For the last several years, Donna and I have traveled to Nevada this time of year. We just returned from our annual trip. This year, we visited both Laughlin and Las Vegas.
In the past, we've varied our routes in order to see new country. After making the trip so many times, we've taken just about all the different routes we can, so this year we more or less made a bee line for our destination.
In the next few entries, I'll recount our travels. In the meantime, you can select the following links to view our previous trips:
This blog follows Keith and Donna Cameron as they enjoy retirement. 01/24/05
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
Grey Foxes at San Angelo State Park
On several of our recent early morning walks at San Angelo State Park, we've seen 1 or more gray foxes. In fact, back in August I recounted an incident when we spotted a gray fox for the first time at the park (see "We Like to See Wildlife."). Since then, we even saw a small fox cross in front of us when we were walking on the O. C. Fisher dam recently. It had a small rodent in its mouth, and headed down the dam and found a secure place where it could enjoy its feast.
I've not been able to get a photo yet of a fox. By the time I get my camera out, it's usually too late. But most of our sightings have occurred in the area of coordinates 31.469303, -100.512099. If you plug those coordinates into a GPS or Google Earth, they will take you to a rapidly decaying paved road little used today except by park employees and bike riders and hikers/walkers. Near the location provided by the coordinates is a track heading off west, and we've seen 1 or more foxes scamper down that track more than once. I've never followed that track, but from looking at Google Earth, it appears there is a small earthen dam near there, so they may stick close to that man-made pond for water and to catch other small critters that may lurk nearby.
Our sightings have occurred early in the morning, perhaps 30 minutes or so after sunrise. It looks as though the foxes are generally moving from higher ground to the east, crossing the road we are on, and heading towards the pond.
Perhaps one of these days, I'll catch a picture of those illusive little rascals.
I've not been able to get a photo yet of a fox. By the time I get my camera out, it's usually too late. But most of our sightings have occurred in the area of coordinates 31.469303, -100.512099. If you plug those coordinates into a GPS or Google Earth, they will take you to a rapidly decaying paved road little used today except by park employees and bike riders and hikers/walkers. Near the location provided by the coordinates is a track heading off west, and we've seen 1 or more foxes scamper down that track more than once. I've never followed that track, but from looking at Google Earth, it appears there is a small earthen dam near there, so they may stick close to that man-made pond for water and to catch other small critters that may lurk nearby.
Our sightings have occurred early in the morning, perhaps 30 minutes or so after sunrise. It looks as though the foxes are generally moving from higher ground to the east, crossing the road we are on, and heading towards the pond.
Perhaps one of these days, I'll catch a picture of those illusive little rascals.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
A GPS App to Map Our Hikes
I'm still learning how to use my Smartphone. At the same time, I'm trying really hard to not become a Smartphone junkie. Still, there are a few apps I see that can be quite useful.
One of the first apps I downloaded was a GPS app to map our hikes and walks. Since I'm not trying to promote one app over another, I won't list the app I downloaded, but I will tell you a little about it.
Actually, the app will do more than simply map my hike. It will provide generic caloric information regarding food, track gear, and perform other calculations and information related to "workouts". But I'm really only interested in data related to hiking.
I tested the app on one of our recent walks. We try to walk anywhere from 3 to 6 miles every other day. Of course, sometimes the weather prevents our doing so, or perhaps out health might restrict us. But when all conditions are good, we are pretty good about keeping to this schedule. In the past, I've used Google Maps to measure distances at the places we walk. On the morning of the test, we decided to do our favorite loop walk at the state park (San Angelo State Park). According to Google Maps, this loop is right at 5 miles.
The GPS determined our starting location, and I pressed the button to begin. It began tracking our movements almost immediately. During the walk, distance, duration, current pace, and calories burned were recorded.
As an example, here are our stats for the walk.
I can save my hikes and, I suppose, can even post them, even though I've not tried this yet. I have pulled up other hikes/walks in our area, though, so others are definitely using this feature. I had hoped that I could record waypoints with this app, but I've yet to see how to do this.
