July 3 Hillbillys and more deadends

July 3, 2004 

We left Clinton, OK bound for Amarillo and the Cadillac Ranch. We also wanted to see Debbie, the Maid of Honor in our wedding 20 years ago. We haven’t seen each other in 15 years.  Amarillo is also the very first paper I ever worked. I was the first woman photographer they had ever seen.  I didn’t last long in Amarillo.  Although it was filled with the nicest folks you could ever meet.  It was just a whole lot different than what I grew up with.  Most of you have heard the stories so I won’t bore you here.  Before arriving in Amarillo however, we stopped off in Erick, OK.  Where we met “The Mediocre Music Makers” Harley and Annabelle.  If you ever find yourself in Erick be sure to stop by for an attitude adjusting, mind bending, musical treat.  You can’t avoid Annabelle’s blue eyes, or Harley personality.  Harley says she stopped for a “break from the highway 20 years ago and never left.”  .If your lucky their friend Jim Hicks will be there and share with you his “thirsty stones” and Indian artifacts collection. They can be found in the historic “City Meat Market”, where the drinks are on the house and the antiques and entertainment will keep you talking for miles and days later

Well, after escaping Erick we turned down old route 66, towards Alanreed, only to see that the road turned into a bumpy gravel pothole infested ranch road.  After the second cattle guard crossing at Trew Ranch we chickened out and turned around. After much discussion we decided if we were ever going to make the Grand Canyon we would have to make a quick visit with Debbie in Amarillo and keep heading west.

We stopped to get cold water and ice cream bars, having a hard time finding real ice cream cones.  We met a junior champion bull rider.  Matthew Keyes says he doesn?t like horses, prefers to ride bulls.  He also says one day we will see him on the rodeo circuit.  His folks were very nice, made me remember all the kind people I met in Amarillo during my short stay, 25 years ago.  We also took some time out to sign the VW Bug ranch.  A tourist rip off, of the Cadillac ranch, but still fun. We will catch the Cadillac ranch on our way back home.  It was a short hello at the Amarillo Globe News where Debbie works now and a warning that we were heading west towards a thunderstorm.  Introductions were made to Ella whom Debbie never met and a few stories told of my time at the Globe-News and we took her warning and headed west.  We made a short stop in Vega, Texas to look at the boot bush and dot?s mini route 66 Museum. We drove through Adrian, Texas the Midway point on route 66, and again we were chased out of town by a dog this one was named Peanut.

We hit some rain and the most beautiful sunset you could imagine the kind that makes you realize why New Mexico is the ?land of enchantment?.

We pulled into Tucumcari just as the sun was setting.  What luck ?The Blue Swallow? had a room.  This just might be the most stunning neon motel on the Route 66 stretch so far.  The rooms have been wonderfully restored and if your not driving a 22.5-foot long Cadillac you have a private carport to park in. This is a must see if you ever arrive at sunset. It was also the perfect backdrop for Hannah to entertain all of us in the vintage circus outfit.  We have all laughed alot on this journey.  We all loved Tucumcari.  After a nice dinner at Del?s and downloading the days photos we all went to bed early.