Hanging Bridge- Cabadbaran, Philippines

Like Forrest Gump jogging across Alabama, I once wandered so far across Texas I ended up in the Philippines (where I happened to meet my wife).

This is known as Hanging Bridge. Its a suspension bridge over the river in Cabadbaran on Mindanao Island.

The bridge has wire railing as well as a chain link fence to prevent pedestrians from falling into the river. On one side you have a large city of approximately 300,000 Filipinos, and on the other side some of the most dense jungle in Southeast Asia, leading to the beautiful mountains nearby.

Industrial Clamps

Reid Supply Company is the site to visit for industrial clamps, tooling components, and fasteners. Shop with ease with this easy to navigate site and purchase with confidence. Many products have schematics available for you to view so you know you’ll be getting what you need. For the industrial clamps, plus in the parameters of what you need and find the ones that are right for you.

Apartment Walk-in Gate

This is a walk-in gate at a limited access apartment complex. Its right next to the dumpster and the drive-in gate, which not only has the number pad to let you in, but you can also grab a copy of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Luggage

Annie Lou had a hard time deciding what luggage to take with her on her trip to the Philippines. We never could find a good selection and everything seemed to big or too small. Not a lot of variety was to be found.

Too bad we didn’t know about the LuggageSource before she left. Their wide variety of sizes, brands, and accessories would have made our purchase a lot more simple. And the prices are great as well. So check them out before you go wandering around Texas! You'll be glad you did.

Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington)

Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington was opened in 1961, and was the first Six Flags in operation. The name comes from the six flags that have flown over Texas during its rich history. Some of these flags are represented by different sections of the park, such as Mexico.

Six Flags provides a variety of family entertainment. From rides, to live shows, to food, there's something here for everyone.

Being born in the late 60's, I became familiar with Six Flags not long after it opened. And over the years, the growth has been wonderful, but some of the things have stayed the same. I remember as a child the excitement of watching the cowboys have a shootout in the Texas section. That feature is still available today and is still as exciting as the first day I saw it. And I remember many years ago when the old time train would get "robbed" by some of those same bandits.

The log ride originated in this park- as a child I remember the discussions we had about which was "faster" out of the two flumes. A ride I miss from my childhood was the ferryboat. It was slow, boring, but a great place to relax and give the parents a break. This ride can now be found out in east Texas in Jefferson- a company there bought it and uses it to give tours up and down the river.

Whether you are looking for thrilling rides, exciting shows, or just a place to go to get away and ride some relaxing, slow rides, Six Flags is the place for you.

For more information, visit Six Flags website.

Outer Banks Rentals

Its time to start looking ahead to your next vacation, and Carolina Designs Realty has some extraordinary Outer Banks rentals for you to check out and lease. Washingtonian magazine calls them the “Best bet for rentals”. Their easy to navigate site lets you view the property now. Over 6500 customers reserved a vacation with them last year. Next year be one of them!

The Davis Mountains

The Davis Mountains State Park is over 2708 acres in size and is located in Jeff Davis County, four miles northwest of Fort Davis. This is approximately halfway between Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Carlsbad Caverns, and Big Bend National Park, so it makes a great pivot point if you are wanting to see some of the best Texas has to offer, as well as jump over into New Mexico and visit the spectacular Carlsbad Caverns.

Originally, the park was deeded to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by a local family. Then in 1933, improvements began by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In the late 1930's, the park opened to the public and formal campground facilities were added in 1967 (a year before I was born!).

The Davis Mountains is the most extensive mountain range in Texas. They were formed by volcanic activity during the Tertiary geologic period, which began around 65 million years ago. The mountains were named after Jefferson Davis, U.S. Secretary of War and later President of the Confederacy, who ordered the construction of the Fort Davis army post.

I remember my first (and only) trip to the fort when I was around 13 years old. I was shocked at its layout. Expecting something like a castle, I was amused at how simple and spread out it was. But after walking around for only a few moments, it wasn't hard to look around and imagine the original soldiers that were stationed here.

Back in the "old west" as west Texas settlements increased, raiding in Mexico and along the San Antonio-El Paso Trail became a way of life for Apaches, Kiowas, and Comanches. Then, after the war with Mexico, a wave of gold seekers, settlers, and traders came through the area and needed the protection of a military post - Fort Davis. This is what made it so crucial to the survival of west Texas.

Fort Davis was active from 1854 until 1891, except for certain periods during the Civil War. In 1961, the historic fort ruins were declared a National Historic Site, and an extensive restoration and preservation program was initiated by the National Park Service.

Saving on Insurance

While wandering around Texas the last thing you want on your mind is the high cost of your insurance. And the best way to save on home insurance , car insurance, and a variety of others, is to compare as many as possible. But you also want to spend more time wandering around Texas than comparing rates. That is where this great site comes in. Compare online, save today, and have more time to yourself.

The Alamo

Any trip to Texas can't be complete without a visit to the Alamo. This is the birthplace of Texas heroes, such as Jim Bowie, William B. Travis, David Crockett, and many others. These figures are not only heroes, but legendary.

However, for many first time visitors, it can be quite shocking. Movies and pictures portray the Alamo as a desolate outpost, but over the years that outpost has grown into a huge metropolitan area, with skyscrapers and everything else a large city has to offer. And that metropolis has grown up right around the Alamo, which sits in the middle of downtown. Drive too fast and you'll blow right past it.

Also, the size of the Alamo, or what is left of it, is tiny. Its amazing to know the importance that such a small location can hold.

Below is an article about the battle of the Alamo.

Originally named Misión San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo served as home to missionaries and their Indian converts for nearly seventy years. Construction began on the present site in 1724. In 1793, Spanish officials secularized San Antonio's five missions and distributed their lands to the remaining Indian residents. These men and women continued to farm the fields, once the mission's but now their own, and participated in the growing community of San Antonio.

