Texas X Riders

Main Area => General Discussion => Topic started by: murray_61 on June 23, 2009, 08:53:20 PM

Title: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: murray_61 on June 23, 2009, 08:53:20 PM
Look out for a story in the August/September issue of RIDE TEXAS entitled "Ride the Wind."  It is about a trip we took out to a wind farm that my company co-developed with FPL Energy (now NextERA).  I took some pictures and suggested to our VP of Marketing (who was on the ride too) that we write a story and submit it.  I edited it and sent it in, and now they will be publishing it.  I don't know if I am getting any any credit for it, but I am getting half the cash for the story!

Cool stuff!

Here's a couple of pics from the ride:

(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa281/murray_61/Wind/WildHogs007.jpg)

(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa281/murray_61/Wind/06.jpg)
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: matap on June 23, 2009, 09:14:50 PM
Where is this wind farm at?  I would love to ride out to it to.  I went to one on my way to California with my father.  I would love to take my wife to see these up close.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: murray_61 on June 23, 2009, 11:24:49 PM
The 2 we went to are Horse Hollow in Nolan & Taylor Counties, and Capricorn Ridge in Sterling County.  If you swing over to Snyder, TX for White Buffalo Bikefest this year, we can go out to the farm there.  I promised to take everyone that was there in our group last year, but the bud light was flowing all day...  However, we can make it happen...
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: VTreX on June 24, 2009, 12:07:07 AM
Bud light was NOT the problem,,,!!!!!!
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: xcaliber on June 24, 2009, 08:12:22 AM
Song writers, magazine columnists, wow what a talented bunch we have.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: murray_61 on June 24, 2009, 10:10:17 AM
Bud light was NOT the problem,,,!!!!!!




ok, ok...  maybe it was the R&R (rest and relaxation, of course, maybe the whiskey too  ;) ) and the great fellowship with good friends!  We just didn't have the time to make it...
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: TEXVTXER on June 24, 2009, 05:07:01 PM
Amazing how huge those things are....
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: Crewsn on June 24, 2009, 08:14:01 PM
The 2 we went to are Horse Hollow in Nolan & Taylor Counties, and Capricorn Ridge in Sterling County.  If you swing over to Snyder, TX for White Buffalo Bikefest this year, we can go out to the farm there.  I promised to take everyone that was there in our group last year, but the bud light was flowing all day...  However, we can make it happen...

like kenny said, it wasn't the bud light. It as your F%cking phone alarm going off all night and the lack of sleep that ensued there after.  :stickpoke: :boxing: :c :ohwow: :thumbup:
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: murray_61 on June 24, 2009, 08:17:35 PM
I can't sleep without music...   O0
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: hobo on June 24, 2009, 10:44:32 PM
Way to go Murray! To get published for doing something you love is a great feeling.  :thumbup: The cash helps too... :c   :congrats:

I wrote one for them while I was away on "administrative leave". They wrote back saying the article was great but they wouldn't publish it without pictures. They also wanted me to take out how fast I was going. Wasn't p.c.  ::)

Got a neighbor that put one of those things up, (not that size by a long shot), and the sound it makes on a windy day is awesome. I can't imagine what it would sound like out there.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: TxVTXMike on June 25, 2009, 05:41:46 AM
While on a ride North of Muenster, TX we ran across a large wind farm.  You could get relatively close so the enormity was quite impressive. It was a slightly overcast day with little wind. Most of them were still....was kinda spooky looking.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: Luckys Lover on June 25, 2009, 08:38:47 AM
Drive Hwy 288. Most of them are coming in at Freeport and they haul them up 288 to wherever they're going. The blades are really impressive when three of them go by. The generators need a pilot car in front to check clearances on the bridges ahead.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: murray_61 on June 25, 2009, 02:45:24 PM
While on a ride North of Muenster, TX we ran across a large wind farm.  You could get relatively close so the enormity was quite impressive. It was a slightly overcast day with little wind. Most of them were still....was kinda spooky looking.

We helped with that farm up by Muenster too.  I even spent some time in Gainseville while that was going on.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: tom cat on June 27, 2009, 03:55:21 AM
Way to go Bro.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: Billnabilene on June 27, 2009, 01:47:57 PM
If any of y'all happen to be in the Abilene area, email me ahead of time, and we can hook up for a ride thru the wind farms and other decent roads around here.  The email address is in my profile.

