Side Trips

On occasion, when we have gone to a zone conference or had to speak in a ward or branch outside of Lubbock or run a mission errand to deliver furniture or pick up a missionary bike, we have had the opportunity to see some of the sights.  So this blog is one where we will share some of those sights with you.

Odessa, TX:

On our first Zone Conference to Odessa we went and saw the replica of the Stonehenge that is found in England.  Created by some students at the University there.  It is made to the exactness of the original.  Very fascinating.  Now I don't have to go to England to view it - unless I want to!

Next stop... Roswell, NM.  

We finished up our conference there at 4:30pm.  Changed our clothes and went down town.  Got there 20 minutes before everything closed.  Walked through the museum fast.  Bought a little green alien and a T-shirt.  Took our pictures "outside" of the stores - they had already closed.  They "roll up the streets at 5:00pm" in Roswell.

Also in Odessa, TX we went through the Presidential Museum.  

They have a section dedicated to every president of the United States.  Personal items are on display of each president and newsworthy things that happened during each administration.  Very interesting.  They also had the home of President George Bush (both father and son) there.  They lived in Midland for a short while and so the original home was moved to Odessa and set up next to the museum.  The first, George H. W. Bush, came from a wealthy family but he wanted to make it on his own and not on daddy's money.  So he started at the bottom - just like many of us do - and worked his way up.  They lived in this house when George W. Bush was only about 4 years old.  Some of the furnishings in it were just like some our parents had when we were children.

Next:

We were invited to speak in Sacrament meeting at a Spanish Branch and also at the English Ward in Carlsbad, NM.  So we decided to make a weekend of it.  We went to visit the caves on Saturday.  Spent all day there.  Walked over 4 1/2 miles during both a guided tour and also a self guided tour.  Amazing.  Then that evening we stayed for the "flying of the bats".  Wow.  Thousands and thousands of bats flying out.  It was almost orchestrated.  Took over a 45 minutes to get most of them out.  You're not allowed to take pictures or I would show you some.  You'll have to google it.

Back home in Lubbock:

We discovered this place on our way back from taking a missionary to the airport.  The following Sunday, after church, we packed a picnic lunch and went back to check it out.

Who'd a thunk it?

After making a run up to Amarillo on some mission errands, we came home via the Palo Duro Canyon.  You are driving along.  Nothing but flat land as far as the eye can see.  All of a sudden, the ground just opens up and you have a little "Grand Canyon".  It is actually longer than the Grand Canyon" in Arizona but it is not as deep or as wide.  It kind of reminds me of Bryce Canyon in southern Utah.  Only you don't go up into the mountains to see it.  And you can actually drive down into it.  When you are in the bottom, you can look up and think you are in the mountains.  Looks very much like Zions, St. George etc.

Met some really nice "cowboys" there.  They were out punchin' cows the night before.  There was grandpa, 3 sons and 1 grandson. 

     And we saw some long horn steers.  One was named "Biscuits" and one was named "Gravy"  Don't know what the others were called. 

We ran across the dugout cabin of one of the early settlers there.  Colonal Goodfellow.  How would you like to live in one of these.  Good thing the people back then were short.  Eugene would probably wack his head every time he went through the door.  And when you're bald, that hurts.  Of course, it hurts even when you're not bald.