Plano Photographs

I moved to Plano with my family in 1996/7 and lived in Plano until 2007. I have been back for various stretches of time since 2007. So, like it or not, this is where I have spent half of my life so far. Many people hate Plano. That goes for outsiders and people who have lived or are currently living in Plano. However, I do not 'hate' the city but I do not plan on making this my home forever. I think it is a very safe, clean place but rather plain and unspectacular. Plano has 270,000 people and is the 69th largest city in the country, yet, few outside Dallas-Fort Worth have heard of it (though it is becoming more well known). I will probably have other Plano picture entries every once in a while. All of these were taken in April 2011.


Burger Island 2 - Independence/15th


Burger Island 2 - Independence/15th


Bluebonnets - Custer/Spring Creek


Planet Pizza - Custer/Parker


Horseshoe Park - Fountain Head Dr/Roundrock Trail

Send Me Your Pictures

If you would like your Geography related photographs featured on this blog please comment in this thread or send me a message (calebgolston @ gmail com)


I would especially like some photographs of the Great Plains including Oklahoma as that is a special interest of mine. Other good photograph ideas:

-Stunning landscapes
-Retro photographs of obscure themes/places
-Ghost towns
-Scandanavia
-San Diego
-Desert Southwest
-Dead Malls
-Tons of other things...

Photography of Alexey Sergeev

I found a very off the wall website by a proffesor living in America over the years from I believe Russia. He appears to be a huge day traveller to anything of note in whatever area he is in at the time. In 1996, he spent some time at Universiy of Oklahoma of all places (I have gone 3 semesters there) and has pictures of some places I have been to. His picture archive is huge. I love the photographs as they appear to be taken by an analog camera and span 4 decades. Anyhow, interesting stuff if you like obscure photography.

http://www.asergeev.com/pictures/archives/list.htm

San Diego

I love the North American Great Plains, I like East Texas, I like the Desert Southwest. However, these places all deal with being to hot, to cold, far from the ocean and various other flaws. One place that seems to have it all; scenery, cooler weather, good shopping, access to the ocean and more, is San Diego.

Another bonus is how close San Diego is to Palm Springs. A two hour drive in the morning and you can spend a Saturday in Palm Springs and be back the same day.

San Diego has a lot going for it and I would much prefer living there over Los Angeles. 

Twin Peaks above Poway, California.

 Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve

Metaconglomerates at Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, San Diego County, California.

Looking south west across Escondido

Santee, CA



Photography of Matt Field

Found some excellent landscape photographs by photographer Matt Field. Check out his website http://www.photography.mattfield.com/.

Bradford Pear, Matt Field

Best Barbecue I have ever been to: Hammond's BBQ in Glen Rose, Texas

As the title says, the best barbecue I have ever been to was first opened in 1966, though in a different building than it's current placing. A fire and a couple of moves later, Hammond's is currently located on Highway 67, the main road through Glen Rose, Texas. Glen Rose's claim to fame is Dinosaur Valley State Park (which I will write about sometime). I was with some family for the day at Dinosaur Valley and Hammonds seemed like the perfect place to get lunch. I loved that they served iced tea in a large glass jar, possibly a mason jar (I went a year ago). The portion sizes were very large and meals came with an abundance of side dishes. The dining room was one large room and it was very well decorated. The whole thing was so authentic. This isn't a suburban wannabe BBQ joint, it is real. It doesn't get any realer than an unassuming building in small town Texas near the hill country. I highly recommend the best Barbecue place I have ever been.

Vans Pig Stand (Oklahoma)

One of my favorite Barbecue places is Vans Pig Stand in Oklahoma. Vans is probably the most famous Barbecue place in central Oklahoma and the original Shawnee location on Highland has been open since 1930. Because I have gone to school 5 semesters in Oklahoma, I have been able to try all four locations: Norman, Moore and two in Shawnee. My favorite branch is a tie; the Norman one because I think their meat is a little more smokey than the other three and the original Shawnee branch for the experience. Because it has been around 80+ years, the wooden boothes are covered with autographs of normal, everyday people, many of whom have been dead for decades. It also has a nostalgic 30's/40's/50's feel; a time I am far, far to young to have lived in (I'm 22). They are all very good however. Vans service is excellent and quick. If you are ever travelling on 40 (or I-35 for that matter) through Oklahoma, as millions of Americans have, give them a shot!

Highland Street, Shawnee location