Tracks In The River

Tracks In The River

A stream flows through the bottom of Palo Duro Canyon.  At least it’s a stream until there’s a West Texas cloudburst.  Over the years we have arrived at the Canyon rim only to be told there would be no camping in the Canyon because of the rain.  There’s a nifty private campground right there that we stay in when we have to.  John loves it because there is always a wind on the rim; I’m not too thrilled about it because there is always a wind.  I’m not talking breeze.  I say what I mean, and I mean what I say:  WIND!  This is the kind of wind that lays the tent flat on your face as you lay on the ground in a sleeping bag.  It’s the kind of wind that lifts the raincap of the tent and blows rain in on everything.  And, oh yeah, there’s SERIOUS thunder and  lightening to go with it all.  Rather exciting really.   

We have even set up on the rim and watched helicopters go down into the Canyon to rescue stranded campers!  Fun for us; not so fun for folks who got their things washed down river…  (well, not really “fun,”  maybe “entertaining is a better word.)

 

One time we were in one tent and our brave grandsons of, oh, about 12 years old were in another.  A storm blew up just after everyone said the “Walton” goodnights.  Thunder and lightening to beat the band!  John and I had the granddaughter in our tent.  We tried to talk the boys through the storm.  My, but they really were brave!   If I’d been 12 and over there with no adult, I would have been terrified.  Ultimately the wind demolished the tent and soaked everyone and everything, so we all spent the rest of the night in the van.

Sun dawned bright and early.  We spread the soaked sleeping bags on top of the juniper bushes, and by the time we were ready to load them into the van they were dry as a bone.  Things change quickly in the Texas Panhandle.

But, Back to tracks in the river...

One can get an old west lesson in animal tracking at the stream’s edge.  We can find deer tracks, bobcat, turkey, rabbit, raccoon… well, just about every critter that prowls the Palo Duro.  We could probably even find horny toad tracks (Horned toad to you non-Texans.  Horny toads are an endangered species because of the influx of fire ants from some horrible freighter docking in New Orleans I think.)

So, we’re checking out the edges of the stream and, what to our wondering eyes appear, but a doe and her fawn.  They are beautiful!  She’s not at all concerned about us though she keeps a sharp eye out.

Palo Duro is a marvelous place and our family has made great memories there in the past.  There are many more memories to be made, too!