Amarillo by Friday

The Fox and I left for Amarillo Friday, May 28th to join the Casita Route 66 Group. Needless to say we didn't pull out at 6am as anticipated, although, three hrs later wasn't too much of a delay. Our route took us down I25 to Raton then 87 into Dalhart. From there I hooked into Boy's Ranch Road (County Rd 1601). Well, that was nostalgic to say the least. All the way through NM my mind was flooded with memories of long ago when me, and the kids would stop on our way to Canyon at the Hi Ho Cafe in Clayton and have a piece of homemade pie. We always looked forward to that stop and then getting to Boy's Ranch Road and closer to Mom and Dad's. This time the Canadian River actually had red water in it. The red is not unusual but the fact there was water is. We left the flat planes of Dalhart for the gentle slop of new arroyos close to Boy's Ranch. Thirty-six miles to Amarillo. I remember that drive seemed so long 50 yrs ago when I was a senior in high school.

The yucca was blooming and nearly covered every sq inch of ground. So many wild flowers. Yucca is not a good thing on a ranch. . . that means the country has been overgrazed by cattle. Coming into Amarillo nice homes were built on both sides of the road, something that didn't exist in the early days. You could see Amarillo off in the distance. . . 4 - 5 skyscrapers. That sight used to be so exciting for us. I remember we used to stop at Stucky's on HWY 27 to use their phone to call mom and dad so they would meet us at the Palo Duro Club gate and let us in.

Arriving there after a long drive from Denver we would sit in the "air conditioned" house having a drink while the kids checked the creek and water depth at the first and second crossings. They loved it there. So did I, it was like an escape to another time and place for me, all my problems seemed to melt away. Maybe that's because it was home to me. The reference to "air conditioned" was the memory of my Dad trying in vain to keep the double A Frame cool in the summer. One visit we pulled up to see a water sprinkler on the roof fanning back and forth to keep the house cool. My Dad had one goal that I'll never forget, keeping the inside of whatever house we lived in cool. Once, I came home from high school and the refrigerator was in the dinning room, door open, freezer door open with a fan sitting in front of it. He was always saying "shut the door and don't let the hot air in".

This time we were headed to the KOA campgrounds on the northwest side of Amarillo right off of Amarillo Blvd which used to be Route 66. I was amazed when I merged onto Loop 335 to skirt the city on the way north. Wow, how time changed things. It was good to get there. I was tired of driving and ready to rest up and meet the folks in our group. 85 degrees, oh yes, oh yes! Finally, a touch of summer weather. Better not be too grateful because I remember how hot and windy it can get here.