Late morning at my campsite at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area

There are only six campsites here, and mine is the only one that was occupied last night. Despite the heavy winds yesterday evening, it's a pleasant sunny morning here now.

Excellent views eastward from the ledge on which the campground sits

I spend some time trying to identify roads and features in the distance where I might have been.

Northeast from Providence Mountains Campground, one gets a view of Wild Horse Mesa

Hole-in-the-Wall Campground is beyond that. Looks like nice hiking country...

After taking the tour of the Mitchell Caverns, I go for a walk up the hill behind the Park office

This could easily turn into a day-long hike way up into the Providence Mountains, but I'm feeling far too lazy today for anything like that.

Cholla cactus

There are lots of these around here; fortunately I haven't been bitten by one yet.

I've bought another box of fire wood from the Park office to have a campfire tonight

Earlier this morning, I had considered packing up and moving on, but the allure of the cave tour, another campfire and water at my disposal, easily convinced me to stay another day.

A view of the Mitchell Caverns campground from a bit higher up shows how it's little more than a small, scenic parking lot

Several cars come and go during the day, especially around the hours of the Mitchell Caverns cave tour, but it looks like the other five campsites here will be vacant tonight again.

Concrete attached to the inside of a garbage can lid at the campground

I thought the lid felt a little heavy when I opened the can. The sometimes-strong wind here is obviously a known force to contend with.

I go for another short walk on one of the trails at Mitchell Caverns

One of these trails is quite short and has a brochure available to help to identify the plants growing here.

More cholla cactus

I like how the needles make the cactus look luminous.

The wind is picking up and I think it's going to be another noisy night in the tent with the tent walls flapping hard

After a relaxing campfire and supper, I crawl back into the tent to get some sleep. It's a chilly night again, but without the icy feel of the nights that I spent higher up in the mountains.