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Posted By:
Nickens, Dan
Date Posted:
Nov 22, 2018
Description:
After a fine evening with friends, it was time to get back to the business of getting to Seattle. The forecast remained consistent: the only way to get close to Seattle was to bump along the southern border to California before turning north. The new problem was I needed to get west to Arizona before a developing low cut off that route too.
I highly recommend the hospitality at XS12. If you have a SeaRey and an RV it would be a perfect resting place for exploring central Texas. Since it's mostly an RV park now, though, you have to make prior arrangements to visit (the airport is closed by Notam).
Date Taken:
October 29, 2018
Place Taken:
Liberty Hill, TX
Owner:
Nickens, Dan
File Name:
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Category:
Flexible Flight Plans
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Read what others had to say:
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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At the entrance of the RV and airplane park was an Airstream trailer mounted on a tall pedestal of giant square blocks. It made sense that the source of the boulders wasn't too far away.
South of Liberty Hill, TX
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3-2 Making Square Rocks 8707
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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Over dinner I'd heard the stories of days of record flooding rains. We had talked about flying south to see Lake Travis in its abnormal condition. The day proved to be too windy for a fun flight of two. I decided, however, that the short jaunt south would be a worthy deviation.
Lake Travis, TX
| | Attachments:
3-3 High Water 8712
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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Floating docks were no longer attached to the submerged ground.
Lake Travis, TX
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3-4 Free Floating 8722
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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This Colorado River, unlike its more famous kin, is only found in Texas. It starts on the Llano Estacado and runs southeast 810 miles before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico near Bay City, Texas.
South of Marble Falls, TX
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3-5a Calm Flood 8741
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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The wettest September on record for Texas had left its mark.
South of Marble Falls, TX
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3-5b Flood Relics 8753
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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The bridge (the RM2900 Bridge) was gone but the its wires were intact.
Kingston, TX
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3-6 Bridge Gone 8758
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Don Maxwell - Nov 18,2018
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Nice of them to leave the wires.
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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Shoals, definitely not flooded. This part of Texas has a reputation as "Flash Flood Alley" and the Texas Hill Country is classified as a "flood-prone area".
Llano River, TX
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3-8 Unflooded 8773
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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The Llano River is a tributary of the Texas Colorado River. It drains a portion of the Edwards Plateau, part of the Texas Hill Country. Sometimes the river bottom was sandy.
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3-9 Sandy Llano 8778
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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Sometimes the river bottom was rocky, but mostly it was just shallow.
Llano River, TX
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3-10 Hard Spots 8781
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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The river bed was intriguing. I seriously looked for a pool big enough for a SeaRey. There were some possibilities (and likely there were more when the river was higher). It wasn't my airplane though. And I did need to get out of Texas to stay ahead of the weather forecast.
Llano River, TX
| | Attachments:
3-11 Rocky Crossing 8784
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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The power lines did have a couple of red balls but they were lost in the background clutter. The towers were not, however.
Llano River, TX
| | Attachments:
3-12 Red Ball Warning 8789
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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How many ways can you wipe out a slab bridge: deform and displace it, wash it out and bury it? This one was a wipeout.
Llano River, TX
| | Attachments:
3-13 Warped Slab 8799
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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A suspicious looking slab bridge remained mostly intact and a truck was crossing as I flew over.
Llano River, TX
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3-14 Water Trucking 8807
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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Curious to see how the truck would make it, I circled to watch.
Llano River, TX
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3-15 Halfway Home 8812
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 19,2018
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One last dip. Then he could go home and tell the tale of his brazen crossing at the nightly gathering at his local bar.
Only there was to be no crossing. The last dip was the deepest. I watched as the nose of the truck slowly started going sideways downstream. He must have mashed on the accelerator about that time as the truck surged forward.
From an overhead observer's objective perspective I figured he had a chance. His new velocity would take him close to the edge, but maybe not over.