And one final feature I've not utilized but is of interest to me is the tracker feature. If I understand this correctly, this feature will allow others to track my location. This could be useful, especially considering my age. By activating this not only on my device but also on my wife's and my daughter's, they could locate me. So, were I to go on a lengthy hike in the backwoods one day and not return at the expected time, they could track my location. But I need to study this more and ensure that it is secure enough. After all, I don't want just anyone tracking me.
One of the first apps I downloaded was a GPS app to map our hikes and walks. Since I'm not trying to promote one app over another, I won't list the app I downloaded, but I will tell you a little about it.
Actually, the app will do more than simply map my hike. It will provide generic caloric information regarding food, track gear, and perform other calculations and information related to "workouts". But I'm really only interested in data related to hiking.
I tested the app on one of our recent walks. We try to walk anywhere from 3 to 6 miles every other day. Of course, sometimes the weather prevents our doing so, or perhaps out health might restrict us. But when all conditions are good, we are pretty good about keeping to this schedule. In the past, I've used Google Maps to measure distances at the places we walk. On the morning of the test, we decided to do our favorite loop walk at the state park (San Angelo State Park). According to Google Maps, this loop is right at 5 miles.
The GPS determined our starting location, and I pressed the button to begin. It began tracking our movements almost immediately. During the walk, distance, duration, current pace, and calories burned were recorded.
As an example, here are our stats for the walk.
- Distance: 4.92 miles
- Duration: 1:31:29 (1 hour 31 minutes and 29 seconds
- Pace: 1 mile every 18 minutes and 36 seconds (18:36)
- Calories burned: 697
I can save my hikes and, I suppose, can even post them, even though I've not tried this yet. I have pulled up other hikes/walks in our area, though, so others are definitely using this feature. I had hoped that I could record waypoints with this app, but I've yet to see how to do this.
And one final feature I've not utilized but is of interest to me is the tracker feature. If I understand this correctly, this feature will allow others to track my location. This could be useful, especially considering my age. By activating this not only on my device but also on my wife's and my daughter's, they could locate me. So, were I to go on a lengthy hike in the backwoods one day and not return at the expected time, they could track my location. But I need to study this more and ensure that it is secure enough. After all, I don't want just anyone tracking me.
Monday, September 21, 2015
We've Gone Over to the Dark Side
Donna and I resisted for a long time. I guess we were among the last holdouts. But we finally gave in to our baser desires and crossed that line and joined the dark side.
Yes, we bought two smartphones.
Since retiring, we've been living on fixed incomes. We've done everything we know of to keep operating expenses down. I resisted smartphones because (1) the phones themselves are more expensive than the old flip phones we used, and (2) the plans are more expensive. I also feared becoming a smartphone zombie; you know, one of those people obsessed by their smartphone to the point that they lose all face-to-face social skills.
Because we are traveling so much in our trailer lately and plan to travel even more over the next few years, we finally decided it might be advantageous to get some smartphones. I do see a great need to be able to check highway routes while on the road, not to mention look up RV parks and other information.
So, we've spent the past couple of weeks learning how to use the phones. We've been downloading the apps we think we need, and we've been learning how to use them.
And we're really trying to become smartphone zombies. Now we can go out to eat and text each other from the same table. It surely beats talking to each other, don't you think.
Yes, we bought two smartphones.
Since retiring, we've been living on fixed incomes. We've done everything we know of to keep operating expenses down. I resisted smartphones because (1) the phones themselves are more expensive than the old flip phones we used, and (2) the plans are more expensive. I also feared becoming a smartphone zombie; you know, one of those people obsessed by their smartphone to the point that they lose all face-to-face social skills.
Because we are traveling so much in our trailer lately and plan to travel even more over the next few years, we finally decided it might be advantageous to get some smartphones. I do see a great need to be able to check highway routes while on the road, not to mention look up RV parks and other information.
So, we've spent the past couple of weeks learning how to use the phones. We've been downloading the apps we think we need, and we've been learning how to use them.
And we're really trying to become smartphone zombies. Now we can go out to eat and text each other from the same table. It surely beats talking to each other, don't you think.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Movie Review: A Walk in the Woods
I've read Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods twice (see "Good Reads: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson" from June 2013). I really enjoy that book. It relates the author's attempt -- with his friend Stephen Katz -- to hike the Appalachian Trail (see "The Big 3 Hiking Trails of the Continental U.S.A." from June 2013). So when I learned that there was a movie being made by the same name of the book, I was eager to watch it.
