High Plains Drifter

For some reason, I thought today’s drive was shorter than it was. This day brought the most back roads and unmaintained strips of asphalt so far. Ranch to market roads they’re known as in Texas. More of the same scenery. Oil facilities, small ranches and the occasional little dusty berg to pass through.

There was an O’Reilly Auto Parts in one wind blown municipality so I cut through a side road to get around the block and back to it. They had the right oxygen sensor for the exhaust and traded mine in.

It was early afternoon when I reached Clayton Lake not too long after crossing the border into New Mexico (and getting an extra hour). It was quite windy. The type of windy that shuts your gas strutted RV door for you. Not seemingly propitious weather for paddle boarding. I have the end campsite right on the boat ramp. I saw a not too athletic looking family launching kayaks at the beach and figured if they can do it so can I.

It was just what I needed to shake off the lethargy from hours of sitting. Wind wasn’t so bad. It’s a small lake with lots of crannies to hide in. A tour group of kayaks was out around the corner by the bare branches that were protruding from the lake.

I circumnavigated the lake, almost exactly two miles around the periphery. The lady who was launching her kayak that inspired me to go was sitting resting in the middle while her husband and child were fishing near the shore. I asked her to snap a photo of me and she was happy to do so.

Fun paddle. Back at the campsite, I crawled under the RV and got the new O2 sensor installed. I guess tomorrow will tell if that helps anything. I got in a shower and had a quick snack before heading off on my bike to see the dinosaur footprints this place is famous for. First I wanted to see if I could get some cell signal to call home. This is way out in the boonies. I had to pedal up a super steep drive to the upper entrance, paper boying the whole way. Managed to get a few bars and let PJ know I’m alive.

Back down at the visitors center, there was no one home to get a dinosaur pass from. I hopped on the bike and rode over. Empty kiosk at the entry so I kept riding on over to the little boardwalk area across the dam to see the relics of our Jurassic past.

Helps to keep you right sized thinking about these giants wandering around this very ground we’re standing on. I guess all the divots in the sandstone are tracks of one species of dinosaur or another. From lap size to bigger than a bus. There are lots of plaques to tell you what you’re looking at. I’m not sure if the recent rain helps or hinders, with half the prints full of water.

Interesting way to pass an hour then home for hot dogs and potato salad while watching people pull their boats out of the water. Pleasantly tired in this peaceful place.