Bill
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: figowitz on June 27, 2009, 09:47:34 PM
I was going up the Hardy Toll Road about a year ago and saw a train headed north that was nothing but those big ol' wind blades on specially rigged flat cars.  Probably a mile long or so.  Bunch of those fan blades.  Quite a sight! 

Gonna check out 288.  Always wondered where they were coming from as I see them on 45 headed north all the time.  They aren't manufactured down there are they?  Or coming into the port and shipped out?
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: Luckys Lover on July 10, 2009, 06:55:18 AM
The turbine blades are built overseas and shipped into Freeport.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: murray_61 on July 11, 2009, 04:51:36 AM
most of everything is built over seas, but we are getting more and more here in the U.S.  They actually manufacture some blades in gainesville, and finish towers in coleman.  martifer is putting in a huge manufacturing facility in san angelo right now...
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: Dusty on July 11, 2009, 05:05:08 AM
Saw some of these rather large farms in either Nebraska or Kansas. Can't remember. I do remember that they stretched out for miles. I also see the blades on I-10 in Beaumont. Always headed West. Not sure if they are coming in at the Port or from somewhere East of here. I too would like to see them up close and personal. Say ride one like a Ferris Wheel.  :c
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: tom cat on July 11, 2009, 09:25:14 AM
We have a new Co starting up in Amarillo,  making windmill parts.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: WILD E on July 11, 2009, 12:03:51 PM
Tom
I bet they are going to use the ears from some of those bid old jack rabbits for the propellers !!!   :c
E
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: tom cat on July 11, 2009, 12:19:17 PM
Not a bad Idea. I might just start my own wind energy Co. I got plenty of Jackrabbits. When in college I worked on some of the early wind generators. 
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: opos04 on July 11, 2009, 01:42:49 PM
There are alot of the blades that go down Hwy. 82. These blades are huge! And quite a site to see.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: sundown53 on July 22, 2009, 05:06:22 AM
Murray I hope to make White Buffalo this year, missed last year. Would like to see those upclose. Could go to hometown in Roscoe and look up close, but would not be any fun without your commentary.
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: murray_61 on July 22, 2009, 07:07:41 AM
I'll be there!
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: DEMON on July 22, 2009, 08:11:23 AM
They have one of those at the wing mill museum in Lubbuck TX, you also see alot of those on the way there...   Congrats on the article, I will have to get a copy and maybe get you to sign it...   :thumbup:
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: murray_61 on July 22, 2009, 08:39:19 AM
Yes, the place in Lubbock is cool, and the couple that run it ride as well!

I'm still waiting for it to hit the news stand as well, the subscriptions are in, but it's not out for sell yet.  Supposedly it is about 6 or 7 pages.  I don't get any credit at all in it, but it was my pics and I edited the article...  But the $100 we split for it bought some beer!   :c
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: murray_61 on January 14, 2011, 09:54:52 PM
moving to Abilene next weekend, was searching for posts from folks in Abilene & ran across this one that I posted a while back... 

Here is the article, scanned it & put it in a facebook album, but the links are public links:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638230&l=3cfab1676a&id=54102421 (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638230&l=3cfab1676a&id=54102421)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638233&l=78bbbf58fc&id=54102421 (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638233&l=78bbbf58fc&id=54102421)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638234&l=9bd42f042f&id=54102421 (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638234&l=9bd42f042f&id=54102421)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638235&l=22b6bf92c8&id=54102421 (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638235&l=22b6bf92c8&id=54102421)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638236&l=49e6f22ae0&id=54102421 (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638236&l=49e6f22ae0&id=54102421)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638237&l=85529def14&id=54102421 (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31638237&l=85529def14&id=54102421)


Ans yes, Holy Thread Resurrection Batman!
Title: Re: Getting published in RIDE TEXAS
Post by: MRVTX on January 16, 2011, 03:07:30 PM
Been to the largest windfarm in the U.S. near Roscoe.  We couldn't get that close, but it was still pretty cool!

(http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b84/mrvtx/High%20School%20Reunion%20-%20July%202010/DSCN7433.jpg)
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