Coyote Bluff - a "hole in the wall" Restaurant

I guess I should start this with a few pictures - then you will understand the title.

 This restaurant is located on Grand Street in Amarillo. Not far from Wal-Mart. The gravel parking lot and the building reminds you of a rundown used car lot. The hours are very unique - closed on Sunday and M-S the hours are 11AM-2PM and then they open from 5PM to 10PM. When we arrived there was one couple standing on the porch and another couple just arriving. We discussed going in and the second couple said no, just wait they will come and get you. We thought that was a little odd until we got inside. There was no room to wait. About 10 minutes went by and the door opened an the waitress basically said "next" and the first couple went in. She told us that they had some large groups about ready o leave and then we would be seated. We talked to the couple that had arrived just before use and they asked if we had been there before. When we stated no, they said that we had to try the chili cheese burger and the chili cheese fries, that they were the best.

The menu is mostly hamburgers, but also offered a few salads and steaks. he board in various locations gave you an idea of the fare, but you are also provided with a printed menu.

 

I had a chili cheese burger, probably one of the best I have had. The chiles were flavorful and not real ot, just enough heat to let me know they were there. Deb had a cheeseburger with fries. She said it was a very good cheeseburger and the fries were just about right. Service is great, but do expect to wait, prices are good.  Definitely a place that we will return to the next time we are in Amarillo.

Palo Duro Canyon - Texas 207

After viewing the Charles Goodnight House in Goodnight, TX we went back to Claude, TX and took Texas 207 down into and across Palo Duro Canyon. Most people know of the canyon from the state park end, the west end of the canyon. Texas 207 crosses the canyon probably 20 miles from the state park.

The scenery is spectacular. The colors of the red rock and the green foliage really was a beautiful contrast.

We made this drive on Saturday and you can see the clouds coming in for an evening rain storm. The road crosses the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. By the indications of the bridge, there was a large amount of water in it at one time. On this day, barely a puddle left.

This drive is one that you should put on your to-do list if in the area. We enjoyed it, and think you will also.

Charles Goodnight House - Goodnight, TX July 2, 2011

Charles Goodnight is a Texas legend and a hero to many in the Texas Panhandle. Goodnight and Oliver Loving pioneered the Goodnight-Loving trail that brought cattle from Fort Belknap, TX to Ft. Sumner, NM. Goodnight explored the Palo Duro Canyon and at one point, owned most of it with his partner at the time John Adair. In the late 1800's, Goodnight built and lived in this home in Goodnight, TX, not far from the Palo Duro Canyon.

Now owned by the Armstrong County Historical Society, it is being restored to original condition.

Much more can be read about Charles Goodnight and his invention of the first Chuck Wagon used by cooks to feed hungry cowboys on the trail, one such site is Charles Goodnight - Legends of America and another is The Goodnight Ranch and yet another is Short Goodnight Biography. Goodnight was said to be a man firm in his beliefs. More than one ranch hand faced his wrath for drinking in public  or not being gentlemanly.

Thoughts on Minneapolis - June 20, 2011

Minneapolis is quite a town. Though I did not see a lot of it, I saw several of the high points. Things like the two story Target Store (Minneapolis if Target's Corporate Office), Mall of America and the Mary Tyler Moore Statute. Plus I dined in a few of the various eateries in town. Some chains, some not.
The skylines of Minneapolis were very intriguing.

Dining goes from the standard chain establishments to local favorites. One of these local favorites is called Hell's Kitchen. It has no relationship to the TV show of the same name. This establishment serves things like Sweet Potato Fries, Bison Burgers and Grilled Ham, Cheese and Pear sandwich, which as bad as it may sound was actually very good.



One of the things that did amaze me about the city was the amount of "skywalks" they have. There is a system of pathways that go from building to building and if memory serves, it covers something like 11 miles.

This makes it very convenient to travel through the city, especially in the weather that occurs in the winter time.

The two story Target Store seems like a novelty, however I and my fellow travellers found the isles to be crowded and hard to negotiate.

The Mall of America was also interesting. Though I admit I did ot see much of it. By the time we went here I was coming down with a cold and not feeling well. The first things that strikes you after getting off the train (free) which takes you there from downtown is that it looks like every other Mall you have been to, until you get inside. Then you see the Amusement Park.

Then you see the normal Mall stores, restaraunts and specialty shops. Specialty shops like the Lego Store.

It is a multi-level mall, and if I had been feeling better, I would have taken the time to explore it more.

Of course I guess you can't come to Minneapolis with out seeing thier famous/favorite girl, with a statute on the main plaza in town.

Amarillo by evening, Up from Lubbock Town - 07/01/11

This is our second exploration trip to Amarillo. The first was over Labor Day in 2010. We again stayed at the Oasis RV Resort, which is on Arnot Road about 10 miles from "downtown" Amarillo and about a mile west of the infamous Cadillac Ranch. Oasis RV Resort offers many amenities, besides free WiFi, it has RV Wash, RV Repair, swimming pool, laundry, club house and a restaurant, though this was closed during our stay due to a grease trap problem. This RV Resort does not offer trees, but it does offer wind.

The sites are large, concrete pads that are level and paved roads through out. Like most RV Resorts that we have stayed in, they do have some "full time" residents, but they are well maintained and do not detract from the overall appeal to the Resort.

Like I said earlier, wind is a commodity in the panhandle and on the south plains. this is evident by the multiple wind generator farms springing up. But, it can play havoc when trying to cook your dinner outside on a grill. So, my wife suggested that in the early morning when the wind was calmer, I should cook the hamburger that we were going to eat turning our stay. So here is the sight that people saw at 8 AM.

 

As stated earlier, the RV Resort is located close to Cadillac Ranch. In their own tribute to the infamous site, I guess you could call this RV Ranch or Motorhome Ranch. Either way, it is a great signature piece.

 

While at the Resort I struck up a conversation with another RVer. He stated that he had retired 16 years ago and that he and his wife had spent the night "outside" in all of the states and all Canadian provinces. He stated that they lived in South Carolina and that this was probably their last trip. We talked, like all RV owners, about the problems and joys of travelling in an RV. I hope that my wife and I can be so lucky to have such a great retirement.

We enjoy coming to this RV Resort and we think that you will also. There is a number of things to do around Amarillo. Some of our next entries will highlight just a few.