West TX, Monahans Sandhills (killer sunsets), and Davis Mts.

[Scooter]

Maybe there's a botanist teardropper in the crowd that can tell us the difference between a tumbleweed and a tree. Here's a tumbleweed Christmas tree in the Monahans SP visitor center. The lady pointed out the gazillion seeds that had fallen at the base, saying it's no wonder those things are everywhere out there.
hmm...wondering if they get green leaves in the summer...I've only been out there in winter, so honestly don't know.

[Scooter]

[Laredo]

tumbleweed's a type of thistle. They get green but not "leafy" in the sense of most trees. Making a Christmas tree out of them is a dryland tradition.

This one is "Russian thistle."


Here's more on the "tree" construction, at least in one version.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/147613

Scooter, those photos are awesome.
My current camper's a Coleman popup (new to us, a 1989 model).
I'll be in Odessa day after tomorrow... you're right. M/O has a very "industrial" look -- and a definitely identifiable aroma of petroleum.

Have you been to the Meteor Crater?

[Scooter]

Have you been to the Meteor Crater?

That'll be on the list for next time perhaps. Along with Jim Hall's Chaparral race car display at the Permian Basin museum and the Commemorative Air Force WWII museum, which I understand has the world's best collection of nose art.

[planovet]

Gotta admit, driving out there through Midland/Odessa with their industrial look (heck, they even smell like petroleum) I began to wonder what kind of nutjob I was vacationing in such a place. Until you get past M/O and the landscape seems to purify itself and the sandhills are superb. The howl of coyotes at dusk and lonely train whistle in the distance are a nice touch.

I grew up in Odessa and like what Mike said I always thought trees never got over 6' tall. Your pictures bring back memories of going to the sandhills when I was younger and going sand surfing. That was a lot of fun.

And as far as the ubiquitous petroleum smell, my dad always said it smelled like money! You would never guess that he was in the oil business.

[Nobody]

Absolutely great report & pix Scooter. The sunset video was wonderful. Been camping/visiting all thru that area but haven't visited the Sandhills SP. That's in the plans on our way to the Cloudcroft, NM gathering next July 4th. May be pretty hot out there that time of year but we're gonna try it anyway

[Laredo]

planovet:

1. I love your avatar!

2. "smells like money" is how they explain it around Post and Denver City and Seminole, too.