ramblinChet
Well-known member
Here is another shot from Eagle Pass, Texas. This is right at the border with Mexico and on the other side of the shipping containers topped with razor wire is the Rio Grande River, and then Mexico. The flag was huge and it looked good slowly blowing in the breeze.
Near the border I found several open air markets and stopped by a few. It seemed like 75% of the goods being sold are second hand clothes. Nearly everywhere I looked there were tables with piles of clothes on them while some, like this one, had over the counter medicine and makeup available. I paused and compared this to American women shopping in an air-conditioned mall with perfect temperature and humidity, a food court, impressive decorations and lighting, etc. It reminded me of visiting foreign countries when I was in the military and realizing just how good we had in in these United States.
Here are some friendly prickly pear cactus on a dirt road leading down to the Rio Grande near San Ygnacio, Texas. They are everywhere here and deserve a bit of attention. While researching these tough plants I discovered many interesting things such as the fact that they have been used for centuries by farmers as a natural fence for livestock. Heck, this plant is so common and valuable in so many ways it is even part of the Mexican Coat of Arms.
This is an interesting one. How many men from North Korea have ever driven an AEV Prospector? My guess is that this was the first time. And yes, I said North Korea, not South. I met this man and spent a few nights sipping hot green tea as the sun settled and the winds kept us cool. We covered a wide range of subjects although we spent most time discussing aviation and aeronautics. No secrets were shared although it was obvious we both had an above average knowledge on the subject and enjoyed talking with each other. After sharing details related to AEV and FWC he asked to take a ride and was beyond amazed at how well this lifted one-ton handled unmaintained dirt and gravel roads.
Attack of the killer bees! If any of you were old enough to remember the early '90s there was yet another example of our perverted government joining forces with main stream media to terrorize us citizens. Of course, these deadly bees resulted from genetic manipulation by reckless Brazilian scientists during the 1950s. Swarms escaped captivity (are you seeing a pattern?), and within a few decades they reached the southern border at Hidalgo, Texas. No, the bees were not this big and no, they ended up being not that big of a deal. But I recall watching the MSM terrorize mothers during interviews asking how would they be able to protect their children on the playground from swarms of Africanized Killer Bees!!!
Over the past month I have explored four-hundred miles of the US/Mexico border and have learned so much. Indigenous tribes, Spanish Conquistadors, Catholic religion, the formation of Mexico, the breakaway of the Republic of Texas, its application for annexation to these United States, etc. So much history and culture mixed in with great music and food in this beautiful area. My plan is to visit again during the winter to enjoy the warm weather while exploring and learning even more.
Yes, every few weeks, or once a month, I spend a single night at a Hilton property. Let the basing begin, lol. Actually, I have several million points that will expire unless I use them so I take great pleasure in very long hot showers, washing clothes, and spectacular internet connectivity. As you can see from this picture, I still must maintain a healthy charge on my house battery which powers my refrigerator. I only place my solar panel out during peak hours and store it in the camper at night. Once I install a few panels up top this will no longer be necessary.
Here is an example of a king suite at a Hampton Inn. Over the years I have leaned a few tricks from other guys much smarter than myself. I call the concierge service and ask what properties are available in the area that use the fewest points. Normally, this ends up being a Hilton Garden Inn or Hampton Inn. I prefer HGI since it includes a made-to-order breakfast whereas HI are cheap continental breakfasts. If something is available for 20k points, I reserve a room and that's that. When I arrive I always ask for a complimentary upgrade to a king suite and nine times out of ten, my wish is granted.
Here is a SpaceX photo of Starship, stacked and prepared to launch. That's Ship 24 up top and Super Heavy Booster 07 down below. Folks, if you are anywhere near Brownsville, Texas, and desire to see history taking place, I would encourage you to make your way down here. This really is big news considering this is the largest rocket that has ever lifted off the surface of our Earth. Technically, I am not sure that a larger one is possible - this is pushing the limits and pressing the edge of the envelope. Launch has been targeted for 17 April 2023 but keep in mind, anything is possible. This is the first launch of a vehicle this large and there is always the possibility of a delay.
