West Texas Intermediate Crude

In the past when I've thought of west Texas, I just figured that it was another flat scrub-brush covered wasteland oil field.    Well, bicycling across it has drastically changed my assumption.  First of all, west Texas is not flat.  In fact, the highest point in Texas is Guadalupe Peak at 8751' and it's just north of where we are now in Marathon.  Today we rode by Mitre Peak which is 6073' high.

The University of Texas at Austin runs an observatory at 6779' high Mount Locke.

 

There's a lot of volcanic remnants, like this crumbling block of basalt, known as Lambert Rocks.

Hidden among the rock crevices are giant leaves from local trees.

The variety of vegetation is incredible, with cactus, yucca, lush grasses, and spike bushes.  This basalt cliff reminded me of Law's Butte along the Owyhee River.

 Looking up close we saw a pile of buzzards, each one with its own fencepost.

One thing didn't surprise me though, and that's the propensity to go fast.  Speed limit 75 on a 2-lane highway!