Balmorhea State Park and McDonald Observatory May 27-29, 2017
Youth: Alejandro, Peyton, Jordan, Alyssa, Jenna T, Brenda, Aiden, Jena G, Bryce, Luke
Adults: Joe and Cecilia Garza, Donna Child, Tom Peek, Ken Kirlin, Ben Lagueux, Darrell and Christina Lynch, Dr. JT
We kicked off the summer, as planned, with a great time in the crystal clear waters of Balmorhea State Park and a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory.
Cost of this trip was $47 per person ($35 per person plus $12 for the Star Party). Please make out checks to Crew 285 and give them to Mr. Lagueux (our adult Treasurer) at the next meeting.
Adults: Joe and Cecilia Garza, Donna Child, Tom Peek, Ken Kirlin, Ben Lagueux, Darrell and Christina Lynch, Dr. JT
We kicked off the summer, as planned, with a great time in the crystal clear waters of Balmorhea State Park and a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory.
Cost of this trip was $47 per person ($35 per person plus $12 for the Star Party). Please make out checks to Crew 285 and give them to Mr. Lagueux (our adult Treasurer) at the next meeting.
Ahhhh.....SUMMER!!
The trip
Sat, May 27
We left from the HEB parking lot around 8. The Garza's and Lynch's went west on Friday.
We all gathered at Balmorhea State Park. We had 5 campsites (4,5,8,13, 14). #13 became the kitchen.
After setting up camp all headed to the pool. It was 100 and there is no shade. But the water stays 72 degrees year round so it was wonderful.
The park currently limits entrance to 1,000 people (and gives out another 300 passes for folks to enter after 3PM). So while many folks were disappointed to learn they could not enter on this busy Memorial Day Weekend, it made for a pleasant experience for the Crew.
Each campsite has a permanent pavilion shading its picnic table which was awesome as it is windy! The ground has a bit of grass but was mostly bare (I have seen pictures showing all of the campsites covered in green grass). But it was surprisingly easy to drive in a stake after breaking through the first bit of crust.
The wind proved a challenge for some of the car camping tents. The backpacking tents did fine. No tent blew completely over.
After a few hours at the spring we went back to camp and Mr. Peek and Dr. JT made a mess of burgers and brats for the hungry crew. Then it was off for the 45 minute drive to the Star Party. And it really only took 45 minutes.
The host of the star party had a green laser that he used to point out many familiar constellations and planets as well as many not-so-familiar stars and constellations. After the presentation we got to spend a few moments looking through several telescopes pointed at different objects. The staff person manning the scope would explain what you were seeing and adjust the scope as needed.
We saw the great red spot of Jupiter and 4 of its moons. We saw the rings of Saturn. And we saw some far-off clusters and nebulae. It was awesome!
Here is something to ponder...when you look through a telescope at an object that is far away, say the Whirlpool Galaxy that is 23 million light years away, the light striking your retina, absorbed by your human eye, left that nebula 23 million years ago. BUT, if you were that photon of light that got absorbed in your retina the trip would seem quite different...to that photon, the trip is instantaneous. The moment it was created it was absorbed by your eye... time/space is fascinating.
Back to camp after the star party. Everyone was exhausted and hit the sack. Shortly afterwards, The Milky Way finally rose about 0100.
We left from the HEB parking lot around 8. The Garza's and Lynch's went west on Friday.
We all gathered at Balmorhea State Park. We had 5 campsites (4,5,8,13, 14). #13 became the kitchen.
After setting up camp all headed to the pool. It was 100 and there is no shade. But the water stays 72 degrees year round so it was wonderful.
The park currently limits entrance to 1,000 people (and gives out another 300 passes for folks to enter after 3PM). So while many folks were disappointed to learn they could not enter on this busy Memorial Day Weekend, it made for a pleasant experience for the Crew.
Each campsite has a permanent pavilion shading its picnic table which was awesome as it is windy! The ground has a bit of grass but was mostly bare (I have seen pictures showing all of the campsites covered in green grass). But it was surprisingly easy to drive in a stake after breaking through the first bit of crust.
The wind proved a challenge for some of the car camping tents. The backpacking tents did fine. No tent blew completely over.
After a few hours at the spring we went back to camp and Mr. Peek and Dr. JT made a mess of burgers and brats for the hungry crew. Then it was off for the 45 minute drive to the Star Party. And it really only took 45 minutes.
