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08-14-2004, 06:15 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2005 28' International CCD
Pagosa Springs
, Colorado
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 811
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Palo Duro Canyon
Returning from the vintage rally in Colorado we stopped for a couple of days at Palo Duro State Park near Amarillo. It's the second largest canyon in the USA. Campsites are at the bottom of the canyon so you get nice views all around. Rented mountain bikes and had a good time. There's also a long running play about the history of Texas. I didn't feel like going to succumbed to spousal pressure and it was actually very good. We stayed at the Sagebrush campsite which is not as treed but has better views than some of the sites lower in the canyon. Water & electric only, must use dump station. Saw wild turkeys, deer, scorpions and dung beetles.
__________________
"would you rather have a mansion full of money or a trailer full of love?"
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08-14-2004, 06:26 PM
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#2
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418
2007 25' Safari FB SE
1958 22' Flying Cloud
1974 29' Ambassador
Yucca Valley
, California
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 1963 26' Overlander
Posts: 4,804
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Sounds like a good stopover when going through on I40.
It was good seeing you guys at Colorado Springs.
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08-14-2004, 08:05 PM
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#3
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Plan on a return trip...
one day. We got the chance to make a day trip to the Palo Duro Canyon last September on our trek out to Phoenix. We defintely plan on making the trip back. Also had fun in Amarillo itself. There is a fascinating museum in Canyon, TX. Just outside of Amarillo. IIRC it is on the edge of a college campus. But don't remember which one. What really amazed me about the canyon, other than it's natural beauty, was the fact that the main lodge and roads were built back in the 30's by the CCC using only manual labor. It is really amazing to see something like that and realize it is still in existence 70 some years later.
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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08-15-2004, 12:16 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1984 31' Excella
Abernathy
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 865
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I live 85 miles South of Palo Duro Canyon.
The Museum is on the campus of West Texas (State) A&M University. It is the largest History of Texas Museum in Texas. Second is the Bullock Museum in Austin.
The live play Texas, in the Palo Duro Amphitheater is worth the money....I have attended it several times over the years, and have known several cast members.
A little further South is Caprock Canyons State Park, another little known jewel near the towns of Turkey (home of Bob Wills) and Quitaque (pronounced Kitty-quay).
Parts of Caprock Canyons have the red rock features that would make you believe you might be in Southeast Utah.
The Texas Panhandle is not devoid of scenery or culture, it just looks that way from I-40 and I-27. The natives know where to go for beauty and culture in the area surrounding Amarillo and Lubbock.
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08-15-2004, 07:51 AM
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#5
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3 Rivet Member
2006 28' Safari SE
Columbus
, Ohio
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 130
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I used to hunt coyotes in the area around the canyon during the 50's. But, I don't remember seeing any Airstreams!
One of the places I would like to visit, not too far from this area, is Adobe Walls. When I lived in Lubbock I didn't know the story so didn't make the trek. OK, now I have to tell part of the story.
Billy Dixon, Bat Masterson and a few other buffalo hunters (thirty or so) were attacked by a larger force (proported to be around 700) of Indians while at an outpost called Adobe Walls. To make a long story short, Dixon, using a borrowed buffalo rifle, shot one of the Indians from his horse at a measured distance of 1538 yards and the Indians decided to breakoff the engagement.
One of these days someone in Hollywood will make the story famous, maybe they will bring Airstreams for the actors!
Corky
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08-15-2004, 07:58 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,026
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tin Hut
Returning from the vintage rally in Colorado we stopped for a couple of days at Palo Duro State Park near Amarillo. It's the second largest canyon in the USA.
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Yeah, they like to repeat that a lot about its size. Problem is that "size" is a term with several meanings. Is it the depth/width of the canyon that's the largest? Or just its length? And if it's the lenth, is that only because we measure the Grand Canyon by the border of the national park? Or would it be bigger if we included all of the canyon network that extends hundreds of miles beyond the Grand Canyon?
I just don't like being mislead by the advertising campaign in Texas after having spent a good deal of time in the broader canyon country of southern Utah and northern Arizona. (And I say this as a person who spent most of his life in Texas!)
Lynn
__________________
ACI Big Red Number 21043
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08-15-2004, 09:35 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2005 28' International CCD
Pagosa Springs
, Colorado
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 811
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I've had that same size discussion with my wife.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eubank
Yeah, they like to repeat that a lot about its size. Problem is that "size" is a term with several meanings. Is it the depth/width of the canyon that's the largest? Or just its length? And if it's the lenth, is that only because we measure the Grand Canyon by the border of the national park? Or would it be bigger if we included all of the canyon network that extends hundreds of miles beyond the Grand Canyon?
I just don't like being mislead by the advertising campaign in Texas after having spent a good deal of time in the broader canyon country of southern Utah and northern Arizona. (And I say this as a person who spent most of his life in Texas!)
