AggieDave 6 #51 May 5, 2005 QuoteOh, and it will take you about 15 hours of driving just to cross Texas. That depends on what time they hit H-town, SA and El Paso. All three can get really congested and easily add an hour or two each. So I said 20hrs as a safe estimate.Oh, another thing, seeing how you'll be crossing the W. TX desert in the middle of the summer, make sure the thermostate in your car (not in the cab, for the radiator) is functional and its a good idea to keep some water and a snack handy in your car incase you break down and it takes a long time to get a wrecker out there.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #52 May 5, 2005 oh, and if you want, I can pm you the locations of some really neat rock formations/faults/unconformities etc along the way that you'll cross.... Scars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #53 May 5, 2005 QuoteI can pm you the locations of some really neat rock formations/faults/unconformities etc along the way that you'll cross.... Ah, New Mexico...yeah, atleast its a quick drive through there when on I-10...--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #54 May 5, 2005 QuoteQuoteI can pm you the locations of some really neat rock formations/faults/unconformities etc along the way that you'll cross.... Ah, New Mexico...yeah, atleast its a quick drive through there when on I-10... actually, you go across the biggest time gap in Texas...Permian basin, limestones, faults galore. Not to mention plenty of lava flows out in west texas as well.Scars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #55 May 5, 2005 Quoteactually, you go across the biggest time gap in Texas...Permian basin, limestones, faults galore. Yeah, I was joking about N. Mexico previously. Have you ever made it to Big Bend before? It would be worth a couple of days excusion if she could do it, since she'll be going by pretty close from I-10 (close in a TX sort of way).--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #56 May 5, 2005 QuoteHave you ever made it to Big Bend before? I hope you're not asking me that.... I've covered that place from asshole to appetite as well as the huge ranch just north that belongs to a TCU alum.Scars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #57 May 5, 2005 I remember us talking about that the first time you visited, that's such a cool part of the country. It was more of a general question to possibly spark some other people's intrest.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydiveNFlorida 0 #58 May 5, 2005 QuoteQuoteactually, you go across the biggest time gap in Texas...Permian basin, limestones, faults galore. Yeah, I was joking about N. Mexico previously. Have you ever made it to Big Bend before? It would be worth a couple of days excusion if she could do it, since she'll be going by pretty close from I-10 (close in a TX sort of way). haha!! That's funny (and scary)! I am not sure we're up for any long detours, but that may change, who knows. I'm thinking a couple dz detours and maybe a couple of neat sites that aren't far off the hwy might be cool:) Man, all this driving makes me think about cushioning on my car seat. I hate to buy a car cushion, but I just know my bum is bound to get sore from all this driving. Maybe i'll sit on my pillow -A Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leroydb 0 #59 May 5, 2005 and add a liniar ampLeroy ..I knew I was an unwanted baby when I saw my bath toys were a toaster and a radio... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrissylicious 0 #60 May 6, 2005 I would have to say that Richland Washington would be your best choice Chrissy"I will stick you with a rope"- ME Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #61 May 6, 2005 QuoteTexas... plenty of lava flows out in west texas as well. I've seen a lot of lava flows in New Mexico and Arizona. NM is chock full of 'em. But I don't know of any good ones in Texas, and I've been all over it. Except for maybe some small "walls" where magma has pushed up through a fissure, like in Big Bend. Where do you see these? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #62 May 6, 2005 QuoteQuoteOh, and it will take you about 15 hours of driving just to cross Texas. That depends on what time they hit H-town, SA and El Paso. All three can get really congested and easily add an hour or two each. So I said 20hrs as a safe estimate. Agreed. Depending upon traffic in the big cities, and your driving habits. When I'm on a long trip, I like to stop only for gas and cheeseburgers - at the same time. You can plan on spending an entire day or more just getting across Texas. Watch out for the tumbleweed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #63 May 6, 2005 QuoteBig Bend... I've covered that place from asshole to appetite Me too! I've spent many weeks there, and there's still so much more yet to see. Very neat place. I've done just about all the official trails, and started doing a lot of off-trail stuff. For example, there's an old U.S. Cavalry outpost in the Grapevine Hills area, which is not advertised anywhere. If you liked that, you should also try the Guadalupe Mountains, north of El Paso on the NM border. That's a great place for rock-lovers too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #64 May 6, 2005 QuoteQuoteTexas... plenty of lava flows out in west texas as well. I've seen a lot of lava flows in New Mexico and Arizona. NM is chock full of 'em. But I don't know of any good ones in Texas, and