Posted on 06/03/2016 4:13:30 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck
Now I know I'll get some haters for this post, it's cool. Tell me why you love your lands.
Don't forget catching anthrax just from kicking up dust in parts of west Texas. And the panthers. Nasty place. Folks shouldn't move here from California or up north. Blizzards in the winter, tornadoes in the spring, drought and grass fires in the summer, and hurricaines in the fall.
Everyone needs to remember what Gen. Phil Sheridan said, "If I owned Texas and Hell, I would rent Texas and live in Hell."
However, I know damn good and well that I saw an 838 milepost at that point when I arrived in Texas...in 1967.
And the date could be the key to the conundrum. I-20 wasn't there when I moved to Texas. Or, at least, it had not been extended around the south sides of Dallas and Fort Worth to join with I-30 west of Fort Worth.
I even drove a good friend of mine up from Dallas to Texarkana to show it to him. So, I know it was there...once.
To this day, the majestic topography of southwest Texas still inspires awe and wonder in me. If I died riding my mountain bike in Big Bend Ranch State Park, that would not be a bad thing.
And I like how people hold doors and say thank you. Other places don’t do that.
I-20 does not either, stopping (or beginning, depending upon how one looks at it) near Van Horn (or more precisely, Kent, Texas).
I-30 runs only from Texarkana to West of Ft. Worth. From there on (Westbound) the road designation is 1-20...
Distance of Interstate 20 across Texas = 636.1 miles
Distance of Interstate 10 across Texas = 878.6 miles.
First time in West Texas was when I worked as an Engineer for a large grain company in the early 1980’s. Drove down the back roads from Gruver and Etter to Hereford. Commented that the tumbleweeds were bigger than the rental car I was driving. Guys all laughed at me. Nothing but cows and tumbleweeds in that part of the country back then. I loved driving out there.
They all told me not to drive in Amarillo around 5 p.m. because of the HUGE traffic jams. I laughed at them.
I understand your correction. And that is the way it is today. But, in 1967 (and aroun 1970), the milepost protocol must've been different.
There was a milepost 838 at Texarkana.
When I took Texas History in 7th grade, I was shocked to learn that everybody in the US didn’t take Texas History!
Those differences are even felt in closer distances. Same thing between where I lived in LA County, and here the ice container where I live in the hills of Orange County is unlocked.
I love this country most of all for the people. People who mostly do not have a phony social “front” to them. Where the language is the same whether you’re talking to the homeless guy or the CEO, no “formal” or “upper class” forms of language. People who mostly identify with each other, no matter how different. People who share personal details with strangers, and try to make others feel comfortable.
I learned to love this country more by living outside of it.
I’ll take your word for it.
''Fraid you'll have to.
Wonder if I can trackk down somebody in TDOT who might be able to confirm my recollection...
well, that too! :)
878 miles to El Paso.
985 miles to Chicago.
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