Well, it's off to Santa Fe!

I'd say we managed to escape the brutal Texas summer of 2011 with its record-breaking heat; but, things were cooling down nicely when we departed, and there was rain in the forecast.

Our goal for the first day was Amarillo, some seven hours of driving. About two hours out, DW suggests altering our course and heading for the famed Palo Duro Canyon, which I'd flown over numerous times but never seen up close.

Indeed, there is...