Donna and I went to see the movie recently. I was entertained by the movie. After all, I'm a fan of Robert Redford; I have been since I first saw him in The Chase, which also starred Marlon Brando and Jane Fonda. Jeremiah Johnson ranks up there as one of my favorite all-time movies, as much for the scenery as for the story. But Redford -- who is cast as Byrson -- is pushing 80 years old. When Bryson published his book in 1998, he was under 50 years of age. That's a big age difference, and it made me wonder just how accurately the movie would follow the book.
Well, the movie does not accurately follow the book, nor does it pretend too. The movie is only loosely based on the book. If you are a fan of the book, you will see many, many deviations from the book, such as the scene with the bears. But the spirit of the book does find some life in the movie, and the movie takes on a life of its own.
Basically, Bryson (Redford) and his childhood friend Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte) set out to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. They are old geysers, and part of the movie deals with both of them facing the reality of their lives. As in the book, Katz is the central comic figure in the movie. The scenery is beautiful and made both Donna and me want to find a trail and set out.
Don't look for the movie to even follow the basic plot of the book. It doesn't. But it seems to work. I had hoped that the movie would deal more with hiking the Appalachian Trail, such as gear, trail shelters, and trail life, but it dealt with these only briefly if at all. And if colorful language upsets you, this is probably not a movie you need to watch. I was put off with the language, and I did not see that it really contributed to the plot at all.
But I enjoyed the movie. I find it harder and harder to find movies that entertain me these days. So many veer way off into a fantasy world of unbelievable, choreographed stunts that I'm frustrated by the whole thing. At least A Walk in the Woods stayed grounded.
Donna and I went to see the movie recently. I was entertained by the movie. After all, I'm a fan of Robert Redford; I have been since I first saw him in The Chase, which also starred Marlon Brando and Jane Fonda. Jeremiah Johnson ranks up there as one of my favorite all-time movies, as much for the scenery as for the story. But Redford -- who is cast as Byrson -- is pushing 80 years old. When Bryson published his book in 1998, he was under 50 years of age. That's a big age difference, and it made me wonder just how accurately the movie would follow the book.
Well, the movie does not accurately follow the book, nor does it pretend too. The movie is only loosely based on the book. If you are a fan of the book, you will see many, many deviations from the book, such as the scene with the bears. But the spirit of the book does find some life in the movie, and the movie takes on a life of its own.
Basically, Bryson (Redford) and his childhood friend Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte) set out to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. They are old geysers, and part of the movie deals with both of them facing the reality of their lives. As in the book, Katz is the central comic figure in the movie. The scenery is beautiful and made both Donna and me want to find a trail and set out.
Don't look for the movie to even follow the basic plot of the book. It doesn't. But it seems to work. I had hoped that the movie would deal more with hiking the Appalachian Trail, such as gear, trail shelters, and trail life, but it dealt with these only briefly if at all. And if colorful language upsets you, this is probably not a movie you need to watch. I was put off with the language, and I did not see that it really contributed to the plot at all.
But I enjoyed the movie. I find it harder and harder to find movies that entertain me these days. So many veer way off into a fantasy world of unbelievable, choreographed stunts that I'm frustrated by the whole thing. At least A Walk in the Woods stayed grounded.
Monday, September 14, 2015
How Do We Spend Our Time When Camping?
When we camp someplace, we try to stay active, but our days are often filled with down periods. I thought you might be interested in just how we do spend our time, so below is a day-by-day account of what we did for the week we were in the Davis Mountains.
Monday
We left San Angelo about 8:00 AM and stopped at a roadside park outside Ft. Stockton to make sandwiches in our trailer around noon. We finally arrived at Davis Mountains State Park about 1:30 PM. We made 2 or 3 passes through the campground before settling on a campsite. After securing the site with the office, we took our time setting up. Since we were going to be there a week, we wanted to get everything arranged right. We also had to make a run into town to pick up a couple of items needed for our site, and by the time we returned, there wasn't a lot of day left. We did, however, drive to the top of Skyline Drive and admire the views. We then returned to camp, showered, ate a light supper, and turned in for the night.
