More Days in Amarillo

We have been on the go so much we decided to just chill at home until it was time to go to Palo Duro Canyon.  Ted and Tom washed off the dirty spots on the rigs and vehicles caused by the sprinklers hitting them in Oklahoma City.  You are not supposed to wash vehicles but Ted would rather ask forgiveness than seek permission.  No one bothered him but both he and Tom said some spots remain and will need to be buffed out.  I wrote the park and complained but I doubt I will hear from them.  Their sprinklers shouldn't be set to hit vehicles when parked.

Then they both went to Home Depot to return a hose that sprung a leak.  It didn't go well at first but Ted finally got his new hose.  He had the truck washed on the way home and the remaining spots aren't bad on the champagne color.  He has an electric buffer at home so he isn't too concerned for now.  Tom has some Spray & Shine and they will try that.

We left about 4:00 for Canyon TX to catch the shuttle for the Texas Musical and dinner.  Eileen and I stopped in some shops on the town square and then met the fellows at a cute soda shop complete with lunch counter, jukebox, penny candy, old signs and lots of 45's on the walls.  We had something to drink until it was time to go.

This was our first glimpse of the canyon and it is pretty spectacular.  

That is a private home on top the ridge.  What a view!

Our evening included a chuck wagon dinner of ham, brisket, sausage, beans, cole slaw, potato salad and cobbler.  I took everything but immediately gave Ted my beans and sausage.  It was quite tasty and we all enjoyed the meal.

This is the amphitheater backdrop and seats.

The production is a musical centered around the story of settling the Texas panhandle.  After reading the area history I think it is based loosely on Charles Goodnight and the 1.3 million acre JA Ranch.  The Indians had already been sent to reservations, large landholders were fencing public lands and small farmers were having difficulty with water and passage because of the fences.  When the Indians came to hunt buffalo, they found only cattle.  Chief Quanah Parker brokered a treaty with Goodnight for two steers a day.   Unfortunately the Indians ended up permanently on reservations back in Oklahoma but the fencing question was settled by the government.   The finale is a patriotic salute to Texas and the U.S. and was an extravaganza production including spraying water fountains, fire, fireworks, flag waving, recognition of the military, dance and songs.  We all said it was a really nice meal and production.

The next day we returned to the Palo Duro State Park.  It was too hot to even think about taking trails so we stopped at the Visitor's Center then drove the whole loop stopping for some photos.

We returned home in time for our free limo ride to the Big Texan Steak Ranch.

It was a fun way to get to the restaurant and we enjoyed the drivers' commentary both coming and going.

We had fun taking photos all around the restaurant.  This is the home of the 72 oz. Free steak if you can eat it all along with a shrimp cocktail, salad, baked potato and a roll.  Unbelievably the record holder is a 120 lb. woman who ate it in less than 5 minutes!

Two fellows had just finished their attempt and there was a bachelor who was eating with 11 friends to celebrate his upcoming wedding and was about to begin but we were leaving.  The one hour clocks were all set to go again.

It is quite a place and we had fun taking photos.  I ended up in jail for the second time but Eileen was with me this time.

Our driver to the restaurant.

Shades of Edith Ann from Laugh In.  We did laugh a lot trying to get in and out of the chair!

I finally found a coffee cup for me to use in the trailer.  I just don't know where to buy it.