So I've been gone a week...

[CoveMom]

did anyone notice?

We (the Scout Troop) took our Boy Scouts to the Davis Mountains State Park near Fort Davis for a week of camping. They did not want to go to a traditional camp this year so we came up with our own version.

We had a great time. Visited the McDonald Observatory (night and day tours), went to Balmorhea State Park (swam with the endangered Comanche Pupfish), visited the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine and swam in their city pool (nice one), and visited the National Historic Site -- Fort Davis (a cavalry camp from the 19th Century). The boys did a lot of hiking in the mountains of the State Park and we had a few close encounters with javelina. That's plural for javelina.

The weather was interesting. Hot during the day (but it's a dry heat...) and a thunderstorm almost every afternoon; down in the low 60's at night. I could live that way for 40 years or so. A/C not needed after sunset. Not at all. One tent totally destroyed by the Winds in Storm Number one on Monday afternoon. Replaced in Alpine (at the True Value Hardware store of all places) and then contents dried out at laundrymat in Fort Davis. That was our biggest disaster so we did pretty well on the even keel part of camping.

So, what's been up here?

[cyfallsbooster2]

did anyone notice?

We (the Scout Troop) took our Boy Scouts to the Davis Mountains State Park near Fort Davis for a week of camping. They did not want to go to a traditional camp this year so we came up with our own version.

We had a great time. Visited the McDonald Observatory (night and day tours), went to Balmorhea State Park (swam with the endangered Comanche Pupfish), visited the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine and swam in their city pool (nice one), and visited the National Historic Site -- Fort Davis (a cavalry camp from the 19th Century). The boys did a lot of hiking in the mountains of the State Park and we had a few close encounters with javelina. That's plural for javelina.

The weather was interesting. Hot during the day (but it's a dry heat...) and a thunderstorm almost every afternoon; down in the low 60's at night. I could live that way for 40 years or so. A/C not needed after sunset. Not at all. One tent totally destroyed by the Winds in Storm Number one on Monday afternoon. Replaced in Alpine (at the True Value Hardware store of all places) and then contents dried out at laundrymat in Fort Davis. That was our biggest disaster so we did pretty well on the even keel part of camping.

So, what's been up here?

Welcome back, CM. Your presence was missed.

I am trying to think of the name of the scout camp our troop went to out there in the Davis mountains, west of Fort Davis. Really fun trip, except for the bus ride there and back with 30 12-15 yo kids. You are right about the storms out there. I think it was the 2nd afternoon there when we saw a rain storm coming from the west. Amazing how you can see it coming like that out there. When it hit, the winds flattened every single tent and the kids just had to ride it out like that. We put it all back together afterwards and everything air dried. What was really cool, but a little frightening was turning on a red light at night and watching the LARGE scopions running around. They glow under a red light. One of the neatest camps we ever went to.

[ktCarl]

did anyone notice?

We (the Scout Troop) took our Boy Scouts to the Davis Mountains State Park near Fort Davis for a week of camping. They did not want to go to a traditional camp this year so we came up with our own version.

We had a great time. Visited the McDonald Observatory (night and day tours), went to Balmorhea State Park (swam with the endangered Comanche Pupfish), visited the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine and swam in their city pool (nice one), and visited the National Historic Site -- Fort Davis (a cavalry camp from the 19th Century). The boys did a lot of hiking in the mountains of the State Park and we had a few close encounters with javelina. That's plural for javelina.

The weather was interesting. Hot during the day (but it's a dry heat...) and a thunderstorm almost every afternoon; down in the low 60's at night. I could live that way for 40 years or so. A/C not needed after sunset. Not at all. One tent totally destroyed by the Winds in Storm Number one on Monday afternoon. Replaced in Alpine (at the True Value Hardware store of all places) and then contents dried out at laundrymat in Fort Davis. That was our biggest disaster so we did pretty well on the even keel part of camping.

So, what's been up here?

Your son, RedRage, has been behaving himself while you were away.

Welcome back!! :D

[JagFan]

Welcome Back!! Yes you were missed. The only big thing around here is the college boards have lit up with all of the realignment rumors going around. Some funny stuff.

Sounds like you all had a great trip.

