Tumbleweed - 1, 928 - 0
10-27-2004 | 10:15 PM
#16
User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 2
From: Midland, Texas
Beth,
This isn't to "one-up" you... but, ...
Here in Midland ... there is a street called Bluebird Lane in the Polo Park -upscale-
Developement there is a stretch of the Lane -which is 4-lane approx. 50 ft wide-
which becomes infested, sidewalk to sidewalk with weed people. Most are tall enough to peek into my F-150 windows with quite a few large enough to block any view out of the side windows.
They are social critters and if they can't find alternate routes -down side streets or alley ways
they bunch up and start bouncing/bobbling... tens of thousands of them!
Anyone trying to force their way thru packs them to the point where their vehicle cannot overcome the compacted mass. They can't back up because there is always an idiot right behind them.
I don't know how the city gets rid of them, when you put a match to them they roar for a few
seconds then turn to a fine grey ash, unfortunately, thousands of em' would turn the asphalt to
soup.
I was using a 3 yard loader to remove debris from under a railroad trestle on the west side of
town on Monday. There were tumbleweeds as tall as my side windows. The seat on this loader
is 7 feet off the ground and those puppies were eye-level. This isn't a Texas B.S. story! I'll try to
get a telescoping yard stick, for scale, and post some digitals of these fine examples of breeding stock.
Check your fins -radiator/coolers- for more of your new found friend.
FWIW
Contrary to all the old western movies and songs, Tumbleweeds are not native to Texas, or the
USA for that matter. Tumble weeds are actually Russian Thistle - we have two variants locally.
This isn't to "one-up" you... but, ...
Here in Midland ... there is a street called Bluebird Lane in the Polo Park -upscale-
Developement there is a stretch of the Lane -which is 4-lane approx. 50 ft wide-
which becomes infested, sidewalk to sidewalk with weed people. Most are tall enough to peek into my F-150 windows with quite a few large enough to block any view out of the side windows.
They are social critters and if they can't find alternate routes -down side streets or alley ways
they bunch up and start bouncing/bobbling... tens of thousands of them!
Anyone trying to force their way thru packs them to the point where their vehicle cannot overcome the compacted mass. They can't back up because there is always an idiot right behind them.
I don't know how the city gets rid of them, when you put a match to them they roar for a few
seconds then turn to a fine grey ash, unfortunately, thousands of em' would turn the asphalt to
soup.
I was using a 3 yard loader to remove debris from under a railroad trestle on the west side of
town on Monday. There were tumbleweeds as tall as my side windows. The seat on this loader
is 7 feet off the ground and those puppies were eye-level. This isn't a Texas B.S. story! I'll try to
get a telescoping yard stick, for scale, and post some digitals of these fine examples of breeding stock.
Check your fins -radiator/coolers- for more of your new found friend.
FWIW
Contrary to all the old western movies and songs, Tumbleweeds are not native to Texas, or the
USA for that matter. Tumble weeds are actually Russian Thistle - we have two variants locally.
10-28-2004 | 01:19 AM
#17
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 25,784
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From: Silly Valley, CA
Originally Posted by Beth
Anyone else ever encounter a monstrous weed?
I'm sorry to hear about the incident and hope the marks can be buffed out. I'm glad you did not swerve and crash - sometimes it's better to hit something than to try and avoid it, leaving the road or hitting something. As long as you are safe - that's what counts!
It was great to see you on Saturday! Thanks for coming and joining us!!!
10-28-2004 | 01:47 PM
#18
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 0
From: Napa, Ca
Hey John, thanks for your story. It just confirms that monster tumbleweeds do exist. I thought without a picture nobody would believe me, but you're seen the HUGE ones too.
And Nicole, bummer about the CHP. I don't know which one of us got screwed worse. My car is somewhat messed up but you're got the ticket. And I agree with you, better to hit something than swerving and possibly going off the road.
It was good to see you Saturday too.
And Nicole, bummer about the CHP. I don't know which one of us got screwed worse. My car is somewhat messed up but you're got the ticket. And I agree with you, better to hit something than swerving and possibly going off the road.
It was good to see you Saturday too.