Tuesday
We rose early and walked about 3 miles or more along park roads. Even when on vacation -- yeah, a vacation from retirement -- we try to get our exercise in. We visited most of the camping areas as well as Indian Lodge. Back at camp, we showered, grabbed a snack, then jumped in the truck for a drive around the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop. When we returned to Ft. Davis at the end of the loop, we enjoyed tostadas and nachos at Cueva De Leon, a local restaurant. Back at camp, we relaxed, enjoying our million dollar views of the mountains. We especially enjoyed watching vehicles riding the switchbacks of Skyline Drive to the top of the mountain and back. Just before dark, a mule deer leisurely wandered through our camp.
Wednesday
After breakfast, we drove to Alpine. First stop was the Lost Alaskan RV Park to pick up some RV supplies. While there, we drove through the park. It's a nice park, and probably the best in Alpine. Should we ever want to stay in Alpine, this is the park we'll go to. Next stop was the local Radio Shack to look for a power cord. From there, we visited the Museum of the Big Bend, then took a short stroll through the quad of Sul Ross State University. On our way out of town, we filled up with gasoline, then headed to Marfa. Just east of Marfa, we stopped at the Marfa Lights viewing area. After a brief look around Marfa, we headed back to Ft. Davis, where we shared a malt, cheeseburger, and onion rings at the Fort Davis Drug Store. Yummy! Then back to camp, where we spent a relaxing evening sitting outside reading and enjoying the view and weather. Just before turning in, a family of javelina wandered through the campground.
Thursday
We went for another 3 or 4 mile walk along paved park roads in the morning. Back at camp, we had a very late breakfast, which Donna cooked on the portable stove outside. It was nice cooking and eating outside, watching folks moving about the park. After breakfast, I napped while Donna aggravated some aggressive birds around camp. Later, we drove into town for milk, vegetables, and other food. That evening, we attended a program at the nearby Interpretive Center: "Plants and Animals of the Davis Mountains." It was very interesting. Then back to the trailer for showers and bed.
Friday
We attended two presentations at the Indian Lodge this morning. At 9:00, we attended "Strong Backs and Willing to Work!", a program about the Civilian Conservation Corps with emphasis on how their efforts affected this area. At 10:00, we attended "Highlights of the Davis Mountains" a program on the wildlife, plants, and history of the park. We then returned to camp for lunch. After lunch, we sat outside and watched as weekend visitors began arriving. We always enjoy watching campers come in to a park. We are always interested in their RVs, their equipment, and how they go about setting up camp.
Saturday
We were moving slowly this morning. After a light breakfast, we drove the 35 or so miles north to Balmorhea to visit that park. We camped there in a tent about 30 years ago, but had not been back since. It was nice to see it again. After leaving the park, we drove on into nearby Balmorhea and toured the small town and drove to the small lake just south of town. Then we returned to the Davis Mountains for a mid-afternoon lunch at the Black Bear Restaurant at the Indian Lodge. Donna had the veggie burger while I had a very good chicken fried steak. After lunch, we just relaxed the rest of the day. From our site, we watched several people hiking the trails on the slopes to the north of us.
Sunday
We took another walk around the park this morning, then came back to camp where Donna cooked another late breakfast outside on the camp stove. Since we were scheduled to leave in the morning, we spent the evening hours packing gear for an early start. We'll rise early tomorrow and try to be gone shortly after it gets light. It's about a 5 hour or so drive home, then we have to unload the trailer. It will be a long day.
Monday
We left San Angelo about 8:00 AM and stopped at a roadside park outside Ft. Stockton to make sandwiches in our trailer around noon. We finally arrived at Davis Mountains State Park about 1:30 PM. We made 2 or 3 passes through the campground before settling on a campsite. After securing the site with the office, we took our time setting up. Since we were going to be there a week, we wanted to get everything arranged right. We also had to make a run into town to pick up a couple of items needed for our site, and by the time we returned, there wasn't a lot of day left. We did, however, drive to the top of Skyline Drive and admire the views. We then returned to camp, showered, ate a light supper, and turned in for the night.
