Back in Texas!

We left Holbrook, Arizona Friday morning and spent Friday night in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.  At the campground Ted found they had a small barbeque restaurant so we decided to try it.  As we were walking in a couple were leaving and we asked them how the food was and they said great.  They were right!  I had baby back ribs, Ted had brisket and everything was yummy!  I took these pictures on the way to Santa Rosa and Ted found the Horny Toad right by our truck.  He almost stepped on it as it blends in with the rock as you can see!

We arrived in Texas yesterday afternoon.  We got groceries and I got my nails done, we got the holding tanks emptied and we are ready to head to Palo Duro Canyon State Park this morning!  We will have power and water but not sure if we will have Verizon (or mifi)!  We leave there Wednesday. 

Palo Duro Canyon is the Grand Canyon of Texas, and the second largest canyon in the United States at 120 miles long and 600-800 feet deep.  The canyon was formed less than 1 million years go when the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River carved its way through the Southern High Plains.    The rocks expose a geologic layer revealing a panormic view of magnificent colors.  They believe there were about twelve thousand years of human inhabitation which varied due to periods of abudant moisture or severe drought.

Palo Duro is Spanish for "hard wood" referring to the Juniper trees common in the park, along with mesquite, cottonwood, cedar, willow, soapberry and hackberry trees.  Wildflowers such as sunflowers, daisys, asters and prickly pear cacti are plentiful.  The Battle of Palo Duro or the Red River War was also known as the Buffalo War with the final campaign against Southern Plains Indians from 1874 to 1875.  The canyon has a vast indian history. 

Exploring new areas..."Ain't Life Grand!"