Day 22 Moving north to Big Spring (no 's') TX

When we pulled into the park here in Big Spring, it was immediately recognizable that the climate here was indeed as dry as can be. The air had that "bite your nostril" sting to it from the dryness and your throat was immediately wanting water to quench the dry skin. They are truly in the midst of a long drought . Many of the gardeners state that their beans and lettuce come up a little (with added watering) but the birds and animals eat them as soon as they come up.  Cactus are doing well!

BUT... let's start at the beginning of the day as there was a small event  that happened a few miles down the road. We had  a problem in the two previous days with low mileage, and realized that even though the headwinds kept the mileage (MPG) lower than usual, the last tankful seemed to be worse than before. Something else was adding to the problem. So..deducting that it could be a few things we started with the first  and that was the tire pressure. Usually the trailer tires on this trailer are filled to #60 psi so I checked them last night and found that they were all at #50. Either they had lost air or when we had the rig serviced in early March, they did not check them. So the first town we came to I was going to stop at a service station to get some air but had to wait on the side of the road for a delivery truck to get out of the way in the driveway. While I was waiting, I looked back a few places and spotted a "Repair Vehice shop".  Hmmm .  Maybe they had an air hose? Well I met Joe, a Michigander by birth (Lapeer County) and he was working with a customer (Another Michigander by birth from Petoskey MI) . Joe said he could help me,  so I was to pull my rig up to the curb by the street and his air hose would reach the trailer. I did that and had the tires refilled in 10 minutes and we were on our way. Thanks Joe for the great attention to a traveler on the road in need. The added pounds did add mileage as we added two MPG on the next tankful with a headwind as well. (Joe and I exchanged a story about deaths in the family and how precious each person's time is on this earth.)

Some of the sandstone cliffs on US 87, Texas

Red Bud trees in full bloom.

The drought shows its' effect.

We continued up the "Hill Country"of Texas and soon ran out of it as the land not only became flatter but less forested, more dry and very little green save for the cactus. We were definitely in the Texas drought. This has gone on for 3 years now and it is severe. It will soon affect food prices even more  than it has already. and eventually beef and meat prices , too.

Three main towns lie on US 87 that we drove, Freidericksburg (a VERY German settlement) They speak "Germo/Texan" there as the original inhabitants refused to speak English. It is the home of Admiral Mimitz (US Navy WW2)  and there is a Naval Museum of the Pacific War (WW2) there. His grandfather was one of the early settlers of the city. Many signs are "Germo/Texan".

The second major city on that route is San Angelo,  which was a mission in the 1600's founded by  the Franciscan friars. It was  later a Fort to protect citzens from hostile attacks.  A small town Santa Angeles was outside the fort and named after the founders (DeWitt) daughter. That name stuck when the fort was closed.  (San Angelo) Interestingly, the fort (Concho, named after a local river) tried three different building materials (pecan, brick, and finally sandstone) before the German builders from Fredericksburg were hired to building it out of sandstone. It still stands today.
N.B. Sandstone is used in MANY buildings in this part of Texas, for schools, churches, businesses like banks, and courthouses. It is availabe everywhere , it seems. (The United Methodist church  in the pictures yesterday was built of sandstone.)

Tom Green County (San Angelo), has a huge yield of cotton. But the last two years the amount planted and the amount harvested were diametrically different. The yield being less than 1/2 of that planted. The drought and sudden rains take their toll.

Around Big Spring there are many wind generators that are part of the huge Texas move to other power sources than oil.  (copied note) Texas is first in installed wind power among U.S. states. Texas’ wind farms can generate up to 25,369 megawatts (MW) of power.  An additional 5,000 MW are proposed or under construction.

So around Big Spring there are many wind generators and is one of the many (21)  wind farms in the state. Geothermal is big here as well.

Tomorrow we contine to head north to the panhande and will be about 30 miles from the Colorado border. Can you find Stratford, Texas on a map or your i phone?  See ya!.

Bluebonnets were all along the road both sides.

Last night sunset with a sword cactus silhouette.

One of the wind generators near San Angelo

These green clusters of leaves are 'mistletoe'
So around Big Spring there are many wind generators and is one of the many (21)  wind farms in the state. Geothermal is big here as well.

Tomorrow we contine to head north to the panhande and will be about 30 miles from the Colorado border. Can you find Stratford, Texas on a map or your i phone?  See ya!.