As you have probably heard, there was a major fire in Bastrop, Texas. (to say the least)
While driving back to Austin, after a long labor day weekend at home, we drove right through it. More or less. We had to detour because they blocked off part of 71. From far a way the smoke gave off a cloud-like appearance. But as we got closer we became more convinced that it was smoke from the fire.

You can see how incredibly smokey it was. I mean, it was about 2 in the afternoon and when we got further ahead it became so dark and just different.

I feel bad for the people that lost their homes, their valuables, and their pets. Oh the pets. Ryan tells me they were instructed to leave the animals behind as they evacuated.

Speaking of smoke, It actually hit austin today.
These past two days its been rather cold, and all of a sudden today, like around noon, a wave of smoke hit campus. You could see it, smell it, and feel it. It was very strange. I wondered if they would cancel classes. But they didn't. And the smoke left anyway.
Here are pics from a different angle  (as we detoured off of 71)

SIGH. And this isn't the first or last wildfire in Texas.