Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Day 24-- Into three states and out of two.

Well, it's a snappy title, but it took us from Texas through the panhandle of Oklahoma (20 minutes) and into Colorado. This is BIG country. If it wasn't grazing land, it was wheat, or old corn, or lots pf sandstone and some old river valleys. There was even one "mountain called "Two Buttes" which is the highest "low" peak in Colorado.(They don't count the "flat"ones.) If you know anything about Colorado, it is filled with tall peaks many being over 10,000 feet high , this one is much lower, but on the plains stands out at 4,700 feet. It is used a lot to teach folks about climbing from lower elevations to higher in a short period of time..  Here is a look at it from the truck and also from on top of the peak. (Not my photo).
Two Buttes from on top. (Not my pic)

Two Buttes from the road.


There were Antelope in three different groups  and we ran through the  Comanche National  Grassand. It is 463,000 acres in size and is the historic habitat of the aborigine that lived there 6,000 years ago. Cave petroglyphs still can be seen on places, The area runs from La Junta in South Central CO, to the eastern border of the state. It has great hiking and recreational uses.



We had lunch in a park In Springfield CO , that was very neat and well kept.  While we were eating  we noticed two men putting the finishing touches on what I though was the end of  painting the city water tower that was in the park.  I asked them if they were painting it, "No", said the one," We are doing maintenance including the sandblasting of the inside of the tank. Those nets that you saw in S. Texas (Aransas Pass) are used when ever they sandblast the inside of the towers. That has to be done every 15 years", he said. It is a hazardous, but useful job.

We had a tail wind today so I thnk we broke the 10 mpg for the first time. It was only a 133 mile drive from Stratford TX, through the panhandle of Oklahoma, into Colorado. I slowed down a bit and enjoyed the scenery.  All of a sudden onColorado there was a beautiful highway. Not so in Oklahoma or Texas in this part. We did see three new birds today and identified 21 of them which is a few more than the last two days. We are hoping for better luck as we get out and scour the " Southeastern Colorado Birdng Trail" ( A series of places to see the birds). The three new birds we saw today were the Horned Lark (at a roadside pullout), A Raven, who is on the edge of its territory, and an American Goldfinch, the first we have seen since we left home. Here are some pictures from today's drive.

Tomorrow if the wind dies down we will attempt to find birds. If not , then it is a laundry and shopping day.

Antelope in Oklahoma Panhandle. Saw about 15 of them

The Trail crossed here at this rest stop
A.T.S.F. is the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe RR
Do you  know how to sing it?

This is the actual Santa Fe Trail . I walked where the "westward
ones" did many years ago.!

Western Irony. Look closely!

Our campground 4 miles west of Lamar. Even a few trees.

Tonight's sunset with the cattle in the foreground.

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