We're camping in Texas and loving it!
As we drove from Corsicana, TX to our first camping spot, Copper Breaks, we noticed a significant change in scenery - from lush, green grassland (in Austin and Corsicana) to open golden prairie grassland with scattered misquite, juniper and cactus. You can literally see forever. This is the area that was so heavily impacted by the dust bowl disaster in the 1930's when the land was over-grazed and over-farmed. It remains a tough area to survive in and it shows. The Texans here are consistently charming and the cowboy here is clearly King (many big open-spaced ranches with cattle and horses and limited agriculture). But it must have been tough to make a living here. Livestock was always cheap; but good saddles a priority.
Copper Breaks State Park in the NW panhandle of Texas is fairly unknown and it was a perfect first night for us camping in our new rig. But our hopes to kayak were dashed...due to low lake water and cold temperatures.
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| Our first night - We're official! Doesn't she look cute! |
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| Texas hospitality - even when camping |
The next morning, we packed up and headed for Palo Duro (hard rock) State Park which is known as the Grand Canyon of Texas. We stayed there two nights and hiked up the canyon to view the Lighthouse Rock - the signature icon of the park. This canyon literally drops straight down from the prairie and it's a surprise to view this huge canyon and these red rock formations after seeing nothing but grassland for hours. The canyon was originally formed by the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River as it cut down through the rock and soil millions of years ago. In the 1930's, the CCC had a major hand in building many of the original structures here and their handiwork shows in the beauty of these landmarks. For $1 per day and 3 hot meals, young unemployed men aged 17 to their 20's built everything by hand, and their artistry remains for us to enjoy.
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| Four rangers welcomed us. We were treated like royalty! |
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| Palo Duro CCC built visitor center |
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| View of Palo Duro canyon from the rim |
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| Our nest |
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| Gourmet kitchen and granite island...Not! |
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Our cozy campsite.
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| Ernie relaxing under the ramada at our campsite |
We hiked up on the Lighthouse Trail 5 3/4 miles RT to explore the canyon. It was a fast, easy hike, and it allowed us to view the massive geological erosion that occurred over millions of years ago.
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| Red rock canyon walls |
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| Temperature gauge on each trail - it's hot here! |
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| The lighthouse |
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| On our way to Albuquerque - sign at a Rest Stop - YIPES! |
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| Some of the rest stops are luxurious - but a rattlesnake warning next to the kid's play structure - really? |
hot dog, it couldn't happen to a nicer couple......bet the kids are wondering if they will ever see their 'babysitters' again......we are planning our walks in Paris, lunch stops and boulangeries to hit...two weeks too go...just now feeling a little excitement about the trip. Wish we had had that casita back in 81 when we did our big camping trip.
ReplyDeleteStay safe.
Dottie & Aliice
Dot and Allie;
DeleteThe kids keep calling us to ask when we're coming home. They're scared we're gone for goo. They want pictures of where we put all the "stuff" since they can't believe we managed to fit it all in (well - almost). Have a fabulous time on your next wonderful adventure and we can't wait to see your pictures! Enjoy!!!