On to Lubbock, Texas

Saturday, October  15

We left Brownfield, Texas and headed to Lubbock where we got a campsite at a KOA just outside of town.  We set up out tent and headed out to see the American Wind Power Center which is an exhibit of American Style water pumping windmills.  There were over 150 windmills of different styles and shapes on display.  We learned a little about windmills and their many functions including the new huge power generating windmills we have seen all across our country.  

  

 Next we were headed to see the National Ranching Heritage Center but we were passing by MacKenzie  park and it looked so inviting on this hot Texas day we couldn’t resist.  We spread a blanket and relaxed in the shade.   We could see the center on Monday.

All of a sudden John was hit in the foot with a Frisbee.  He got up and made an attempt at throwing it back.  About five minutes later another couple of guys came along in the same area throwing a Frisbee.  We began to wonder what this was.  When the next group came along we asked what was going on.  They briefly explained that they were throwing the Frisbee toward a basket?? Oh well, didn’t understand that but  along came another group so we inquired again, these two were very forthcoming with information and explained there was an actual name for this ~ disc/Frisbee golf.  Oh, yeah, heard about that, but how is it played?   These guys were great ~ explained the whole game, showed us their bag of discs ~ just like a golf bag ~ it contained driving discs, short distance and long distance discs and whatever else was in there.  They have leagues and National tournaments. Really?  

disc golf 'hole'

It is very popular with the Texas Tech students obviously.  As we were picking up our blanket, along came another couple of guys and one of them offered John a try ~ not much better than the first attempt, however after all of this we realized, oops, guess he shouldn’t have thrown the Frisbee back to the first guy ~ he was heading the other direction.   Later in the day we read the Lubbock pamphlet they gave us at the KOA, and realized that MacKenzie park was home to a ‘world-class disc golf course’  ~ guess we should have read the pamphlet earlier.   

 So then we wondered about this sport in Rochester.  Wouldn’t you know ~  there are six courses in our area AND there is a Rochester Disc Golf Club AND The 2011 Amatuer Disc Golf Championship was held in Rochester July 24-30.Who knew??

Another feature of the park was, Prarie Dog Town.  A local couple donated the first pair of prarie dogs to the town in the 1930’s and now there are hundreds of these funny little fellows running, begging and burrowing in their own designated area.



We’re not sure what keeps them in that specific area but they were fun to watch.

       

 

What a great afternoon.

We went back to the campsite, had some dinner and then since it gets dark early and there is nothing to do on a dark campsite with no lights, and no fire,  we went to see a movie.