Author: jscruggs

LBJ National Grassland … Decatur, Texas

Great Spot for a Picnic - LBJ National Grassland
Great Spot for a Picnic – LBJ National Grassland

Introduction

Texas has, at least, three national grassland locations. There are two within a couple hours of our house, LBJ and Caddo. One east and one west from Dallas. We went out west to Decatur to LBJ National Grasslands. We are nearly equadistant from both so, it’s like flipping a coin deciding which one to go to.

National Grassland areas fall under the US Forest Service … the only difference between a national forest and a national grassland is exactly as the titles of each imply. Keeping areas of the plains protected is just as important as protecting forests. It’s the same concept, exactly. Protected ares with picnic/camping areas, hiking trails. We didn’t camp, we really just went to look around and do a little hiking.

LBJ National Grassland

The main thing one notices is the openness of it all. Wide open expanses of grass. Lots and lots of wildflowers, trails, really nice spots for meditating, picnics, quiet time, reflection or whatever your thing is. The wide open spaces that we visited were breathtaking in their own way, moreover, we were really lost in all of the simple beauty. We didn’t see everything there is to see because the expanse is so large.

It is clear that the land within the park is returning to a natural state, although, it is also clear that this land was inhabited by humans not so long ago. Remnants of structures, the odd gravestone, fences are a few modern non native things one might see. All in all, we intend to spend more time at grassland areas, particularly in the spring and early summer.

We are attaching some of our pictures from our visit below. Visiting a national grassland for the first time, as we were, we had no idea exactly what to expect.  What we found was well worth the time spent. It’s nice to know that we (collectively as Americans) are setting aside grasslands, as well as, forest lands for future generations.

Pictures

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Links

National Forest Service

Fort Richardson State Park and Jacksboro

Introduction

One morning (June 16, 2012) we decided to drive out to Jacksboro, Texas to visit nearby Fort Richardson State Park.  We usually take a look around the nearby town and look at shops and other things that might be open.  I have driven back and forth through Jacksboro, many times.  This day we stopped in pretty early, by 9 AM.  We stopped in the town square, first,  Since we stopped on a Saturday morning, early by town square standards, nothing was open.  The courthouse stood absolutely closed.  Still, we looked around and took a few pictures, prior to entering the park.

Fort Richardson State Park

When we arrived at the state park, we paid our entry fees and spoke to the rangers, got some maps then we set out to look around.  Fort Richardson was built after the civil war and was used primarily as an outpost for the cavalry to deal with native uprisings.  The fort was abandoned after about 15 years.  It was reopened as a training post for soldiers during World War II.  One of the US army’s most famous Batallions, the “Lost” Batallion, was housed at this location ready to head off to the pacific.  When they reached the pacific theater, they were almost immediately captured by the Japanese and many of them ended up as slave prisoner labor building the Burma Railroad.  The movie “The Bridge over the River Kwai” depicts these men.  Almost 1/3 (167 men) died while in captivity.

The buildings of the fort are in varying degrees of wellness.  Some are fully restored, some are in ruin.  Many artifacts are available to be seen in the restored buildings.  This is a huge complex, expect to walk, a lot, moreover, there are items stored in the area that have nothing to do with the fort and are interesting to look at.  There is a massive steel through truss railroad bridge and the town’s first railroad depot, both stored in the immediate area.  a short walk from the park grounds.

 

Impressions

All in all, both Jacksboro and Fort Richardson are worth the stop.  I love the time we spent at the fort, yet, we want to spend more time in the town of Jacksboro.  We plan to drive out, sometime, when everything is actually open for business.  Maybe even take a walk and see some of the historic homes.  While we feel like we have learned a whole lot about area history, yet, there is still much to learn.  We will visit, again.

Things we’d like to do on our next visit to the area.  For instance, we want to tour inside the courthouse! Further exploration of the town of Jacksboro, maybe even meet a few people and enjoy a beverage or two in a nice local place, maybe a meal.  It will also be nice to look at some of the local neighborhoods …. typically, we meet some of the nicest people while just looking around.  Riding bikes on the lost creek trail and maybe park for a while and just meditate.  The entire trail is 16 to 18 miles out and back along a creek and a resovoir, as a result, that will make for a nice ride!

As we revisit and find new and interesting things in the area, we will add to this page.

