Texas and New Mexico trip - The road to Amarillo
May 27, 2017 21:30:12 #
By this time in my trip, I had very few days left. I was now headed from Roswell to Canyon, Texas, about 20 miles south of Amarillo for a couple of days before returning to Dallas to head home to North Carolina. I got a bit ahead of myself in my last post and included Blackwater Draw, which was actually on the way from Roswell to Canyon, Texas. I also neglected to mention that Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Roswell was my third (and last) meeting with the Pecos River which I first saw outside of Del Rio, Texas. In Clovis, I noticed a really compelling piece of artwork on a billboard, so turned around and got a shot of it. The road from Clovis, NM to Canyon, TX was flat, flat, flat and had many cattle feed lots along it. The railroad was also ever-present, and sometimes had several trains spaced out by a number of miles on the same set of tracks. The wind farms were also getting more numerous the closer to Amarillo that I got.
Outside of Canyon, Texas was Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge that I stopped at. The lake had been drained in order to let farmers start putting their crops in the bottom land. There were, however, some Eastern Meadowlarks singing their hearts out for mates; a very shy Ring Necked Pheasant that was not up to having his picture taken, and a Swainson's Hawk that I got a belly shot of. Proceeding on to Canyon, I drove through the town to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The land was still flat and dry, and as I entered the Park, I wondered where the canyon was - then I rounded a bend, and there it was. I was transported back to the day I visited the Grand Canyon and was surprised by its sudden appearance. The Canyon has a wonderful Visitor Center on the cliff face that overlooks the head of the canyon. Down a steep, winding entrance road is the canyon floor with campgrounds, picnic areas, a general store and snack bar, and the meandering Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. After driving the road on the canyon floor, I stopped at the Trading Post and walked to the wildlife viewing blind that is set up there. There was a tom turkey strutting in the brush, but the hens were close under a bird feeder that is there to attract the area birds. I found a trail that went around the back of where the tom turkey was and got a shot of him in the brush - then he moved up by the blind, and back I went, finding a Horned Toad in the process. Got some excellent shots of "His Majesty" strutting his stuff, then drove to my motel in Canyon.
That night there was a terrible thunderstorm to the east of Canyon - right over Palo Duro, and it was reported that thunderstorm spawned a tornado. Hopefully, no one in the canyon was hurt. I will say though that the storm gave an awesome display of lightning. The next day would be a whirlwind tour of Amarillo with the Cadillac Ranch, Alibates Flint Quarry National Monument, and the Big Texan Steak Ranch.
Outside of Canyon, Texas was Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge that I stopped at. The lake had been drained in order to let farmers start putting their crops in the bottom land. There were, however, some Eastern Meadowlarks singing their hearts out for mates; a very shy Ring Necked Pheasant that was not up to having his picture taken, and a Swainson's Hawk that I got a belly shot of. Proceeding on to Canyon, I drove through the town to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The land was still flat and dry, and as I entered the Park, I wondered where the canyon was - then I rounded a bend, and there it was. I was transported back to the day I visited the Grand Canyon and was surprised by its sudden appearance. The Canyon has a wonderful Visitor Center on the cliff face that overlooks the head of the canyon. Down a steep, winding entrance road is the canyon floor with campgrounds, picnic areas, a general store and snack bar, and the meandering Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. After driving the road on the canyon floor, I stopped at the Trading Post and walked to the wildlife viewing blind that is set up there. There was a tom turkey strutting in the brush, but the hens were close under a bird feeder that is there to attract the area birds. I found a trail that went around the back of where the tom turkey was and got a shot of him in the brush - then he moved up by the blind, and back I went, finding a Horned Toad in the process. Got some excellent shots of "His Majesty" strutting his stuff, then drove to my motel in Canyon.
That night there was a terrible thunderstorm to the east of Canyon - right over Palo Duro, and it was reported that thunderstorm spawned a tornado. Hopefully, no one in the canyon was hurt. I will say though that the storm gave an awesome display of lightning. The next day would be a whirlwind tour of Amarillo with the Cadillac Ranch, Alibates Flint Quarry National Monument, and the Big Texan Steak Ranch.
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The Clovis dig site
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Billboard art
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Entering Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Reserve
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Eastern Meadowlark
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Prairie Forest at Buffalo Lake
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Palo Duro Canyon
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Tom Turkey in the brush
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Horned Toad or Lizard
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Out in the open
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May 27, 2017 21:48:34 #
Nice shots, ashamed you didn't get time to go thru Paladuro or Caprock Canyons to see the buffaloes. You are in my stomping grounds now.
May 28, 2017 06:25:23 #
May 28, 2017 06:43:34 #
AuntieM wrote:
By this time in my trip, I had very few days left.... (show quote)
Did you try to put away one of those huge steaks at the Big Texan? I hear it's almost impossible to do. Your narration and photos are great- thanks!
May 28, 2017 07:16:28 #
May 28, 2017 07:38:08 #
phal84
Loc: Huntsville
Yea, when going through Amarillo an overnight stay must be planned for a trip to the Big Texan -- one of those iconic restaurants across the country that's a mandatory stop. And when traveling east-west which I like to do with a camera in hand is not compatible with going from A to B ---- I never get to B for all the stops for picture taking and sight-seeing!
May 28, 2017 11:58:24 #
May 28, 2017 13:03:36 #
PaulR01 wrote:
Nice shots, ashamed you didn't get time to go thru Paladuro or Caprock Canyons to see the buffaloes. You are in my stomping grounds now.
Caprock Canyon was on my list, but ran out of time. No matter how much time I allot for a place, it never seems to be enough. I guess I will need to get another travel trailer and head out across country so I can stay as long (or short) a time in a place as I want to. Thanks for looking. I will definitely be back to Amarillo - maybe on a drive over Route 66.
May 28, 2017 13:04:28 #
Jay Pat wrote:
Enjoying the images and commentary!!!!
Pat
Pat
Happy you are still enjoying my trip.
May 28, 2017 13:05:38 #
canondave1 wrote:
Did you try to put away one of those huge steaks at the Big Texan? I hear it's almost impossible to do. Your narration and photos are great- thanks!
I didn't, but there was a guy there that was trying to. He didn't succeed, though gave it a good shot. Thanks for looking and glad you like the posts.
May 28, 2017 13:06:13 #
Jay Pat wrote:
AuntieM, I hate to think this trip is about to end.......
Pat
Pat
I was sad that it was ending as well, but as Arnold said.................... "I'll be back".....................
May 28, 2017 13:08:23 #
phal84 wrote:
Yea, when going through Amarillo an overnight stay must be planned for a trip to the Big Texan -- one of those iconic restaurants across the country that's a mandatory stop. And when traveling east-west which I like to do with a camera in hand is not compatible with going from A to B ---- I never get to B for all the stops for picture taking and sight-seeing!
I know exactly what you mean about never getting to point B. I had a whole lot of places I wanted to see on this trip - and got to most of them. The hardest part of flying into an area and having to book motels is that you need to figure out how much time you need in each place............. I just need to get another travel trailer for my car and head out to parts unknown. Thanks for stopping by and looking.
May 28, 2017 13:08:47 #
Snap Shot wrote:
Auntie, what a great collection and comments! Well done! 
Thank you so much SS - glad you liked them.
May 28, 2017 13:42:35 #
Very enjoyable set and information AuntieM, enjoyed the entry to Buffalo Lake very much, excellent composition.
May 28, 2017 14:26:22 #
Sylvias wrote:
Very enjoyable set and information AuntieM, enjoyed the entry to Buffalo Lake very much, excellent composition.
Thank you Sylvias for looking and commenting. Glad you liked them.
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