Camping in Caprock Canyon

So for our first "big" vacation (actual getting away) in a couple of years, we decided on camping and went to Caprock Canyons State Park.  Once again, we opted to take some "family" along for company, and what a great time we had.  The entire area is covered in red rock and we saw trees.  Yes, ACTUAL TREES...IN TEXAS.  No, we are not hallucinating.  See?

We arrived around 9 AM and spent the next couple of hours setting up camp.  One of the first things we discovered was that apparently, Caprock Canyons State Park, apart from being the home of the last free-roaming bison herd, it is also a wildlife refuge for the common housefly.  Who knew?  They seem to be doing well, as about 1,000,000 of them joined us for the whole duration of the camping trip.  The weather, in typical Texas form, was mildly warm (about 100 degrees both days).  Fortunately there was a lake nearby where the kids could cool down.  Below, you will find a picture of the lake's fishing dock.  As you can see, there is a "slight" difference between the water level and the dock level.  We might be in a drought that has lasted for several years or so...

So as they ventured into the lake they discovered several things.  Jacob discovered that there are all kinds of rocks everywhere and most of the ones under the water are smooth.  Meagan discovered that there is a BIG difference between swimming in a pool and swimming in a lake - one is fairly calm, the other has current.  She really had to work at it to maintain her location.

Of course, the day wouldn't be complete without the opportunity to swim with her buddy, Cheyenne.  She wouldn't go out into the water with anyone but Meagan.

Jacob, on the other hand, was perfectly content to stay in the shallows looking for cool rocks...and occasionally trying to skip them.

And because it can't be called camping otherwise, we had Hobo Dinners for our first evening's meal.  They were great.

If you zoom in REALLY close, you can probably count at least 1000 flies in this picture...  It didn't seem to matter whether they could get to any actual food or not.  They KNEW we had it, and the second we slipped up, they were going to take it.  Somehow, though, we managed to keep our good humor even with all the annoying buzzing going on.

The second day, we decided to drive the "scenic" route through the canyon.  You know, for being in the "desert" of Texas, there were some incredibly scenic vistas.  We stopped at one and took family pictures.

Looking out at actual greenery and skyline that was not "flat" (changes in the horizon like there are actual mountains)

Well lookie here!  An actual mountain.

A closer shot of that same mountain...

And did we mention actual Tatonka (buffalo)?  Kevin Costner would feel right at home.

A shot of (most of) the campsite.  Our friends' tent is off to the left of the camera.  Lots of people in one "small" space, but somehow we managed to get along and even like each other still after the experience.

2 and a half days of camping leaves one tired, dirty, and with a LOT of laundry.  But as fun and peaceful as being out in nature for extended periods is, the shower that you take after you return home in a REAL bathroom is a gift from the Almighty.

- Josh & Sarah