I've been all over it. Except for maybe some small "walls" where magma has pushed up through a fissure, like in Big Bend. Where do you see these? Good lord - where to start...... Ft. Davis State park has a very large rheomorphic flow - some beautifully preserved gas tubes and flow features I might add. On the west side of the park heading up towards Alpine you can see the Star Mountain Rhyolite and Crossen Trachyte flows - both very interesting to me as they display features of flood basalt flows (thin and arreally extensive) but still have silica rich compostitions which shouldn't flow!!! There are many, many more but I'd really get carried away and I'm afraid much geekness has already leaked out here. Pm if you want to know more. I can also direct you to some very nice ignimbrite flows, Maar deposits and some base surge deposits in and around the park. West Texas is FULL of evidence of volcanic activity. As for I-10 in New mexico - you won't see one lava flow. I-40 however is another story and I LOVE driving that road. Scars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #65 May 7, 2005 Rich, I need to get with you before I go back to Big Bend so I know all the "secret" spots to go. I've been to all the major spots in the park that everyone knows about, but I love the "off the beaten path" spots, those are the best.Have you considered writing a small (20 to 50 page) book to direct folks to different spots? I bet you sell a good number, there are a couple of other guide books that I don't think would even come close to what you could write.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #66 May 7, 2005 QuoteThat depends on what time they hit H-town, SA and El Paso. I found a cool two lane backroad that kept you out of SA traffic completely - the 46. Heading west you pick it up at Seguin; drops you back on the 10 at Boerne (50 miles or so NE of SA). Nice scenery and a nice break from the interstate. I got lucky everytime I went through El Paso but I wasn't there during rush hour. I never, ever, ever want to drive in Houston traffic again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justaflygirl 0 #67 May 7, 2005 I have made the trip from Florida to Texas several times, Texas is a miserable state to drive thru and since you will be going across the enite thing on I-10, my best advice is that once you get past central and on into west Tx, gas stations get a bit scarce, so I would fill up more often than not. Good luck, stay safe, and dont push it, if you get tired stop. I get road sick anytime I drive and have to follow my husband, his long road trip skills are ten times that of mine and when I try to keep up with him, I get sick from exhaustion and it usually takes me a week or two to get better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #68 May 7, 2005 QuoteFt. Davis State park has a very large rheomorphic flow - some beautifully preserved gas tubes and flow features I might add. On the west side of the park heading up towards Alpine you can see the Star Mountain Rhyolite and Crossen Trachyte flows Okay, I've noted these, and will have to go looking for them some day. I spent a few days in the Fort Davis area once, checking out the old west Army fort, and hiking in the mountains there. Then I moved on to the giant telescopes on the mountain at the McDonald observatory. The Alpine area is full of antelope. Photo: Kilbourne Hole, southern Arizona, middle of nowhere... Kilbourne Hole is an ancient volcano crater. Unlike most volcanoes though, this one doesn’t rise up dramatically from the earth in a giant dome-shaped mountain. This one is almost level with the surrounding desert. Kilbourne is actually a sunken crater, called a marre. Scientists theorize that lava from a nearby volcano flowed over the earth's surface and cooked the wet limestone beneath. After a time, the heat on that water produced a gigantic steam explosion creating this huge hole. The hole is 1¼ miles across and reaches a depth of 300 feet, with a mound of dirt around the top rim rising about 30 feet above the desert floor. This photo is of just one edge of the crater, as there was no spot high enough and far enough away to get the entire giant whole in my camera's lens. It's also one of the few places in America where you can find the green mineral called peridot. Photos: Ship Rock, New Mexico. The story I've heard here is that there used to be a volcano around this giant spire of lava, but the cinder cone has eroded away, leaving the hardened plug of lava from the central shaft sticking up hundreds of feet into the air. The ridge line radiating outward is where lava filled a fissure, and then as the earth eroded, it left a long wall of lava sticking up above ground. Neat stuff! Photo: Valley of Fire, New Mexico. This was a wide valley, about 20 miles across and dozens of miles long, full of lava that oozed out of the ground to the surface - no volcanoes nearby to produce it. It's a massive lava flow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingbunky 3 #69 May 7, 2005 the most important long-distance drivine tip ever: gatorade is your friend. it won't keep you awake, but you won't have to stop to pee every two hours. you'll make much better time by driving steady than driving fast. every pee break is going to cost you about 15 minutes on the road. "Hang on a sec, the young'uns are throwin' beer cans at a golf cart." MB4252 TDS699 killing threads since 2001 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
