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Friday, April 2, 2010

Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo’s landscape is flat, flat, flat.  It’s part of the Great Plains of the United States.  And remember the song about “where the wind comes sweeping down the plains”?  The song was about Oklahoma which is next door.  40 to 50 mph is common here, even though it tips over the 18 wheelers.  Amarillo is an old “cow town”, which you can smell if the wind is right.  Some say it’s the smell of money, but I don’t care for it. 

Our free “Oasis RV Resort” is wonderful!  Large concrete pads & patios – free 50 amp service – free wi-fi – 50 cent washers & dryers in every comfort station – swimming pool & beautiful club house – Just amazing!IMG_3854 IMG_3853

“From Wikipedia:  Cadillac Ranch is visible from the highway, and though it is located on private land, visiting it (by driving along a frontage road and entering the pasture by walking through an unlocked gate) is tacitly encouraged. In addition, writing graffiti on or otherwise spray-painting the vehicles is also encouraged, and the vehicles, which have long since lost their original colors, are wildly decorated. The cars are periodically repainted various colors (once white for the filming of a television commercial, another time pink in honor of Stanley's wife Wendy's birthday , and yet another time all 10 cars were painted flat black to mark the passing of Ant Farm artist Doug Michels or simply to provide a fresh canvas for future visitors. The cars were briefly "restored" to their original colors by the motel chain Hampton Inn in a public relation sponsored series of Route 66 landmark restoration projects. The new paint jobs and even the plaque commemorating the project lasted less than 24 hours without fresh graffiti.” ------- Don & I walked out into the field and took these photos – notice all the discarded spray paint cans that were left on the ground.  A woman was letting her champion greyhound go for a run and I couldn’t resist a photo of him OR of the painted sneakers that someone left on the barbed wire fence. IMG_3827 IMG_3831 IMG_3826 IMG_3835

Eating out in Amarillo gave us lots of new places to explore.  Some of our favorites were: The Blue Front Cafe on old Rt. 66 – in business since 1946. Here’s the link: http://amarillobluefrontcafe.com/. Another favorite was the restaurant at the Cattle Auction , where we both had our first steak & eggs for breakfast. I didn’t realize the owner/chef was a graduate of the CIA in NY.   He made us welcome and offered to show us around Amarillo.    http://www.texashighways.com/index.php/component/content/article/49-dining-a-tastes/6066-th-taste-youngbloods-stockyard-cafe. We also ate at the “Big Texan” but we didn’t go for the BIG one!  Check it out: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/3087

The scenic highlight of the area is the Palo Duro Canyon, which is just south of Amarillo.  I made a picnic lunch for our trip to Palo Duro canyon State Park. We were there many years ago, but it was so foggy that we couldn’t see anything. This time it was sunny and we got some great photos. It’s 800 feet down into the canyon and there’s lots of 1800’s history. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Palo_Duro_Canyon  IMG_3851 IMG_0641 IMG_0651 IMG_3841

The Don Harrington Discovery Center is one of the best (children’s) science centers that we have ever played in.  The Space Theater has a 360 degree screen for viewing – we saw a show on the planets.   On the grounds of the center is the HELIUM time capsule.  Helium is stored here in Amarillo for future use.  The photos include one  ofDon with his hand in the “clouds” and my favorite – the black & white square tiles that give an optical illusion.IMG_3862 IMG_0669 IMG_0674IMG_3867  IMG_3865 Spring is just starting here in the Texas Panhandle and although it’s very, very windy a few trees are in bloom.  We wish everyone a very Happy Easter!!IMG_3861IMG_3871

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