Wednesday

 

 

South Llano River State Park

 

2026 Summer Trip Map link

 

The stop at Lum’s BBQ for an early dinner on the way in.

 

 

 

When we got here, we realized it was a perfect storm of conditions.  South Llano River is a Dark Skies Park; no outside lights at night.  The sky was cloudless.  It’s a new moon; no competition from the moonlight.  This was the height of the Perseids meteor shower.  We stayed up into the wee hours.  It was a slow start.  After 11pm we started getting some shooting stars.  The height was supposed to be around 4am.  We didn’t stay up that late.  We called it a night.

 

Morning light

 

 

 

A last look down into the canyon.

 

And south from the Texas Panhandle to Central Texas.

 

2026 Summer Trip Map

 

Abilene State Park

 

Sometimes

 

 

Sometimes we stop early in the day, it’s hot, and there is no shade to park under.  Can’t sit in the car and work with the sun blazing in through all those wonderful windows.  Found the solution.  Insulated window covers tailored to fit each window.  Installed them while we were at Becky and Brian’s house.

 

To attach them, we had to stick some metal bits on the window glass, and the window covers attach themselves magnetically.

 

Slick.

 

 

Along the way today.  Goofy rock formations in Southeastern Colorado at the Gobbler’s Knob rest area on Hwy 287.  Beehives.  Credit irregular erosion for their appearance,

 

 

Now at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/nW9EDRu4ypxqskFb6

 

Less than 100 degrees.  Slightly.  Very comfortable after the sun went behind the canyon wall.

 

 

 

Moving again

 

 

Hot weather, but that’s not going to change anytime soon.  Waved goodbye to Becky and Brian and headed east and south.

2026 Summer Trip Map link

 

John Martin Reservoir State Park.  We got a really good campsite right on the pond below the dam.  No close neighbors.

 

 

 

Hot when we got here, triple digits, but it cooled off to comfortable early in the evening.

 

 

Boulder foothills

 

 

It has been over a month of rehab (taking it easy) on my hamstring, and it should be okay now, so I decided to give it a test drive on the trails behind Flagstaff.

 

It was a good walk with uphills, downhills, and even a little bit of climbing to overlooks.

 

 

 

 

 

A little bit of a road out.

 

Not like anything I ever get to hike on the South Texas coastal plain.  It was a happy walk, very familiar terrain, and no complaints from the hamstring.

 

Lunch

 

With some of the crew at the Denver Office.

 

We didn’t plan ahead very well, just spur of the moment, so most people were off working on jobs.  Becky drove us in to the new office.  First time we’ve seen it.  Nice.

 

Got Ian, Jessica, Tymla, Warren, Ken and David.  (David is not pictured, he’s the one who took the photo.)  That guy with his back to us is Conner.  Interning.  Altogether with the Denver Office and the Albuquerque Office there are 30 of us now.

 

 

Help.  I can’t stop taking pictures of sunsets!

 

  

Red-breasted Nuthatch

 

 

 

 

Not sure he knows which way is up!