#7: [03-Mar-09]

#6: [16-Nov-08]

#5: [13-Apr-06]

#4: [02-May-05]

#3: [05-Feb-05]

#1: [05-May-00]

27-May-2002 -- This will probably be the last CP in Texas for this trip - I fly to California tomorrow, so unless I squeeze one in on the way to the airport....

The Tale of "Alas Poor Weed We Knew It Well"

A scan of the site this morning showed me a point not too far away in the NW quadrant of Houston, the last visit showed no accuracy figure (SA still on) so this one it had to be.

As usual for this trip, start out on 610 going North, then West onto I-10 - a long road this I am at marker post 763, I remember passing post 123 in February - on my way to 30N 99W. A few miles out - by Katy Mills - and bear right onto business 90 heading West until you come to Brookshire.

From here it is right on CR 362 heading North for about 10 miles. All you can see on either side of the road to the horizon is what looks like corn (on the cob) growing, no doubt someone will correct me.

Just before the road swings sharp left (where if you look closely on the right, you'll see an aircraft control tower), there is a field where they obviously take their job a bit too seriously, just piles of junk everywhere.

A mile or so further on, and you see what looks like jumbo sized air conditioning units. It is a natural gas compressor plant, only one unit was powered up, the photo conveys no sense of the noise and the feeling of power.

When the road goes sharp right you go left onto Richard Frey and carry on until the road ends, here you turn right onto Cochran. Just immediately on your left you will see Monaville Fire Station.

Just before the turn off to the CP is a Texas Historical Marker), the CP access road - well track really, is Purvis at 29D 59M 50.6S / 95D 59M 35.3S, if you come to Baethe Road on the right you went too far.

I called in at the nearest house, where I talked to the landowner Mr. Blake Bird. I explained the project and he happily gave me permission to wander around. Back to the track, turn right and park at the nearest field entrance.

It is extremely dry here right now, so I parked on some dirt to avoid being a fire hazard. In fact the ground is so dry, they really need to help it along). Even just walking through the dirt I was creating a mini dust trail behind me.

At the corner of the field I was looking towards the CP. As you can see the weed is gone, along with everything else that was growing there. Well almost, it has been replanted but it is struggling to grow. Right on the spot is "Son of Weed" which also shows the elevation and the accuracy.

This spot is typical of this part of South West Texas, so the location shot facing North doesn't really show anything much at all. The W, S and E shots are very similar.

On US 290, go 10.25 miles from the center of Hempstead, TX 77445. Don't take 290A (just before Hempstead), which is a limited access highway, as I am not sure what will be an exit and what would be a crossing. Just before the town of Waller, turn right onto a road called F-M 362. Go for a total of 3.8 miles (at 1.95 miles, there should a cemetery on your right), and turn right onto Baethe Road. Go 1.9 miles. Just after the road makes a sharp left, turn right to stay on Baethe Road.

Go 1.17 miles and turn left onto Cochran Rd. Go 0.56 miles, and take the next right onto Purvis Road. Go 0.4 miles almost to the end of the road and stop. Walk due north 1000 feet to the confluence.