Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-28-2008, 11:06 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,653
Christmas in Palo Duro Canyon

Instead of sitting around the house this Christmas we decided to head out. My wife was convinced we were going a few hours into the snowy mountains, but instead I suprised her with a trip south to Palo Duro Canyon.

We took 287 from outside of Denver pretty much all the way down. Apart from being helaciously boring, it was a good road- almost as nice as an Interstate.

We had two difficulties on the trip- the water lines froze on the way down (and were previously frozen in the garage) which damaged the gray fill valve for the second time, and on the way back we quickly discovered another one of the BFGs had a belt separation. We lost very little time having it changed and were thankful to not be far from Amarillo when it happened.

The good far outweighed the bad however, and temps predicted at 54º turned out to be in the 60s and even the 70s one day. While the midewest got dumped on we were in sandals, enjoying an SMB Christmas.

Palo Duro Canyon, which we'd never heard of, was amazing. It is the second largest canyon in the United States, and the second biggest state park in Texas. It's also the most active- probably owning to its accessible location in the panhandle.

7½ hours driving, about 9 total was a little much for one day (I'm getting old!) but it was well worth it. Be warned winter hours have the park closing at 6pm, and if you're late you get to spend the night outside the gate in a late arrival area.

Otherwise there is camping in the canyon, plenty of hiking and sights, and some exciting water crossings (well, exciting until you're followed by a Prius).

We couldn't have asked for nicer weather, and actually the flurries hit just as we were packing up for the return trip.

Enough drivel, on with the photos:



Christmas morning, we brought all the presents (well except the one that wouldn't fit in the SMB) and had everything but lights.






















Certainly a tough way to spend Christmas!




The sights and the hiking were great, there were also mountain bike trails and horse riding. Luckily the RV sites were nearly vacant, so despite the $22 a night it seemed like we were boondocking- well that and the rare 110v that left us to enjoy unlimited light, toast, and laptop use.

__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2008, 11:14 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
surfgeek33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Posts: 985
Send a message via AIM to surfgeek33
Thanks for sharing Jage! How did the Deaver springs perform? Did your SMB ride any better?
__________________
???

"I do, cellularSTEVE" :o)
surfgeek33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2008, 11:24 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,653
Yes, although there was no washboard to test on, the highway down had it's share of challenges. The Deavers are definitly worth it now that they're broken in.
__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2008, 11:37 AM   #4
Site Team
 
BroncoHauler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,203
So, why is every picture of your SMB f the driver's side? Oh wait, I know. It's so you can show off that ladder!

Looks like a great trip.

Were you able to get the tire replaced under warranty?


Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
BroncoHauler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2008, 01:09 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
cellularSTEVE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,071
Very cool Jage. I hadn't heard of Palo Duro before.

Sounds like a cool trip!

steve
__________________
'05 Ford V-10 4x4 SMB "50" White
'00 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 Highly Modified
'04 Jeep Grand Cherokee- wife won't let me modify it. :-(
Does anyone really read this stuff other than surfgeek?
cellularSTEVE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2008, 08:28 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Azusa, California
Posts: 1,092
Palo Duro

Jage ,
Thank you for sharing , Palo Duro is an incredible place I will be returning there soon for a Hunting Trip and was going to fly as I have in the past , but have decided to drive instead and spend a more time exploring the entire Park . Thanks again for sharing Jage .
Greggde
Greggd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2009, 03:37 PM   #7
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,415
Garage
I missed this one somehow. Looks like a place like that would have a bunch of off roading spots. Great report...thanks.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2009, 05:56 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
danamrak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 193
Looks like a great spot to celebrate the holidays or anything for that matter. Thanks for posting the pictures.
__________________
Dick and Anne

DABEE a 2006 Ford EB250 with penthouse top.
Life Is Good.
danamrak is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Sportsmobile Registry

Betsy

darryldickie

Ford

fabtechmfg
Add your Sportsmobile
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:33 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.