Fort Clatsop, Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks, Astoria, Oregon

Click for larger, clearer image

Having read "Undauted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose, I just had to stop by Fort Clatsop in the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks. The (reproduction) fort looked quite comfy and defensible, really. This is a good thing because the weather was as cold and wet as Lewis says it was in the winter of 1805-6.

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Late Evening, Buffalo Bill Reservoir, Cody, Wyoming

Click photo to see larger image.

The East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park passes through Cody, Wyo., Buffalo Bill State Park, and along the Shoshone River and up the Wapiti Valley.

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Slickrock Crevice, Kodachrome State Park, Cannonville, Utah

Kodachrome Basin State Park in Cannonville, Utah, is must see near Bryce Canyon and, at 2,000 ft. (600 m) lower elevation, a warmer place to camp. And for the latter, I was truly grateful to be below the snow line.

After all the effort of excavating Kennel from the snowbank, I didn’t have the energy to enjoy Bryce Canyon National Park. I know, I tried. After a late breakfast, the girls and I drove up into the park and to a few viewpoints. They were pretty, but I hardly cared. Forget about getting out of Kennel to walk anywhere.

Instead, we drove down the plateau to get a campsite at Kodachrome. Then I didn’t do anything for the rest of the day but sleep and absorb painkillers into my tissues.

But this morning, I took the girls on a 3-mile walk from our camp and around the Grand Parade Trail. It’s an easy trail, but it meanders along the edge of the Kodachrome Basin, among and through its common features.

I was grateful to get a nice, long walk with the girls in the warm sun. It was also fun to explore the slickrock crevices and snap some photos. It made me feel like Ansel Adams.

Fun fact: Kodachrome Basin was named such by the National Geographic Society with permission of Kodak. This is according to the park’s newsletter. I’m glad they answered that question. I wondered if the the state of Utah had any risk of trademark infringement. But I guess they don’t.

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Snowstorm, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Kanab, Utah

Is it Christmas? I felt like it when a brief snowstorm frosted Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park near Kanab, Utah. And the snow came with benefits!

Coral Pink Sand Dunes is a popular park for folks to drive their noisy dune buggies and other OHVs. On this particular weekend, even though it was early in the season, the campground was full of riders doing their thang.

If you know me, you know I hate full campgrounds and anywhere there’s lots of people. Especially when they have loud, obnoxious hobbies. Then the storm came.

At first, it was just rain on Saturday night, March 5, continuing off and on through Sunday. That drove off the dune buggy people. I was ecstatic. The girls and I cuddled in Kennel, staying dry and warm. I finished reading the hilarious "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal " by Christopher Moore.

But then, about 6 p.m. Sunday, March 6, I looked outside. The rainstorm hand become a snowstorm! Snow! SNOW!

I hopped out the van like Jiminy Cricket and ran around in my shorts and Tevas snapping photos as the little puffs came drifting down. Christmas, indeed!

You see, I’m from South Texas. The last time it snowed there was 2004, on Christmas Eve, and that was the first time in a century. Literally. So snowy weather is still a treat for me, not a pain to shovel and drive through. It was darned pretty too. So sue me.

Alas, the ground was warm enough that most of the snow had melted by 9 a.m. Monday morning. But I was there at ground zero! I’m a happy, happy boy!

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Cienaga, Balmorhea State Park, Toyahvale, Texas

San Salomon Springs at Balmorhea State Park originally emptied into a large, natural cienega, or desert wetland. Shown is part of the 1980s restoration. Today, the cienga supports rare desert plants and animals, including the endangered Pecos gambusia and the Comanche Springs pupfish.

At the foot of the Davis Mountains, Balmorhea State Park is most famed for its giant, natural, spring-fed pool, in which fish, plants, and other wildlife live.

In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps dug out the springs and surrounded them with a 1.75-acre (0.71 ha), 3.5-million-US-gallon (13,000 m3) freshwater pool. The spring has a constant flow of 22-28 M US gallons (110,000 m3) a day, and the temperature averages 72 to 76 °F (22 to 24 °C) year round. The deepest parts of the pool are 30 feet (9.1 m) deep, attracting snorkelers and scuba divers (Wikipedia).

It may be one of the biggest natural pools in the world. It's so huge that only an aerial photo can take in its full size.

Aerial photo of Balmorhea State Park's 1.75 acre, spring-fed pool

According to a historical plaque by the pool, the cienega has been farmed for centuries. In prehistoric times, Mescalero Apaches planted corn and peach trees next to it. In the 1870s, canals were built, which still irrigate surrounding  Toyahvale, Texas, farmland today.

Balmorhea State Park is definitely one of my favorite places on Earth. So, I left a milkweed seed ball by the edge of the cienga in Liz's honor. Here's hoping it blooms!

Natural Water Dish, McKinney Falls State Park, Austin, Texas

Nature provides Tiarra a cool, fresh, clean drink of water along the trail at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, Texas.

Mission Espiritu Santo, Goliad State Park and Historic Site, Goliad, Texas

Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga (1749) was the Peace Corps of its time, teaching Native Americans European tech, as well as religion.

Mosquitoes, Sea Rim State Park, Sabine Pass, Texas

Can you believe it's a 55° F (13° C) December day? And these are only the mosquitoes pressed up against the glass! ... I didn't stay the night.

Okefenokee Alligator Awaits Lunch, Stephen C Foster State Park, Fargo, Georgia

Patience! Patience, my love. Let them come to us ... Then we crunches them!

Alligator, Mullet Pond, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

I almost stepped in front of this alligator's mouth. There was no fence between us; he was about 6 ft. away. Glad I left my snack-size dogs in the car.

Unsolved Mystery, Atalaya, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

What's *this* all about then, eh ...? I'm pretty sure doors to all off-limit rooms were locked today at Atalaya Castle.

Sunset Over Mullet Pond, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

After more than two weeks (or three?) without seeing the sun, I'm ecstatic to be out of the forest and by the sunny sea at Huntington Beach State Park.

Mansion Rear, Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site, Union, South Carolina

Rear of Secessionist Governor William Henry Gist's Rose Hill Plantation mansion, whose 178 slaves' quarters and histories are missing from the park.

Appalachian Trail Approach, Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville, Georgia

Here's the trail *to* the Appalachian Trail's southern start on Springer Mountain – 8.5 miles UP. Think of it as a qualifying hike. Only 2,190* more miles to go!


* Per the Appalachian Trail Conference on this post date

Cold & Foggy Day, Cullers Overlook, Shenandoah River State Park, Bentonville, Virginia

This is the dark side of touring America by van. And the cold side. And the wet side.

Allaben Campsites, Shandaken Wild Forest, Allaben, New York

Rain is no impediment to the true outdoorsman ... nor to the wannabe with a toasty camper and an awning. 

FYI: Found this great campsite via freecampsites.net.

Teepee Picnic Area, Madera Canyon, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas

Kitschy "teepee" picnic shades south of Madera Canyon because ... Amerika! The Apaches and Jumanos native to this area didn't use teepees, by the way ...

Evening at La Parida Banco, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Mission, Texas

Blushing clouds and purple shadows – electric cicada hum and distant thunder – mesquite fingers stir the creamy evening breeze – a resaca fades to sleep

Caddo Lake State Park, Karnack, Texas

Let's lose ourselves among the draped cypress. We'll eat crawdads and bluegills, drink brown water. And the ages of men will pass us by.