I feel like I typically take one or two "big" trips a year that line up with breaks available from work after we complete big events. My Maine trip may have been the fluke but nevertheless, here I am just a month later taking another week adventure. But this time it's a more familiar direction. West Texas and beyond. My heart is scattered across this region with countless trips and memories ranging from Big Bend through the Davis Mountains, up to the Guads, Carlsbad, Ruidoso, and the Santa Fe/Taos area. Desert, cactus, mountains, pine trees, and the blaring sun. These places, if done right, can be havens from the blistering heat we find every year in most parts of the south. I was reaching my limit, I was hot, and I wanted to get away. Absolute first priority? Balmorhea. The stunning crystal clear spring fed pool in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert. The San Marcos River will always be my #1 but you can never pass up such an oasis.
I drove straight to Balmorhea Tuesday morning and arrived midday equipped with my goggles, swim cap, and a book. My objective was to completely relax and soak in the water and the atmosphere. I'd give myself an A+ on doing so. One of favorite parts in the water was sucking in a chest full of air and then going motionless. The air in my chest creates a perfect buoyancy that dips my head only inches below the surface. I'd just hover with my feet dangling six feet below me and I gaze for 10-20 seconds at a time in the 25 feet of spectacularly clear water. Being underwater is an escape for me. It's a way to block out any distractions or noises and be completely with yourself or with the beauty of the underwater world. Time stops underwater.
I drove straight to Balmorhea Tuesday morning and arrived midday equipped with my goggles, swim cap, and a book. My objective was to completely relax and soak in the water and the atmosphere. I'd give myself an A+ on doing so. One of favorite parts in the water was sucking in a chest full of air and then going motionless. The air in my chest creates a perfect buoyancy that dips my head only inches below the surface. I'd just hover with my feet dangling six feet below me and I gaze for 10-20 seconds at a time in the 25 feet of spectacularly clear water. Being underwater is an escape for me. It's a way to block out any distractions or noises and be completely with yourself or with the beauty of the underwater world. Time stops underwater.
It had been a while since I actually drove into Ft. Davis. I heard it was green this year so I had high hopes but I can never quite remember how spectacular it is. Every time I make the drive into the Davis Mountains I'm overcome by its beauty. I only snapped a couple pictures of the drive, while I drove (sorry!) but I'm glad I got at least a couple of those shots. I went straight to the Davis Mountains State Park and up to the Skyline drive area that overlooks the whole park. I snapped some typical photos and then sought a place to read. There is an old CCC hut on the other end of Skyline drive so I went that direction to find shade. I found a reading rock in the shade. I laid on the rock. And then after 10 minutes I realized maybe I should preserve my body for a whole week of adventuring instead of straining my back trying to read and lay on awkward rocks.
After my little reading session I went back to the main overlook to catch the sunset. It wasn't an epic and exciting showing but I'm happy enough with getting the mountains in some different light. I also saw an awesome giant snake! It's a gopher snake and was insanely cooperative when I drove up to it in my car. Once it moved off the road I could see how much length it was hiding in its curves and I was shocked. That thing could have been 6 feet!
I found some WiFi in the Indian Lodge bathroom. I was hoping to find a place to grab some grub (now around 9pm) but of course there was nothing to be found. I went to the McDonald Observatory website and SWEET!! STAR PARTY!!!! TONIGHT!!! 9:30 PM!!! I knew I'd be a little late but I headed straight there. It was an unforgettable experience. I think the only other time I tried to go to a Star Party it was clouded out.
I arrived, saw a TON of cars in the parking lot but the place seemed empty otherwise! No one in the cafe or gift shop, just one staff in the ticket booth. I got my ticket and asked where everyone was. She directed up to the amphitheater where I wandered up to and was blown away by how many people were up there. I think the count was close to 400. I was late but didn't miss anything significant and got to learn and see tons of great stuff during the short presentation. Satellites, meteors, constellations, former pole stars, giant stars, galaxies. They have a laser pointer that is incredibly effective at...pointing. After the short-ish presentation there were 8-10 different scopes being manned and pointed at different objects. I saw the Whirlpool and Andromeda Galaxies, Saturn, Wild Duck cluster, a nebula (not as cool as Orion's), and one or two other objects I can't remember. We had a bunch of really nice "burners", some impressive meteors from the Perseid meteor shower.
It was such a perfect night for photographing the Milky Way but I didn't end up with much opportunity to do any in great locations. I did a few at the observatory and a few at the Madera Canyon roadside park (formerly Lawrence E. Woods Picnic area?) where I slept in my car. There ended up being a insect collection/capturing thing happening at the roadside park so there was a floodlight on all night. Fortunately it lit up the foreground nicely for a couple of the shots of the Milky Way above the tree-lined canyon wall. It was a fantastic day.
I arrived, saw a TON of cars in the parking lot but the place seemed empty otherwise! No one in the cafe or gift shop, just one staff in the ticket booth. I got my ticket and asked where everyone was. She directed up to the amphitheater where I wandered up to and was blown away by how many people were up there. I think the count was close to 400. I was late but didn't miss anything significant and got to learn and see tons of great stuff during the short presentation. Satellites, meteors, constellations, former pole stars, giant stars, galaxies. They have a laser pointer that is incredibly effective at...pointing. After the short-ish presentation there were 8-10 different scopes being manned and pointed at different objects. I saw the Whirlpool and Andromeda Galaxies, Saturn, Wild Duck cluster, a nebula (not as cool as Orion's), and one or two other objects I can't remember. We had a bunch of really nice "burners", some impressive meteors from the Perseid meteor shower.
It was such a perfect night for photographing the Milky Way but I didn't end up with much opportunity to do any in great locations. I did a few at the observatory and a few at the Madera Canyon roadside park (formerly Lawrence E. Woods Picnic area?) where I slept in my car. There ended up being a insect collection/capturing thing happening at the roadside park so there was a floodlight on all night. Fortunately it lit up the foreground nicely for a couple of the shots of the Milky Way above the tree-lined canyon wall. It was a fantastic day.