I was half right. It did take him closer to the edge, but it brought his back tires into the deeper water. The truck seemed to stall its forward progress as the back wheels churned the water like a paddlewheel steamer. In slow motion the truck spun crosswise on the bridge.
The spinning turned ugly as the truck's back tire went off the slab. The truck slid slowly downstream, then seemed to hang up on the frame.
The water flowed relentlessly. It was now washing over the back end, but the truck seemed to have stabilized half on and half off the bridge.
I tightened my circle and dropped lower to get a better look. The driver leaned out of his open window and started waving at me.
I waved back. I mean, I couldn't think of any other appropriate response.
With a lurch, the truck was suddenly swept backwards and off the bridge. The driver was frantically trying to hold on with both hands hanging half out of the window.
The truck came completely off the bridge and sort of settled into the water. Then the tailgate slammed against some exposed rocks. The hard collision seemed to shake the driver like a rag doll. I was sure he would be thrown clear, but somehow he managed to pull himself back inside the cab.
Surging water now twisted the truck sideways until the front seemed to hang on something. Water washed over the bed and completely swamped the back end of the truck. It now also washed over the hood, but at least the top was still exposed. I could see the driver struggling inside the now almost submerged cab.
That's when I noticed I was getting really low and slow. I pushed in power and leveled the wings.
Recovering the airplane caused me to briefly lose sight of the drama below. When I got turned back around I saw the driver had scrambled up on top of the cab. He just sat there as I flew back over.
Now what? The truck looked stable. The driver was out of the water. Maybe I should just climb up and declare an emergency?
I'd decided to do just that when the truck shifted again. It was only a foot or two, but it was sudden enough that the driver was almost thrown off. He flattened himself on top of the cab, holding on with both hands. I thought I could see panic in his face as I passed overhead.
Now I decided I needed to get down and help sooner rather than later. Get down where? The water was not an option. It had too many rocks and rapids.
That left the submerged slab and the dirt road. I had no interest in a wheels down landing in the water, even if it was only a foot deep. And having seen the truck slide off, the water-covered slab had no attraction for SeaRey parking either.
The dirt road, however, seemed feasible. The wind was out of the northwest, so it would be a crosswind landing. I cautiously decided to take a closer look.
I dropped low over the water and flew within 100' of the swamped truck. I could clearly see the driver. He appeared to be thin, middle age man. He tracked me, but didn't release either hand to wave. It seemed he was holding on with everything he had.
I turned over the slab and flew out along the road. It was rough and rutted, and had cobbles scattered throughout. It would have to do. There was an incline where the road climbed up out of the river bed. I could use that to slow down quicker.
Circling back over one more time I set up for a low approach over the slab. The guy was still hanging on to the truck, but I could tell he was struggling. I needed to get down.
Cycling the gear down I lined up on the slab. With full flaps and power, I approached at a shallow angle a bit above stall speed.
Looking out I saw the banks of the road where it rose were steeper than they had looked above. There was a brief worry about scraping the floats or the wing tips. A last look at the driver's precarious situation on the roof of the truck made my decision: I was going to put it down.
The water-covered slab bridge grew closer. Beyond where the truck went in the water only looked inches deep. Was that too much?
From many Internet videos I remembered seeing big-tired backcountry airplanes skimming on the water. Could I do that? I also remembered the key was having enough speed to keep the tires on plane. I wanted to be as slow as possible when I touched down.
Holding the airplane just above the water I few along the wet concrete slab. Soon enough it appeared the water was only an inch or two deep. Perhaps that perception was hastened by fear of the dirt road ahead. I decided to let the plane down.
From the corner of my eye I could see what I've always feared: water spraying from tires landing in the water. "Gear down on the water!" my animal brain screamed. I grimaced as the plane slowed, feeling relief as I the tires grounded on the hard concrete.
As soon as I felt the hard surface I braked hard. The airplane had good brakes and the tail quickly rose. I stopped it before the nose started dragging, but it was a close thing. Between the brakes, the shallow water, and the rising road, we stopped in a remarkably short distance.