Near the border I found several open air markets and stopped by a few. It seemed like 75% of the goods being sold are second hand clothes. Nearly everywhere I looked there were tables with piles of clothes on them while some, like this one, had over the counter medicine and makeup available. I paused and compared this to American women shopping in an air-conditioned mall with perfect temperature and humidity, a food court, impressive decorations and lighting, etc. It reminded me of visiting foreign countries when I was in the military and realizing just how good we had in in these United States.
Here are some friendly prickly pear cactus on a dirt road leading down to the Rio Grande near San Ygnacio, Texas. They are everywhere here and deserve a bit of attention. While researching these tough plants I discovered many interesting things such as the fact that they have been used for centuries by farmers as a natural fence for livestock. Heck, this plant is so common and valuable in so many ways it is even part of the Mexican Coat of Arms.
This is an interesting one. How many men from North Korea have ever driven an AEV Prospector? My guess is that this was the first time. And yes, I said North Korea, not South. I met this man and spent a few nights sipping hot green tea as the sun settled and the winds kept us cool. We covered a wide range of subjects although we spent most time discussing aviation and aeronautics. No secrets were shared although it was obvious we both had an above average knowledge on the subject and enjoyed talking with each other. After sharing details related to AEV and FWC he asked to take a ride and was beyond amazed at how well this lifted one-ton handled unmaintained dirt and gravel roads.
Attack of the killer bees! If any of you were old enough to remember the early '90s there was yet another example of our perverted government joining forces with main stream media to terrorize us citizens. Of course, these deadly bees resulted from genetic manipulation by reckless Brazilian scientists during the 1950s. Swarms escaped captivity (are you seeing a pattern?), and within a few decades they reached the southern border at Hidalgo, Texas. No, the bees were not this big and no, they ended up being not that big of a deal. But I recall watching the MSM terrorize mothers during interviews asking how would they be able to protect their children on the playground from swarms of Africanized Killer Bees!!!
Over the past month I have explored four-hundred miles of the US/Mexico border and have learned so much. Indigenous tribes, Spanish Conquistadors, Catholic religion, the formation of Mexico, the breakaway of the Republic of Texas, its application for annexation to these United States, etc. So much history and culture mixed in with great music and food in this beautiful area. My plan is to visit again during the winter to enjoy the warm weather while exploring and learning even more.
Yes, every few weeks, or once a month, I spend a single night at a Hilton property. Let the basing begin, lol. Actually, I have several million points that will expire unless I use them so I take great pleasure in very long hot showers, washing clothes, and spectacular internet connectivity. As you can see from this picture, I still must maintain a healthy charge on my house battery which powers my refrigerator. I only place my solar panel out during peak hours and store it in the camper at night. Once I install a few panels up top this will no longer be necessary.
Here is an example of a king suite at a Hampton Inn. Over the years I have leaned a few tricks from other guys much smarter than myself. I call the concierge service and ask what properties are available in the area that use the fewest points. Normally, this ends up being a Hilton Garden Inn or Hampton Inn. I prefer HGI since it includes a made-to-order breakfast whereas HI are cheap continental breakfasts. If something is available for 20k points, I reserve a room and that's that. When I arrive I always ask for a complimentary upgrade to a king suite and nine times out of ten, my wish is granted.
Here is a SpaceX photo of Starship, stacked and prepared to launch. That's Ship 24 up top and Super Heavy Booster 07 down below. Folks, if you are anywhere near Brownsville, Texas, and desire to see history taking place, I would encourage you to make your way down here. This really is big news considering this is the largest rocket that has ever lifted off the surface of our Earth. Technically, I am not sure that a larger one is possible - this is pushing the limits and pressing the edge of the envelope. Launch has been targeted for 17 April 2023 but keep in mind, anything is possible. This is the first launch of a vehicle this large and there is always the possibility of a delay.
