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Saturday, April 6, 2024

Chalk Bluff RV Resort in Uvalde, Texas





Eric & I are parked
 next to our friends,






A Long Horn Steer...  Photobombed by the Giraffe & two Black Vultures
 
Private individuals can own exotic animals in Texas. 

 
 
 
 
 
A chubby little Burro 











A Donkey wanders over
to see us.



























Two Camels come to the fence.
 
I keep my distance because
Camels spit.







I think this is a European







This is a huge Resort with lots of room for Tenters and Day Trippers who come to enjoy the Nueces River. 






 The Playground












on the hunt.












This Bird is enjoying the view...









 
 
 
The Chalk Bluff is beautiful.





Thursday, April 4, 2024

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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 







Welcome to Texas
Drive Friendly - The Texas Way










 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 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
 
 
 







The conical mountain is
so different from the 
surrounding terrain.
















 
We left Interstate 10 East for US 277 South at Sonora.
 
 
 
 
 
The last leg of our drive is on








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.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

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.  

 


 

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...





This was a prized drink
in the Biosphere.

































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.