Tuesday
We rose early and walked about 3 miles or more along park roads. Even when on vacation -- yeah, a vacation from retirement -- we try to get our exercise in. We visited most of the camping areas as well as Indian Lodge. Back at camp, we showered, grabbed a snack, then jumped in the truck for a drive around the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop. When we returned to Ft. Davis at the end of the loop, we enjoyed tostadas and nachos at Cueva De Leon, a local restaurant. Back at camp, we relaxed, enjoying our million dollar views of the mountains. We especially enjoyed watching vehicles riding the switchbacks of Skyline Drive to the top of the mountain and back. Just before dark, a mule deer leisurely wandered through our camp.
Wednesday
After breakfast, we drove to Alpine. First stop was the Lost Alaskan RV Park to pick up some RV supplies. While there, we drove through the park. It's a nice park, and probably the best in Alpine. Should we ever want to stay in Alpine, this is the park we'll go to. Next stop was the local Radio Shack to look for a power cord. From there, we visited the Museum of the Big Bend, then took a short stroll through the quad of Sul Ross State University. On our way out of town, we filled up with gasoline, then headed to Marfa. Just east of Marfa, we stopped at the Marfa Lights viewing area. After a brief look around Marfa, we headed back to Ft. Davis, where we shared a malt, cheeseburger, and onion rings at the Fort Davis Drug Store. Yummy! Then back to camp, where we spent a relaxing evening sitting outside reading and enjoying the view and weather. Just before turning in, a family of javelina wandered through the campground.
Thursday
We went for another 3 or 4 mile walk along paved park roads in the morning. Back at camp, we had a very late breakfast, which Donna cooked on the portable stove outside. It was nice cooking and eating outside, watching folks moving about the park. After breakfast, I napped while Donna aggravated some aggressive birds around camp. Later, we drove into town for milk, vegetables, and other food. That evening, we attended a program at the nearby Interpretive Center: "Plants and Animals of the Davis Mountains." It was very interesting. Then back to the trailer for showers and bed.
Friday
We attended two presentations at the Indian Lodge this morning. At 9:00, we attended "Strong Backs and Willing to Work!", a program about the Civilian Conservation Corps with emphasis on how their efforts affected this area. At 10:00, we attended "Highlights of the Davis Mountains" a program on the wildlife, plants, and history of the park. We then returned to camp for lunch. After lunch, we sat outside and watched as weekend visitors began arriving. We always enjoy watching campers come in to a park. We are always interested in their RVs, their equipment, and how they go about setting up camp.
Saturday
We were moving slowly this morning. After a light breakfast, we drove the 35 or so miles north to Balmorhea to visit that park. We camped there in a tent about 30 years ago, but had not been back since. It was nice to see it again. After leaving the park, we drove on into nearby Balmorhea and toured the small town and drove to the small lake just south of town. Then we returned to the Davis Mountains for a mid-afternoon lunch at the Black Bear Restaurant at the Indian Lodge. Donna had the veggie burger while I had a very good chicken fried steak. After lunch, we just relaxed the rest of the day. From our site, we watched several people hiking the trails on the slopes to the north of us.
Sunday
We took another walk around the park this morning, then came back to camp where Donna cooked another late breakfast outside on the camp stove. Since we were scheduled to leave in the morning, we spent the evening hours packing gear for an early start. We'll rise early tomorrow and try to be gone shortly after it gets light. It's about a 5 hour or so drive home, then we have to unload the trailer. It will be a long day.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Balmorhea State Park
It was just over 30 years ago when we first visited Balmorhea State Park just outside of the small town of the same name just off Interstate 10 west of Ft. Stockton. Our daughter was quite young then, and we had a cabin tent. We spent one night there enjoying the swimming pool formed by the prolific San Solomon Springs. The next day we headed to the Davis Mountains State Park. We have never returned to Balmorhea until our recent trip to the Davis Mountains.
