Cowboys on the Texas High Plains

Little Wrangler

Originally uploaded by DustyReins.

They come in all sizes, ages and form. The real ones start out like the little wrangler in cowboy training in this photo.

I have captured images of working cowboys that still do things the old ways dating back to the late 1800’s. The Texas Panhandle is also known for rodeo events on the local and national levels and the competition is tough.

Then there are the cowboy want-to-be’s who are really city boys who dress and try to act like real cowboys.

I have organized many of the images I have captured of cowboys on the High Plains into a virtual Cowboy Photo Album and I have many more to add. This makes it convenient for you to view a variety of cowboys on the High Plains.

Feel free to make comments and vote for your favorite cowboy photos as you view the images. Just click on a thumbnail to see a larger version of each photo.

First Tree On The Texas Plains

At least that is what the historical marker on US 60 just east of Panhandle states. That claim makes me squinch my eybrows together and tug at my moustache a little.

I think the claim should be “The first documented tree planted by a european in the Texas Plains”.

From the little history I have gathered up about the area I grew up in, I figgure there have been native peoples who practiced agriculture in the region perhaps as far back as the flint trade at the Alibates Flint Quarry as far back as 13,000 years ago. More definite proof of early agriculture has been found at the Buried City archeolgical site in Ochiltree County. Who is to say that these nature-wise folks never planted a tree near the house for the missis?

There had to be native trees in the creek and river canyons that grew from seeds washed down from New Mexico. With the way the wind blows around here, cottonwood tree seeds are likely to wind up in Oklahoma and Kansas easily.

Now the spanish explorer Coronado is said to have named Palo Duro Canyon after the trees that he found there. “Palo duro” is spanish for hard wood and the reference is more than likely to the junipers which grow in the canyon. Many folks think he was referring to the mesquite found there today but that plant didn’t come along until much later than the 1,500’s when Coronado came tromping through the area. Can’t imagine Coronado getting involved in forestry because he was too busy looking for gold to take back to Spain.

Early europeans who came to settle the area have written about the black bear, mountain lion and even beaver that made for good hunting round these parts. Now you can’t convince me that these animals are going to make their home where there are no trees. Especially beaver!

So I think to be historically correct, the historical markers need to be changed to prevent instilling false information in the unsuspecting over actual known facts.

If you want to read what the markers say for yourself then follow this link and click on the picture to make it bigger. First Panhandle Tree 2006 08/29

Good grief! Just to think our tax dollars went to support a falsehood like this and even Texas Governor John Connally came out personal to give his blessing over it!

Route 66 Bug Ranch

Route 66 Bug Ranch

Originally uploaded by DustyReins.

This was the first time I had ever visited the “Bug Ranch” in Conway on Historic Route 66. I had driven to Shamrock and back to Amarillo in an effort to travel as much as I could on what remains of the actual roadbed that used to be referred to as the “Mother Road” before Interstate 40 was constructed in the 60’s across the Texas Panhandle.

There are a least two reasons why this site east of Amarillo has not been as popular as the Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo. Number one, it is almost impossible to see the cars from I-40 so it doesn’t attract attention from the highway. Number two, it is too close to other structures to really stand out and it is almost impossible to get a decent photo without other man made artifacts in the frame. To me, it is very difficlult to get a decent looking wall hanger when there is so much clutter distracting from the subject.

I wound up taking quite a few photos of my “Main Street USA” tour of the Eastern half of Route 66 in Texas. It was nice to drive along at 55 mph without the worry of an 18 wheeler crawling up my tailpipes while I am gawking over the landscape and looking at developing storm clouds.

The photos have been put into the www.goldenspread.us Multi-Media Gallery organized by the counties I traveled through starting with Wheeler, Gray, Donley and ending with Carson County where the Bug Ranch is located. I will try to get the photo info updated within the next week on GoldenSpread.us for each county and community I passed through on the trip. I am planning on taking another trip to cover the Western half of Texas Route 66 soon.

You can take a look at some highlights of my Route 66 travels at the following link http://captiveimage.us/Gallery/Photos/thumbnails.php?album=179

When you click on a photo thumbnail, you will be taken to a complete album for that photo series. A different way to travel Texas Route 66 without having to pay for gas or diesel!

More Route 66 Photos

CaptiveImage.us is based out of Amarillo, Texas and has an extensive Multi-Media gallery of photos, audio and video clips, many of which are related to Route 66 interests. They have recently created an album of Route 66 Highlights 2006 featuring some of the more interesting material related to Route 66 in their gallery.

Bird of Prey

Bird of Prey

Originally uploaded by DustyReins.

I got real lucky taking photos of this hawk just south of I-40 near Vega, Texas. There was another species of hawk really kicking up a fuss from a fencepost nearby and every one in a while it would take to wing then return to the post.

All the while, I just clicked away using my car at first as a blind. Eventually I just got out of the car and walked up to the tree shooting all the way. The hawk then took to wing making the other noisy hawk really mad! He spent a number of minutes circling around above me then took off in a direction opposite from my subject’s flight path. You can view the whole series of photos including the hawks in the CaptiveImage.us Multi-Media Gallery where most of my photography work in recent times is available for viewing.

Hello world!

Howdy and welcome to the Golden Spread Roundup. I just got this new ability to share some of what I do in the Golden Spread Region and I am just learning how to use this new publishing tool.

Give me a couple days to turn it over a little and hope no maggots fall out! I am a part time contributor to the Golden Spread Community Pages and ZAPAmarillo.us and Golden Spread News where I share a little writing and some photos in the Multi-Media Gallery. The sites are owned, hosted and managed by CaptiveImage.us.

I also share some of my photos on flickr.com when I can get a chance.

Thank you for your kind interest.