DAY 91- Cadillacs, RV's, & Horses...

I decided to wake up early and get over to the famous Cadillac Ranch before the sun had risen much in the sky. I thought that it might make a more interesting photo with the angled light.  It was turning into a pretty sunrise as I drove the 2 miles that was practically a straight shot from my hotel.  I was the only one out there for all of 5 minutes. 

Photo- Cadillac Ranch with the sunrise behind it.

There was just a little gate out by the frontage road and then a dirt track that was about ¼ mile into where the ten cars were buried nose first into the Texas dirt.  The hotel clerk wasn’t lying when he said it was open 24 hours a day.  There were two spray paint cans sitting out and the other two, a cyclist and a gal in a van, asked if they were mine and then tried them to find that they were empty.  I hadn’t even been aware that you could graffiti the cars if you wanted to.  Of course, it was bring your own paint can if you did.  I just kind of marveled at why anyone would bury cars like these.    

Back at the hotel, I got ready for the day and got directions for the other places I wanted to go visit for the day.  The hotel didn’t provide a free breakfast at this one so I headed out hoping to find a place to get a cheap breakfast like Denny’s or something like that.  I ended up at the Waffle House, which is a chain in the south here that’s a bit of a dive diner but it’s a cheap breakfast.  I sat at the counter and ended up striking up a conversation with a guy from New York who was in Amarillo for business. 

It was rather funny because it seemed like he was glad to be talking to someone not from Texas.  He started in talking about how they talk slower down here and between that and the accent he keeps on having them repeat what they are saying.  He also said that they were mostly the blue collar type and he didn't fit in well with them.  Then, they kind of complain that he talks too fast too.  He went on and told me a story about how an old high school friend had passed away.  His friend had been a Dallas Football fan and wanted his ashes spread around at the stadium in Dallas.  He just got down doing that this last week with other friends.  Then, we somehow got on the subject of Donald Trump and how many wives he’s gone through and I almost laughed out loud when the guy said that Donald wasn’t very good marriage material.  I’ve heard women say stuff like that before but I never heard a guy say that before; just when you thought you had heard it all.

Photo- The outside of the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum in Amarillo.

Next, I was on down I-40 a little bit further for the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum.  The headquarters for the American Quarter Horse Association is right next door to the Hall of Fame and Museum; nice how that worked out.  As soon as I got out of my car, I’m greeted with some amazing horse statues.  I went in with limited knowledge of horses having only done my first horseback ride literally a few months ago.  I paid $5 and was directed to first go see the film.  On the way to the theater where they show a 17 minute film on continuous loop through the day, I walked through the Hall of Fame.  I will say that I did recognize some of the names and faces which rather surprised me.

Photo- The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.

While I waited for the film to restart again, I looked at some amazing horse oil paintings on the wall in the theater room.  The film was about a little girl and her horse; from there it talked about how much of our great country was built from being on the back of an American Quarter horse that has a great deal of versatility in what they can be used for.  I found it interesting because I never thought about what all that a horse could do.

Photo- A comparative of a man's lungs to a horse's lungs in the educational gallery.

Next, I went into the educational gallery area where there were fun kids interactive things to do in where you learned more about horses.  It went over the lineage of the horses and how the quarter horse came into being.  It went over the care of horses, the anatomy of horses, and possible careers in horses.  I was the BIG kid and I found that I was even possibly learning just a bit.

From there I went upstairs where there was a timeline about the history of horses from the late 1500’s up till almost present day.  I especially liked how in the timeline they would list other things that were going on in national or world history.  It kind of helped to put a historical perspective in it that made it easier to understand; at least it did for me.  I swung quickly by the gift shop, got a couple of post cards and I was off to the next place on my list.

Photo- The outside of the RV Museum.

The next place on my list was Jack Sisemore’s Traveland RV Museum.  I know this was a bit off the wall to say the least but it was partly because it was off the wall and different that I decided that I HAD to go check it out.  The RV Museum is in a back warehouse area of a current RV dealership but they are more than happy to direct you out to where you need to go and they are very nice about it too.