[DrEdward]

Welcome back.. Scout camps are virtually always fun. From the National Jamboree (at Valley Forge at the time), to Philmont, to the local Council-sponsored camp, to hiking parts of the Appalacian Trail or camping out on the grounds of one of the Seven Days Battlefield. They were fun days. The javelina encounters remind me (about a 50 year flashback now) of the idiot Tenderfoot starting to chase after a bear shouting "I'll get him," before a few of us tackled him and shut him up.

[CoveMom]

Welcome back, CM. Your presence was missed.

I am trying to think of the name of the scout camp our troop went to out there in the Davis mountains, west of Fort Davis. Really fun trip, except for the bus ride there and back with 30 12-15 yo kids. You are right about the storms out there. I think it was the 2nd afternoon there when we saw a rain storm coming from the west. Amazing how you can see it coming like that out there. When it hit, the winds flattened every single tent and the kids just had to ride it out like that. We put it all back together afterwards and everything air dried. What was really cool, but a little frightening was turning on a red light at night and watching the LARGE scopions running around. They glow under a red light. One of the neatest camps we ever went to.

NORTHwest of Fort Davis. Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch (BTSR) with the week-long Trail Ride option for older boys and the 300 foot rapell route with the hanging your *** out in space portion. I want to do that someday!

[CoveMom]

Welcome back.. Scout camps are virtually always fun. From the National Jamboree (at Valley Forge at the time), to Philmont, to the local Council-sponsored camp, to hiking parts of the Appalacian Trail or camping out on the grounds of one of the Seven Days Battlefield. They were fun days. The javelina encounters remind me (about a 50 year flashback now) of the idiot Tenderfoot starting to chase after a bear shouting "I'll get him," before a few of us tackled him and shut him up.

OMGEEE! One of our boys grabbed a folding camp chair and (i swear i am not lying) started to go after the javelina! There was a mother and baby in the group we saw that night. And the scoutmaster wasn't much better, he kept shining the flashlight at them and saying things like "Lookie here, CoveMom, there's a baby one in this group!....."

I wanted to strangle the lot of them. Only one of the boys had any sense and climbed up on the picnic table. He is a hunter and knew what a momma javelina is capable of.

funny memories. you should have seen him with the chair up like a baseball bat...

[HUM398]

did anyone notice?

We (the Scout Troop) took our Boy Scouts to the Davis Mountains State Park near Fort Davis for a week of camping. They did not want to go to a traditional camp this year so we came up with our own version.

We had a great time. Visited the McDonald Observatory (night and day tours), went to Balmorhea State Park (swam with the endangered Comanche Pupfish), visited the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine and swam in their city pool (nice one), and visited the National Historic Site -- Fort Davis (a cavalry camp from the 19th Century). The boys did a lot of hiking in the mountains of the State Park and we had a few close encounters with javelina. That's plural for javelina.

The weather was interesting. Hot during the day (but it's a dry heat...) and a thunderstorm almost every afternoon; down in the low 60's at night. I could live that way for 40 years or so. A/C not needed after sunset. Not at all. One tent totally destroyed by the Winds in Storm Number one on Monday afternoon. Replaced in Alpine (at the True Value Hardware store of all places) and then contents dried out at laundrymat in Fort Davis. That was our biggest disaster so we did pretty well on the even keel part of camping.

So, what's been up here?

I remember when you weren't a HoF'er....

You were cooler then, but you are still cool i guess......

[CoveMom]

I remember when you weren't a HoF'er....

You were cooler then, but you are still cool i guess......

:rolleyes:

[svhorns]

Mad_Fan and CM come back at the same time...coincidence? I think not.

[cyfallsbooster2]

NORTHwest of Fort Davis. Buffalo Trail Scout Ranch (BTSR) with the week-long Trail Ride option for older boys and the 300 foot rapell route with the hanging your *** out in space portion. I want to do that someday!

YES! It came to me today......Buffalo Trails. The Mountain Man trip for the kids is cool. They go up to the mountain top and spend the week with a "mountain man" away from all adults and learn how to throw axes and shoot black powder guns. They sleep on the ground and learn how to live off the land. Really cool for the kids.

[SV61]

Fort Davis is awesome. The observatory is awesome. The road connecting the two (Highway 118), is awesome for a motorcycle! The State Park is nice and quiet, and the views from skyline drive any time (in the park), are pretty incredible.

And, even if it was a Mama Javelina, she wasn't going to do anything, unless you did something really stupid, like try to pet the baby. THEN, she would get pretty agitated. When the Boar starts poppin his jaw, if he was even around, THAT's time to start getting defensive.

