Jake’s canyon visit, next - the farm

We took Jake and Makaila to Palo Duro Canyon on Saturday. Chase had promised that he could find the caves he and Seth had explored last year and, if not, we were still going to be able to hike a bit, eat a picnic lunch and let Jake feel the Texas heat. We decided to pass up the gift shops until after we had gotten some of the energy out. It is always difficult to sense the expectations of a child when you are explaining to them the coming activity, but with Jake it has generally been a good experience to share things of this nature with him. Saturday was no exception.


We stopped as we usually do at the first pull off as you enter the canyon. It is one of the best spots to get an overlook of the canyon. The weather was overcast and a bit chilly. Mama was remarking about the atmosphere not being up to the predicted temperature yet. She had dressed for the high temperatures, not what we were walking in at the moment. Having done that – along with the requisite pictures – we moved on. The sun did come out quickly and I was wishing for the morning temperatures.

Chase had us pull off the road at what he thought was the correct spot and we began the trek to the caves. As we were about half way there, our trail was crossed by a group of people riding into the canyon on horseback. That thrilled Jake. After about a fifteen minute walk, we came to the caves and crawled up into the opening. Jake and Chase were excited. Makaila was genuinely frightened. Mama was just happy we had arrived – she always questions Chase’s sense of direction.

It was large enough to walk upright for the first fifty or so yards but quickly shrunk down so that we had to stoop to pass through. A little further and we were bent over pretty good as we made our way into the darkness. Jake was thrilled; Makaila not so much. Chase activated the flashlight on his phone and the five of us shared the little light in the complete black for about a three or four minute expedition that wound through the limestone passage to an opening near the top of the cliff above where we entered.

You have to understand Mama and darkness to get a sense of the conversation that accompanied us through that tunnel. Chase was in front with Jake. Chase had the light. I was in the middle followed by Mama and Makaila. Mama hates the dark and was constantly ordering Chase to shine the light where she could see it. That proved difficult because of the turns in the passage. It was slow progress. There were several bumps to the head before we reached the light again. But everyone agreed that it had been fun. I think Makaila lied.

We slipped and skidded our way down to ground level and looked back up to the entrance. Jake wanted to go again but no one seemed as keen on the idea as he was so I went back through with him. It was a much faster trip than the first time and we were quickly through and back down to the canyon floor. As we walked back to the car Jake began to wonder if I were taking the right path so I pointed out the print from Mama’s shoes to him and we began to follow them. I doubted myself a couple times until I spotted a couple distinct pieces of trash I had noted on the way in – crummy, but useful landmarks.

When we got back to the car Jake scolded Chase and Makaila, “You guys were wimps. I was the only one taking risks.” Mama and I were obviously excluded from the rebuke, but Chase and Makaila took up the gauntlet and the ragging continued throughout the remainder of the day. All in all, it was a fun day. Jake bought some gifts at the little shop where we had to take Makaila to get a hamburger because she would not eat the food we had brought – tuna salad, egg salad and peanut butter and jelly. Jake’s only disappointment was that he had not found a cow head to take back home. But you have to know Jake to know how he stressed over that!

Mama will be leaving for Bowie today. She is excited to show Jake the farm. I have more of a worry that his sense of expectation will not be met in that – at least not after the first few hours. It is a pace of life he is not used to. There will be no TV, no restaurants, and no pool. However, there will be plenty of work to do; not the sort of activities to which he is accustomed. The saving grace of the experience is that Mama Kim is there.

We will have to wait to see if that is enough for an entire week.