Abilene

I was pleasantly surprised by pretty much everything in Abilene. I was expecting Lubbock, only with less everything. Instead, I got awesome.





Plus, the drive there from San Antonio took me through the Hill Country.




And with the Hill Country comes Fredericksburg, home to a large number of German immigrants. Doesn't show, really.




Dominating the landscape: wind turbines!




Texas produces more wind energy than any other state in the nation.




With cow for scale. See him? That little black guy at the bottom? My host told me that each blade on the turbine is longer than a semi and has to be trucked in with 'oversized load' signs everywhere.




She also took me to Fort Phantom Hill, part of the frontier system. It hasn't aged very gracefully.




It was only occupied for three years, from 1851-54.




Shortly after it was abandoned, it burned to the ground.




It's seen better days. But it's still pretty cool.




My host's Chevy pickup. How Texas are we?