Category: Vacation

Camping – Dinosaur Valley State Park – Texas

4 Days. and 3 Nights Camping at Dinosaur Valley State Park - Texas

I would like to start off this travel log with an apology to the people in hike-in site 1. Don’t know who you are, but I know we caused more havoc after 9:45 than you deserved.  The little folding camp chairs sitting next to your fire ring were a cute reminder that your crew would be paying us back around 6:30 am.
Camping - Dinosaur Valley

And so we ran back to the parking lot twice trying to be as quiet as possible.
We set camp and were down by 11:30. Must have been 2 am when we had our first visitor, a raccoon. They would come to visit each morning between 1 and 2. They do throw a bit of a fit when you tie down the trashcan lid.

Day 2 at Dinosaur Valley State Park

I needed to go to the car and grab a few things to get breakfast going but wasn’t willing to do the walk of shame past campsite 1. So we waited till they packed up before we showed our face. We ate a big camp scramble using out turkey fryer and big castiron skillet.
Recent rain had brought the river level up a bit and provided the day’s entertainment.
River fun at Dinosaur Valley State Park
We could not keep people from walking through our camp. This was really annoying. By day 3 we blocked off the makeshift trail from the river to our site. That night I had to be in Stephenville, Texas to shoot video for work.

Day 3 at Dinosaur Valley State Park

After a big breakfast, we packed up and hiked while it was cool. The first half of the hike was pleasant. Most of the hiking trails at the park are located on the other side of the river. So coming or going you have a chance to cool off. We hiked up a way and had lunch on the trail.

Once back at the tent we found a baby squirrel inside.

The afternoon was a repeat of the previous day.
Kids in water, then napping, then I head off to work on a video production.
I made it back to cook tacos for dinner and then hang out by the campfire till bedtime.
Once again the raccoons made a visit, but this time it was while Kendra and I were sitting by the fire.

This trip provided some of the best camping sleep I have ever had. It does help that we used the big camp cots. Grason chooses to be tough and sleep on the floor of the tent.

As people passed by the tracks close to our campsite we would overhear discussions. The best quote all week was,

“There is no way these are millions of years old, they would be washed away long before now.”

Camping at Dinosaur Valley State Park is Awesome.

This is not meant to be the worlds best travel log but a reminder to me and the family about the fun few days we spent on the bank of the Paluxy River in Glen Rose, Texas. The State Park was great and we will be back again to play in the dino tracks, hike and bike the trails.

Thanks for reading,

Derrick Perrin

Paluxy River

AZT Gear and bike 2017

Included in this listing are a few videos associated with my gear carried during the 2017 AZT300 mountain bike race in southern Arizona. To see more AZT videos from Derrick Perrin please visit https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnIAlMPx0_ZNiRzyvsITyut4IoDTBDUOE

Thanks for watching. If you have questions of comments please jump over to YouTube and comment on each individual video. I would love to hear from you and any suggestions you have to make bike packing better for everyone.

AZT17 Planning

Tuesday April 4, 2017

Tuesday April 4, 2017

Stay at Balmorhea State Park.

9207 TX-17, Toyahvale, TX 79786
(432) 375-2370

Reservation Confirmation – 18062157

Travel Time
6 h 58 min

Wednesday April 5, 2017

Wednesday April 5, 2017

Xanadu Ranch GetAway
92 S.Los Encinos Rd, P.O. Box 1291
Sonoita, Arizona, 85637-1291, United States
520-455-0050

Travel Time

7 h 11min

Thursday April 6, 2017

Thursday April 6, 2017

Xanadu Ranch GetAway
92 S.Los Encinos Rd, P.O. Box 1291
Sonoita, Arizona, 85637-1291, United States
520-455-0050

Local tourist attraction day.

Friday April 7, 2017 - Race Day 1

Friday April 7, 2017

Xanadu Ranch GetAway
92 S.Los Encinos Rd, P.O. Box 1291
Sonoita, Arizona, 85637-1291, United States
520-455-0050

First fay of AZT 300

Drop of Derrick at Parker Canyon

Kendra and Crew do local attraction

Race Information

Perrin Cacncer 11.03.2014 Brazos Bend SP

I’m up here at M.D. Anderson for my last day of chemotherapy. Tonight concludes round 3 of 6. He have been lucky to have our family take care of the children for rounds 1 & 2. This time we have them in Houston with us.  Things are different, but I think its better to have them here.

Today we spent time hiking Brazos Bend State Park.

brazos bend state park old treeWe met a retired school teacher at the visitor center and we all got to pet a baby alligator. She was so sweet and asked if I could be added to her prayer list. You bet you lady. She was also nice enough to snap a family photo next to the oldest tree in the park. Prayers back to you sweet lady with the snakes and baby alligators.

We hiked for about 4+ miles and saw one alligator out in the wild. I love it that Kendra loves nature so much and wants to be in it as often as she can. Tomorrow we look to hike in the Big Thicket north of Houston. Wednesday I’m back at MD Anderson for a nulesta shot and then off to Corpus Christi.

Each brake is a bit worse than the previous. Keep in mind I’m accumulating chemotherapy each round. As my doctor put it I will be hit down to 90% the first time and then 90% of 90% the next. So each time my bounce back takes longer. This will be compounded by the upping of dose for round 4. Lets just say I’m probably not going to be taking long walks on the beach or hiking in the woods come round 6. We will see how far my will can go. Somewhere down the road I’m told I will need blood transfusions and other blood products. Yea, blood products… sounds fun right?

Well my battery is about to run out before my Cyclophosphamide does. The nurse acted like I get a bigger dose than the average Joe. Oh well, have a great night!

Derrick Perrin

Happy 4th of July

I hope everyone had a blessed 4th of July. We spent the time out at my folks lake house visiting and playing in the lake.

Kendra and I talked about the irony involved into shutting down work to celebrate the toughest battle our country has every one. We be like, “We want to sit back drink beer and celebrate others hard work.”


This was the smallest group at my folks lake house in the 10 years they have owned it. Although small we had a great time with the family.

Loading...
X