Amarillo, Amarillo, Amarillo

At some point in the last couple of Texas towns, I picked up a tourist brochure for Amarillo. I am glad that I did because there were several attractions that I wanted to see in Amarillo.

Firstly I decided to take the early bus to the theatre so that I could walk around Downtown. One of the sight that I wanted to see was the old stretch of Route 66 that still exists in Amarillo. Unfortunately it was too far to walk to before the show so I walked until I saw a sign that I could take a picture of.

I also want to walk past the Paramount Theatre. I am not sure if the Paramount is even used a a theatre anymore, but well you know me and theatres!

All around Downtown were the remnants of what I am assuming was an Amarillo public art display much like Chicago's cows: painted horses. This one was the "Starry Night Mare". Get it? I wonder what Vincent Van Gogh would think of this?!

We played the Amarillo Civic Center. It definitely felt like a Civic Center!

The theatre was a part of a huge complex including convention rooms and a hockey arena.

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I enjoyed this poster if for no other reason that it was different that all of our other posters.

Ho Hum

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The only thing that I found notable about this theatre is that the stage door was down a steep ramp leading to a loading dock.

The other attractions that I wanted to see were not walkable, but as it turned out Robert wanted to see them too. So we got a group together and rented a car the next day.

Cadillac Ranch And A Huge Pair Of Legs

The Cadillac Ranch and the Huge Pair of Legs are two of the tackiest yet most fun examples of public art that exist. The Cadillac Ranch is basically a line of old Cadillacs buried at the same depth and the same angle to form a Stonehenge sort of effect. Over the years they have been graffitied so much that it has become a part of the experience to leave your mark.

There are empty spray paint cans everywhere!

Everyone did something a little different. Monica did her initials.

Kristen painted a rose.

Goin' for a spin.

This was my contribution. I'm not sure that it sold any extra tickets though!

As for the Huge Pair of Legs. Well they are just a huge pair of legs off the side of the interstate. I think that the man responsible for the Cadillac Ranch is also responsible for the legs. Unfortunately it is difficult to find much official information on the legs.

We weren't brave enough to hop the barbed wire fence to take pictures up close.

Apparently the socks are a fairly new addition.

Palo Duro Canyon

On the cover of the tourist brochure for Amarillo was a picture taken at the Palo Duro Canyon in Amarillo. After seeing the picture, I knew that I had to try to make it there somehow. So when I discovered that Robert wanted to see the canyon also it worked out perfectly!

Actual Texas longhorn.

Supposedly the Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon after the Grand Canyon.

Clair and Monica were a part of the group.

Lighthouse Rock is one of the main attractions in the canyon. We decided to take the trail that led to the Lighthouse Rock. Confusingly there is a rock formation that looks quite a bit like the pictures of the Lighthouse that is visible from the beginning of the trail.

This was not the real Lighthouse Rock, but a doppelganger as we discovered!

We never saw the animal that made these tracks. Stupid turkeys!

Once you make it about halfway through the trail, you can finally see the real Lighthouse Rock.

The trail leading up to Lighthouse Rock is rather treacherous, but totally worth it.

The prize at the end of the trail is Kristen!

The six mile trail was worth it for just this one picture.

Yes that is me.

I did find some points of interest along the way.

Ch, ch, ch, Chia Rock

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I have had a lot of experiences on tour, and my trip to Palo Duro ranks as one of the my favorite experiences! I recommend it to anyone who might be close to the area.