Palo Duro Canyon Visit

Well it looks like we might have out smarted ourselves. The severe weather east of us, we thought, would be clearing up by Monday. Now it looks like it will be raining our entire route home for at least the rest of next week. So again we’ll have to take it day by day – I hate traveling in the rain. But we do want to get home. Anyone want to buy a 40’ Class A diesel RV? Getting sick of being in it. Almost seven months now. And heaven knows what we’ll find when we get home, between the roof leaking again and the water heater self destructing.

Watched some NASCAR yesterday – what wasn’t rained out anyway. The race last night was delayed three hours by rain.

Boy the wind is BLOWING again. Everything in here is covered with a fine coat of dust and visibility is pretty low because of flying dust. [We are right on the edge of the sevfere weather moving into Oklahoma City tonight.] We went out for a little bit to go for lunch at Famous Dave’s BBQ.

Then to Best Buy ‘cause Bill’s monitor took a crap. Then coming home we found two more painted horses. One at the Chevy dealer. Simply called “Chevy” wonder why…

One in front of Hooters. Named “Hooter’s Philly” at two or three a day it will only take 45 more days to find them all.

Back to yesterday – we drove across the flat land heading towards Palo Duro Canyon…How could there possibly be a canyon around here?

Palo Duro Canyon is a State park with lots of campgrounds and a very beautiful place. Called “The Grand Canyon of Texas.” Easy road to drive and lots of trails to hike and bike. It costs us $10 to enter – day use fee. The whole area at one time was a privately owned ranch. In 1933 the CCC – Civilian Conservation Corp – was brought in to develop it. Some info about the CCC and the park.

Just a wall of the Visitor Center before going inside.

Looking out over the canyon from the Visitor Center

Another look. Reminded me somewhat of Sedona area.

This was one of the nicest Interpretive Visitor Centers I’ve been in. The displays were very interesting and set up really nice.

Info about the area.

Drawing of the layers of earth.

There was also a lot of information about the CCC. When my Dad was a young man he worked with the CCC. I now wish I’d paid more attention to his time with them and where he worked.

CCC Facts.

The daily routine for the men. 

Thought this was interesting.

Driving out into the canyon. Lookout point looking across the canyon. 

Some of the different colors of the rocks.

More scenery the road twists down into the valley.

 

A really good look at the layers.

Some of the plant life on the valley floor. Trees, cactus, long dry grass and a little plant with red berries.

The road has five water crossings with warnings not to cross them if there is water present. If the water is up to the 5 – watch out. Those are measurements in feet. Not a drop on the road yesterday. I wonder how many people have driven into 3 or 4 feet of water. 

Water next to the road though on both sides.

You can see how high the water has cut into the banks.

The first three crossings are now getting bridges built over them. So there was still a narrow road to cross the wash. Lots of big RVs back in the campgrounds - so it's not as narrow as it appears.

Just more scenery. Red cliffs and dry, dry grass. There is a high fire warning throughout Texas. And today with the wind it could be a disaster if a fire started.

It was a very pleasant drive. And only 25 miles from Amarillo. 

So that was yesterday.

Waiting now for the NASCAR Cup race to begin. We are really rocking and rolling from the wind. I don’t see any satellite dishes up on any ones RV. Glad we have a dome instead of a dish. Bill just remarked that he's had enough of the f***ing wind. Me too.; 

Old Amarillo Route 66

I mentioned we drove around Amarillo’s old downtown Route 66 district the other day. I was kind of disappointed in what we saw. A lot of empty lots and empty buildings. And things not being kept up. A Route 66 mural that could use some TLC.

As could this one. What a shame that these have been neglected.

One of the few murals that looked fresh.

An old filling station that’s been turned into a restaurant.

Liked this snarling cat. Not sure what the business was…but you can make some guesses.

Stephen Marsh 3 who was instrumental in setting up the Cadillac Ranch – hope to go there before we leave – Cadillacs planted nose first in the desert – also put road type signs through out Amarillo. Only they weren’t real road signs – just signs he liked. We did find two of them. This one says “Homer”…We were moving fast when I spotted it - just managed to snap it.

This one “Et tu Brute”… Marsh just liked the ideas of signs for reading.

One of the many “antique” stores along 6^th St.

Another repurposed gas station.

One thing we found interesting were all the brick streets scattered here and there around the center of town.

We need to go that way again looking for the painted horses so maybe I’ll get some better pictures. There are a couple of older buildings that were very nice but the light was wrong and the pics didn’t turn out.

Today was warm and the wind has let up. We drove out to Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Where I took the picture for the new header. Very nice drive – will write about it tomorrow as I haven’t looked at the pictures yet. But coming back from there we passed a couple more painted horses – this one at a veterinarians. This one is called "Swordfish" no idea why as the paintings on him are western scenes. 

Also at the vets were these cute babies.

Hello. Want to play?

Then we passed this painted horse - but again he was off the highway a ways and we were moving. It is called "Ol' Roy"

So far we've seen six of 96...when I told Bill how many were left to find he just shook his head.

We are still watching John Wayne movies – I think today is the last day of them. Right now watching “North to Alaska.”  Hoping to watch the Nationwide race tonight but it keeps raining in Richmond where they are supposed to race. 

Checking out Amarillo

Another day to be spent in Amarillo. In fact a few more days to be spent here. After checking out the weather on line and on TV we’ve decided to stay put until Monday. We could have made it to Oklahoma City but then would have been in Oklahoma or Missouri during severe weather that is coming to that area over the weekend. At least it is warm here and the wind has changed directions and let up some.

Just an interesting trash barrel we saw.

The wind yesterday – that is not fog it is dust.

Yesterday after breakfast at the Iron Skillet – a Petro Truck Stop restaurant and always good - we went to visit the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum.

Another of the life sized sculptures out front.

Into the lobby. Senior fee $5.00.

The first hall we entered was all about the Buffalo Soldiers – the 9^th and 10^th Calvary and the horses they rode. Information about the training of the horses.

A photo of the training.

More information about the Buffalo Soldiers – they were stationed at Fort Huachuca, AZ.

Photos of some of the soldiers.

The American Quarter Horse beginnings.

A small sculpture – the detail is amazing.

For some reason I always thought of the Quarter Horse just as a working horse. Had no idea it was so versatile or did so much racing.

The other halls gave the history of the racing Quarter Horse. Very interesting museum to visit.

Back outside again.

Then we went home to watch another soccer game. Unfortunately Real Madrid won. This was a game in the Champions League. Finally got started catching up on the laundry. Then out to dinner – passed this parked truck – it was carrying a paddle/wing for a wind turbine. I sure wouldn’t like to be driving one of those trucks – they are sooooo long. A sign on the truck said "Wide Turns" no kidding - I don't know how they could make any kind of turn. 

Saw these at the check out stand after dinner. Supposedly they can be eaten. Just don’t think I could do it. The cashier told us one trucker bought four of them for his kids. He said they always wanted him to bring them something home. And he figured these suckers would put a stop to that. Wonder if it did?

Still doing laundry today and still watching John Wayne movies. This morning we drove into town and drove along old Route 66.

Found two more of the painted horses – learned they are called Amarillo’s Hoof Prints. There are 96 here in town – wonder how many we can find????

Called "Amarillo Super Spirit" at 1000 S Polk

Called "Stained Crystal/Pretty Boy" at 6th & Georgia

Also stopped at the Visitor Center and got some information about what else to do around here. Another post.

My Peeps are finally hard enough to eat – I love them!