In the early 1800s, the Spanish military stationed a cavalry unit at the former mission. The soldiers referred to the old mission as the Alamo (the Spanish word for "cottonwood") in honor of their hometown Alamo de Parras, Coahuila. The post's commander established the first recorded hospital in Texas in the Long Barrack. The Alamo was home to both Revolutionaries and Royalists during Mexico's ten-year struggle for independence. The military — Spanish, Rebel, and then Mexican — continued to occupy the Alamo until the Texas Revolution.

San Antonio and the Alamo played a critical role in the Texas Revolution. In December 1835, Ben Milam led Texian and Tejano volunteers against Mexican troops quartered in the city. After five days of house-to-house fighting, they forced General Marín Perfecto de Cós and his soldiers to surrender. The victorious volunteers then occupied the Alamo — already fortified prior to the battle by Cós' men — and strengthened its defenses.

On February 23, 1836, the arrival of General Antonio López de Santa Anna's army outside San Antonio nearly caught them by surprise. Undaunted, the Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo together. The defenders held out for 13 days against Santa Anna's army. William B. Travis, the commander of the Alamo sent forth couriers carrying pleas for help to communities in Texas. On the eighth day of the siege, a band of 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived, bringing the number of defenders to nearly two hundred. Legend holds that with the possibility of additional help fading, Colonel Travis drew a line on the ground and asked any man willing to stay and fight to step over — all except one did. As the defenders saw it, the Alamo was the key to the defense of Texas, and they were ready to give their lives rather than surrender their position to General Santa Anna. Among the Alamo's garrison were Jim Bowie, renowned knife fighter, and David Crockett, famed frontiersman and former congressman from Tennessee.

The final assault came before daybreak on the morning of March 6, 1836, as columns of Mexican soldiers emerged from the predawn darkness and headed for the Alamo's walls. Cannon and small arms fire from inside the Alamo beat back several attacks. Regrouping, the Mexicans scaled the walls and rushed into the compound. Once inside, they turned a captured cannon on the Long Barrack and church, blasting open the barricaded doors. The desperate struggle continued until the defenders were overwhelmed. By sunrise, the battle had ended and Santa Anna entered the Alamo compound to survey the scene of his victory.

While the facts surrounding the siege of the Alamo continue to be debated, there is no doubt about what the battle has come to symbolize. People worldwide continue to remember the Alamo as a heroic struggle against impossible odds — a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. For this reason, the Alamo remains hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty.

Best Diet Pills

There’s a lot of diet pills on the market, so its hard to know which one will work best for your unique situation. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a place that would rate, and explain, the best diet pills there is to offer?

Well there is, and this is the place. Read about the quality and ingredients of the hottest diet pills on the market.

Jefferson, Texas

Jefferson, Texas is a quaint, small town featuring tour attractions reminiscent of its heyday. Its streets are lined with antique and gift shops stocked with unique treasures. Horse-drawn carriages and trolleys tour along the original brick streets.

Just one block away from downtown Jefferson are riverboat tours of Big Cypress Bayou, the same waterway once traveled by stern-wheelers. Evenings in Jefferson offer live theater productions, as well as a variety of dining choices. Retiring for the night in Jefferson offers the opportunity to experience any of the over 60 bed and breakfast establishments.

The city of Jefferson, Texas is perfect for a weekend get-a-way, a honeymoon spot, meeting/retreats, or a one-day family outing.

For more information, visit the Jefferson, Texas website today!

Who's Your Daddy?

Sometimes questions arise, and when they do, the only way to get definitive proof whether pro or con is by DNA testing.

DNA testing has helped release hundreds, if not thousands, of people who have been incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. And its helped parents who need proof when the other flees their responsibilities.

Go to the place that is proven to be reliable. Visit today for more information.

Unkept Church Fence

This is an unkept fence between a small church and a business in Bedford. I found it peculiar that this bush was here. The fence stretches for at least 200 feet, yet there is only one bush. And the spot where the bush is isn't any worse than the rest of the fence. So why is it there? Also, I have wondered if this "bush" was really just a tree that hasn't been trimmed.

Life Insurance

Life insurance is critical to the financial well being of your family, but no one wants to spend hours a day on the phone, or driving around wasting gas visiting insurance offices to find the best rates.

Now you can get life insurance quotes online at Wholesaleinsurance.net. Let them do the leg work while you reap the benefits of the savings, and protect those you love should something unexpected happen.

Covered Wagon

This covered wagon replica sits in the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound (minus the cover). The covered wagon has an interesting history throughout the United States, but when the thought is conjured up most people tend to think of the smaller covered wagons used in the old west.

The covered wagon even has a few common phrases attached to it's name. Its not unusual to hear someone say "they circled the wagons" or "line your wagons up". Can you think of any more off the top of your head?

Over the years covered wagons developed, but even in their most advanced stages, they were still quite uncomfortable and not very pleasing to the eye. But they got the job done for thousands of explorers and families who trekked out west in search of fortunes or an escape from the big cities. The covered wagons were able to hold a plentiful amount of supplies as well as people, and the covered bed provided a little protection from the elements.


Typically nothing more than a box wagon with a tent pulled over hooped slats, it sat on an axle and was pulled by a team of horses or mules. As time passed, rudimentary "shock absorbers" were added, as was a better ventilation system for the tent.

At night, and in times of danger, the wagons would be circled together (see quote above), which provided a place of relative safety in the middle, as well as a 360 degree view for the lookouts.

Some of today's traffic laws started as "wagon laws", such as using a signal to turn, parking, and many times- speed limits.