I sat there letting the engine tick over at idle. Just like I'd been taught. Just like habit. I'd let the engine cool. Then it struck me: there was someone who was cold and in trouble waiting out in the rapids. I immediately switched it off.
Scrambling out of the cockpit I hurried to the river's edge. The driver was still there on top of the sunken truck. I yelled to him, "Hey! Are you okay?" I was pretty sure he couldn't hear me over the constant roar of the water. He just shook his head and did not reply.
"Okay, now what? My phone! I'll call for help." I ran back to the plane and pulled the phone out. There was no service.
I needed to do something. Maybe I should try to get a line to him. There was a 100' line behind the pilot seat. I grabbed it and one of the PFD's.
Making it back to the water I tentatively stepped in. It was only a few inches deep, but it was moving fast. I shuffled along the slab as it gradually got deeper. When it got up to my knees I stopped. The water was fast enough that to go any deeper would get really tricky.
It was still too far for me to throw him the line. "Hey!" I yelled. "I don't think I can get close enough to get you this line."
Over the roar I could barely make out his heavily drawled reply, "Well now I don't rightly reckon I can get any closer myself," he yelled.
"Right. Can you hold on? I'll go get help."
"I'ma holding on tight as I can, I reckon."
"Okay. I'll be back." Turning away I started shuffling back to the bank.
I hadn't gotten far when a big red four wheel drive truck pulled up on the road in front of the airplane. I quickened my sloshing as a big man stepped down from the cab to stare at us. After a few seconds, he walked around the airplane and down to the water's edge.
As I approached he said, "Now ain't this a sight. A water plane on the shore and a dry land truck in the water." The guy was as big as a bull and had a thicker neck. His linebacker frame was roughly dressed and had to stand about 6'6" from his cowboy boots to the top of his ten gallon hat.
"The truck slid off the bridge as I was flying over," I replied a bit defensively.
"Yep. I saw you landing and figured it was something." That was all he said as he quietly studied the drowning truck.
Finally I said, "I tried to get to him with this line but I couldn't get close enough."
He looked at the line I held out. "That ain't no wonder. That's a pretty puny line to reach that fer."
Now I was defensive. "It's all I have."
"Well, come on partner. Let's get your plane outta my way and I'll get a real line." He turned and ambled back up the hill.
To his back I said, "Do you want me to move my plane?"
He never turned around, but kept walking up the bank. "Yep. Reckon that'd be best, less ya jus want me to drive over'n it."
That stopped me for a heartbeat, then I hurried up to the plane. He got into his truck and backed it up and off the road. I jumped into the airplane, quickly got it started and powered up the river bank, bouncing over rocks, to just beyond the truck where I pulled off on the side of the road and shut it down.
As I quickly moved back towards the river he motioned to the back. "Jump in. There's a good rope back there that should reach."
The pickup truck seemed to stand 8' tall on its huge wheels. I walked up to tailgate and climbed into the back. It was full of every manner of hand tool and work implement that I could imagine. There was also a huge coil of heavy rope. I crawled over it all towards the cab.
From the open window he stuck his head out, "Ya'll hold on now. We'll get out there and get Jimmy."
"In this?" I asked as the truck roared to life. "We'll just get washed in too."
"Nope. We won't. This here's a Ford. That there is a Chevy."
I looked at him like he was crazy, because clearly he was. He just grinned, spat a big wad of chewing tobacco on the ground, and popped the clutch. I had to grab a side rail to keep from falling backwards into the bed.
He drove straight onto the bridge and into the water. He didn't even slow down. My eyes got wider as the tires kept getting deeper and deeper. I tightly clutched the PFD I'd remember to bring.
We drove right into the deep spot where the other truck had washed off and stopped. The door opened and the big man stepped out onto a running board that was now awash. Looking over the cab he yelled, "How ya doing, Jimmy? Did ya get your hay bailed this week?"
I looked back and forth between the driver and Jimmy. I could see Jimmy was shivering, just hanging on to edge with white knuckles. Jimmy yelled back, "Nope. The ground's still too wet, Rex. Reckon it'll be another week 'fore I can cut it."
