On the Road to Amarillo and Palo Duro Canyon

 July, 21, 2015

Traveling through North Texas brings back a lot of memories and I would have liked to see the little town of Electra, but the hwy now goes around the town and since we are pulling a large RV, we didn't get a chance to do that. 

We had thought of spending one night before reaching our destination of Amarillo, but we decided to go all the way. 

Our reservations for Palo Duro Canyon was not until the next day, so we spent one night at Amarillo Ranch and RV Park. It is a nice park as far as RV parks go. The sites were a little further apart than the typical RV park.

The park has a limousine service to take you to their steak house off site. 

On to Palo Duro Canyon. July 22, 2015

Palo Duro Canyon

Our reservations were for three nights, we wanted to stay the week so when we checked in, the ranger changed our reservations, gave us the number of nights we wanted and changed us from 30 amps to a 50 amp site. Stagecoach campground, site 133.  But, oh my, did we have a grasshopper invasion!

We had a beautiful view of the canyon and Stagecoach is not far from the amphitheater where the musical play TEXAS is presented.  

We went to the chuck wagon dinner before play. The food was good and the play TEXAS excellent. 

We enjoyed the week with visits to a couple of museums. The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and the American Quater Horse Museum. 

One day we visited an RV museum. It was interesting. One of the RVs was the RV bus that was used in the movie "RV" starring Robin Williams. 

I don't know, but do you think this just might be the first motor home?!!

The Palo Duro Canyon is just beautiful!  Pictures do not do it justice. 

One day we hiked up to the cavity in the rocks. 

We met a "Horned Toad" on our way down.  Glenn had never seen one. When we lived in Texas, we saw them all the time. 

We call them "horny toads". They of course are not toads but of the lizard family. 

This canyon was of course used by the American Indians but during the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon, Col Mackenzie drove them from their home. Mackenzie captured 1500-2000 ponies and killed them.  Without sufficient mounts or supplies, the tribes could not survive. I think the Indians were horribly treated and the slaughter of those ponies was horrible as well. Legend has it that the ponies can still be heard in the canyon. 

This area was settled by Charles Goodnight. He was responsible for preserving the bison herd in that area of the country.

He also had herds of Longhorns. 

These (three) Longhorns live in the Palo Duro Canyon.  They are T-Bone, Omelet and Brisket. 

Crater of Diamonds State Park, Arkansas

July 13 - July 19, 2015

We spent a week at Crater of Diamonds State Park outside of Mufreesboro, Arkansas. Our site was very nice (no 9) on a corner. 

We went to the diamond fields three days. You can purchase a ticket after 6:00 pm, go into the fields until they close at 8:00 pm. The ticket is good for all day the next day. We went to the fields one day after 6:00 and another two days. We didn't find any diamonds but it was a neat experience. 

The little town of Mufreesboro has a few cute shops.  We enjoyed looking around and especially enjoyed ice cream from an old fashioned soda shop. 

On Monday, July 20, we headed down Hwy 82 across North Texas. 

I have some long time friends in North Texas from when my dad pastored in Electra. 

It was nice to make contact with two couples from Saint Jo,  Calvin and Beverly Durham and Charles and Janis Reed. Thank you Calvin and Beverly for your hospitality and letting us hook up our camper for the night. 

It was really nice to see long time friends. Thanks Calvin, Beverly, Charles and Janis for a lovely evening. 

I had forgotten the nice rolling hills of that part of Texas. 

First Week Trekking West

We left home on July 5, 2015 and traveled to High Falls State Park for our first night. We always enjoy the Georgia state parks. On Monday morning we headed through Atlanta toward Birmingham. 

     High Falls

We enjoyed eating at Buckners. A family style restaurant. 

Noticed this in the parking lot..

Our next stop was a weeks stay at a Corps of Engineer campground near Tuscaloosa, AL.  Deerlick Corps of Engineer campground. It was a beautiful park with a nice concrete pad, firering, and table. Our site was no 11. 

      Evening dinner over a fire. 

Stroll with the Boston Brigade. 

On Saturday, July 11, we drove on Hyw 82, a bumpy road I might add, through Mississippi. 

Bridge over the Mississippi 

     Mississippi River 

We spent the night at Chicot Lake County Park. It was a beautiful lake, actually it use to be the Mississippi until they built a dyke,  and we were able to have the lake out our back window. I enjoyed dragging our chairs out near the lakes edge. It was very peaceful. The trees were large walnut trees. I reminisced about a poem I had learned many years ago; Trees by Joyce Kilmer

Trees

I think that I shall never see  
A poem lovely as a tree.  

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest  
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,  
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear  
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.  

Poems are made by fools like me,  
But only God can make a tree.

by Joyce Kilmer

Here is a little Robin I watched. 

This was a lovely spot. 

July 12. Heading to Crater of Diamond State Park near Mufreesboro, AR.