No skunks in the campgrounds? Pretty surprising. Foxes are pretty prevelant in those parts, also.

But the weather, even in Mid June and unusually humid for Fort Davis this year, is pretty happenin!

[mad_fan]

Mad_Fan and CM come back at the same time...coincidence? I think not.

:rolleyes:...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHimj-crMrA

[drgnbkr]

Welcome back! Nothin happenin around here.:rolleyes: Scouting is a strong, positive, memory for me.

[HUM398]

:rolleyes:

Don't be that way....

Not even HoF can rock our friendship.

[CoveMom]

Fort Davis is awesome. The observatory is awesome. The road connecting the two (Highway 118), is awesome for a motorcycle! The State Park is nice and quiet, and the views from skyline drive any time (in the park), are pretty incredible.

And, even if it was a Mama Javelina, she wasn't going to do anything, unless you did something really stupid, like try to pet the baby. THEN, she would get pretty agitated. When the Boar starts poppin his jaw, if he was even around, THAT's time to start getting defensive.

No skunks in the campgrounds? Pretty surprising. Foxes are pretty prevelant in those parts, also.

But the weather, even in Mid June and unusually humid for Fort Davis this year, is pretty happenin!

Did I mention that the group was composed of about 6-8 javelina? And that the SM got pretty close while shouting the proverbial "Hold my beer, I'm gonna try something..." type phrase? We were camped at the end of the road and likely in a place not continuously frequented by humans and I really think we were simply in their normal traffic pattern.

And we did have a skunk that lived (in the daytime) under the toilet house. It was a quiet little female and she gave nobody any trouble so we did same. Park personnel were trying to establish her habits so they could trap and relocate her. We saw several foxes. They kept their distance. Pretty though. We locked up the foodstuffs in a trailer at night and during the day between meals so we really did not have trouble with critters. Except the effing flies.

And yes, the skyline drive was AWESOME, day or night. We got a permit to go up after 10 one very clear night and it was spectacular.

:cool:

[Favpack]

See any tarantulas?

[CoveMom]

See any tarantulas?

Only on the road coming home. Saw a few scorpions as we were packing out. Shudder... Worst "bug" problem was actually humourous if you were not me. The crickets decided that "under CoveMom's tent" was the coolest place to jam. And they did. From day 3 on. Concert started at about 9pm and lasted till around 11:30 or so. Stoopid bugs.


:D

[Favpack]

Only on the road coming home. Saw a few scorpions as we were packing out. Shudder... Worst "bug" problem was actually humourous if you were not me. The crickets decided that "under CoveMom's tent" was the coolest place to jam. And they did. From day 3 on. Concert started at about 9pm and lasted till around 11:30 or so. Stoopid bugs.


:D

I haven't slept in a tent in 10 years, but I can only imagine the sleep aids I would get my hands on. A cocktail of Ambien, Benadryl, wine, beer, tequila, vodka and advil pm for starters. :D

[TulsaHale74]

Only on the road coming home. Saw a few scorpions as we were packing out. Shudder... Worst "bug" problem was actually humourous if you were not me. The crickets decided that "under CoveMom's tent" was the coolest place to jam. And they did. From day 3 on. Concert started at about 9pm and lasted till around 11:30 or so. Stoopid bugs.


:D
Encore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQFEY9RIRJA

[mad_fan]

I haven't slept in a tent in 10 years, but I can only imagine the sleep aids I would get my hands on. A cocktail of Ambien, Benadryl, wine, beer, tequila, vodka and advil pm for starters. :D

I'd require Nyquil...in addition to those...

[slcdragonfan]

Only on the road coming home. Saw a few scorpions as we were packing out. Shudder... Worst "bug" problem was actually humourous if you were not me. The crickets decided that "under CoveMom's tent" was the coolest place to jam. And they did. From day 3 on. Concert started at about 9pm and lasted till around 11:30 or so. Stoopid bugs.


:D

You were in Corsicana?

[CoveMom]

I haven't slept in a tent in 10 years, but I can only imagine the sleep aids I would get my hands on. A cocktail of Ambien, Benadryl, wine, beer, tequila, vodka and advil pm for starters. :D

I'd require Nyquil...in addition to those...

I had Darvocet.


:)

[CoveMom]

Encore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQFEY9RIRJA

tyvm...not


:D