Rex nodded. "Yessir, that's if'n it don't rain no more."
"I've sure 'nough seen me enough water for a lifetime." Jimmy replied.
"I hear ya. Well, how about we getcha out of it now 'fore ya start to shrink."
"That'd sure be nice."
Rex turned to me. "Ya see that big line back there, partner?"
I nodded.
"How's about you try'n pay that out to Jimmy? Fore ya do, tie that empty plastic gas can to it. That'll hep him to grab on to'it."
Somewhat tentatively I went back and did as instructed. Meanwhile Rex had climbed into the back with me.
"We ain't ben properly introduced," he said, sticking out a giant hand. "I'm Rex. Some folks call me T'Rex but jus plain Rex is fine too." I reluctantly shook hands. As expected mine was crushed.
"I'm just plain Dan," I told him.
"Plane Dan! Now ain't that som kinda name fer a pilot! Well, come on Plane Dan and les see if'n we can get Jimmy outta this fix."
With that he grabbed the gas can from me and tossed it into the water. He let the line out towards Jimmy. The whipping current took it right back to the sunken truck. With a little maneuvering, Rex moved it closer to Jimmy. When it got close enough Jimmy grabbed it with one hand.
"Ya wanna try to pull your truck in, Jimmy?" T'Rex bellowed.
"Naw. It's a company truck. I reckon it's insured," Jimmy yelled back.
"Alrighty then. Make sure ya hold on tight and I'll haul ya in."
"Wait!," I interjected, "Shouldn't he tie the rope around himself so he won't be pulled away by the water?"
T'Rex just rolled his eyes. "Jimmy ain't no cupcake. He'll hole on for dear life. And he'll wanna let go if'n he starts to get dragged under anyway."
I had no response to that logic.
Then T'Rex told me, "Hold on to the slack whilst I pull'em in. That's jus in case Jimmy don't remember the money he owes me. If'n he argues, I'll let go to scare him a 'lil. You can hold on to give him another chance to 'member."
Seeing my shocked expression, T'Rex roared laughing. "I'm jus joshing ya! I'll pull him in an then whip 'em if he don't remember!"
Numbly I just nodded.
Without another word, he turned back to Jimmy. "Now hole on tight, there, Jimmy. I'll get ya. I ain't never let one as big as you get away yet."
Jimmy nodded and grabbed on to the rope with both hands. Without seeming to work at all, T'Rex's bulging arms began to pull. Jimmy was off the truck and into the churning water, both hands on the rope and using the gas can for floatation.
There was no hesitation or rest. T'Rex pulled him right up along beside the truck. Then he directed me, "Now go over there and grab his belt, Plane Dan, whilst I put down the rope and finish landing him."
I did as directed, leaning over the side of the truck and holding on tight to Jimmy's belt. Jimmy let one hand go and grabbed the back of the truck. T'Rex reached out and got his other hand. "Here we go," T'Rex said and easily pulled him over the side and into the truck bed.
Jimmy rolled in and sat down on a tool box, shivering. "Thanks, Rex. I thought I'd have to learn how ta swim today."
"No sense trying ta teach an old dog any new tricks," T'Rex said with a laugh. "Why doncha get yourself a proper truck so's ya don't have ta swim anyway?"
Jimmy managed a weak grin. "Ain't my truck. Ya don't think I'd wash mine, do ya?"
"Your ol truck ain't been washed sinced 1995. It'd fall apart if ya tried." Jimmy just nodded.
"Well, we might as well quite jawing and get on outta here," T'Rex announced. "Ya'll make yourselves comfortable and we'll head back to dry land."
T'Rex then swung himself over the bed and into the cab. He began backing the truck back off the bridge.
"Ya don't know how happy I was to see you land that thang," Jimmy told me. "Ain't many people be using this bridge since the floods. I coulda been stuck out there all day."
I nodded. "I'm glad to help. I was worried about you."
