MAE Simmons Park

Lubbock keeps up several parks.  Some of them feature some artificial waterhole, which is quite an attraction in this area.  However, there is not much variety.  Most of them are "Drive in Barbecue" places, which seems to reflect the city's culture: show off your truck and barbecue.  The Southeast end of MAE Simmons Park, which conjuncts to Mackenzie State Park, is a very special place.   Two mountian bike clubs keep up great trails in the slopes of the mini canyon.   Which is not easy, considering that some people damage the trails with their horses.   Unfortunately, like truck drivers, they insist on their Texan right of way.   Simmon's park could be dramatically improved if more than a tiny portion could be designated to pedestrians, roller bladers and cyclists. A cycle lane interconnecting the park system would be inexpensive. This could be connected to downtown and the campus. However, pedastrians and other vermin could disturb trucks and other sports utility vehicles that seem to have priority in Lubbock's culture of recreation. You can't fight it. Many people gave up riding their bicycles -- too many accidents.

O.K., I want to stop this bitching for now and show some pictures that take you off the beaten truck path.  With some ingenuity, you can find your niche in Lubbock. Click on thumbnails for full size pictures:

First, of course, there has to be the kitschy sunset picture.

There is some really nice wilderness area. Surrounded by the Texas state flower: barbed wire.

People here are really friendly. Which seems to be a trait of people in culturally deprieved areas. This was the main selling point of the folks in Kearny Nebraska: "Yehh, its pretty boring here, but people are friendly." Imagine you life in the desert of cornfields in Kearney and people bitsch like in New York City. That's like a living hell.  So, I chatted a little with our friendly Lubbockians and asked these fishing buddies if I could take some pictures of them: