Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Moving Day to Davis Mountain State Park, Pictures mostly

Location: Davis Mountain State Park; Fort Davis, Texas

(click picture to enlarge)

This post will be mostly about the trip with pictures. I will get more into the history of the area in future posts. 

The trip was about 190 miles and I left Seminole with the temperature in the lower 40's with a brisk wind that probably drove the wind chill into the lower 30's. I didn't waste time hitching up and decided not to empty my waste tanks before leaving. I told myself Liberty needed the extra weight due to the wind gusts, which was true, but another big factor in that decision was it was just too danged cold. By the time I got to Davis Mountain, the temps were in the lower 60's with no wind and felt like summertime. :)

The landscape changed from the rough canyon-lands to more of a dessert-grass land with hills at first, then the mountains. The elevation increased by about 4,000 feet. The mountains were definitely a "Wow" moment. I'm sure people get used to them after being here for a while, but for me, maybe it is the drastic change over a short time. It was just last week that I was in the dense brush country near Falcon Lake. The landscape around here seems to be cleaner, more structured, almost as if there was a purpose in it's construction. It is nice. 

I paid for four nights but have a feeling I will be extending my stay at least through the upcoming weekend. After getting set up, I drove to the top of one of the mountains at the campground. The view was fantastic. I had the place all to myself and could look for miles. Just like the old song, "I can see for miles and miles,,,,,,". Commenters can guess as to the band that sang it. 

Here are some of the pictures. They mostly show the trip with the changing landscape. The last pictures are of the campground area. 
Long open roadway with hills/mountains in the distance. There was very little traffic for the entire trip. I would meet a car about every 5 miles or so.


Getting into some of the hills.


A little bit larger hills, almost mountains, (baby mountains?)

More long highway. Not another human around for miles and miles. 

Different shapes

After you pass through the hills you come out onto this grassy plain/valley. Those are the Davis Mountains in the distance. I didn't measure the distance, but it was a long way across this part. 

Two members of the "welcome wagon" meet me as I'm going to my campsite. (Anyone that remembers the "welcome wagon, ain't a young pup.)

The view from the top of one of the mountains that encircle the campground.

More views from the top. The pictures don't do it justice. I'll need to read about some camera settings for distance shots like this.

Another view

Another view. If you're tired of the view, quit looking, I couldn't. :)

Last view shot.


This was taken while coming down the mountain. You can see Liberty about in the middle of the picture. 

View at the campsite
Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.

11 comments:

  1. Yep pretty country out there. Hit the 166 loop for some more pretty nice elevation changes. I plan to head up there when I am through in Bibe. Have fun.

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    1. That was one of the draws for me when I was looking at this park a few months ago. It seems to have a few nice driving tours. They work good when the weather is a little nippy.

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    2. When they have a snow, the area is unbelievably prettier. The wildfire that went through there about three years ago messed it up a bunch. As you approach the overlook structure, over the side to the left are several examples of CCC picnic spots and an old rest room. The original road into the park is cut into the cliff just below the picnic tables. The old road is part of the trails system in the park now.

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    3. I found that trail yesterday. The best viewing spot for that trail is from the handicap accessible viewing platform on the way to the CCC overlook.

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  2. I just noticed you have a really clean windshield!

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    1. It's not real clean. Maybe I'm just holding it close enough so it doesn't matter. Going solo, it's the only way to get some of the shots. It's strange that it's against the law in many places about texting and driving, but they say nothing about taking pictures while driving. Since the government says it's OK, I must be safe in doing it. LOL

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  3. I didn't know the answer so I looked it up. I was surprised. I will let someone else answer who didn't have to look it up. Nice pictures, we will have to include Davis Mountain to our trip.

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    1. You will like it here. It is peaceful. Ya'll travel safe

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  4. You are in for some more pretty scenery. After south Texas, you deserve it!! I know what you mean about the pictures not doing the scenery justice. That has frustrated me many times. Hope you can find a solution.

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    1. I don't know if I will find a solution, but it sure is a pretty view

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  5. I know WHO it is!! Old memories!

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