Amarillo, TX

 It was a clash of cultures.  Neither the south plains Indians nor the European (white) settlers could see the world though the prism of one another’s culture.  In this situation, one act of revenge followed the other until it no longer mattered who committed the first act of violence, it was simply unending.  This resulted in what is called the Battle of Washita, in Western Oklahoma.  Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th Cavalry in an attack on the Cheyenne camp of Chief Black Kettle.  This became controversial almost immediately as Chief Black Kettle was trying to just stay out of the way of the war with the whites.  This National Battlefield and its Visitor Center tries to present the mind set of both sides without judgement.  I think they do a pretty good job.  This was our first stop of the day, and I believe I am more knowledgable for it.  

The drive today, finally takes us out of Oklahoma.  We left Elk City and eventually ended up in Amarillo. TX. 

 

                                                            Our entry into Texas

The last scene of the Tom Hanks movie “Castaway” was filmed at a crossroads in the Texas panhandle.  Sandy and I drove to that spot aided by some GPS co-ordinates available on the internet.  In the movie the scene evoked the sense of a blank slate...Tom Hanks' character was at a crossroads and all choices of direction looked the same.  There are some changes this scene...the most obvious one is that the crossroads are now in the middle of a wind farm...many windmills in all directions.  The second change is that now three roads exiting the intersection are paved.  Not to worry though, if you are planning on producing a remake of the “Castaway” scene, on our drive to this spot we passed many other crossroads that looked like the one in the movie.

A gold star location on the route is the U-Drop Inn.  It is nicely restored.  We, and  another couple from Ohio here.  They were also checking out some of the iconic places along route 66.  

We ended up the night at the “Big Texan Steak Ranch”.  This, too, is a Historical Route 66 federation Gold Star location.  First, let me get this out of the way, it is unequivocally a tourist trap.  And, were it anywhere but Amarillo and on Route 66 I would have avoided it.  But here, somehow it just belongs.  The restaurant is known for offering a free 72oz. steak, providing it is eaten in one hour.  The accompanying salad, roll, and potato must also be consumed in that hour.  While we were there three guys were giving it a go.  We did not stay long enough to see how they did but I was pulling for the guy from Ohio.

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