Up through the central states.
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We find the road to Amarillo!
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Across the Texas panhandle to Oklahoma! |
Travelling northeast we visited the town of Ruidoso, famous for the racecourse and quarter horses.
The Hubbard Museum of the Wild West was full of displays of wagons, coaches and horse paraphernalia Found a store selling Cadbury cream eggs!!
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We then set off across the plains to find the way to Amarillo.
Passing along parts of route 66 where old shabby motels cling to the past
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Then we stopped to see the famous Cadillacs that are buried in the ground at the same angle as the Great Pryamid in Giza.
It seemed the cows like them as rubbing posts! Another visitor place at Amarillo is a Helium mine! It is where the first source of the gas was discovered.
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Turning south we went to the Palo Duro Canyon State Park where we could camp down in the valley away from the cold winds.
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Here we had a visit by the wild turkeys everyday! |
This awesome Boss Hogg fire truck was a special edition in memory of the fire-fighters who died on 9/11
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Even though we ran out of gas and had to rely on our portable stoves we enjoyed several peaceful days down here and took the bus for a drive around the scenic highway!
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We had to use the mountain bikes to ride the steep Lighthouse trail, returning via the cottonwood trail-
over 8miles of hard rough going. |
Back in Canyon City we took a look around the Plains People Historic Museum that portrayed the changing way of life in this area.
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Onward towards Oklahoma along Interstate 40 that connects California with Carolina.
Here we came to the home of our biker pal Major Bois Duane Marable or Okie to all the British ISDE crews.
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Our wheels had hardly stopped turning when we were whisked off to a Friday night drag race meeting at Thunder valley raceway. The Firefighters were on duty to help raise funds for a team to go to the World Police and Fire Games in Quebec in June.
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Here we met some friendly folk including this Easter Bunny!
We had to help get the indemnity forms signed as spectators arrived and it was very cold out there.
We had to smile at the sign on this toy hauler!
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Things soon warmed up when the jet cars roared away down the strip reaching over 220mph!
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The jet team golf cart was no slow coach-
don't let the RV folk see this! |
This Super Chief was one of the many unusual vehicles at the sprint.
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The next few days were spent looking at Oklahoma City- the Memorial-the fire stations-the fast food eateries and the bike shops
Red Bud trees were in full bloom in the spring sunshine.
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In the city centre Dot found a load of painted buffaloes
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On our way home we just happened to pass the Wiley Post airfield where a few guys were tinkering with this lovely B26. Next thing you know Jim and Okie are up in the cockpit acting like a pair of big kids! We were late home for tea! |
Okie collects old cars and this one may look familiar!
This lot are waiting for some tender loving care!!
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While Jim and Okie talked cars and bikes Dot joined Judith in the greenhouse and garden.
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Judith grows spectacular prize-winning irises and this is just one of her 200 varieties!
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Across the great plains and an encounter in Dodge. |
Northwards through towns with 'Last Chance' saloons and past the sight of the Talbot Gang Shootout. We were following the route of the Chisholm trail and stopped to read many of the historic markers along the way.
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Into Kansas where the thunderclouds built up so quickly and the lighting flashed and rain fell all in the space of a few minutes. Kinsey claims to be midway between San Fransisco and New York! 1561miles in each direction. |
At Hutchinson there is a Cosmosphere with an excellent and informative display of rockets.
They also have lots of space stuff including this genuine Apollo 13 capsule and artefacts from the Tom Hanks film.
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Here is proof that Dodge City and Boot Hill really do exist
But Jim could not get any money from this bank!
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At the Museum we strolled through the old Front Street shops.
This saloon is straight out of a western movie!
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Jim could not resist a visit to the footplate of the old BNSF steam train.
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Then who do we meet but two Liverpudlians who now live in Canada.
How we laughed over lunch-it was so good to hear a scouse accent again! |
They are entertainers and were on their way to Smith Centre to do a show on Sunday afternoon!
Bernie and Red. We changed our plans and set off to Smith Centre and enjoyed the show.
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Next day we all visited the factory where the Excel trailers are manufactured.
Wearing hard hats we spent the afternoon interrupting the work schedule as we toured the factory. |
These monster fifth wheel trailers are up to 36feet long-have five slide outs and are the size of a small house!
Weighing in at 20,000lbs or 9 tons you need a big super duty truck as the towing vehicle.
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We said goodbye to our new friends and hope to meet them again in Canada.
Just along the way is the centre of the United States- however there is also another place in North Dakota that claims to be the geographic centre. |
Another State is visited as we call into the excellent Pioneer Museum in Minden, Nebraska.
Then we head out towards Colorado past huge granaries that stand high above the grasslands, proud like cathedrals. |
Next stop at the Rocky Mountains, Pikes Peak and more snow!
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