Monday, May 31, 2010

TAO-Ft. Stockston, Alpine, TX/Mini Vacation in Marfa

This weekend we went to Marfa, TX for a little mini-vacation. Marfa is a town of about 2100 people in the middle-of-nowhere west Texas (about 6 hours west of San Antonio and 3 hours southeast of El Paso) that has a big art scene, a few celebrity vacation homes, and famous "mystery" lights that appear about 20 times a year that may or may not be UFOs (we didn't see any). The scenery around Marfa is beautiful, flat desert with low mountains and mesas. There are several art galleries and it also has it's own film festival. It seems weird for how small and remote it is. The scenery is awesome and we may have gone overboard on the pictures.
Scott flew in the right seat on the way there and back to get some good experience, since that is where he'll have to sit for his flight instructor ratings.
They were doing glider demo rides at Boerne when we left.
Scott workin' it in the right seat.
Heading out from Boerne.
A wind farm in west Texas.
We stopped in Ft. Stockton for fuel, and there was a very isolated thunderstorm just south of town. The pictures don't really do it justice...it was very dramatic with the huge sky and flat land.
Pouring rain just south of town, in one small area.
The area of rain is to the right, clear blue sky to the left.
Looking out from under the shadow of the storm.
We waited out the storm a little bit after getting fuel.
We landed in Alpine, TX and drove the half hour to Marfa. This is the Alpine airport.
Very pretty countryside!
For dinner in Marfa we ate at Pizza Foundation, which we're guessing is a pun on the art foundations that have exhibits there. Guess what the building used to be!
Downtown Marfa.
Sunset at the Marfa airport.
Artistic photo op as the sun was setting.
When we picked Bridget up at Camp Bow Wow she was sporting a hot pink bandanna and tearing around the room with her tongue hanging out. She seems to have had a good time as well!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Formation Flight to Fredericksburg

Saturday morning we flew to Fredericksburg for breakfast with Brad and Shannon. We thought it would be fun if we went separately and took some mid-air pictures, so that's what we did.
It was mostly cloudy and kind of foggy, but the sun broke through briefly and Shannon got this picture...very inspirational!

Brad and Shannon...

Scott and Renee...

Brad and Shannon...
It was fun, something to do anyway!