December, 2010
A six-day trip across the panhandle of Texas, Carlsbad, the back side of Guadalupe National Park, Ruidoso, El Paso, San Angelo and back.
Texas
This is a very large rest stop on the Interstate; just about in the middle of the panhandle (Pampa County). We were expecting to be able to pick up a current Texas map, but nobody was on site.
Groom, Texas is most known for this leaning water tower. It does get your attention even though the truck stop that it once advertised is gone. This was on old Route 66, but of course all the traffic streams by on I-40.
Amarillo, Texas and "The Big Texan." I'm only guessing, but I would suppose that Amarillo locals avoid this place. It is "Texas with a capital T" taken about as far as you can go. But, really, the food is good.
Eat this 72 oz. steak (and all the trimmings) and the price is free. Many people have done it, and more power to them...
Palo Duro Canyon State Park is not many miles south of Amarillo.
I'm sure the river can be very high, but this time of year, only one of the crossings got the tires wet.
We would walk the trail for about 8/10th mile before looping back along the road.
Brush up against one of these, and you'll know it.
It's nice that the state of Texas keeps a longhorn herd (which it keeps at more than one location)
Lubbock, Texas for the night.
Merry Christmas!
Highway 62 is long and level.
New Mexico
We entered New Mexico at Hobbs.
Stopping at a Carlsbad city park for Christmas dinner. It was cold, but not terribly uncomfortable.
Highway 137 is a road that may not show on all maps. But, if you want to go to the northern border of Guadeloupe National Park, this is the highway you want.
Sitting Bull Falls is in the Lincoln National Forest, about five miles off of highway 137. The road is paved all the way.
The short trail to the path is concrete and has been very well done. This area was originally developed by the CCC.
The falls are widely spread over the cliff; the effect is amazing.
We returned to New Mexico Highway 137 to continue south.
Texas
Dog Canyon of the Guadalupe Mts National Park is just across the border into Texas. Not too many people come this way.
The trail is about a one mile loop.
Lots of deer. They were not too concerned about us.
New Mexico
Crossing back into New Mexico, we'd take Highway 137 back to the main highway and then back to Carlsbad for the night.
The Hubbard Museum of the American West is in Ruidoso Downs.
There's not much in downtown Tularosa these days.
But the main highways through town had hundreds (thousands?) of luminaries that lined the islands. We were not there at night to see them all lit (how is that done??)
McGinn Pistachio Tree Ranch has all things pistachio and then some.
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is not far south from Alamogordo. It is on the site of an old ranch and is quite unexpected coming from the desert valley floor.
The view looking back to the valley floor.
Driving on US 54 south to El Paso.
Texas
This is the old highway that I-10 replaced (about 100 miles east of El Paso).
Balmorhea, Texas for lunch.
US Highway 67.
McCamey, Texas.
The silhouettes are part of a memorial.
We went in search of the San Angelo Nature Center on Lake Nasworthy, and stopped at this park next to the lake (the nature center was not open).
The San Angelo River Walk is along the Concho River. We were waiting for the museum to open.
The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.
The current exhibit is from the Herman Miller corporation on office design.
Abilene State Park is just a few miles south of Abilene.
After lunch, we walked the Elm Creek Nature Trail.
Highway 277, near Seymour. Why has this house been abandoned?
Oklahoma
It was foggy along I-35 that morning.
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
Of course, we had lunch in the museum restaurant.
Ice skating in front of the Oklahoma City Civic Center. We didn't.
miles driven: 2,247
gallons fuel: 52
mpg: 43
At the Sedgwick County Zoo.
