Interesting Facts about CNG for Cars and Trucks

For a while now, seeing the CNG sticker on a government vehicle was noticed but not given much thought. Then, seeing those space age stations that have begun to show up raised a bit more interest. Well, it was a rather interesting exploration and here are the findings in text and in image.

Natural gas is priced in a GGE unit. A unit is one gasoline gallon equivalent that

equals 5.660 lbs of natural gas. The fittings are rather straightforward; 3000psi (the blue habdle) or 3600psi (the orange handle) determines which side of the pump you use. And, if you should not know what psi stands for; well, that's straightforward too, pounds per square inch.

You can rest a bit in knowing that quantity of natural gas delivers approximately the same amount of energy to your vehicle as a typical gallon of gasoline. CNG is at a minumum 90% methane.

So, when you see the image of the pump registering 7.000 gge that means you just purchased about 35 lbs of natural gas for $19 and change. Convert that from the price of gasoline and that same amount of gasoline would have cost this past week at fill up time about $35.00.

Just Hanging Around at the Lake

A special thanks to the "Free Advice" crew for allowing the photo op and for singing "Happy Birthday". Thank You.

Southwest Airlines Dedication Ceremony Scheduled for June.

Driving past Love Field this morning following a doctor's visit there was something really big and really new at the North end of the Frontiers of Flight Museum.When I got to the traffic light ahead I turned onto the General Aviation roadway to the parking lot of the museum.As luck would have it the monthly meeting of the Airline Pilot Association of Love Field was underway (taking up a lot of parking spaces,too).After parking,workers were standing under the tail section. Inside the museum, one of the volunteers was being taped for a monitor presentation and the meeting was stlll going on upstairs. It was a great time to wonder the museum and see the new additions and to revisit some of the historic old ones (Apollo 7 capsule). As it turns out, Southwest Airlines ownes some of the earliest production numbers for the Boeing 737s.  The one being prepared for the museum will be one of those accourding to a couple more of the volunteers and one of the pilots that slipped out of the meeting early. So, next month, there will be a dedication ceremony and the exhibit will be formally open to the public. It's rather funny, in some ways in that only the nose of the 737 will be inside the musuem. However, the rest of the plane is outside! One will be able to enter the plane from inside the museum and then walk down the isle like any normal boarding. It's a novel way to draw attention and to utilize space all in one exhibit. Clever, indeed. Of course I should have know with Southwest part of the exhibit. To Herb and Gary: You guys are just plane (get it?) Fantastic. It might be a good time to bring back the old bumper sticker too! Remember that catchy littlel do-dad: "Fly Southwest,Herb needs the money!" I loved that bumper sticker! BTW..I also favored the old color scheme of the brown and orange rather than the blue and orange.It made it a more "down to earth" airlines.

36th Prairie Dog Chili Cookoff

The chili was good.

 The bacon was being cooked by one of the Soggy Bacon Boys. He plays tambourine.

 The chili was being cooked next door in a tent by two guys who know serious chili.

The band was good.

New Livery at White Rock Lake

White Rock Lake had a paddle boat livery years and years ago. The past few years brought wonder as to why there wasn't one now. Well,wonder no more! The Whiterock Paddle Company is renting boats at the lake. Meet Amy and rent a boat,kayak,paddle board, canoe.....you get the picture! Actually, I got the picture and here are a few to browse.

Now, you have no excuse to not explore White Rock from the water. So,go rent a boat of your choice from Amy and enjoy the lake even more!  Did I mention that life jackets are available? Not that anyone would need one, but hey, water safety is water safety.

A Giant Sycamore Tree (Platanus Occidentalis)

The Sycamore tree is mentioned in the bible story of Zacchaeus, the corrupt tax collector (Luke19:1-10). The white bark against the blue sky and the shadows makes the tree a show piece and a history lesson.

Under the High 5

My cardiologist has been after me to do more walking. Today,with near record temperatures on the first full day of winter (it was 81 degrees F) I walked the four mile section of the new Cottonwood Creek Trail. When I sat down to edit both cameras I had over 110 images to edit.Now, I'm back to sitting!

Cottonwood Creek crosses under the entire High 5 interchange. The High 5 was,when started, the largest undertaking by Texas Department of Transportation in their history. Next month, phase 2 begins on the LBJ 635 where the High 5 ended and goes West to Interstate 35. A distance of nearly 11-miles. Don't think the Hight 5 will be the biggest project when that section completes. The High 5 is just that....it rises 120 feet above grade level on the fifth tier. The columns are color coded as to what level or tier you are on. Green is tier 5;pumpkin,4;cream,3....you get the picture....and,oh! here are a few of those pictures.