Highways and Trains

Beautiful ride southbound on Hwy 77 halfway between Victoria and
Refugio. Not a very clear picture of the train. But you can see how fast
I was driving!

Rain Near Wharton, Texas

Traveling eastbound on US59 near Wharton, Texas I spotted this rain
formation. It was a very localized rain as you can still see clear sky
even in this picture.

Corpus Christi Bay

Looking at the shoreline and out across Corpus Christi Bay from a motel
room overlooking the bay. Beautiful evening but still in the record heat
of the summer of 2011. Highs over 100 today across Texas.

You can see a freighter hauling in towards the Port of Corpus Christi.

Colorado River Bridge at Wharton, Texas

The Colorado River Bridge at Wharton

This is a closeup of the truss bridge that crosses the Colorado southbound on Business 59 on the south west side of Wharton.

This photo was featured on VFTC (View From The Cab) blog on June 17, 2011 right here: Tachoblog's View From The Cab.

The Colorado River starts somewhere south of Lubbock, Texas and empties into the Gulf of Mexico through the Matagorda Bay near Matagorda, Texas. It's name also means "colored red". 


For more information on the Colorado River Click here.

Wharton Texas

Highway 60 junction in Wharton, Texas

This view is as you are going southbound on Highway 60/Business 59 through Wharton, Texas. At this intersection left will take you to Bay City and straight will return you to Highway 59 south west of Wharton. 

In the background you can see the bridge that crosses the Colorado River here at the edge of Wharton.  I will have a close-up of this  bridge in my next post.

Milano Texas and country music history

US 79 southbound at Milano

Milano is not a large town that I am aware of. At least you don't see much from the highway. Used to have a truck stop that we used to stop at quite frequently. It had a decent grill that was a good place to eat. But the last time I came by the other day it looked more or less deserted.

The bridge that is visible in the picture is the place where the accident occurred that claimed the life of country singer Johnny Horton back in the day.

All right, "I'm a One Woman Man", I never went "North To Alaska" and "I'm Ready If You Are Willing. It's "All For The Love of a Girl."

Highway Construction

 

 

Large beam rests in place in new bridge

This new bridge is part of the new highway that is being built to extend Texas 130, the bypass around Austin, from its current terminus (May 2011) north of Lockhart, Texas where it ends against US 183, to connect with IH10 near Seguin, Texas.

The picture caught my eye because about 10 or so years ago I used to haul those bridge beams. The beams I hauled were manufactured in San Antonio or San Marcos Texas.  We took them all over Texas to highway construction projects.

This is a long beam. We hauled some up to 130 feet in length. That of course is a load that requires a permit. Shorter beams could be hauled on pole trailers or stretch flatbeds without a permit. But longer beams require more equipment and longer trailer capabilities.  Sometime I will catch a picture of a current beam hauler and post that.

I had a little experience one night. We were hauling beams north on IH35 to somewhere in the Dallas area. We were just past Temple (I was the last truck in a convoy of about 6 or 8 trucks.)  A bear spotted me and knew he had himself some real work to do here to take care of me and my lawbreaking. He came up to my cab hollaring at me what I thought I was doing out here at night breaking the law. I informed him that we were permitted and were allowed to drive at night on the interstate. He told me I was all wrong, collected all my paperwork, license and insurance card and went back to his car to write the ticket. In a few minutes he came back, threw everything back in my window and told me to get the *#&^& out of there.   That was it. No "Sorry, I was wrong."  I proceeded on and soon caught up with the rest as my truck could travel faster than the slower trucks in the convoy.

Oh well, it is all part of a days work.