I Found Myself Walking Around a Small Airport

There sits along Iowa Park Road a small aviation airport with both a paved landing strip and a grassy landing strip, both of which cross a wheat field. I spent a few minutes walking around with my camera while My Mr Mallory mowed the grass behind his hangar.

I spotted the lines made by acres of walls and roofs constructed with corrugated zinc.

Door of airport office, an office rarely manned but with a radio that remains on,
occasionally transmitting the voices of the pilots in the area.

At the entrance of the airport one comes upon an oil tank the use of which consists of . . . merely decoration. Actually, it displays that the airport has a population of 72 and that vehicles over 8000 pounds are not allowed on the property. It also serves as an exhibit of stickers, predominantly from ENJPT -- pilots from NATO who train at nearby Shepard Air Force Base. The sticker below says: "THOSE ABOUT TO HOOK WE SALUTE YOU."

More pilot training stickers:
"CAUTION PILOT CONSTRUCTION NEXT 55 WEEKS FINES DOUBLE AFTER SOLO,"

and "USAF ACADEMY PILOT PARACHUTE TEAM."

Population 72 at this location.

One pole may hold several needed measurement and receiving devices.

A neglected sock at one of the hangars.

I noticed no hawg parked here.

Expressing individuality in one's hangar is an important aspect of healthy hobbying.

I like the colors in the photo below.

These hangars, known by the locals as "skid row," give new meaning to the terms old and neglected -- and battered.

Someone spray painted the cardinal points on the road between the hangars.

Walking around the back of a group of hangars, I came upon this scene . . . of oxidized doors.

Like a bulldog, these doors seem ugly, but cute at the same time.

Nice looking hangar at the end of the curve.

Colorful Corner in Waurika

Wild Bird Rescue Raptors and Birdman Bob

Wild Bird Rescue receives many phone calls from the United States, Canada, and Mexico from people requesting advice on the care of wild birds. BirdManBob on the phone below.Several Mississippi kites grow up at the Wild Bird Rescue Center. I'll print the B/W below in the quarterly newsletter.
Two Mississippi kites, raised from fledglings at the WBR Center, sit patiently in Flight Room A, waiting for their day of release.

A Wall in Duncan and a Library in Waurika

We had the highways all to ourselves on our way to Duncan, Oklahoma. My Mr. Mallory poses before a wall near which we stopped to sip some of the good coffee he brought along for us.
The Rock Island train depot in Waurika now houses the public library. A train rushed by us, tooting horn, as we walked around the renovated building. Jefferson County courthouse in Waurika, Oklahoma.
Historic downtown Waurika and My Mr. Mallory's mug. I think he has an iron heiney, for he lead us for five hours, stopping once for coffee, and once for photographs. Iron Butt Rally, we have another potential rider for you!

Time with Jo Ann

We spent most of the morning photographing paintings by Emil Hermann. Their owners seemed exceedingly graceful to give us the time to photograph Hermann's work. Not some of my better work with the camera, so I hope beyond hope that Mr. Sauceda will be able to improve the images as he post processes them in his digital darkroom.




I like Hermann's trees.

Cattle and Camels

North Texas looks unusually green this month, thanks to a greater rain fall.

Camels on the Hudson Ranch.

Highways 25, 1180, and 258

Even on a hot day with the temperatures in the 90s, cattle find enough energy to stampede toward water.
Dromedary camels along Highway 1180, on or near the Hudson Ranches.
A cross along Highway 1180 has the words written on it, "Hog Heaven."
Kathy's Korner along Highway 25 and at the end of Highway 258. I hear they used to serve good burgers there, and so I plan to stop by some day soon.
Turtles, and I know you cannot see them except for black spots in the brown water, swim around in the Wichita River along Highway 25.

Kisses Reads the Kindle

Courthouse in Mineral Wells

Hodge Romping

Saint Philopateer Coptic Church

Islamic Temple

Gurdwara Singh Sabha of Dallas

Buddhist Temple

On the Bank of the Wichita River

Open Roads of North Texas Beckon Me

Below I show two photographs I took along Hwy 367. Oil field pumper communication devices have begun to intrigue me. Here's what I know about them so far, and I ask that you correct me if I have wrong information: The pumper would raise the can particular to a tank to indicate it was ready to "run"; the gauger would see it as (s)he would drive by, then stop to test the oil in the tank; if the oil measured within standards, the spigot would then be opened and the oil allowed to "run" down the pipes into the domain of the purchaser; and, they used these communication devices until the 90s once trucks began to transport the oil and tele-communucations became prevalent, moves that phased out the cans and made them obsolete. The top photos shows, still, the names Stevens and Johnson (written in paint as S + K), Fred's oil company, on the light blue can.

I have another photograph at my pbase site: http://pbase.com/ebhawley/image/110207759

Interestingly, in the 80s women became involved as gaugers and truckers, hired particularly by the major service companies, such as Halliburton and Schlumberger. Within the realm of the small oil companies, women need not bother to apply for a job, same as African Americans or Hispanics. This still rings true, unfortunately.

Today I rode the 2009 BMW F 800 ST to discover that it seems perfectly adapted to the straight or winding roads traversing the vast ranch and farmlands of Texas. Include some twisties and you won't mind the heat or the grasshoppers hitting your legs.
I took the photo below in Electra. The lot remains empty, yet cared for. Some controversy surrounds the owner of the lot. It sits next to the antique shop on the corner of Main Street, and just a stone's throw from the Grand Theatre. But I like the colors of the brick and the oldness of the wall. I like, too, the pile of bricks on the grass covering an old floor.
I show below an historical marker along Hwy 25 that states that about 100 yards to the west lay an old route used before 1890 to transport buffalo hides. It mentions that Native Americans needed the bison to survive, and so the invaders from the east devoted themselves to decimating the herds: "no bison; no 'injuns.'" Anathema.

A note to motorcyclists: Drive safely. Wear protective attire. Return home.