The Lower Level

Today, I drove that section of west texas that everyone talked about; the endless, vegetation-less flat part. It was not anything like the I-10 drive that occurred west of San Antonio. That’s alright though, cause the end destination was worth it. I made it to Carlsbad Caverns and had a nice time. The caverns are really cool, and I paid an extra $20 and got the “lower level” tour which involved ropes and ladders. I was glad I got there when I did cause they sort of shut down the caverns around 4 pm. 

When I left Ozona this morning, I took the main drive out of town. It was pretty cool. I didn’t know this when I arrived during the night, but my motel was down the street from the town square. They had a really neat looking city hall, Crocket museum, and a main street with an old time drug store. 

I am currently in El Paso, staying at a red roof inn. Its amazing driving in to El Paso from Carlsbad cause even though it’s a straight shot, there is nothing on the road.  And I mean nothing. Then I got into El Paso, and came around to the hotel district, which sits above I-10 on a hill, and as far as the eye can see its just lights from houses. It’s just interesting to go from nothingness to endless sea of houses. 

I am going to look forward to actually staying put for a few days when I get to Las Vegas. Next is Phoenix though. I will spend a couple days there, after which I’ll hit up the Grand Canyon, followed by sin city. 

I want to give credit to George H. W and George W before signing off on my blog for the evening. I would think it difficult for anyone who lives in West Texas to get elected governor much less President. I didnt make it up to Crawford to see the Ranch, but there is not a whole lot going on in West Texas. 

Now that i am sort of on the subject of west texas, I do want to make one observation. Some one please explain how it makes any sense to try to grow anything in the desert. I mean its dry and sandy and windy. Going across, i saw them watering vast fields that are literally in the desert. I mean this isn't the 1880's. How anyone can think its a good idea to that when water is so scare out here. Texas would easily rival California for population if it actually had water.  

Also, the whole W-Texas landscape seems to be litered with those small oil drills. Not that huge ones, but more like the 15 foot ones. I mean just thousands of them, and it looks like most of them stopped working years ago. I also saw something that was pretty cool. When i came up to this ridge line on I-10, there must have been 100's of big wind turbines. Pretty neat.