Simply put, Balmorhea State Park is a party park, and I don't necessarily mean this in a negative way. Almost everyone who visits the park does so for one reason -- to swim in the world's largest spring fed swimming pool. The park exists because of San Solomon Springs, which gush about 15 million gallons of water a day. Canals crisscross the park and continue out into the surrounding area. If you drive through nearby Balmorhea -- 4 miles away -- notice the canal of clear water running parallel to the highway through the center of town. Water from the springs also help form nearby Balmorhea Lake, a 550 acre lake just south of Balmorhea. The springs create a cienega, a desert wetland, which has been restored in recent years. The water also attracts a large number of birds and, in turn, bird watchers. This park is truly an oasis in the desert. And believe it or not, scuba diving is permitted in the springs, which reach a depth of about 25 feet.
2 endangered species make San Solomon Springs their home: the Pecos Gambusia and the Comanche Springs Pupfish. The Pecos Gambusia, which eats mosquito larvae thereby keeping the mosquito population in check, lives only in a few select places in Texas and New Mexico. The Comanche Pupfish once thrived in Comanche Springs in nearby Ft. Stockton, but now that those springs have dried up, they live only in San Solomon Springs.
There are 34 campsites in the park, but none with sewer connections. However, cable is provided, and that is rare in Texas parks. There is also a small motel, the San Solomon Springs Courts, with 18 rooms available.
We visited the park on a Saturday, and the place was packed, even though the current temperature was below 80 and skies were overcast. Water temperature from the springs remains steady at between 72 - 76 degrees. Folks were entering the pool area carrying floats and dragging ice chests on wheels. It was quite lively. It's good to see folks enjoying nature, but the place is just too busy for us. We were happy to get back to our Davis Mountains State Park.
Simply put, Balmorhea State Park is a party park, and I don't necessarily mean this in a negative way. Almost everyone who visits the park does so for one reason -- to swim in the world's largest spring fed swimming pool. The park exists because of San Solomon Springs, which gush about 15 million gallons of water a day. Canals crisscross the park and continue out into the surrounding area. If you drive through nearby Balmorhea -- 4 miles away -- notice the canal of clear water running parallel to the highway through the center of town. Water from the springs also help form nearby Balmorhea Lake, a 550 acre lake just south of Balmorhea. The springs create a cienega, a desert wetland, which has been restored in recent years. The water also attracts a large number of birds and, in turn, bird watchers. This park is truly an oasis in the desert. And believe it or not, scuba diving is permitted in the springs, which reach a depth of about 25 feet.
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| The shallow arm of the pool, which is in the shape of a V. The springs are at the vortex of the V, which is at the far end of this picture. The deep end forms the other arm of the V- shaped pool. |
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| Viewing windows are designed to allow a below water look at the cienega, but the panes were dirty -- and the water a bit murky -- making visibility practically impossible. |
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| Above-water view of the cienega, looking towards the San Solomon Courts. |
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| Click on this image to see a larger image; perhaps then you can see the 2 smaller turtles as well as the larger one. |
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| Balmorhea Lake, just 2 miles south of Balmorhea, is fed by a canal from San Solomon Springs as well as by Sandia Creek. |
2 endangered species make San Solomon Springs their home: the Pecos Gambusia and the Comanche Springs Pupfish. The Pecos Gambusia, which eats mosquito larvae thereby keeping the mosquito population in check, lives only in a few select places in Texas and New Mexico. The Comanche Pupfish once thrived in Comanche Springs in nearby Ft. Stockton, but now that those springs have dried up, they live only in San Solomon Springs.
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| Canal that runs behind San Solomon Courts in the center of the park. |
There are 34 campsites in the park, but none with sewer connections. However, cable is provided, and that is rare in Texas parks. There is also a small motel, the San Solomon Springs Courts, with 18 rooms available.
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| Camping area at Balmorhea State Park. |
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| Another view of the camping area at Balmorhea State Park. Angle looks toward the Davis Mountains. |
We visited the park on a Saturday, and the place was packed, even though the current temperature was below 80 and skies were overcast. Water temperature from the springs remains steady at between 72 - 76 degrees. Folks were entering the pool area carrying floats and dragging ice chests on wheels. It was quite lively. It's good to see folks enjoying nature, but the place is just too busy for us. We were happy to get back to our Davis Mountains State Park.
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