2023-9-14 McDonald Observatory

 Thursday most of us signed up for a tour at McDonald Observatory.

There are at least 3 huge telescopes here. Astronomers from all over the world submit projects for approval to get time on the telescopes.

There is a sun dial clock in front of the main building.

You can see the telescope buildings at the top of the of the mountain.

It's quite a scenic drive up during the day.

The main building has a video and many displays to see.

I love this poster. These days some RVers think they have to light up their area with enough lights to look like a bar making it impossible for others to see the night sky.

W.J. McDonald left enough money to the University of Texas to build the observatory. At the time, the University did not have an astronomy department so they partnered with the University of Chicago to get things started. Now they have a big astronomy department at the University in Austin.

All of the Big Bend area supports dark skies.

The actual property for the observatories was donate by Mrs Violet Locke McIver and Judge Edwin Fowlkes.

It took five years just to build the telescope and then it had to be mounted in the observatory building.

Before we went into the observatory, we got to look at the surrounding area. The view was amazing.

This is the housing for one of the other telescopes.

Behind us you can see some building which comprise a community where the astronomers and their families live.

Everyone is looking up at the telescope which is about four flights up inside the observatory building. Fortunately there is an elevator.

This is the telescope. You don't actually look into the telescope directly. It is projected onto computer screens in another room. We didn't actually get to see that.

We did get to see them moving the telescope and close the opening on the roof.

It was interesting to learn all about it.

Next we went to see the Hobby-Eberly telescope. It looked quite a bit different._

It was very different.

One last shot before we head out.

Elaine and I decided to do the Scenic Loop as long as we were part way around it. Unfortunately we didn't have the map with us so we had to fly by the seat of our pants. We started at #8 which is the observatory. We went northwest for so long that I was afraid we were going to end up at I-10. By the time we got around to where Brooks Mtn was located, we were getting a bit worried not realizing how long the drive was. Fortunately we saw a man camped where the picnic table is located across from Brooks Mtn and he was able to tell us the road would turn back east in about 5 miles. Whoo! It was a beautiful drive.

2023-9-12 Davis Mountains State Park

Before we drove the few miles to Davis Mountains State Park, we made a quick stop in the town of Ft Davis. Texas courthouses are always impressive and this one didn't disappoint.

It's a very small town but there are several hotels, RV parks and places to eat.

The tourist season doesn't really start until late October but the ice cream shop was open and very tempting but we passed and headed on to the state park

This park was one of the first CCC projects in Texas. They built the 5 mile Skyline Drive which you don't want to miss. You will also have to head up there to get any cell phone service.

I was really hoping we could tour the Davis Mountains Indian Lodge but it is still closed for renovation. When open, the lodge has 39 motel rooms, a pool for lodge guests only, and meeting rooms.

It was very cloudy in the mountains. It actually felt like you were up in the clouds.

At times it almost looked like smoke but it was just clouds.

There are trails for hiking and mountain biking. The park is also noted for birding. There are 26 full hookup sites. I think all are pull-around but in one area the sites are very slanted to either front or back depending on which side of the road you are on. It's easier to trailers to level in that area than motorhomes. There are also 34 electric and water sites. Check carefully as some are very short. Finally, there are 33 sites with just water.

All in all it's a nice park at slightly higher elevation which is nice in the summer.

 

2023-9-12 Fort Davis National Historic Site

 Check in for the rally wasn't until Tuesday afternoon so Elaine and I headed over to Fort Davis National Historic Site. This whole area was new to Elaine but I have been here before although I didn't spend any time in Alpine.

The Fort is very interesting. It was established in 1854 to protect emigrants, mail coaches, and freight wagons on the TransPecos portion of the San Antonio-El Paso road. the Federal Government evacuated Fort Davis in 1861 when Texas succeeded from the Union. It was occupied by Confederate troops until Union forces again took control in 1862. They abandoned it again and it sat vacant for 5 years. Not many of the structures existed in 1867 when it was reoccupied. New construction continued through the 1880s. the Federal government raised the number of troops and many of those positions were filled by black enlisted men known as Buffalo soldiers.

We started our tour by watching an interesting video about the history of the fort. Next up was a walk through a building containing equipemtn and uniforms of the day.

The next building was set up as a dormitory used by the enlisted men.

There are ruins of some of the earliest buildings as well as some of the later buildings like the commissary, more dormitories, etc. This is one of the higher ranking officers family homes.

The chapel ruins are marked and there is an interesting story about the first black graduate from West Point and his experiences at the fort.

This was probably the commander's home as it is the largest.

There was a big sign talking about the treatment of various ailments at the post hospital.

But first, we saw the row of other officers family quarter. About three of them are fitted out with furniture and set up as the families would have used them. The entrances are open but covered by hard plastic so it was difficult to take pictures with the glare.

This is the hospital.

Several rooms were set up as they would have been used. Let's just say I'm glad I wasn't treated there.

It was a very interesting tour but it was sweltering outside.