Lynn
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__________________
"would you rather have a mansion full of money or a trailer full of love?"
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08-15-2004, 12:09 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1984 31' Excella
Abernathy
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 865
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Tin, you are a brave man.... having a size matters discussion with your wife...hehee.
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08-16-2004, 09:30 PM
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#9
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 206
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We also went to Palo Duro Canyon and loved it. Being from New Orleans we knew nothing about those big canyons. We arrived at about 10 PM and drove all the way down in the pitch dark.(And backed in in the pitch dark.)
When I woke up in the AM and looked out I could not believe I had driven down that mountain. I would have been scared to death if I had known!
__________________
Heidi
'67 Caravel/'03 Tahoe
New Orleans, LA
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08-16-2004, 09:33 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1984 31' Excella
Abernathy
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 865
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Heidi- That is too funny about driving into Palo Duro..
I do love your avitar pic in front of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari NM! A totally classic American look.
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08-16-2004, 09:49 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dscluchfc
Heidi- That is too funny about driving into Palo Duro..
I do love your avitar pic in front of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari NM! A totally classic American look.
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I love it too. It's time to change it but I just can't seem to get a better picture. I found The Blue Swallow by accident . I was so excited that I hit the brakes and made a U-turn in the middle of the road! (Love that little Caravel!)
__________________
Heidi
'67 Caravel/'03 Tahoe
New Orleans, LA
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07-11-2007, 10:34 AM
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#12
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Naysayer
1968 24' Tradewind
Russellville
, earth
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,954
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Time to visit
Im guessing fall, say October, would be the time to visit the park? It looks to me like this is just under 250 miles from my new home. Might be a fun long weekend.
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07-11-2007, 12:10 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Kerrville
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 69
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Palo Duro St. Park
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gen Disarray
Im guessing fall, say October, would be the time to visit the park? It looks to me like this is just under 250 miles from my new home. Might be a fun long weekend.
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If you want to see the play and you really should if you have not seen it. The play ends at the end of August I believe.
richg
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07-13-2007, 04:42 PM
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#14
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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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size...
[QUOTE=eubank]I just don't like being mislead by the advertising campaign in Texas after having spent a good deal of time in the broader canyon country of southern Utah and northern Arizona. (And I say this as a person who spent most of his life in Texas!)
Lynn... you ever been to Palo Duro Canyon? The measurement of the size is for the canyon system, just as with the Grand Canyon. Yup... it really is that big! Yes, it is an advertising campaign but no, it's not misleading, just a fact.
Speaking of Canyons... try Big Bend. Not even the 3rd biggest, but it sure is cool!
__________________
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Jaxon
WBCCI 7005 * AIR 9218
The trouble with trouble is it always starts out as fun...
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07-13-2007, 05:00 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
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PD Canyon
It really is a beautiful place. I have never camped there, but have visited many times.
Vaughan
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07-13-2007, 06:35 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,026
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaxon
Lynn... you ever been to Palo Duro Canyon? The measurement of the size is for the canyon system, just as with the Grand Canyon. Yup... it really is that big! Yes, it is an advertising campaign but no, it's not misleading, just a fact.
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Oh, yes, been there, done that.
What I mean by canyon system would take the "Grand Canyon" system from some place up close to Grand Junction, Colorado (Colorado National Monument) down through the Canyonlands National Park and the canyon (idiotically) buried by Lake Powell in Utah, down through the Lee's Ferry area canyon near Page and finally way down in Arizona below the Grand Canyon National Park on the Havasupai reservation. That's one really big stretch of territory, dwarfing in every imaginable way the canyon system that includes both Palo Duro and Caprock Canyons.
Lynn
__________________
ACI Big Red Number 21043
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07-13-2007, 07:10 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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You're right Lynn, they don't call it "the big ditch" for nothing...
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07-14-2007, 07:33 AM
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#18
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Naysayer
1968 24' Tradewind
Russellville
, earth
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,954
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Frankly, I'm not to worried about it's length, volume, or depth. I'm more concerned about how fun it is to be there. I can be funny like that.
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07-14-2007, 10:16 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
Airstream - Other
2016 Interstate Grand Tour Ext
Bosque Farms
, New Mexico
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,026
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gen Disarray
Frankly, I'm not to worried about it's length, volume, or depth. I'm more concerned about how fun it is to be there. I can be funny like that.
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Same here. I can enjoy just about anything, especially if I'm away from home!
Lynn
__________________
ACI Big Red Number 21043
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07-28-2007, 08:52 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2007 25' Safari FB SE
St. Hedwig
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 597
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We did Palo Duro last year and really enjoyed. Don't recall exactly which location in the canyon where we put donw for a week. Another great location is the Davis Mts State Park near Big Bend.
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