Quick peek at SOUTH TEXAS areas

Initially this quick trip was planned to be 8 days and circle the entire state of TEXAS. The total miles was to be about 2000. After venturing out the first day, and realizing the temperatures here of 115 and 119 degrees, are very unforgiving. So after my tires started to melt - I decided to get a hotel nearby and head back home in the morning. I shall return to this LOOP when the temperatures are 50% of what they are now - - when we have 60 degree weather.

STILL the little time we were on the road STEELE and I - we had a melting blast.

PACKING UP

STEELE was all packed last night. All that was left was the traditional "SANDWICH" making ritual in the morning and we were good to go. Not hauling all that "camping gear" sure leaves a lot of room.

DINOSOUR FIELDS

Initially the plan was to visit the VINTAGE CAR MUSEAM in Wetherford and then head down to NEMO, however - turns out the museum only opens at 11 AM and they are not at all open on MONDAYS.

That changed the route going south to take CHISOM TRAIL to route 67. On that route, suddenly I saw dozens of dinosaurs. They were spread out on many acres of farmland. Obviously this farmer has a pet peeve for dinos. Slammed the breaks and managed to find a safe place to stop and shoot a few with my phone.

TOM - the WORLD TRAVELLER

While sitting inside my air conditioned parked STEELE - and waiting for my friends Bill and Minnie, I saw someone looking at the wrap on STEELE's doors. He was nodding his head as if agreeing to the HIDDEN TRAILS text. I got out and that's when I met TOM. What an amazing story he has to tell. Just did not have enough time to capture it all. Tom has circled the world 3 times already. Twice on motorcycles. He has visited more than 64 countries. tried to get his email - but he was already taken back by my flaunting him with questions, so TOM, if you are reading this - send me a note so we can meet and learn more about each other.

MEETING DEAREST FRIENDS - BILL MINNIE and ANNE

It was so nice to see Bill and Minnie and Minnie's daughter Anne. We had lunch together at MAMA-MIAS Mexican in Glen Rose. My brother was obviously following the blog as it has a live LOCATION on it, and as we sat down for lunch, I received a text "GLEN ROSE" letting me know we are being watched.

Did you know that Bill's ancestors were one of the founding families of Dallas Texas? There are so many stories to be told here as well - but that's a whole other book.

Bill & Minnie - Love you. Stay strong healthy and happy.

HICO - TEXAS

This little town is so quaint and beautiful. Driving into and out of this town I saw so many interesting things, as you can see by the following pictures.

There was a longhorn in someone's front yard. ( also a friendly donkey) I had no idea the longhorns were so large. The horns must have spanned 8 to 10 feet across. There were signs that the owner takes no responsibility about damages you may incur, so I take it that either the donkey or longhorn can get aggressive - but they were friendly to me ;)

Right across the street I saw a young lady walking with headset - singing as loud as can be. I tried to record her - have a listen.

Tried to visit the GUNSMITH - but he was closed. Too hot to handle metal today.

Downtown buildings were just like in the westerns. Have a look below.

BILLY THE KID MUSEAM & DEAN ROBERT

So BILLY THE KID was real. All the stories we heard - really happened. Billy the Kid actually survived his famous gun fight and hid in Hico, Texas the last seventeen years of his life. I was walking thru the museum and noticed many signs "ON LOAN FROM ROBERT DEAN". Actually, most of the museum was on loan from Robert Dean. So I had to ask right??

Walked over to the lady that greeted me when I entered and asked her "Who is Robert Dean"

Well, she said, Robert is a collector and historian and much of the items here belong to him. I replied that I too have a very small collection of a few guns and I appreciate that someone had collected so many items, like tens of thousands of them.

That's when a gentleman walked out of the back office and asked about my collection. Care to guess who that person was?? None other than Robert Dean. Robert walked the museum with me and started taking out world war I and II weapons in pristine condition that he has collected.

VERY IMPRESSIVE what a single person can amass if you put your mind to it. If you are ever in HICO, be sure to visit BILLY THE KID museum.

SAN SABA TEXAS - DRIED OUT

My final stop for the day was supposed to be MORGAN FALLS, in Colorado bend state park.

On the way - I passed a river bed that was not just dry - but scorched. After parking STEELE 20 feet away, I got out and was taken by surprise at how hot it was out side. We are already dealing with 103 104 and even 105 degrees in Dallas during the last weeks, but NOW - this was 114 115 119 degrees. Look at these photos in comparison to the northern Canada creeks. OMG - night and day difference.

At least I managed to capture some wildlife and interesting plants ;-)

GORMAN FALLS - FAMILY RESCUED

I was one of 2 vehicles in the parking lot of the Waterfalls. not too many visitors today. The gate leading closer to the falls had been locked by the rangers. There was a family sitting on a picnic table and a few rangers in an ATV there with them.

Here is the scoop...

The family has tried to hike the 2 miles (each eay) to and from the falls. They did not have enough water with them and got a little lost. They used their SAT PHONE ( thank god they had one with them) and called emergency rescue teams. The rangers found them and had brought them out.

This is exactly when I am casually asking the father of the family about the doing the hike, where it begins, how hard is it....etc...

At that time I was not aware of what was going on.

Rangers told me I need at least one gallon of water and that the hike is very difficult.

SO - I climbed back into the Air Conditioned STEELE and thought about the risks - and rewards and ended up NOT hiking 4 miles in 119 degrees - NOT TODAY. Maybe another time.

LAMPASAS

So I found a nice room (with strong AC) in LAMPASAS TX and this is where I decided to write the last 2 posts.

More trips coming soon.....