The cold snap cancelled training for this past week and I took advantage of the lull in activity to head down to the Paige and Gidding areas to visit with golden friends, look at dogs, do some training and enjoy some Texas hospitality. The areas are stunning, large open tracts of rangeland populated by massive oak trees and numerous ponds up to lake size. A retriever trainers mecca. Highlights were eating excellent Mexican food at a roadhouse, watching some incredible dog work and having great conversations.
Following my time there I made an overnight stop in Austin to spend time with an old childhood friend and my sister, before heading back to Bonham today, following the IS 35 through Waco and Dallas. They really should have T-shirts you can buy (I survived IS 35 South Dallas) after negotiating your way through the South Dallas expressway IS system. I honestly think whoever designed it was smoking or ingesting something illegal during the process. I did not take the picture, I was too busy trying to stay alive and out of the path of semi’s , but it sure does convey the vibe of the area……
Once out of survival mode there was time to look around during the 4 1/2 hr drive from Austin to Bonham. I love the highway signage in this state. The pictures are a bit fuzzy at times as they were taken from a moving vehicle but still make you smile.
Water towers
Texas has a different water system than ours on the West coast. The state has numerous water towers, essentially elevated tanks that store water and provide pressure to homes and businesses. When the demand for water is high pumps add water to the towers from the underground acquifers. Water pressure is by gravity feed from the towers, assisted by pumps in times of greater need. They hold millions of gallons of water and are up to 175 ft high. Each town has their own tower(s), generally in the centre of town or in the area where demand for water is the greatest. They tower over the smaller trees, sticking up like skinny aliens over the landscape, letting you know a town is there.
After a stop at Buc-ees (more on Buc-ees and the truck stop culture in another post) for fuel and some presents to take home, the dogs and I made the final push to Bonham. It was nice to see the cabin again and know that there isn’t much driving planned for a while ????????
