Sunday 3/28

 3/28

Woke up and did a nice run around greenbrush, KS. It’s a relatively small town, made smaller in 2007 when and f5 came through and destroyed 95% of the town. They’ve been rebuilding since and are attempting to rebrand themselves as the greenest town in America. Kate and I pondered what percent of the town was behind that movement. We ran down their small main street, which had maybe one original building and then a rebuilt strip. Then down to their school and track. 360 total enrolled, but they did have a nice track. There’s actually a “state park” on the other side of town that we actually had a little trouble finding, which should tell you a lot about the size of said park. It was a state fishing lake and actually was decent sized. Maybe .75 around the lake on a dirt road. Could have been a lot worse for a morning shakeout. I wouldn’t want to spend the day though.

Pounded out some more miles of SW Kansas, which looks like you think it does. Stopped for lunch and groceries In liberal, KS, mainly to judge a bunch more people for not wearing masks, but also to pick up dinner supplies for camping.

Then back in the car for the pan handle of Oklahoma (also looks like you’d expect) and the pan handle of Texas (same, although at least starting to get interesting). Amarillo’s ring road was so far out that it mainly looped grazing land. Optimistic developers, I’d bet drove that road placement. We didn’t and won’t get to see downtown Amarillo. Which means I very well might never see it. I can live with that I think. It’s still flat and boring until right about into the park entrance. Then suddenly you dive a quarter mile into rugged terrain with trees and rocks and such. 

Palo Duro looks awesome. We United with Katie and Greg and split again for respective quick hikes and shakeout runs before dinner. There’s a fire ban in effect, so hobo dinners and s’mores were on the stove, but it’s still a great meal regardless of heat source.

Added a couple species to the life list today too: The grackle that’s down here and a red bellied woodpecker like cousin. Nice to finally reach our destination after hauling through the plains to get here.