Remote Publish #2: Just Birds---The Feathered Kind

Black ring bill seagull

Double crested cormorants

Cormorants have no oil in their wing feathers so that they can dive. They need to dry the feathers afterwards.

Publish Via Remote: TEXrail Cars Are Here

Basically, I'm a geek when it comes to trains and planes. Put me at a rail station or an air field and I can zone in happiness all day long. Put me in an area where rail and planes mix and I am in geek heaven. Like the friendly Welcome! at Walgreen's, I got my Welcome! with a view of the new TEXrail cars built by Stadler of Switzerland. It is Stadler's first American order for a model outside the GTW product line. The cars are being built in Salt Lake City under the Buy American Agreement.

The 27-mile commuter rail owned by "the T" in Ft. Worth, will service Tarrant County and Terminal B at DFW. DART, the Dallas light rail, has been arriving at Terminal A for three years already. Unlike light rail, the Stadler cars are DMU's or Diesel Multiple Units and will be WI-FI ready when they begin service sometime in November, 2018. They are standard guage at 4 feet 8 and one-half inches or 1435 mm metric. They also have crash bumpers for better safety in event they are in a crash.

The video presentation on the TEXrail site explains how the two muni-operated systems will interchange with each other allowing passengers from Ft. Worth to ride the DART light rail to downtown Dallas. With so much international traffic at DFW and more to come, the customers are used to having rail service to the central business districts. With DFW being a joint venture between the two cities already, the separate rail systems  bring a unity of rail transport to the Metroplex. The Cotton Belt that DART will bring by 2022 will connect the northern sections of Dallas and Tarrant Counties from Plano to Ft. Worth. Least we forget the TRE that runs from the T&P in Ft. Worth to Dallas' Union Station many times a day and the A-Train from Frankfort Station on DARTS Green line to Denton, is also part of that same unified rail commuter system.

The rail road is very much a part of history in this part of Texas. It is only natural to have a lot of support for the railroads. With the future construction of the Bullet Train from Houston to Dallas/Ft. Worth growing closer and closer, the further transportation of  riders on a modern rail system coupled with a wold-class international airport, brings even more reasons to live in this great part of the US as yet another link is under construction. These cars are part of that link known as the TEXrail.Welcome,Aboard!!

DMU's

Service November,2018

New Platforms at Grapevine Station for TEXrail. The Vintage Railroad Train in Grapevine, is also running special trips for the holidays

Simple Walks

Trying to get out and get nice walks in has been less than easy for me of late. It seems things are out of sync and even the camera has been showing me that my lens need to be tightened up again. If it isn't one thing, then it's another. We all know how that goes. But, I need the walks for the exercise. They do make a difference.

Still, I have managed to cover four separate trails that I don't get a chance to walk that often. So, I made a point to cover that ground and even get in another one of those that I seem to only do once or twice a year. Mostly, because they are just birds, wild life, flora and landscape. But, when things are happening, that can even tire you out. On one trail, I ran across a guy getting his golf swing warmed up. He had plates on his car from Central Michigan. That's a Mac Team! He knew it was cold up there that day and so did I. Here we are 1200 miles south and we both know how cold it is in different parts of the state on the same day. The odd things like that I have always found to be interesting even though it is not as uncommon as one would think.

As I made my way down the trail,  quickly, I noticed a major landscape change taking place as new high tension towers and old towers were coming down, going up and the tall prairie grass had been beaten down to bare ground. A tree had been splintered and will probably die this winter. The damage was just two much. Then, I start to observe the wildlife and birds. These little creatures have territories and watch over them day and night. It is amazing how nature takes care of her own and provide solutions to any kind of natural or man-made destruction in the wild. One little meadowlark was excited and at one point it was almost like he was trying to show me what was going on around his home. There was a handrail over a culvert crossing where water was flowing downstream . It looked to be a natural spring but so many of those have been covered up it is difficult at best to know if this one was one, or not.  The little meadowlark flew up on the hand rail and was chirping and turning its head toward me then chirping again as it looked away. It was somewhat comical and somewhat bothersome not knowing what the little fellow wanted or needed. He was trying so hard to express his upset mood. A couple of bikers that had ridden past were coming back after about 10-15 minutes. I ask one if the trail was closed ahead and he said that it was. The construction crew road in to were we were was keeping two guys busy with cherry pickers and more work was going on beyond our point. That fact was confirmed by both the bicyclist.

Old square base towers were coming down in three sections.

The new towers are less invasive---imagine that!

My liitle meadow lark was upset and seemed to be trying to relay that frustration.

Part II with Pictures

V-bikes. Rent for $1 an hour from your phone. Leave in any public space.

Christmas Decorations going up with 67-degree weather.

This is the Galleria Mall down LBJ about 8 miles. This is what  the hawk was watching. His Territory!

Walls A Cathedral Does Not Make, But A Hawk On a Fence A Day Makes.

Excluding today, the past two days has been exploring a section of a new trail that is part of the Compion Trails System. I have been curious about the section because of two things. One, the past eighteen months I have been trying to get some shots of the nose wheel being deployed in flight on any plane coming into Love. It's kind of a trial and error thing, but finally, I have a location. Now, working on the technical side of the camera to refine the picture into a sharp and crisp image. Actually, I have wanted to do this since the 70s when I heard the landing gear being deployed below my feet on a United Flight to Chicago. I wondered then why someone couldn't put a camera on the underside somewhere that could capture a shot. Later, I was told, you don't ever want to do that and gave a reason, true or not. Even though it is done from time to time under controlled conditions I am told later.

