Sam Angelo

Well we made it to the highlite or our trip. The "proud birthplace" of our great friend Jeff Allen. As you can see by the pictures, they even have it posted that Jeff was born here. The guys working in the visitors center must be related to Jeff, as they were so nice and very helpful and wanted us to stay and visit longer.   Jeff we miss you! My turn (Linda).  It was an interesting trip through miles and miles and miles of field, hills and moutains in the distance, oil rigs and a few more wineries.  We aren't stopping at them now-wouldn't have any room for anything else.  Travelling on the back roads as we have been most of the time in Texas, we aren't seeing much traffic.  Russ said yesterday that he thinks the roads have been built just so they can get to the telephone polls.  It still amazes me how far we can see in any direction.  I've also started to keep track of the elevation.  I have alot of free time!  When we were in Padre Island driving along the gulf shore, we were at 3 feet above sea level.  Yesterday we were as high as 2280.  It will be interesting to see where we will be once we get into New Mexico, which is where we will be today. 
As Russ said, we stopped in San Angelo and the gentlemen at the Visitors Center were very nice and interested in our travels.  Everyone likes to tell us about the cold spell we missed several weeks ago.  Russ told one that we had to delay our trip for a day as we had 14 inches of snow.  One gentleman told me that they've had 14 inches of snow, but it has taken 15 years.  He thinks we should move to San Angelo!  The downtown has four lanes of traffic going through it.
Passed through town and neede some fuel again.  Stopped at a gas station where we could walk over to the SONIC.  This was the first SONIC we have been to as the parking lots are not large enough for the truck and fifth wheel.  It was a treat.  A real cowboy with real spurs on his boots asked me, 'Maaaaam, what is it that you are eating'.  It was a grilled chicken salad.  I didn't know that real cowboys ate grilled chicken salads.  We have been seeing lots of dead looking trees along the sides of the highways all through Texas and haven't known what they are.  Russ went over to the cowboy, and said, 'You look like someone from around these parts'.  How original.  Well the trees are mesquite and they lose their leaves in the winter and don't leaf out again til there's no sign of front.  They are 'real smart trees'.
So we know what those dead trees are on the side of the road. 
Passing through the town and its outskirts of Sterling, we saw hundreds of huge windmills.  They were all aways away, but we never did see a sign regarding them.  We also starte to see a  bunch of oil wells along the side of the road.  One was larger than the others and said 'Nabors Rig #24' on the side.  That was in Garden City.  And we saw a sand mining pit in that same area.  Busy area.
Now we are in Midland.  This is the home of former President George W. and Laura Bush.  We thought we might spend a couple nights here, but we are leaving shortly.  Got a flat tire on the camper last night and the camping area we are in is right out in a dust bowl.  I think our neighbors are junk yards, and industrial facilities.  We will be leaving shortly and headed to Carlsbad, NM.  Getting out of Texas today.  But we'll be back.
Love to all-Linda