County Road 169

[SHANEA]

Has anyone ever traversed country road 169 from the out limits of BBRSP up through Casa Piedra, up to Plata, etc. until it finally joins up with Hwy 67 just South of Marfa?  Seems to skirt the eastern most part of Cibolo Creek Ranch.  I've often thought of going that way when leaving BBRSP for home, but with a 10-12 hour drive, adding another couple of hours doesn't seem that appealing.  Usually, the horse has seen the barn....

[Lemming_of_the_BDA]

Has anyone ever traversed country road 169 from the out limits of BBRSP up through Casa Piedra, up to Plata, etc. until it finally joins up with Hwy 67 just South of Marfa?  Seems to skirt the eastern most part of Cibolo Creek Ranch.  I've often thought of going that way when leaving BBRSP for home, but with a 10-12 hour drive, adding another couple of hours doesn't seem that appealing.  Usually, the horse has seen the barn....

I got to walk across 7 miles of 169 when my alternator crapped out. I think that was 1985. Hiked out to 67, caught a ride with a sheriff into Marfa, bought a part, rode back out, fixed my car and continued on my way south. It's remarkable country, but you have seen it before, especially if you've been through Pinto Canyon.

[Lemming_of_the_BDA]

You can't see this from the road:





Any idea what it is?? Maybe a trip down 169 is merited after all.

[10ftTall&BulletPrf]

CROP CIRCLES!!!

[Roy]

That's one of those big revolving irrigation rigs.

[rgibson]

Has anyone ever traversed country road 169 from the out limits of BBRSP up through Casa Piedra, up to Plata, etc. until it finally joins up with Hwy 67 just South of Marfa?  Seems to skirt the eastern most part of Cibolo Creek Ranch.  I've often thought of going that way when leaving BBRSP for home, but with a 10-12 hour drive, adding another couple of hours doesn't seem that appealing.  Usually, the horse has seen the barn....

Driven the road a number of times.  It is just one of those feel good roads.  About half of it is paved.  The road  and railroad track pretty much follows and/or parallels the Old Chihuahua Trail, a trade route from San Antonio and also split off and went to St Louis.  There was another split that went to the Gulf to a port that has now been destroyed.  The name escapes me presently. The really big wooden carts were used like the one displayed at Ft Leaton near Presidio.

The Chihuahua Trail is still visible from the air.  Had flown over and tried to pick up the trail several times with no result until a rancher, who I know and the trail crosses his ranch, told me how to pick up the trail.  Followed the  railroad thru Pasiano Pass between Alpine and Marfa and shortly after you can see the trail where it cuts to the south just west of the pass.

Pretty neat and we were able to follow within a few miles of the Rio Grande.

The book, "Three Roads to Chihuahua" has alot of info and a map showing this route.  All the roads had merged b4 what is now Alpine.  Was mainly used in the first half of the 1800's.

[Lemming_of_the_BDA]

That's one of those big revolving irrigation rigs.

That was my initial thought, but they seem huge, too big to be irrigation rigs. But after studying on them some more, I'm sure you're right.

[Lemming_of_the_BDA]

Driven the road a number of times.  It is just one of those feel good roads.  About half of it is paved.  The road  and railroad track pretty much follows and/or parallels the Old Chihuahua Trail, a trade route from San Antonio and also split off and went to St Louis.  There was another split that went to the Gulf to a port that has now been destroyed. The name escapes me presently. The really big wooden carts were used like the one displayed at Ft Leaton near Presidio.

Indianola?

Followed the  railroad thru Pasiano Pass between Alpine and Marfa and shortly after you can see the trail where it cuts to the south just west of the pass.

Where it cuts south; east or west of the airport?

[Joe]

Indianola?

You're exactly right, Lemming.

From the Handbook of Texas Online: Indianola

The eldest son of my great-great-great grandfather died returning from Indianola to Karnes County in 1853. He had gone to get supplies and instead got yellow fever. He died on Yates Creek near Runge, where his mother buried him.

[Lemming_of_the_BDA]

Indianola?

You're exactly right, Lemming.

From the Handbook of Texas Online: Indianola

The eldest son of my great-great-great grandfather died returning from Indianola to Karnes County in 1853. He had gone to get supplies and instead got yellow fever. He died on Yates Creek near Runge, where his mother buried him.

That's awesome. Not that he died, but that you know your family's history.

I'm envious of folks like you, whose history in Texas goes back that far. My family has only been in this country since 1924, when my grandfather came over from Scotland.

[Roy]

That's one of those big revolving irrigation rigs.

That was my initial thought, but they seem huge, too big to be irrigation rigs. But after studying on them some more, I'm sure you're right.

Last time I climbed Guadalupe Peak, you could see a couple of them off towards Dell City;  big green patches in the middle of the desert.  I'll try to find the photo.

[bdann]

Fly over the Oklahoma panhandle in Google Earth and you'll see dozens, some larger than the ones above.

[Joe]

I'm envious of folks like you, whose history in Texas goes back that far. My family has only been in this country since 1924, when my grandfather came over from Scotland.

Hey, welcome to the USA!  Seriously, it seems that my family history is more important to me as I get older.  I wish I had paid more attention to the stories my relatives used to tell.

Speaking of Scotland, I'm Scots/Irish on my father's side - I think my family was part of the "plantations" from Scotland to County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, in the 1600s. My paternal great-great-great grandfather sailed to the US in 1821 from Londonderry, first to New Brunswick and then to Baltimore. I have a letter that says it took them only 49 days to cross the Atlantic!

[Lemming_of_the_BDA]

Fly over the Oklahoma panhandle in Google Earth and you'll see dozens, some larger than the ones above.

Holy crap! Some of those circles seemed to cover a whole section.

Saw a little in water in Lake Optima, too. Emphasis on "little". What a boondoggle that's turned into.

[01ACRViper]

Indianola?

You're exactly right, Lemming.

From the Handbook of Texas Online: Indianola

The eldest son of my great-great-great grandfather died returning from Indianola to Karnes County in 1853. He had gone to get supplies and instead got yellow fever. He died on Yates Creek near Runge, where his mother buried him.

where my ancestors landed in 1845, then went to settle in New Baunfels