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07-29-2007, 06:32 AM
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#21
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E Pluribus Aluminus
2008 34' Classic S/O
1967 22' Safari
2005 30' Classic
Land Of Enchantment
, New Mexico
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,300
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by gaylejoe
Another great location is the Davis Mts State Park near Big Bend.
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Sure is, we ususally do our trips down there when the weather gets colder... cooler air makes trips to the observatory better, too. Love cruisin' around that whole area - Alpine's fun, too.
__________________
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Jaxon
WBCCI 7005 * AIR 9218
The trouble with trouble is it always starts out as fun...
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12-17-2007, 10:36 PM
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#22
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Rivet Master 
2007 25' Safari FB SE
St. Hedwig
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 597
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Gayle & I were at Palo Duro 2 years ago and stayed down in the canyon. Wouldn't have missed it. Really great staying down in the canyon. Lot's of wild turkeys and a few rattlesnakes. The play was excellent.
Another great place is the Davis Mts State Park.
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12-17-2007, 10:39 PM
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#23
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Rivet Master
2007 25' Safari FB SE
St. Hedwig
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 597
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Bill, we have been to the Davis Mts twice but have never made it to Alpine. We really like the cooler temperature during the summer.
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12-18-2007, 07:48 AM
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#24
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4 Rivet Member 
2004 34' Classic S/O
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 294
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by gaylejoe
Bill, we have been to the Davis Mts twice but have never made it to Alpine. We really like the cooler temperature during the summer.
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I started my undergrad studies in Alpine at Sul Ross St U. While I was there I worked at Prude Ranch in Ft Davis. What a wonderful drive I had in the mornings to get to class. As a reward for making class I got to make that scenic drive back.
I've just learned that Prude Ranch now has an RV park. What a hoot. The kid, early 20's, that I used to drive up to the observatory with shooting at road signs is now running the place. Time flies. I'll be returning for the first time in 10 years while on the Texas Hill Country Unit's caravan to Big Bend this April.
_________Tom
__________________
Blog: www.travelpod.com/members/wbcci1529
'04 34' Classic S/O lounge, dome king, twin a/c, faux fireplace to keep the wife warm  , equa-li-zer, prodigy, 4 birds, dog - no kids allowed!
'05 Excursion 4x4, 6.0 PSD, magnaflow, helwig anti-sway, air lift springs.
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07-19-2009, 04:05 PM
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#25
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Rivet Master 
2006 19' Safari SE
Tucson
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,627
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A friend who lived in Amarillo always said we should go there... Any recommendations/thoughts/opinions about the best time of year to go to Palo Duro Canyon...and which campgrounds are the best? Is it open year-round?
__________________
TB & Greg and Abbey Schnauzer
AirForums #21900
PastPrez, 4CU/WBCCI
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07-19-2009, 04:31 PM
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#26
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E Pluribus Aluminus
2008 34' Classic S/O
1967 22' Safari
2005 30' Classic
Land Of Enchantment
, New Mexico
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,300
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Palo Duro is a great place to go - we prefer fall & spring (weather is nicer)... late spring, early summer... after the dust storms.
Gawd, the Prude Ranch... man that brings back memories from annual trips there...
__________________
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Jaxon
WBCCI 7005 * AIR 9218
The trouble with trouble is it always starts out as fun...
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07-19-2009, 06:27 PM
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#27
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
1963 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Central
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,919
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We were there late May '08. The ride in is, um, steep but the views are stunning.
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07-19-2009, 10:50 PM
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#28
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4 Rivet Member
2002 22' International
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 271
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Just There
We left there this morning. What a nice stay. Will definitely go back. Here's a picture from the top. Great view.
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07-20-2009, 06:46 AM
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#29
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4 Rivet Member
2005 25' Classic
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 393
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Palo Duro Canyon
I have been there 2 times in the summer when days are really hot and nights do not cool off all that much. Regardless, it is an awesome experience to go from the flat plains around Amarillo and drop down into the canyon. It seems like another world down there. Unless you want to see the performance, I would go in the spring or fall.
Dennis
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07-20-2009, 10:01 AM
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#30
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Rivet Master
1984 31' Excella
Abernathy
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 865
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Texas Musical Drama
Information about the play "Texas" at this link.
