Palo Duro Canyon, January 31

I had the extreme good fortune to spend about 90 minutes with my wife in Palo Duro Canyon at the end of January. We had picked up a 575 pizza in Amarillo and had a picnic and a short walk on the canyon floor.

Red, muddy water was flowing fast in the stream. We saw a robin, two cardinals, some iridescent olive-colored wrens, and a few gregarious black and orange birds. It was sixty-five degrees and there was almost no breeze.

You know me - I loved it and started scheming:

solar powered electric conversion

We saw a few other hikers, a mountain biker, and a tangerine microbus with a dog riding shotgun. It was a great time at a great place, and my wife's sun-kissed smile made it all the better.

I hope you are all fortunate enough to find yourself in such a wonderful situation soon. I know that I sure felt better afterward.

Another inspiring part of Palo Duro is getting to see all of the structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the 1930's.

Learn more from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Learn more from Wikipedia

 It's nice to think of a time when we worked together to solve our common problems, protect natural spaces, and create something beautiful to share with future generations.

May we know beauty and hope while working to create more of both.

A Quick Getaway: Abilene State Park

Who knew Abilene had a state park?

 

Get the map here

 

A few weeks ago we got away for a bit. Oh, it was nice! Some good friends had invited us to spend the weekend at Abilene State Park. It's a few miles south of Buffalo Gap and adjacent to Lake Abilene.

We stayed in a yurt (and we loved it!)

 

Inside the yurt

 

Yurt ceiling

 

It's a small place. Actually, it was just the right size for pedaling about on a bicycle. If you go, be sure to pack a bike! We did and were happy we had them. One of my favorite places in the park was the bird blind. It's maintained by local birders. We saw dove, several cardinals, and a few small wrens of some sort. I also read that the blind is a popular stopping point for painted buntings during their migration. (Note to self: Re-book the yurt for bunting season.) 

Don't know what it is, but it's beautiful.

Amarillo in Abilene

The Buffalo Wallow fishing dock

Tiny frogs bounded and abounded

and swam

 View from the smaller tower (CCC) 

The water tower

 

The centerpiece of the park is a very cool picnic area built by the Civilian Conservation Corp back in the 1930's. There's a huge swimming pool, a playground area, and horseshoe pits. I always enjoy seeing the CCC handiwork in person.

The water tower window

Things are looking up

 

Centipede outside the yurt

 

Mantis preying in the yurt

Mantis gets a close-up

 

For a tiny vacation, this place is just right. May you have a chance to get out and enjoy the world with which we have been blessed.