This Way To My Blog

This Way To My Blog

Friday, April 15, 2011

One Mystery Solved


You that have read my blog for a long time know John and I have come upon a mystery or two in our treks on country roads. Today we solved one of them and then it was as clear as a bell. We traveled south for and around to the east a way completing a 124 mile ride to some country towns and country roads. One farm to market type road we traveled before was very odd to us after they had completed work on it. They made a very large high hump in the road and it made absoutely no sense to us. There is so railroad tracks beneath, no businesses around, and no homes. Just a high hump in the road like a bridge with sides on it. As we were approaching it we saw a truck going underneath the hump loaded with black coal. Duh! We looked at each other and laughed. The coal mine (Lignite) south of here. There was a road underneath and they were taking the coal out from the mine to somewhere to do whatever they do or take it where ever they take it. The trucks loaded with the coal didn't have to cross traffic, they just go under. How neat! We really went this direction to see some of the new oil activity (remember frac techs entry). We saw ten drilling rigs hard at work. To drill they need water, lots of water. We saw where they were running pipe for miles on top of the ground to get water to the wells. John says its cheaper to run the pipe that far then to haul the water they need. So they find some individual who has a good well and pays them for the water then they pipe it over hill and dell and under ground when they come to an entrance to a farm or ranch or house so that cars can go over it. Most ways it is just along side the road on top of the ground and up near the fence. One little cafe we had stopped at is now called The Derrick so we presumed it is a place for the oil field workers to stop and have a beer. It was a nice morning.

10 comments:

DD said...

I love when a good mystery is solved! Sounds like a good enjoyable trip. I love the back roads. Anne

Donna. W said...

Well, that's one thing we can cross off our list of things to wonder about! Paula, I love your down-to-earth style of blogging. Don't ever change.

Jean said...

Glad you got that one solved I love mysteries. We use to ride the back roads just looking to see what had changed and some we have never travel. I enjoy doing it maybe we will get around to doing it again soon if gas prices come down, lol. Love reading your blog. Take care, Jean

Martha said...

Glad you solved the mystery! Have a wonderful weekend Paula :-)

Amelia said...

Lol I bet you were confused for the longest time about that lump. I would have been amazed seeing something driving under it as there are no coal mines around here that I know of. I would have thought it was a secret government thing or something lol

Missy

Marty said...

Wow ... mystery solved! I never would have guessed it was for coal transportation!

Helen said...

Glad that the lump mystery was solved for you and John. Helen

Unknown said...

Sounds like a pretty interesting ride. I'd like to see that coal operation. I'm glad to see all that drilling going on. I'm too old and jacked up to do it now but that's how I spent about 20 years of my life...I kinda miss it.

Lucy said...

We used to ride around on country roads just for relaxation. The joke was on you and John when you saw the coal truck!! I would have been in your shoes if it had been me.

Toon said...

Aww. Some mysteries are more fun unsolved.