Rural (TX) highways get boost to 80 mph (Armadillos and feral hogs hit hardest)

Dallasnews.com ^

[Lunatic Fringe]

AUSTIN – Yeehaw! Texans who brag they do things bigger and better are about to go faster too.

State transportation officials on Thursday boosted speed limits on two stretches of rural highway from 75 mph to 80, leaving wandering armadillos and feral hogs a split-second less time to avoid becoming roadkill.

It will be the highest posted speed limit in the country. New speed signs should be up in the next few days.

And while state officials say the roads can accommodate it, safety and energy conservation advocates warn it will cost lives and hit drivers in the wallet at a time of spiking fuel prices.

[weef]

...two stretches of rural highway from 75 mph to 80

75 to 80 MPH - HA! I drive to/from Houston everyday and everyone routinely drives 80+ MPH. It's like our own little Autobahn. Yet another reason to love Texas!

[David Allen]

Good Lord! Austin, Gary P. Nunn, and the Armadillo World Headquarters. Chicken Fried State and dancin' at a club on south Lamar whose name escapes me. Cottonwood?

[decal]

"...and dancin' at a club on south Lamar whose name escapes me."

Broken Spoke.

[Responsibility2nd]

Good Lord! Austin, Gary P. Nunn, and the Armadillo World Headquarters. Chicken Fried State and dancin' at a club on south Lamar whose name escapes me. Cottonwood?

And don't forget Hippie Hollow!

[David Allen]

THE BROKEN SPOKE!!

I suddenly remembered the name of the club that had those great big chicken fried steaks and a great dance floor for C&W.

"You've got to kiss an angel good mornin'
and love her like the devil when you get back home."

[David Allen]

I preferred going out 71 to the Pedernales, where it joined the lake.

[David Allen]

see below, I suddenly remembered it

I can remember seeing Asleep At The Wheel out there. Remember playing pool out there. They moved the place later, I think, out towards Oak Hill. I think that was where they had the good dance floor.

Do you know if they moved it out there?

[Responsibility2nd]

Looks like decal has been there too. The Armadillo World Headquarters was one of my favorites. I don't remember if I've been to the Broken Spoke.

Course that was back in the 70's and I got a little foggy back in them daze!

[Responsibility2nd]

That was known as "Paleface Park".

Don't ask me how I know all those nude swimming places. Just don't.

LOL about the good 'ol daze!

[decal]

"Do you know if they moved it out there?"

Nope - still on S. Lamar.

http://www.brokenspokeaustintx.com/

[David Allen]

it's 70s and 80s for me, and those are some fuzzy memories

The Cottonwood is a place in La Grange or there-abouts that has a great chicken fried steak.

I still love to go to Matt's El Rancho, on S. Lamar. It used to be down on First street, and I would eat there at least once a week. Matt's gotta be dead by now. His wife has got to be 90, but I'll bet she's still hosting the place.

[humblegunner]

Every time I drive that stretch there are dead deer all along the interstate. Never seen so much carnage.

I've seen that and I always wonder what damage a 175 pound deer would do to a car.

Not pretty, I'm sure. I've never hit one with a vehicle.

Luckily I go out there in the 1990 Chevy 4x4 with the 260 pound brush guard.

OK, it only gets about 400 yards to the gallon... but still.

[Hardastarboard]

I once set the cruise at 100 on my Taurus SHO, just for grins. Then I heard the term "statutory reckless driving", and never did it again.

[deport]

Deer camp? Good place for one. Every time I drive that stretch there are dead deer all along the interstate. Never seen so much carnage

---

A few weeks ago I was out along 1-10 west of San Antonio and then North to Odessa on I-20. I think we counted nine fresh killed deer that day.

[David Allen]

You need to follow me around and help me tell stories. I'd forgotten it was called Paleface Park.

Man, those were the golden days of non-responsibility. After military but before family.

They had all those little coves out at Paleface Park, and each cove would have 10-30 people hanging out, most of them nude. The water being cold, this wasn't always a great friend for men.

Ever go to Hamilton Pool or LBJ state park?

[razorback-bert]

I was driving the stretch between Monahans and Toyah every other day for six months and will doing it again in a month or so.

Every trip I would pass at least one DPS trooper cruising for tickets, plus the Reeves county mounties are almost allways looking for money near the picnic area.

There is always a trooper cruising the area between I20 and Van Horn.

[patton]

exactly. Well, I only had one reckless driving tickett, and that was in the 70's...

It is my wifes car, now.

[David Allen]

I think I've got another club in mind for the dance floor, then.

[leda]

...and she loves it :D

maybe if you're really nice,
she'll let ya drive it once
in a while too ;)

[Responsibility2nd]

Yeah. After "hangiing out" looking at all the good looking girls, one would find themselves in need of a quick jump in that cold water before things got embarrassing.

Hamilton Pool? Not sure. LBJ state park? Is that at Lake LBJ?