The host of the star party had a green laser that he used to point out many familiar constellations and planets as well as many not-so-familiar stars and constellations. After the presentation we got to spend a few moments looking through several telescopes pointed at different objects. The staff person manning the scope would explain what you were seeing and adjust the scope as needed.
We saw the great red spot of Jupiter and 4 of its moons. We saw the rings of Saturn. And we saw some far-off clusters and nebulae. It was awesome!
Here is something to ponder...when you look through a telescope at an object that is far away, say the Whirlpool Galaxy that is 23 million light years away, the light striking your retina, absorbed by your human eye, left that nebula 23 million years ago. BUT, if you were that photon of light that got absorbed in your retina the trip would seem quite different...to that photon, the trip is instantaneous. The moment it was created it was absorbed by your eye... time/space is fascinating.
Back to camp after the star party. Everyone was exhausted and hit the sack. Shortly afterwards, The Milky Way finally rose about 0100.
The Whirlpool Galaxy (taken by Hubble). it is 23.16 million light years from Earth
Sunday, May 28
Around 0300 a front blew in that really tested the tents with wind and dropped the temperature 20 degrees. It woke most everyone, and some had to adjust their tents, but we all came through unscathed.
We slept in until the sun hit the tents around 0730.
Breakfast was bacon and egg breakfast tacos with salsa and cheese. It was overcast and a bit chilly. Too chilly to go to the spring.
Most folks went on a hike in the Ft Davis park. They made a lunch to take with them and brought waters. A few stayed behind to see the festival in Balmorhea.
The hiking crew didn't return until 1400, which was later than planned, but they were all fine. It had warmed up and cleared, but it was in the mid 80's rather than the low 100's like on Saturday, so it was very pleasant. Everyone was ready to get in the water!
We spent the rest of the afternoon at the spring. Mr. Peek brought three sets of SCUBA gear, Jordan, Bryce, and Luke all got in dive time with him.
The rest of us snorkeled and swam, soaked up sun, enjoyed ice cream and icees, and had a great afternoon.
We meandered back to camp and had a dinner of beef fajitas (Dr. JTs marinade), chicken fajitas (HEB marinade) with rice and beans and salsa from Pappasito's (which only needed to be reheated; a blessing in the constant wind).
Jordan brought the fixins for a peach cobbler but the dutch oven got left in SA (one of many items I left behind). Fortunately Donna had brought all of the needed ingredients for s'mores and that was our dessert.
After everyone had showered we hit the sack. Great day!
Monday, May 29
Our Officers Alejandro, Peyton and Jordan made the breakfast tacos this morning. After breakfast we broke camp and headed for home.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible!!
Around 0300 a front blew in that really tested the tents with wind and dropped the temperature 20 degrees. It woke most everyone, and some had to adjust their tents, but we all came through unscathed.
We slept in until the sun hit the tents around 0730.
Breakfast was bacon and egg breakfast tacos with salsa and cheese. It was overcast and a bit chilly. Too chilly to go to the spring.
Most folks went on a hike in the Ft Davis park. They made a lunch to take with them and brought waters. A few stayed behind to see the festival in Balmorhea.
The hiking crew didn't return until 1400, which was later than planned, but they were all fine. It had warmed up and cleared, but it was in the mid 80's rather than the low 100's like on Saturday, so it was very pleasant. Everyone was ready to get in the water!
We spent the rest of the afternoon at the spring. Mr. Peek brought three sets of SCUBA gear, Jordan, Bryce, and Luke all got in dive time with him.
The rest of us snorkeled and swam, soaked up sun, enjoyed ice cream and icees, and had a great afternoon.
We meandered back to camp and had a dinner of beef fajitas (Dr. JTs marinade), chicken fajitas (HEB marinade) with rice and beans and salsa from Pappasito's (which only needed to be reheated; a blessing in the constant wind).
Jordan brought the fixins for a peach cobbler but the dutch oven got left in SA (one of many items I left behind). Fortunately Donna had brought all of the needed ingredients for s'mores and that was our dessert.
After everyone had showered we hit the sack. Great day!
Monday, May 29
Our Officers Alejandro, Peyton and Jordan made the breakfast tacos this morning. After breakfast we broke camp and headed for home.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible!!