"An I was worried too, but don't tell that to Rex."
T'Rex stopped beside the airplane and got out. "Whatta ya gonna do now, Plane Dan? Ya wanna come have a beer? Ya can stick around an we'll rustle up some vittals if ya hungry."
"That's a kind offer, Rex, but I'm on a mission. I need to get this airplane to Seattle sometime this week. I think I'll just have a look at the road and get going if there's nothing else I can do."
Nodding, T'Rex replied, "Never stand 'tween a man an his work, I always say. Well, come on, the both of ya, and come on down."
Jimmy and I both clambered out of the tall truck bed. I started walking a little ways up the road, kicking the big rocks off of it. Then I just stopped. It was a hopeless task. There were too many. It was going to be a rough, rough ride out.
"Ya worried 'bout them little rocks?" T'Rex asked.
"They will be pretty rough on the little airplane," I answered.
"Well, that ain't no big thang. Get yourself ready ta go and Jimmy and I'll take care of it. Give us ten minutes and we'll be back with Brutus. He'll clean the road right up."
"Um, okay."
With that, T'Rex and Jimmy got in the cab and drove off down the bumpy road. Seeing the way the big truck bumped along, I was having second thoughts. Maybe I should just call back to Liberty Hill and get some help to trailer the plane back to the airport.
I had pretty much resolved myself to days of delay, disassembly and relocation when I heard an approaching rattle and roar. Looking up the road I saw T'Rex approaching on a big old bulldozer, with Jimmy following behind him the truck. The truck looked tiny behind the huge faded yellow, smoke belching dozer. Brutus, I presume.
T'Rex clattered to a stop beside the airplane and shut down. "Hey, Plane Dan, how long a runaway ya figure you're gonna need?"
"Um, two hundred yards would be nice."
"Aw, comeon now. That'll only take me a minute. I'll get ya four hundred in two jiffies."
And, he did. When he finished, he pulled off the road and turned off the engine. "That good enough fer ya, Plane Dan?"
"Yes sir. That's deluxe."
"Well, ya best get on your way to Seattle then."
Jimmy came over and shook my hand. "I'm mighty grateful fer ya stopping. Stop back in anytime."
"Now that you have such a nice runway, I just might do that."
"Well sir, I hope to be drier when I see ya then."
With a clear path, the airplane smoothly rolled back up into the air. I'm pretty sure all the shenanigans of the day will make a fine tale for Jimmy down at the bar. That's if he has any money left after paying his debt to T'Rex.
Llano River, Texas
| | Attachments:
3-16 Getting By 8816
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Ken Leonard - Nov 18,2018
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Good tale Plane Dan. Brings back memories of a flash flood in Abilene Tx back in'83. I was third car to come to a concrete water
channel you had to drive down and across on the farm road. First car made it through with about 6" water. Water was rapidly rising
and I told my wife that we were turning around. She started to argue as the second car started through and was immediately
washed sideways. The driver cranked down his window, climbed out and the car went over as he came out. He washed down river
but got out quickly. 10 seconds more and he would have been dead in the car.
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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Before too much further west the Llano River was not much river at all.
Llano River, Texas
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3-17 No River 8827
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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No worries crossing the river here.
My worry was fuel. I needed some before I tried to cross the vast expanse of West Texas. Since I had deviated further south and west than originally planned, I had my sights on Llano. Within a few minutes of arrival, I checked notams: "No fuel available until (sometime long after I needed it)."
I checked the map for options further west. Nothing was within comfortable range. There was no good choice, I had to turn back to the east.
Llano River, TX
| | Attachments:
3-18 Easy Crossing 8832
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 18,2018
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Despite all the recent wetness, there was some dryness typical of the arid west.
Burnett County (KBMQ) was the closest gas, so after a backtrack of 21 miles I landed and topped off, 2.8 hours after the previous fueling and a measly 1.4 hours of making almost no progress towards my destination on this morning. (But at least I was dry and the airplane still flyable.)
