Texas

Lake Arrowhead State Park

We made the Wisconsin escape a little early giving us a few extra days in Texas. We decided to stay at some of their State Parks, so we invested in the annual pass at $70, which gave us entry for a year at any state park and some discounts on second day stays. Most camping fees are between $15 and $20 a night with water and electric. For a week at four different state parks it was worth it.

Our first stay, Lake Arrowhead, right out of Wichita Falls, Texas was a blessing. The Park Superintendent was more than accommodating. Keith set us up at a site by the Prairie Dogs. With over 400 in the park they were fun to watch. Plus he called ahead for availability since we weren't able to make online reservations. They were approaching a blackout since they are converting their reservation system to Reserve America.




He also came through with setting us up with his dentist, since I had a crown pop off. It was the perfect start to our trip.

Oil everywhere

The only thing I didn't care for in the park was the oil rig. I could hear it at night and it sounded like a heart beat but just a little faster, to make you anxious.

Great Horned Owl?

My new camera came in handy for a long shot of an owl.













Next stop Copper Breaks State Park. Canyon like terrain with beautiful red soils and small lakes.

Trail by group site

They have a half dozen long horned cattle from the original stock in Texas. They even let you feed them. Ranger Edwin led us to the coral and called them using his car horn. They eagerly arrived ready for some treats.

Cedar Breaks campground

Here's the campground shelters. Very common, shelters for shade in the hot summer months. Each site has one, in this case they were a modern tepee.





 This park had nice dark skies for star gazing.

CCC pool house in park

A little further south we camped at Abilene State Park.

We hiked and biked and made it into Ablene for some provisions and a little lunch.

Lake Abiliene 

We also found out you don't need a fishing license with your park admission fee.

Chicken Fried Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato.

Wind Farms in an Oil State

Lunch in Abilene














On our way to our next stop, Monahan's Sandhills State Park, it was a little windy.

We saw hundreds of windmills.











The sand dunes stretch from Texas to New Mexico,

Dunes

It made for a different kind of hiking and sliding.

A group getting ready to slide

They rent out discs for sliding down the dunes.

Great sunsets

First drawing of the trip. Ta Da

So we've completed our first 1500 miles arriving in Big Bend National Park, after 4 Texas State Parks, 450 photos and 3 hours on this blog with slow internet.


I think I'll wait til the next stop for blogging. This place is beautiful. Hope you are surviving winter. Our low temperature  here is someone elses high.