Eric & I Travel Southwest to Uvalde, Texas

 

Starting out on Interstate 10 East...

 

Clouds creep over the mountains.

Traffic has slowed to a crawl.

Eric enjoys a sandwich & a

Coke in stopped traffic.

 

We watch an SUV being

winched onto a tow truck.

This is an eerie looking sky.

I wonder what the plastic wrap is

 covering on this tractor trailer.

Welcome to New Mexico

Land of Enchantment

    

Eric & I watch a rainbow develop

Welcome to Las Cruces

Explore, Experience, Discover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Frankentree

 

Welcome to Texas

Drive Friendly - The Texas Way

El Paso Trading Post

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The West Texas Desert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A farm 

Fort Stockton silhouettes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This picture says it all...

Our 20 year old Starter died. 

A HUGE thank you goes out to JCP Roadside Diesel/Auto Repair and Tire Service.  Jose and his assistant diagnosed the bad Starter, found a replacement nearby, and replaced it in five and a half hours.  

 

Eric & I return to Interstate 10 East at 4:30 pm to drive Southeast to Uvalde.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Texas depends on Wind Turbines

for 28.6% of its Electrical needs.

 

 

 

The conical mountain is

so different from the 

surrounding terrain.

A lone Oil Derrick

 

We left Interstate 10 East for US 277 South at Sonora.

 

 

 

 

 

The last leg of our drive is on

Texas State Highway 55. 

Our windshield has many splattered bugs on it today.

Straight Texas roads get

steep & curvy....

It's about 7:40 pm & the sun

is behind us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Locals take a Sunset Soak

in the Nueces River,

around 8:10 pm.

The pictures I took at 8:20 pm, when Eric and I arrived at Chalk Bluff RV Resort were terrible!

 

Eric took this picture today... The sun is sooo bright here.

Eric & I Visit Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona

Eric & I visit Biosphere 2.

In 1991 eight people, (Biospherians) were sealed into this glass structure for two years to live off the plants and animals in the Savanna Grasslands, a Tropical Rainforest, Fog Desert, Mangrove Wetlands, and Ocean Biomes.  In 1991 eight people (Biospherians) were sealed inside the Glass Enclosure for two years to measure survivablity in the Tropical Rainforest, Fog Desert, Savanna Grassland, Mangrove Wetlands & Ocean.

Biosphereians harvested fruits, vegetables and relied on the Goats that lived in the enclosure.  They had experiments to conduct and Log Books to report the results. 

Much was learned and the one important mistake were made, and went unreported.  The soils chosen for Biosphere were rich in microbes that used more Oxygen that was anticipated.  As a result Carbon Dioxide levels rose.  Supplemental Oxygen was added to Biosphere without notifying the public, which showed intense interest in the experiment.  

 

 

 

Biospherians lost weight &

 Body Mass during their stay.

 

  It has been said that Biosphere 2

 became a Psychological

 Experiment

 

 

Thirty plus years on, Biosphere 2 is part of the University of Arizona.  Experiments, Internships and Conferences are conducted here, and visitors are welcome.

 

 

 

The Kitchen where meals were prepared.

The spacious Dining Room

Each Biospherian was assigned

 a two floor apartment.

Living space was on the first floor. 

Bedrooms ere on the second floor.

1990s Technology looks quaint

today.

Entering the Glass Enclosure...

Coffee

This was a prized drink

in the Biosphere.

Grapefruit

Fig

Eric & I see plants inside

the Glass Enclosure.

Eric stops to sniff a flower

next to the Datilollo.

I could spend hours taking

pictures here...

 

 

 

 

 

Red Mangroves protect our

coastlines from tidal erosion.

 

 

 

 

 

 Flowering Frankincense

 

Eric & I enter the Rainforest

Biome.

This area is lush & humid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeds from the Cacao Tree

are the source of Chocolate.

 

 

This flower is about 3 feet tall.

Biosphere 2 is diverse &

beautiful...

I'm glad we took the

time to visit

Biosphere 2.

Driving Interstates East to Benson, Arizona

Eric & I take Interstate 8 East

out of Yuma...

 

 

Farm fields & mountains in

the distance

A Tesla Cyber Truck towing

 an AirStream Trailer at

Dateland Travel Center.

Covered Stockyards keep Cattle from experiencing Arizona's extreme heat.

 

 

 

We continue straight to

Interstate 10 East.

Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch

is a fun roadside attraction.

The Tucson skyline

 

Half a house travels west.

Here's the exit for Benson.

Welcome to Benson

 

Home of Kartchner Caverns

State Park

Arriving at Valley Vista

RV Resort.