Big Ben

Walt and I took our first trip since starting the remodel of our house in October of 2005. We headed for Big Bend. I had never been there, and Walt han't been since he was a kid. We thouroughly enjoyed it, especially all the blooming flowers and cacti. We ran over 2 rattlesnakes, but they survive still. We did some hiking and lots of driving. We saw surprisingly large mountains, some beautiful grasslands in pockets, wonderful rock formations and enormous emptiness and uninhabital space, in my opinion.

Indian Lodge

Fort Davis isn't very big, but it makes for a great get-away. For historians, the Fort itself is the attraction. It had to have been a rugged assignment in the days of its operation. It is remote by today's standards, but must have been the end of the earth for the soldies of the 1800's.

The For Davis State Park is delightful. I highly recommend a stay at Indian Lodge. It was built in the 1930's by the work program, and the facility retains all of the charm of the era but the comforts of today...air conditioning and private baths. Expect amazing views, great hiking and a short drive to the McDonald Observatory. But I suggest finding a weekend before or after the summer heat.

View from the Top

If you turn right 90 degrees while viewing this landscape, you will see the newest Ft. Davis observatory marvel. From this you really see into the heavens. Interestly, even the scientists don't get to look directly into the telescope lense. A scientist is given time with the scope focused on a particular location, then the telescope is focused and the stream is view on a television feed. The scientist might be in Maryland or some other country.

Wouldn't it be fun to actually be the guy in the chair looking through the telescope! The whole, rounded top with the telescoped moved in the older version, but in the newer model only the mirrors adjust to find the image. An amazing machine to behold.