Amarillo Texas

We left Kansas behind and drove one hour through Oklahoma arriving in Amarillo Texas at about 6 pm. Only a three hour drive. It was no coincidence. We got our new shocks put on the coach by the great guys at the Central Power Systems and Services, a Detroit Diesel Dealer in Liberal KS. They were so good and so efficient. The folks that have helped us with our problems this week have been great! I will be passing this info along to Nick Russell and all of my RVing friends. While we were getting the work done, I ventured back into town and visited a couple of things that Liberal is noted for.
The Travel Information Center and Dorothy's House, the Mid America Airplane Museum and the home of the International Pancake Day.
Having a tour guide alll to myself was fun. She was very knowlegable and fun on the tour. The museum building with they story of the Wizard of Oz was very fun! This different from the tour in Wamego KS that we took last fall. Liberal also celebrates OZtoberfest in the fall. I had a nice visit with the lady at the Visitor's Center and found the nicest Embroidered Kansas Pheasant shirt I have ever seen. They didn't have the size I need for a gift for DH (shhhhhh) I'm ordering one for him before his Kansas high school reunion in May! We kinda run out of time to tour the Air Museum and the Pancake Headquarters wasn't open, but we got a couple of pictures.
Pancake day is always ran on "Fat Tuesday" before lent. It started in 1950 and is an International Day because the race is ran both in Liberal Kansas and Olney England promptly at 11:55 am in both communities. It was a challenge to Reverend Ronald Collins, Vicar of Olney to see who could run the 415 yard course the fastest. The race is open only to adult women who perform "Housewife Duties" Runners are still required to wear a skirt and apron and run while carrying a skillet and a pancake. The pancake must be flipped at the start and the finish to show it is still there.International Pancake Day has been expanded to a 4 day festival with a little something for everyone in the fun department. Most events are sponsored by local civic organizations. This is a very unique thing to Identify a town with, sounds like a fun event and we hope it continues forever. This stopover was just a reminder that every community has interesting features, if ya just take the time to search them out! Our meal here at the Big Texas Steak House was just that. Everything is Texas sized.
I think it was the best steak I've ever had, and I've had a lot! I brought 1/2 of my whole meal home so I can experience it again!lol
After the week we've had, and the fact that their Texas Sized Parking lot was going to be our home for the night, DH decided to try one of their Texas Sized Blue Moon beers. I celebrated with a Texas Size piece of Carrot Cake!(I think I made the better choice!)
I have leftovers of that too, and I shared! We got to watch a young Gent from Deerborn Mich. take the 72 oz. Steak Challenge.The deal is, they serve you 4 1/2 lbs of steak, a salad, a baked potato and 3 fantail shrimp. If you eat the whole thing, it's free. Otherwise it's $50! H
e made it, but was miserable. I wouldn't think that would be worth it. We browsed their gift shop, watched their live "Diamondback Rattler" in an aquarium in the back, and then decided to call it a night, I slept like a baby!
Will go for a walk this morning before we take off.We were very comfortable out by the Horse hotel.
I hope we'll just have a travel day today, crossing into New Mexico and heading south past Albuquergue. Check back here, I will add more pics. We're getting ready to blast off!