We have been in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a week. We are staying at the Santa Fe Skies RV Park. Have great views of the mountains. They have a large dog park which Thumper loves. Lots of jack rabbits around. She is going crazy trying to catch them.

There is a lot to see here. There are lots of museums and galleries as well as great food. Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in North America. The Palace of the Governors located in the Plaza is the oldest public building in America. On weekends, it is where many vendors sell art, jewelry, etc

. Our first stop was to the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. I have seen her work in other museums over the years.   As one of my nieces said "going to check out the various vaginas".   There were a lot there checking them out. There is a short documentary on her life, which does reference the sexual innuendo to her work which she denied.

Afterwards, we walked over to the Plaza area stopping in a few galleries on the way. We noticed no tall buildings anywhere. Seems in 1958, a modern zoning code was passed that mandates the city keep its distinctive Spanish-Pueblo style of architecture. Earth-tones!!! After a week, I was looking for a bold painted structure.

    We went to Angel's Café for lunch which was more brunch for us. I had French toast and Skip had eggs.  We walked around town browsing and buying in some of the shops.

Skip looking at artwork

 Afterwards, we drove around trying to get our bearings and taking in the beautiful views. We do not have views like these in the northeast.
     

Left Oklahoma City heading west still on I-40 to Amarillo, Texas for a few days. After about 250 miles  at 65 MPH (Skip doing all driving) we pulled into Amarillo Ranch RV Park. Highway was pretty much flat, straight-away.

Makes it easy for Skip. Went to the Big Texas Steak House. A limo picks us up at campground and brings us to the front door. This restaurant has been seen on TV. It contains the 72 oz steak.

Whoever decides to take on the challenge, gets to sit front and center in front of the barbecue pit, and the clock starts the minute he/she begins digging into the steak.

1 hour for 72 oz.

The restaurant is family style eating. Lots of fun and food was good. We had small fillets (Skip had to save room for the Texas size Strawberry Shortcake).

  The next day we went to Bill's Backyard Classics. For those who love cars, this is your paradise!!! Two garages full of beautiful old cars. Afterwards, we drove over to another tourist attraction - the Cadillac Ranch. This can be seen from I-40. Since it had rained the night before, we trudged through the mud to get up close to these cars. There was another couple from Alaska also there. Talked about traveling and various sights we have all seen.

 

 

  Our last day in Amarillo, we went to the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The park is located about 20 miles outside Amarillo and the drive is all paved (16 miles). The hiking trails are well marked but were closed due to the previous rain. According to the brochure, this is the second largest canyon in the U.S. Thumper got some well needed exercise. 

  On the way back, noticed Bar Z Winery. Well the "so called road" all dirt was being levelled out. The gentleman at winery told me I can go inside; seems there was going to be a wedding there I guess tomorrow, so they were busy with that. After being ignored, we just left!!!

road to vineyard. Hope they got it leveled out.

 

Oklahoma Stockyards - Monday and Tuesdays the cattle auctions are open to the public. This is a first for Skip and I. Met a cattle farmer from Arkansas and he gave us some insight into the business. He brings his cattle here from Arkansas because he gets a better price. I have never seen so many cattle and cows!!!

I was looking for the one who would be my dinner one day. Inside they brought the cattle in (about 25 at a time); did not understand the auctioneer but saw hands or sheet of paper being held up. I made sure my hands stayed on my lap. It didn't take much to figure we were the tourists in the group. Was told hedge funds also participate as cattle is a commodity. Anyway, was fun to watch.

In the center of town

  The next day we went to the OKC Museum of Art  They have pieces by Dale Chihuly. He works in glass. Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut has one of his pieces. It is a nice museum. Just Skip's size. We were out of there in record time. Skip just shakes his head at what is called "art".

 

 

Skip underneath exhibit

 

  We took a ride into town to see the "Centennial Land Run Monuments".  Saw an article on the internet. That is how we found it. Lot of fun. Huge bronzes set in a park.
 

 

In the morning, leave for Amarillo, Texas.

The next day we drove into town to the OKC National Memorial and Museum. This is an interactive museum that takes you through that day - April 19, 1995 - when a bomb went off in the Murrah Building and the days and weeks that followed the rescue and recovery, the capturing of McVeigh, etc and the investigation, evidence and trial.

this is location of road in front of Murrah building before bomb

McVeigh car

represents all that died (in rows of 9 to represent each floor of building)

McVeigh was executed on June 11, 2001 and Nichols is servicing life without parole.  Powerful memorial.

 

Greetings -
      Finally have some time to start catching up. Driving from Missouri to Oklahoma City, the road is flat, passed farmlands and casinos. Thumper kept a lookout

 Spending four days in Oklahoma City. Skip and I did not know what to expect.  We found there was lots to see and explore.  We thought we would see more about the native American Indians outside the Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. We also did not stop anywhere else in the state. Picked up this postcard which shows the Tribes and Nations Oklahoma and Indian Territories.

  We stayed at Twin Fountains RV Park. Very nice. Good size sites. They also have a salon on the premises which is a rarity.
      Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum was terrific. The massive sculpture inside entitled "The End of the Trail" speaks volumes.

The art work is breathtaking as well as the handmade saddles (no photography allowed). There is also an area highlighting the American Rodeo; everyday life in the west, and an area dedicated to the cowboy of movies, song, and television. Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gene Autry, Tom Mix, Hoppalong Cassidy, etc.

Robert Redford's costume in "Electric Horseman"

     
 

Instead of I-40W, we turned off on I-64W in Virginia. Beautiful interstate.

Foggy area!

beautiful colors

Went through mountains in West Virginia and New River Gorge area (lot of kayaking here). At end of day, we pulled into Ashland-Huntington KOA in Grayson, KY. Nice campground - not many trees - good for satellite and baseball games for Skip to keep up with.

Since I-64W goes through St. Louis, MO, we decided to visit our niece, Meghan and husband Brent (both teachers in the St. Louis area).
    Long drive across Kentucky (horse farms all around the Lexington area), Indiana (flat - with lots of farms). Thank you farmers!!!! Illinois also had lots of farms and open spaces.

Nano

    Meghan had an early day, we Skip, Thumper and I went to their home. Thumper got to meet her cousin, Nano. While we had Chinese take out for lunch - Thumper, Spencer and Nano had their doggie ice cream cups. Each dog went to their own area, and licked away.

Spencer

Thumper

Afterwards, walked over to dog park. It was great to see Meghan; Brent was teaching.

    Left in the morning, heading across Missouri. Late afternoon we pulled into Joplin, MO for the night. Lots of highway! Glad Skip enjoys driving. In the morning, on our way to Oklahoma City.

Finally, back on the road!!!  Thumper was first in the motor home. Was going to make sure she was not left behind.

We left Sunday morning heading west to Taos, New Mexico. At over 7,000 mile elevation, we want to get there before the snow does. The traffic was light on the major interstates through Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Only traffic backup we were in was on I-81 just before  Harrisburg, PA. It seems  horse got out of its trailer and was walking on the highway. Thank God - everyone was able to stop included truckers. Owner caught horse in the median. Was definitely a different way to hold up traffic.

Afterwards, continued into Virginia and spent the night in the Shenandoah Valley KOA campground.

Shenendoah Valley KOA campground

Glad I had made lasagna. We were both tired and in bed early. Back on the road in the morning.