Summer 2022 | Mr-Skipper

Summer 2022
Mt. Taylor, New Mexico

I teach my 7th grade students (and 8th graders as well) how to write an argumentative paper. One of their topics is Mt. Taylor. After reading an article about uranium mining on the mountain, they have to argue whether to continue or not. Earlier this year, I did some research and found that not only has the mining been stopped, but it's possible to hike up the mountain (or drive), so that's what I'm going to do this summer.

Update: Due to fires in the area, Mount Taylor is closed.

I'll go as far as Palo Duro Canyon and then return.

Becky and Phillip are starting their leg of the trip a bit earlier. I'm staying Houston for the quinceañera of a favorite student. My plan is to leave Houston Saturday night and get to the Buescher State Park area in the wee hours of Sunday morning. We'll then travel to Lake Colorado City State Park together.

Day 1

Sat 6/25

Home to Buescher State Park | 2.5 hours

Becky and Phillip reserved a cabin. I got in before midnight. We left in the morning and went to Longhorn Cavern.

Day 2

Sun 6/26

Buescher to Lake Colorado | 5.5 hours

This park was pretty empty. We arrived around 5 or 6 and temperature was close to 100 degrees. Luckily, a cold front came through and the temperature dropped into the 60s. We went hiking in the morning and left around 11:00 as things started to heat up.

Day 3

Mon 6/27- Wed 6/29

Lake Colorado to Big Spring and Hotel Settles | 1.0 hour

Check-in wasn't until 3:00, so we drove around Colorado City and found the house of one of Mom's relatives. Then we drove to Big Spring and checked out Aunt Tance's house and Grandma Bledsoe's. We went to the hotel, but they weren't ready for us until 4:00. The parents came in later that evening.

We ate breakfast at the hotel, drove back out to see the houses, the springs, and other "memory lane" sites.

Day 4

Wed 6/29

Leave Big Spring to Vincent to Colorado City to Lubbock | 2-3 hours

Staying Wednesday night at Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lubbock Medical Center.

Planning to visit Buddy Holly Museum and his grave.

We all headed off to find Vincent, Texas, which was so small, there weren't any signs for it until we actually got there. Thank goodness for Google Maps. We then drove to Colorado City so Mom could see the house. We ate at an elementary school that had been turned into a restaurant. The classroom were being used by other local organizations. From there, Mom and Dad headed home, Becky and Phillip went to Inks Lake, and I went to Lubbock.

Thu 6/30

Leave Lubbock for Caprock Canyon State Park | 2.0 hours

Caprock to Palo Duro Canyon | 1.5 hours

https://newadventuresinlife.com/palo-duro-canyon-and-caprock-canyon

Camp the night at Palo Duro, Juniper loop 101.

Fri 7/1

Palo Duro to Ft. Worth | 6 hours

Sat 7/2

Ft. Worth to home | 5 hours