Please be advised:
This year's production runs from June 5 to August 15, 2009
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07-20-2009, 01:19 PM
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#31
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30' 1999 Excella
Kingwood
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 295
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My Palo Duro story...
We often stop by Palo Duro in the fall (September) when we bring our rig home to Houston from Colorado.
We like the Mesquite camp area - sites 88-92 are all good. The Mesquite campsite is at the far end of the park - it'll take you 20 minutes to get from the entrance to that location. Here's the map ( http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publicat...p4506_007g.pdf)
Attached is a picture of our rig at campsite 88 (I think) in September 2006 - we only stayed overnight (click on it to enlarge). Note the large mound to the left of the photo. With sunset approaching, we took our zipdee chairs and a bottle of wine and climbed up to the top of the mound to watch the sunset.
As the line of the sun passed the top ridge of the canyon, all the coyotes around the edge of the canyon started yipping and howling. This went on for about 60 seconds, then stopped suddenly. My wife says "OK, time to go in NOW!" But I convinced her to stay and enjoy the beautiful remnants of the sunset and the bottle of wine.
Before too long, the bottle was gone (ooops!) and so was the daylight. All we could see of our Airstream was the exterior lights next to the door.
Suddenly, maybe 20 feet away in at the base of the mound - too dark to see anything - we hear this low rumbling growl.
In about 1.2 seconds, I was standing in the doorway yelling "hurry, honey, I'll hold the door open for you!"
The next morning, we had to leave early and climbed back up on the mound to have our coffeee and watch the sunrise. Just as the rays of light hit the top of the opposite side of the canyon, all the coyotes started howling again! I think they were saying "look, those two fools didn't learn anything last night!"
Anyway, we've been back a few times, but have always avoided the heat of mid-summer.
We noticed that in September there are little gnats that can get through the screens of the door and window. They will congregate all around the lights - they really seemed to like landing on the white vinyl headliner. Fortunately, WINDEX killes them very effectively, and we also had an impromptu cleaning of our ceiling!
__________________
Hey, its the only way to be sure!
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07-20-2009, 02:17 PM
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#32
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airperson
2006 25' Classic
Ft Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 207
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Tin Diesel, thanks for sharing the story of your trip to Palo duro. That is the nicest part of the forum all the fun stories and trip information.
Airperson
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07-20-2009, 05:34 PM
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#33
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30' 1999 Excella
Kingwood
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 295
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Thanks - if you liked that one, you should hear my other stupid stories!
I don't think Palo Duro would be my favorite place in mid-summer. Our daughter-in-law nearly had heat stroke hiking there in July.
I was there briefly in June, and the horseflies were a bit bothersome.
Sure is purty, tho'.
__________________
Hey, its the only way to be sure!
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07-20-2009, 05:44 PM
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#34
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
1972 23' Safari
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,356
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Palo Duro Canyon
How did you make your way back to Kingwood I35? Planning a stop there first week in August coming back from Durango.
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07-20-2009, 06:58 PM
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#35
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30' 1999 Excella
Kingwood
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 295
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No, we took 287 through Waxahachie to I45.
We've made it in one day, but its a hard drive.
See attached route
__________________
Hey, its the only way to be sure!
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07-20-2009, 07:56 PM
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#36
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Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
1972 23' Safari
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,356
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Thanks, we'll keep that route in mind, it's a long drive across Texas to anywhere from Houston..
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09-13-2009, 07:56 AM
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#37
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Islander
2005 28' International CCD
Deer Harbor
, ORCAS ISLAND WA
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 981
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Palo Duro
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We left Bastrop, Tx AUG 27 and headed for Palo Duro- up to lubbock and then to canyon....arrived at the park and headed to the mesquite campground...yup...to the end of the line...spot 88 looked like the spot....hot in the afternoons, cool in the evening/night...what seemed strange was the absence of any bird sounds...unaturally quiet...coyotes in the middle of the night..... then to santa fe for our first airstream rally at the santa fe skies rv park..great time there...day tripped to taos and the rio grande gorge...then to cloudcroft/alamagordo /white sands....then to the davis mountains.....
