Great thing. The Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. Wow! I will admit that I wasn't expecting much. Boy was I wrong. Really well curated, unbelievable breadth of exhibits. The wagon master's favorite was the bison-skinning video and accompanying wax figures of a Native American and his bison. The peacock hunter loved a beautiful painting of a violin in one of the three art galleries. I loved the textiles exhibition, and a Georgia O'Keefe painting inspired by the colors of Palo Duro Canyon. Mom loved the early 60's Mustang driver's seat and dashboard, complete with a radio. You could push the buttons and music from the era would play. I think I heard her singing "Sugar Shack" from across the museum. Judy liked the textiles, too, but her favorite part of the visit was the oil well drill bit exhibition. The bits were enclosed in plexiglas. Next to the first bit was a sign that read "push to activate." It didn't say how long you should hold it, so Judy pushed it - for a really, really long time. Not so great thing. The bit went up and dropped into a stone base making a booming sound. Over and over and over and over. Being the mature middle aged women we are, we didn't bother any of the octogenarian museum guards. WE RAN AWAY!
Great thing. The hamburgers and fries at the Trading Post inside Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Grilled while you wait, buns toasted, fries from scratch. So tasty!
Great thing. The hour long jeep tour of the canyon. Mom, Judy, the wagon master and I booked a tour through Elkins Ranch. We hopped in a jeep named Jonathan, along with our tour guide, Lee. Lee knew so much about the geology of the canyon and the history of the area. The jeep ride was just the right amount of bumpy to make it exciting, but not scary. Pictures will come once I'm using my laptop rather than iPad to post. Near the end of the tour, Lee asked us to hold on while she gunned it to make it up a steep incline. Not so great thing - the engine died. Lee tried to restart, but she flooded the engine. We hopped out of the jeep and waited under the shade of a tiny juniper bush while Lee walked back to headquarters, drove back in a suburban, restarted the jeep, moved to the bottom of the hill, walked back up the hill, hopped into the suburban, and drove us back to the parking lot. Lee was a trooper. I told her about the pioneer women. She really is one.
Great thing. Steak dinner from the Big Texan, followed by a great show - Texas. With the backdrop of the canyon, pyrotechnics, great voices, music, dancing. Not so great thing -we didn't get to bed until after midnight, which would be fine, except that the wagon master set an alarm for 5 a.m.
So, tired and grumpy we begin our trip home. Stop in Flower Mound, then home tomorrow.
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