First trip west
#81
Posted 10 December 2008 - 07:31 PM
Touring the park
Our camp site. The park was almost deserted.
Red Rock Canyon was on the old California Road. Here's a little history I learned from the Hinton museum director. This was a wagon route through the center part of OK that the pioneers used when traveling west during the mid 1800's, mostly prior to the railroads. The settlers with their wagons traveled about 12-15 miles a day and had to stop to fill their water barrels each day. The creek in Red Rock Canyon was one of the stopping points. The wagons would have to lock the rear wheels with the brakes or poles while entering the canyon and the sliding wheels made deep ruts in the hard sandstone banks. The wagon trail leaving the canyon on the west side does not have very deep ruts, almost non-existent, because the wheels aren't sliding. I think these settlers had the first real truck campers!
The wagon entrance, looking down into the canyon. It was fairly steep.
Looking up at the entrance trail
Since we had shore power while camping here, we decided to download pictures from the camera to the computer. Here's our little table set up. I'm sure we had a much more comfortable camper than the pioneers.
2017 Ram 3500 6.4L gas SRW, CC, 2wd, 8' bed
2007 FWC Grandby--Sold
2015 Hallmark Ute XL
#82
Posted 11 December 2008 - 01:33 PM
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#83
Posted 11 December 2008 - 08:35 PM
Sherri climbing up from Robber's Cave. This was a place where several robber's and thieves hid out, such as Jesse James and Bell Starr.
View from Robber's Cave
While camping at Robber's Cave a fellow camper next to us said we must visit Winding Stair Mountain NRA and the scenic drive on Hwy 1. Sounded good, so we drove south to Talihina and onto the scenic drive. It was very nice. We didn't expect to find something like this in Oklahoma. It turned out to be a very beautiful drive and the weather remained perfect.
On the way to Winding Stair Mtn NRA we stopped for lunch at this cool little place in Talihina. Good food too.
The visitor center was a little busy. There were lots of motorcycles out this day.
Our first of many pullouts
The scenic Hwy 1 is on the crest of a ridge line. This is part of the Quachita Mountain range. I know, these are just foothills to those of you who live out west near the Rockies.
More views from Hwy 1. Traveling East.
We continued east on Hwy 1 into Arkansas, to the Queen Wilhelmina SP and through the Quachita NF. It was getting late on this Saturday Nov 9th, and we made the decision to try and get home to TN that night. So we couldn't spend much time touring this region. The road was sort of busy anyway. Can't you see those cars way out there?
Here's a view looking south from the Queen Wilhelmina visitor center.
Driving east on AR Hwy 88
Well that's it, WTW friends. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you.
We got home to Somerville TN about 9:30 PM. It was a great trip west that Sherri and I will never forget. We may have tried to cover too much of the country in 29 days, but did we ever see some beautiful country! We probably didn't do as much back country camping as many of you do. Maybe we'll do more on our next trip. I have learned a lot about truck camping and visiting the west with my FWC Grandby and there are a couple mods and additions I'd like to make. I'll discuss them in another thread. Except for the leaking heater core, which I fixed in Santa Barbara, and the lack of horse power in the mountains, my old school truck held up very well. It logged 6454 miles on this trip. I guess I'll keeping using it, for now.
Until the next trip west...Buzz and Sherri:)
2017 Ram 3500 6.4L gas SRW, CC, 2wd, 8' bed
2007 FWC Grandby--Sold
2015 Hallmark Ute XL
#84
Posted 11 December 2008 - 09:21 PM
Thank you for sharing. I am impressed both with your trip and your report.
Thanks,
SB
Scott Bailey -- W7SEB
2007 F350 XLT Diesel CC SRW SB 4x4
Cheap tent and a Partner Steel stove.
Future? Really like the Hiatus, but I'm broke AF, so dreaming about a DIY.
SOLD: 2008 ATC Panther:dinette, 5th wheel
#85
Posted 11 December 2008 - 09:24 PM
We cannot thank you enough for bringing us with you on your first trip West. It was unforgettable for us, too.
Mark & Edna
#86
Posted 12 December 2008 - 12:05 AM
#87
Posted 12 December 2008 - 02:35 AM
#88
Posted 12 December 2008 - 03:05 AM
Another thanks for sharing your experience. I enjoyed your descriptions and the pictures.
Retired 2002, living and loving it.
Pleasanton, CA
http://home.comcast....1/MyCamper.html
#89
Posted 12 December 2008 - 04:06 AM
Following your trip in near real time was great! I thank you for sharing such a memorable trek.
#90
Posted 12 December 2008 - 06:50 AM
Craig K6JGV_________________________ 2004 2500 CTD 4X4 FWC HAWK 1960 CJ5
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