W15 Days 33-36

Day 33 March 18

Time to leave Caprock Canyons and continue our nostalgia tour to Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

But the Bison said goodbye first. Love this pic of the metal cutouts and real Bison:

Here are my passenger seat observations for the day:

• heeded the sign to “Watch for Wild Hogs”, but only saw a dead one (right after the sign)
• drove through Happy, Texas, “The Town Without a Frown”, but it was only 46F and most businesses were closed down; not so happy

We took a detour to the Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, thinking to stay in the $2.00 campground and see some birds and wildlife. But the lake was dry, the day was chilly and the campground was so-so. We headed to Canyon for supplies and drove to the state park.

For maybe the second time ever, there was no room for us at the park. It IS Spring Break. But they suggested the neighbouring “Palo Duro Adventure Park” and we booked two nights ($20 for electric and sewer because the water was turned off!). The “park” is rundown, but the Zipline business is a going concern:

…and it IS close to the park at the top of the canyon.

We drove into the park, took a few pictures and decided to wait for some biking for tomorrow:

Here’s a view from my chair:

Day 34 March 19

The park was crowded yesterday since it was sunny and fairly warm. It was chilly this morning, so a good day to ride.

First, we stopped at the bird blind:

We saw this bird, but don’t know what it is. Any ideas?

After parking in a Day Use area, we rode to the Lighthouse Trailhead. We did this ride in 2011 with Jeri and Gigi and thought maybe we were better riders and could do it again (minus the climb up to the actual Lighthouse rock formation):

We got started, I fell, lost my nerve and that, combined with the much rockier and slicker path, we decided to let the past be past and move on to the “easier” trails (thanks, honey!):

We both went down on the easier trails (it’s a delicate but dirty fall into very red soil), but completed 6 1/2 miles (4 1/2 on trails and 2 on park roads-I love you park roads!):

After lunch in the park, we went back to our little campground for a quiet afternoon.

Here’s a view of our “backyard”, a derelict “Wild West Town”:

Day 35 March 20

Time to start heading east. Here are some observations:

• the “Toot ‘N Totum” (a drive-thru beverage shop)
• “Inspiring Rest Area” with a giant cross, a Calvary scene, the stations of the cross: RVs and Trucks welcome!
• Oklahoma (Mandy’s 19th state!)
• a first: a woman at the Flying J carrying a gas can trying to “panhandle” free fuel

We drove north to Cheyenne to visit the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site. This was where Custer and the 7th Cavalry attacked the Cheyenne camp, killing men, women and children. Not a great moment in American history. The actual “battlefield” was particularly poignant:

…especially with many prayer ribbons/flags tied to the fences.

It was a short drive to Foss Lake State Park, located on a reservoir with very low water. We got a water and electric site for $20 (using a $5 off coin we received at the Oklahoma Welcome Centre):

There was no entry gate, so we had no information about the park or the procedures (you take any site marked “Available” and the Park Ranger comes by later to collect). This Ranger told us the lake was at a 12-year low and conditions were much like the Dirty Thirties!

Love these love birds:

Here’s are two views from my chair (yay Robin!):

Day 36 March 21

Time to move on. We headed out looking for the Washita Wildlife Refuge. We found the Headquarters (closed on the weekends) so had no maps or idea of what to check out.

We did go to a viewing area and got a new Life Bird, a Harris’s Sparrow:

Finding another Refuge location, we took a short trail then found ANOTHER Life Bird in an adjoining filed: a Ferruginous Hawk (dark morph):

On to some Route 66 exploring and BBQ lunch. Following Route 66 was difficult four years ago when we tried, and proved difficult again this year (any advice?). But we got a sign or two:

Our next stop was Red Rock Canyon State Park (in keeping with our canyon theme). There’s a long, narrow road at the bottom of the canyon with tent sites on one side and RV sites on the other. And hikers everywhere, tons of families, Boy Scout Troops, and some people rappeling the canyon walls.

Again, you look for a “Site Available” sign and the Park Host comes by later for payment ($23 for FHU).

We just hung out since it was so incredibly busy (the final Saturday of Spring Break here). I sat outside, enjoying the loud Mariachi/Tejano music from site across from us and just catching some sun. Quiet day.

Here’s the view from my chair: