This was the day that we were dreading the most, having to circumnatigate the Dallas traffic. We thought if we went on an alternate route about 40 miles north of the city on a Sunday that it would go smoothly. It did go smoothly, but it was not the scenic country road that we thought it would be, but miles and miles of new constuction and stop lights. The recession doesn’t appear to have hit here.
Lake Arrowhead State Park
Nice roomy campsite and almost nobody else here
We made out way to Lake Arrowhead State Park just outside of Wichita Falls. The roadsides have been covered in Bluebonnets, which is the Texas State Flower. I think we must be traveling at the best time of the year. Most of the roads that we’ve been on have had wildflowers on them and the trees are just starting their spring growth. It’s green right now in Texas but Lake Arrowhead, which is actually a reservoir is only at 40% and there are “Pray for Rain” signs on the roadsides.
The campground has lots of spring growth, tall grasses and tons of birds. It reminds me of a place we were at on the edge of the Australian outback and it would be a great place to spend more time.
Scissor-tailed flycatcher
We saw some birds that we have never seen before (thanks for the loan of the field guide Clay) including flocks of scissor-tailed flycatchers. It was amazing to see and hear them flying around.
There was also an active prairie dog town with youngsters and adults sounding the alarm that intruders were nearby. Laia has never seen anything like that and was peering down the holes trying to figure out where they went to.
Texas Bluebonnet
Prairie dog town
A State Park with it’s very own oil well
Sun and Sand Travelers 
Bluebonnets! One thing of which Texans can justifiably be proud. We can all thank Lady Bird Johnson for cofounding the National Wildflower Research Center.
Had to laugh as I envisioned Laia and the Pairie dogs!
Yes, she was having quite the time trying to figure out where they could disappear to.