West of Burnet, TX
| | Attachments:
3-19 UnFlooded 8836
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Heading back out over already covered territory I spied ruts across the river. Could have been a wagon trail back in the day?
West of Burnet, TX
| | Attachments:
3-20 Trail Crossing 8838
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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The little quarry was interesting, but there wasn't enough water to float a SeaRey.
SW of Valley Springs, TX
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3-21 Little Lake 8841
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Bridge slabs are of interest to me because I remember them from my grandparents' farm. They were always covered with water in flood times. One year deep in winter a big rain came and the bridge to the farm was almost covered. There were several culverts, and debris had clogged them, making a bit of a dam. My grandmother decided she could clear them herself. She did. When she pulled an offending limb up, it pulled back, sucking her underwater and through the culvert. She was taken downstream until she managed to get ashore. Wet and cold and bruised she hiked a mile through the woods to get back to the car. She was eighty years old at the time. Those folks were made of stouter stuff.
SW of Valley Springs, TX
| | Attachments:
3-22 Dry Crossing 8844
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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There is a large island of really old rocks just west of Llano. It is shaped like a dome and known as the Llando Uplift. The "uplift" has Pre-Cambrian rocks as old as 1.5 billion years. The rocks are not really uplifted, they are just standing their ground as surrounding areas subside or erode away.
Near Eagle Rock Ranch, TX
| | Attachments:
3-23 Rocky Scales 8849
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Fall was settling in to the Hill Country, mixing some bright yellow and orange colors with the usual greens and grays. It was nice to look at from overhead.
West of Eagle Rock Ranch, TX
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3-24 Colorful Watering Hole 8856
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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The LLano Uplift is surrounded by younger sedimentary rocks of Paleozoic or Cretaceous Age, with their classic layers.
Near Eagle Rock Ranch, TX
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3-25 Rock Lines 8859
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Massive granitic rocks populate the uplift. They are tough rocks, not easily weathered, and softer rocks and soil just erode away.
Near Katemcy, TX (and XS08)
| | Attachments:
3-26 Big Rock 8864
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Not everyone bypasses the rocks. This part of the hill country offers epic four wheeling adventures. Rock crawling, Texas style.
Near Katemcy, TX
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Texas Rock Climbers
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| Attachments:
3-27 Rocky Bypass 8869
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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In places where soil can accumulate, things grow. Where the soil just washes off, there are big hard spots.
Near Katemcy, TX
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3-28 Big Bare Spot 8871
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Patterns in these rocks are more complex (and artistic) than the simple exfoliation theory can accommodate.
Near Katemcy, TX
| | Attachments:
3-29 Rock Schemes 8875
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Digging into the fractured rock yields some naturally nice rectangular blocks.
Near Katemcy, TX
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3-30 Digging Rocks 8882
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Don Maxwell - Nov 21,2018
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Nice swimming pool there.
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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There is a theory that the fine cracking associated with granitic plutons is from stress relief. When the liquid magma cooled and crystallized it was under massive pressure from overlying sediments. As those sediments eroded the pressure was reduced and the rock relaxed (as only a rock can!). The fractures are classically sheet fractures, or exfoliation joints when the feature is dome shaped.
Near Katemcy, TX
| | Attachments:
3-31 Finely Cracked 8888
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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The boundary between these rocks and dirt is pretty well defined.
Near Katemcy, TX
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3-32 Abrupt Change 8895
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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So, who's winning when a stream runs through the boundaries? Maybe the rocks are harder and the dirt washes away. Maybe the water runs into the rock cracks, freezes and busts them up. Maybe it's all true.
Near Katemcy, TX
| | Attachments:
3-35 Stream Runs Through 8910
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Where the dirt collects in the bottom of the stream the pink of the mother rock can still be seen.
Middle Valley Prong of the San Saba River near Smith Ranch Airport (14TE), TX
| | Attachments:
3-37 Rock Free 8919
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Rock slabs exposed in the shallow stream.
