life. This is a shell of the type of barracks that were constructed at the fort. Four men were housed in each. So much for privacy!
Monday, June 10, 2013
Longhorn!
On Saturday afternoon, Vol Fan and I did some exploring and we ran across the state animal of Texas - the Longhorn. Say hello to my little friend - I call him Buttercup.
These Longhorns are a part of the official state herd. Few things are as symbolic of Texas as the Longhorn with its large lean build, range of colors, and its long curved horns. The horns can reach up to 120 inches tip to tip. Vol Fan was more brave than me and went into the field with Buttercup. He said Buttercup's horns were pushing 6 feet.
The Longhorn is hardy - can eat a variety of plants that other cattle find inedible including cactus and require less water than other breeds to survive. And it was particularly suited for the harsh conditions of a cattle drive. They could travel long distances, swim wide rivers, and thrive on nearly any vegetation that was found.
[Sidebar: Our location in Abilene is near two of the three great cattle trails - The Western Trail and The Goodnight-Loving Trail. The Goodnight-Loving Trail in this area followed the Butterfield stage route. You might be familiar with Goodnight-Loving because Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving and their 3rd cattle drive are the basis for Larry McMurtry's book, Lonesome Dove.]
By the 1920s, the Longhorn had been bred with other breeds of cattle to the point that it was nearing extinction. Several Texans joined forces to save the iconic breed and gathered a small herd for the State of Texas. Thanks to the efforts of these individuals and the continuing conservation effort, the Longhorn is no longer an endangered breed.
The Longhorn continues to represent the unique and once abundant animals that made a critical contribution to the development of Texas' economy in the 19th century.
These Longhorns are a part of the official state herd. Few things are as symbolic of Texas as the Longhorn with its large lean build, range of colors, and its long curved horns. The horns can reach up to 120 inches tip to tip. Vol Fan was more brave than me and went into the field with Buttercup. He said Buttercup's horns were pushing 6 feet.
The Longhorn is hardy - can eat a variety of plants that other cattle find inedible including cactus and require less water than other breeds to survive. And it was particularly suited for the harsh conditions of a cattle drive. They could travel long distances, swim wide rivers, and thrive on nearly any vegetation that was found.
[Sidebar: Our location in Abilene is near two of the three great cattle trails - The Western Trail and The Goodnight-Loving Trail. The Goodnight-Loving Trail in this area followed the Butterfield stage route. You might be familiar with Goodnight-Loving because Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving and their 3rd cattle drive are the basis for Larry McMurtry's book, Lonesome Dove.]
By the 1920s, the Longhorn had been bred with other breeds of cattle to the point that it was nearing extinction. Several Texans joined forces to save the iconic breed and gathered a small herd for the State of Texas. Thanks to the efforts of these individuals and the continuing conservation effort, the Longhorn is no longer an endangered breed.
The Longhorn continues to represent the unique and once abundant animals that made a critical contribution to the development of Texas' economy in the 19th century.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Recital 2013
Saturday evening was the annual dance recital for the girls. They take dance at The Dance Company, which is owned and operated by their mommy, Prima Ballerina, and her best friend. It is always a fun, fun night and Saturday was no exception.
Pita is always very serious about her business on stage - making sure she gets every step just right. And she is very successful at it!
AB is a showboat every step of the way. When that curtain opens, the look on her face says that see thinks every person in the audience is there to watch her alone. And she LOVES it!
Both so different but both very good! I was very, very glad to be in town :-)
Pita is always very serious about her business on stage - making sure she gets every step just right. And she is very successful at it!
AB is a showboat every step of the way. When that curtain opens, the look on her face says that see thinks every person in the audience is there to watch her alone. And she LOVES it!
Both so different but both very good! I was very, very glad to be in town :-)
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