The Rolling Plains of West Texas

I am currently surveying (looking for archeological sites) in West Texas on a line where they will put in a water pipe and pumps to get water from Lake Alan Henry to Lubbock - about 50 miles. We are walking through some rough rangeland with mesquite shrubs, prickly pear and cholla cacti and other rangey plants grasses and forbs. I love it. No trees, nothing but sky and red dirt -well mostly red dirt. We have to walk the whole distance with an occasional shovel test. This will take us 1000 feet up in altitude over that distance (from ca 2300 feet above sea level to 3300 feet above sea level). So far we have only found places where people were looking for good rocks from which to make tools. Not too exciting, but I really enjoy working out in the plains again. I have spent the last few years in wooded areas and I am relieved to be away from all those god-awful trees. :)

However, my feet hurt!

Still, we see rabbits and deer skitter off away from us, every so often, and hawks flying over head. Many other song birds sing to us as we pass by. And yesterday we had four or five horses run over to greet us (probably assuming we had treats for them). Quite a treat for us, although we had nothing for them.