Links

City of Jacksboro

Fort Richardson State Park

 

Photographs, Jacksboro / Fort Richardson

 

Downtown Jacksboro
Downtown Jacksboro
Downtown Jacksboro
Downtown Jacksboro
Downtown Jacksboro Park
Downtown Jacksboro Park
Jack County Courthouse - Jacksboro, TX
Jack County Courthouse – Jacksboro, TX

 

Jack County Courthouse Doors
Jack County Courthouse Doors
Jack County Railroad Tour
Jack County Railroad Tour
Stored Through Truss Railroad Bridge
Stored Through Truss Railroad Bridge
First Jacksboro Rail Depot
First Jacksboro Rail Depot
Republic of Texas - Money
Republic of Texas – Money
Cornerstone 1885 Jack County Courthouse
Cornerstone 1885 Jack County Courthouse
1885 Jack County Courthouse Bell and Cornerstone
1885 Jack County Courthouse Bell and Cornerston 
Fort Richardson State Park Entry
Fort Richardson State Park Entry
Fort Richardson Gate
Fort Richardson Gate
Post Commander Quarters
Post Commander Quarters
Post Commander Quarters Office
Post Commander Quarters Office
Post Hospital
Post Hospital
Post Doctor Stuff
Post Doctor Stuff
Antique US Army Bedframe
Antique US Army Bedframe
Fort Richardson Magazine
Fort Richardson Magazine
"Lost" Batallion Memorial
“Lost” Batallion Memorial
Hiking Trail
Hiking Trail
Hiking Trail
Hiking Trail
Pond (Rock Quarry)
Pond (Rock Quarry)

Turntable GSMR – Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Railroad Turntable Introduction

Watching a steam train on a turntable, pure gold. We rode the train through the Nantahala gorge and back to Bryson City NC …. that’s about a 4 hour trip. Well worth the price of admission, in and of itself. More on that at a later date. We had the bonus of watching the steam engine turned using 1937 technology. Operators must achieve absolute balance of the table itself, with the engine perched, in order to just get the turning motion started. Watching everything and realizing what a feat it is, pure amazement. The realization of human power actually moving such a massive piece is awe inspiring.

Video of the event !

Photos

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Turntable
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Turntable
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Steam Engine 1702
Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Steam Engine 1702 Preparing to Depart.

Here is a photo of Steam engine 1702, as well as, a photo of the turntable. The actual steel turntable is of manufacturing pedigree circa 1937. The pit is recent in construction technique. Construction according to the documents and specifications of the period is adhered to. Finally, I would very highly recommend witnessing this particular event, if possible. It is really something to witness the raw power of a steam engine juxtposed by the finesse of a human powered mechanism …. pure theater.

Links

Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Blue Ridge Parkway …. 10 minutes of it …. and a few pictures

Introduction

The southernmost stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway we visited on the 18th of October 2016. The stretch between Asheville and Cherokee in North Carolina we chose to see on this particular trip. On a prior trip we drove from Boone to Asheville, North Carolina. Subsequently, we have driven, now, most of the state of North Carolina. Next time we move into Virginia!! The views were absolutely stunning due to driving during peak week. Rust, Red, Yellow, Gold, Green along with the sheer rock faces, and all over the ground leaves, like a carlet … glorious sights!

We just loved driving the parkway, given that the views were sheer beauty … we have now done the drive two years in a row and will certainly do it again.

Here is our Ride Along video …. Enjoy!!

Pictures of The Blue Ridge Parkway

And here are a few of our favorite stills from the drive …. honestly it is all about those colors. We intend to go farther and farther up the east coast states in order to see the most vibrant colors.

Graveyard Fields - Lower Falls
Graveyard Fields – Lower Falls
Blue Ridge Parkway in the Great Smoky Mountains
Blue Ridge Parkway in the Great Smoky Mountains
One of the Blue Ridge Parkway Pull Offs
One of the Blue Ridge Parkway Pull Offs

The lower falls in the graveyard fields is pictured to the left. To the right – this panorama was taken at the pull off for the Graveyard Fields …. no wonder they are called the Smoky Mountains!! Below everything is a shot of one of the prettier pull offs showing the landscape carpet and ruggedness of the mountains. It is really difficult to put into words the beauty of the surrounding area of the parkway.

Here is a link to: The National Park Site

Houston from far North Dallas ….

A video we made of our last trip to houston with some of the more prominent sites along the way pointed out. From Frisco to Dallas on the North Dallas Tollway, Merge onto I35 South, Woodall Rogers Freeway connecting to I45 South …. all the way from Houston.

Sites pointed out and prominently displayed ….

Klyde Warren Park Tunnel
Downtown Dallas
Fountain Place
Reunion Tower
Perot Museum
Historic West End is clearly visible

Dallas Design District and a few of the more prominent buildings along the freeway

Addison – A restaurant and night life mecca

Mary Kay Cosmetics Headquarters

Silver I Heart Radio Building (A lot of the local radio stations occupy space in there as does the Korean Consulate)

Plano

And other Sites

A short clip of one of the songs we got together to perform in a little club in Spring, Texas called the Blue Giraffe …. on “Friday Open Mic Night.

Absolutely wonderful time we had down there with friends!!

Blue Giraffe