Middle Valley Prong of the San Saba River near Smith Ranch Airport (14TE), TX
| | Attachments:
3-38 Thin Veneer 8925
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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The river was nicely bounded by seasonally appropriate trees.
Middle Valley Prong of the San Saba River near Smith Ranch Airport (14TE), TX
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3-39 River Borders 8939
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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The uplift dome edges sharply into the plains.
Middle Valley Prong of the San Saba River near Smith Ranch Airport (14TE), TX
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3-40 Leaving the Hills 8940
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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As the main structures collapsed, the motor home was still standing demonstrating the great strength mobility?
South of San Angelo, TX
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3-41 All Fall Down 8943
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Big Lake, Texas is all about the oil being sucked out the ground. It sure ain't about no lake. It's Fake Name!
Big Lake, TX
| | Attachments:
3-42 Texas Oil Town 8955
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 21,2018
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West Texas is a big, flat country. Airports are farther apart and fuel planning is a bit trickier than back east. That's why it was particularly disturbing to find out the self service fuel pump at Big Lake's airport wouldn't take any of my credit cards. There was a "transmission error" no matter what I tried.
A battered SUV pulled up in front of the airplane. "Having trouble with the pump?" the driver asked.
I explained the problem.
"Yep. Likely the modem is down again. Let me call the airport manager." He did, then he reported, "He's in a meeting. He's always in a meeting. He's a young fella that is only the manager because his papa has money. I've been the mechanic here for going on 40 years and I've never seen such a mess."
Not wanting to get into local politics, I diverted with attention to my immediate problem: "I'm headed west and still have enough fuel for about an hour flight time. Any recommendations for an airport with fuel in that range."
He thought about it for a minute, then shook his head. "Closest place southeast is Iraan and they're out of gas. Your best bet is to head north. Or go back a bit."
Across the road was a service station. I pointed to it. "Do you have a gas can? I can use auto fuel."
He nodded. "We can do that. I'll be back in a jiffy."
He came back with two five gallon cans. "Hop in and I'll take you over there," he offered.
It was a hike and with two heavy cans it would be a lot of exercise. I gratefully accepted his offer.
Along the way I got a lecture on local developments. In addition to the problems with airport mismanagement, the whole area had changed with fracking. There was truck traffic everywhere. He told me there were no homes or rooms to be had anywhere nearby. Trailers and RVs were parked in every open spot. "I just don't know nobody anymore. All my friends sold out and left. The workers here now are just passing through."
"What about the airport? It looks pretty quiet."
"It is. Not much happening. I maintain a pipeline survey plane or two, but they are being retired nowadays. Drones are cheaper."
His SUV was rough. His maintenance hangar looked like a shack. He was clearly struggling in a lot a ways.
"What's your shop rate?" I asked.
"When I can get it, I charge $85 per hour. I don't get it much."
"Well, here's $40 for your time."
"Naw, I can't take that. I'm just happy to help."
I insisted. Reluctantly he took the money. After paying for his services, and $35 for the auto fuel, the per gallon price was $7.50 a gallon. It was a bargain considering the alternatives.
Reagan County Airport (E41), Big Lake, TX
| | Attachments:
3-43 Terrain Clearance 8963
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Don Maxwell - Nov 21,2018
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Ack. That doesn't seem pleasant territory, Dan. But it isn't exactly deserted. I got curious and tried it in GoogleMaps' street view. Found your gas station. And it seems to have a history. Here's the airport entrance:
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E41
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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That’s the place, Don! Definitely not deserted, but more of an artifact now than airport.
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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West of Big Lake, oil and gas mixed with contoured topography in the oil rich Permian Basin, the most
productive oil field in
the U.S.
Near Rankin, TX
| | Attachments:
3-44 Contoured Fields 8968
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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The shortest distance for drivers is clearly not along the natural contours.
Near Rankin, TX
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3-45 Crossed Contours 8980
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Wind mill placement on top of plateaus is wildly popular in these here parts.