The second reason is that 16 years ago, when the President George Bush Turnpike was crossing LBJ 635 it looked like a normal exchange until you got  one section beyond LBJ and the 40-60-foot high roadway just stopped in mid air. It set there for a few years until finally, the last phase of the construction was complete and connected to the bridge that went to know where. I wanted to see if I could see the difference in the concrete age wise or of some indication where the original stop was made. The trail for a couple of miles goes along side and under the bridges. It's a massive expanse of concrete and columns. And while the expanse of these trails go for miles, later, standing at my car I could see my turn-around point to the west and the same point to the east. Yet, I have walked a few miles, myself. 

I must admit. I got so much walking in that my legs were a constant ache at night. When I got to bed, it's lights out and sleep cames quickly. In short. I was  beat. But, my strength level each day is still good  and as long as it is good, neither the doctor nor me have a problem with that. It has been perfect fall weather outside of today, when the gloom and doom of low clouds and misty sprinkles have controlled the day to day.

There were V-bikes everywhere and I could have rented one on the spot but choose to walk for the needed exercise that would be better for me than on a bike at this time.

At one point, I found an old barrier base sitting along a trail roadway  that had a deep recess. Thinking, this would be a great spot to sit down and hydrate, I looked over to my left and there were a dozen Miller Lite cans that had already been spent. It may not be legal to have alcohol in a park but obviously, one or two had set there like me watching the cars at night on 635  and the George Bush Turnpike  solving the problems of the world. The thing about it that is so unusual is that who ever it was that had the quiet party, they were respectful to not litter beer cans all over the trail and for their consideration, I certainly hope that they know how much I appreciate their park stewardship and thank them as a park goer. We need many many more like these Miller Lite fans.

After I got a good look of the massive interchange, it hit me that it was like the columns inside a cathedral from the Narthex to the Chancel. You can almost imagine yourself sitting there looking up at the towering columns, hence the statement walls a cathedral does not make.

Entry coming this way to the parking lot.

The side view of the PGBT

At Baylor Medical Center, Las Colinas, this beautiful Red Should Hawk was just watching the traffic overlooking the valley of  Valley Ranch below.

Walking The Woodlands

There is one place that I visit about this time every year that is full of wildlife from slithering creatures to bob cats and now I hear, feral hogs. It is the feral hogs that have given me pause. They are dangerous. Still, yesterday, I put on the hiking boots and headed out for my annual trip. It isn't that far away from home, but it is one of those places that few ever travel as a destination. I had one goal in mind.

While the leaves are beautiful and the running water is something I could sit and watch for hours, it is the little things that go unnoticed by most. The crop of acorns are the biggest. The wild berry bushes are loaded. It is just an enjoyable couple of hours where about the only thing you hear is an airplane going over now and then. No horns. No loud talking. And not seeing a single soul with a phone plastered to their ear.

I go this time of year because most of the snakes have already crawled. But, in Texas, that is not always a totally true statement. There has never been a November in Texas where temps have reached 90 -degrees...until this year. We have already had a 94 and a 90 and it's only the 5th. It is forecast  to be 89 today and that could easily move over the mark into the 90 range, even if only for a split second. But snakes like to sun bath, too. So the hiking boots are a must. Wednesday it will only be 54 and the slithering things should not be out at all, but I could not wait to lizard hunt with my camera.

My goal was to find a true Texas lizard. Not a little gecko. I have one of those that greats me on my gate and has even been seen hanging on my wall now and then before I show him the door. Cute but not the type of lizard that I was in search of on this trip.

If

If, indeed, it is an Alligator, this would be the type that I was searching for on this trip.

I have called this before, the Enchanted Forest because the tree trunks are so dark and outlined. Last years trip the colors were more golden and the year before that, they were even a reddish color. Don't know why the same stand of trees changes color so much, but on my next trip to the Arboretum, I'll find out. 

A Long Admired Building Gets The OKAY

Two days ago I drove past a building that I have admired for at least the past 16 years. The architecture is period for 1900's and the mason work is outstanding. Even today, as it nears it's century mark. The street where it sets is in a section of  Dallas where old Victorian houses stand as neighborhoods.

This building, which does have some subtle signs of the Victorian era, is more medival Spain with the arches somewhat more different than traditional Gothic points. Maybe even a bit Moorish with the detail.  But the mixture of brick and coping stones is the eye popper Gothic. The original stone plate above the entry suggest some difference.  The striking date line, which spells out the word, built and then AD 1926, is another give away. Most buildings just date using the year, 1926, and that is that. The builder had vision when this building was designed.

Not this one. My intrigue just burst and  I turned around and parked. The door was open with two ladies sitting on the floor working on an oriental carpet. After an intro, I pointed out that my admiration for that building was long lived. I ask if I could  take some pictures. After a bit, the okay was given. I got the preliminary shots with afternoon sun and went back in to thank the lady for letting me shoot the architecture.  She said, "are you heading out?" I replied that I was but  I ask if it would be okay if I came back on an early Sunday morning and shot in the morning light and she said that her dad would do that, too. It made me feel good that she knew where I was coming from about my keen interest in architecture--especially the older styles that we as a society seem to be tearing down without any thought of what we loose as a culture and a society as a result. 

A prime example sits right next door with a new five store apartment building, one of tens of dozens still going up in Dallas. The building it replaced would have been on that end of a main thoroughfare in the day. So, early Sunday morning will be a senior coffee at McD's and a morning of good light to shoot the balance of the extraordinary elements of spectacular craftsmanship and architecture.

The tile roof is yet another giveaway

Notice the different angle from what is traditional Gothic with the equilaateral points and some lancet but no ogees. HUM! The overlap is just wonderful for Middle Age. I still think that there is some suggestion of influence from India and Middle East. The Taj Mahal arches, maybe. Just a hint or a tad, an ounce, a drop. Okay, maybe a splash!

A mixture, but the brick and coping is still the eye popper!