Whoops; 7th Ring; Dallas; Natchez Trace; Lo Octane

First...an apology for using the "S" word in last night's blog title. George Carlin was a cool dude, but there are several youngsters who may be reading this foolishness & they'll have plenty of time for George's rants on taboo language. Sorry, parents...
A brief update on stuff that's gone down: After Ft. Davis, McDonald Observatory, etc., we began the trek home. There was Midland, Tex.,-- Dante's 7th Ring of Hell, with debris, mile after mile, fracking towers galore, dust, stench, oil wells dipping like those old silly dashboard flamingos; the disgust with the whole scene coupled with feelings of hypocrisy, as I drove along in my big engine pickup. But then lo and behold, on the horizon were hundreds and hundreds of wind generators--their 50' blades slowly rotating--creating no pollution--simply quiet, steady energy. There is hope; there is wind; there is solar; there is hydrogen et al. Maybe our grandchildren will be able breathe.
From the 7th Ring to Dallas for a visit with Ann's son; then east to another goofy trailer park I can't even remember even though it was last night; then today, with a beautiful drive up Natchez Trace, a Blueridge Parkway sort of drive with no angst, no traffic, simply a 55 mph cruise through pristine, Mississippi woodlands and from time-to-time alongside a huge, clean lake with ducks and herons being ducks and herons. Tonight, we're in another goofy, nondescript trailer park near Louisville, Mississippi. Memorable tidbits are a jumbo Confederate soldier statue in the center of town & gas pumps that sell "off the road diesel" & have pump handles that are red, not green like most diesel handles. Additionally, most stations sell 87% octane gas--maybe a few with 89% octane. You'd think these fellows with their huge Chevy's & Fords would insist on the high octane stuff. Alas....
This'll be the last blog till I reach the crib, when I'll attempt a silly wrap-up of the whole adventure. If you've been reading this stuff I hope you found it a little entertaining. If so, it makes me happy & I appreciate it.
Peace & good will. And don't forget to max out your credit cards as it's only a few more days till "Alpacalypse."