North of McCamey, TX
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3-46 Top Location 8989
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Just beyond the windmills was a big drop off into the valley of the sun, or valley of solar panels.
Plateau north of McCamey, TX
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3-49 Going Over the Edge 9004
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Looks like this wind whacker was plum worn out. Small wonder, considering the prodigious wind that
had been blowing in my face all day long.
Plateau north of McCamey, TX
| | Attachments:
3-50 Work in Progress 9008
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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This part of Texas has it all covered: massive oil resources, wind, and solar. Oh, wait. No geothermal?
Unless they start utilizing the deep heat from depleted oil wells?
Plateau north of McCamey, TX
| | Attachments:
3-52 All Alternatives 9025
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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The perfect seaplane base? Pull right up to the source and fill up with Texas crude!
East of Imperial, TX
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3-54 Perfect Base 9044
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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The Pecos River was mostly too shallow to splash.
North of Imperial, TX
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3-55 Pecos River 9054
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Seems like while the oil towns are booming, the western ranches are busting.
Near Grandfalls, TX
| | Attachments:
3-58 Going to Ruin 9064
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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The ultimate bust puts bodies 6' under here (assuming the locals comply with the old English mayor's
edict about burial depth for bodies affected by Bubonic Plague).
Desert cemetary, Near Grandfalls, TX
| | Attachments:
3-59 Gone to Ruin 9066
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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They're called "Man Camps". Probably because women are too smart to work and live in such
conditions. Ten years ago
during the last great recession a neighbor went to West Texas to work in the oil patch and live in a
such a place. From what
he described, prison would be better.
It was getting late in the afternoon and airports with fuel were getting scarcer. I stopped at Pecos
(KPEQ) after 1.7 hours in
the air to tanker up for a run at El Paso. It was late enough that I considered the nearby Hampton
Inn until I checked their
rate: $450 per night! I asked the airport attendant about that outrage. "Likely you won't get a room
anyway," he said
shaking his head. "Every empty couch has an oil man on it. You can't get a seat at the diner at
dinner time. It's been like
that ever since they started fracking." I decided to move on.
Near Grandfalls, TX
| | Attachments:
3-60 Man Camp 9086
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Pecos weather was clear and a million. On the distant horizon were the mountains. In the air above
them there were signs of the developing low pressure area. I would have liked to hurry on, but the
wind was blowing me way towards too slow. It didn't take long for the GPS to tell me I wouldn't make
El Paso before nightfall. After a lot of deliberation and one-sided debate I decided the better part of
discretion would be to be on the ground when the stars came out. I deviated towards Carlsbad, NM.
West of Pecos, TX
| | Attachments:
3-61 Coming Attractions 9094
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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An eroded area had a few little ponds, and in the distance was Red Bluff Lake. I was tempted, but the
sun was rapidly slipping behind the big hills on the horizon.
Near Red Bluff, TX
| | Attachments:
3-62 Washing Out 9100
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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The increasingly rumpled ground confirmed my decision not to continue flying into darkness. It's one
thing to try and weave between the lumps when you can see them during an emergency landing.
Doing it in the lights would be down right scary.
West of Red Bluff, TX
| | Attachments:
3-63 Rumpled Ground 9103
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Nickens, Dan - Nov 22,2018
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Red skies at night may be a sailor's delight but the forecast for the next morning was not nearly
delightful for pilots. The predicted low was deepening to the north. Whether the effects would
extend down to the Mexico border was a question for another day.
Unfortunately Carlsbad was in the oil boom too. Hotels were north of $400 per night and pretty
much packed. Like the restaurants. And the Walmart brimming to overflowing. Sigh.
It was only 1.3 hours to get to Carlsbad from Pecos, but it added up to 7 hours from Liberty Hill.
That was less than 500 small miles. That calculated to be an average of 70 mph, but not all in the
right direction. I blame headwinds and somewhat fuelish delays.
Carlsbad (KCNM), NM
| | Attachments:
3-66 Red Sky Warning 9138
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| Attachments:
3-67 Day 3 Flight Log-1
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