For my birthday this year, Cecelia planned a surprise trip to the canyon as a present. After doing lots of research on the trip, she found out that April was not the most desirable time of the year to go if one wanted to partake of all the events available. Texas, the play, doesn't start until June and everyone told us we had to see it if we were there. The play is a musical romance of Panhandle history. So, we decided not to go on my birthday but, instead go in June. We did and just returned on Sunday, June 19Th. The biggest problem with going in June is the weather. It gets hot in the canyon and it was very hot, reaching 110 degrees one day.
What Cecelia had planned for our trip would have been so special, but it just didn't work out. For one, on the west rim of the canyon near the entrance to the State Park, there are a few rock cabins that were built in 1934 by the C.C.A. The cabins are very primitive, and one has to take everything for sleeping and cooking with them when they stay there. I am not even sure they have air conditioning. Besides that, we could only rent one for one night and we wanted to stay longer. They also don't allow pets in the cabins and we had our little dogs with us. We could not leave our dogs home because our pet sitter was out of town. In fact, we were meeting them at the canyon. I suggested the idea of renting a trailer and camping in the canyon.We rented a 19-foot trailer and pulled it 1145 miles to Palo Duro and back. We camped at the state park for four nights. It was very hot and we spent most of the hot parts of the days in the trailer. One day we went into the town of Canyon which is just outside the park. There is a very good museum there, and while Cecelia did some shopping, that is where I went.
One morning we took a horseback ride into the canyon and another morning we took a three-hour jeep ride to the very bottom of the canyon. We had a very talkative guide that had lots of information to share with us. I would like to go back sometime in the spring or fall when the weather would let us do some hiking or bike riding on the many trails available.
Joe, I have been there returning from a "bike" trip to Montana. We crossed the Canyon East some distance from the Park so we didn't get to see the show they put on every night. I have always heard the show is good and would like to see it. Did you? Did you see the Charles Goodnight house. "The Life and Times of Charles Goodnight" great book. It was the genesis of many of Larry McMurtry books. There is not much left to see but Adobe Walls is in the area about 50 miles or so West of Amarillo on the Canadian River. I am a Texas, and Mexico buff also. Did a research project on Billy the Kid. He is buried at Fort Sumner, NM. Regards, Jim K
ReplyDeleteJim, we did see the show and it was good! We did not go any where else, but would like to go back sometime. I would like to take the trip you did. I bet it was good fun seeing all of that country by bike.
ReplyDeleteJoe R.
Great adventure, Joe. The way you wrote it made it so realistic that I felt as though I were there with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
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