Palo Dura (TX) and Red Rocks (OK) Canyons

In our journey back to Missouri, we stopped to see Palo Dura Canyon, south of Amarillo TX. It’s an amazing gash in the very flat landscape of the Texas panhandle. . .with some RED rocks even (not quite as many or fantastic as southern Utah tho). Unfortunately, cell phone service was only up above the Canyon next to the entrance. We drove up the wiggly road along the side of the Canyon wall to make my evening phone call home, but the second night, that wild NM wind was bouncing us around again, even on the canyon floor. We opted NOT to travel that road to the top during that wind.

The infamous long horn steer.

We traveled to the end of the Canyon around sunset the first night, then another trip after sunrise the next morning to catch the best light on the Canyon walls. The winds were howling by afternoon of the 2nd day, so we just stayed at the trailer. Plus. . .we talked for several hours with a couple from Wisconsin parked next door making their maiden voyage in a sleek black Super B van. It was worth seeing. . .once, but doubt we ever return.

We shunpiked east thru TX into OK to visit Red Rock Canyon, south of Hinton OK (on I-40), west of Oklahoma City. Although the terrain had some small rolling hills (& lots of trees), this Canyon is a surprise dent also in the otherwise flattish landscape. The entrance was somewhat steep, but not all that long nor along the side of a wall. There are three camping areas, most with electric & water. We ended up at the far end of the Canyon. . .parked on grass. Oh, Kira & Boots both LOVE walking & rolling on, plus eating green grass. Spring had the redbud trees blooming as well as a few other blooming trees.

Click on any of the above photos to go to more photos in my Picasa albums.

We reluctantly but enthusiastically continued our eastward trip. We drove east from Oklahoma City, & I was surprised at the hills and many trees. We haven’t made many journeys thru OK, so finding that the whole state didn’t look like western TX or KS was a pleasant surprise. In fact, we turned north off I-40 at Checotah OK, winding our way thru some healthy mountains around Tehlequah, to finally arrive at Springdale AR. We continued thru the woods to arrived early evening at Cape Fair COE along Table Rock Lake in Missouri!  Aaaahhhhhh, we were HOME finally. (Felt much like our return to Ajo.)

Jeff had a VA appointment in Branson & will be having an MRI of his back (it’s been hurting worse & worse all winter). I also zigged when I should have zagged & went to a chiropractor in Kimberling City (what a relief). Jeff also managed to throw some hooks in the lake right next to our site. . .& actually caught a 2# bass. (He does more fishing than catching.)

I won’t have much to blog about for the next couple of months since we’ll be doing the friends & family visiting in western Missouri, as well as a few medical visits. However, it’s SPRING & all manner of growing things are blooming, & I love photographing those intricate details.