Photo- The Flxible that was used in the RV movie that Robin Williams was in. 

On the outside of the warehouse that houses the museum there’s a HUGE painted sign that says Jack Sisemore RV Museum.  The Sisemore Family began restoring and collecting unusual RV’s over 25 years ago and they’ve built a museum to display them.  They are several gems among the collection but the three that really stood out to me were: the 1948 Flxible that was in the movie RV in which Robin Williams was in, the 1921 Ford Lamsteed Kampkar that was ready to mount on the side of a model “T” Ford chassis which would “comfortably slept 6” (No way would 6 fit in there), and the 1946 Tear Drop Kit that I could very well find handy myself on my current trip.
 

Photo- The Lamsteed Kampkar-- It's advertised as sleeping 6 comfortably...
Where? And How?

The RV Museum was definitely built with love and a passion for the RV and it did feel like a bit of a walk into the past.  It’s open Monday through Saturday from 9AM to 5PM and is free to the public.  It’s also just a short bit off of the freeway too; which worked in nice for jumping back on the freeway and heading to Lubbock which was my next stop in Texas.

Photo- The 1946 Tear Drop Kit-- Now I could use one of these!

It was another section of flat boring drive through Texas on the way to Lubbock.  I will say this that Lubbock once I arrived was very, very easy to figure out how to find places; the streets were numbers or letters and very consistent.  I found the hotel got checked in and asked if there was a good BBQ place nearby.  All of the gals behind the counter just looked at me.  Well, I said I thought I was in Texas and might try some of you famous BBQ.  To which I heard one of the gals was a vegetarian and the other didn’t like BBQ.  Great I thought!  I think I need to rethink this asking the hotel staff where to eat.

Photo- Bigham's Smokehouse a local BBQ place in Lubbock, TX.

One of the other gals that they brought up front suggested a place nearby called Bigham’s Smokehouse which was a few blocks away.  That’s where I went after I ran my bags upstairs.  There were only two tables when I went inside this rustic wooden restaurant but there were cars going through a drive through on a regular basis.  I looked at the menu and then asked the guy behind the counter what was popular in the restaurant.  He said that the brisket was the most popular item on the menu followed by the pulled pork.  I ordered a two meat combo plate with onion rings and a drink.  I carried my full tray over to a table and ate.  The brisket was okay but I thought that the pulled pork was really the gem of this place.  But you have to consider that’s coming from a Yankee! J

DAY 6- Horseback Riding & Boat Rides...

I'm still on Whigby Island and ended up taking a bit of a different adventure for the day.  I had never been horseback riding.  I found out that there would be a family that was going out for a ride here at Wildwood Farm B&B, some for the first time too; and I thought why not?  Plus, there's a bit of a price break for more than two.  It sounded like an opportunity for me.  So after my usual morning walk with Otis and another amazing breakfast.  The highlight of this breakfast was cubed fresh watermelon with fresh mint, and feta cheese.  Yummy! I changed into my blue jeans and tennis shoes.

Photos- The pasture areas at Wildwood Bed & Breakfast.
 

I went up to the main barn after taking a few more photos of the farm.  I was a bit nervous but Lisa the instruction was very nice and inviting.  But I wasn't nearly as nervous looking as Oscar the young boy in the family that I joined.  Thank goodness they had a bit of stair step to get up onto the horse or I would've spent the whole hour trying to figure THAT out.  I had a calm horse called Vision.  Vision wasn't as tall as some that I had seen and I was glad of that.  It's always good to have a shorter distance to fall.

Photo- Oscar, one of my horse riding companion, looking a bit nervous.

Photo- Lily, Oscar's older sister, looking confident and ready.

Photo- Lily leading out her horse.

Photo- Lisa, the trainer, giving instructions to Jeanna as to proper sitting on horse. 
Note- the helpful stair step to get up on the horse.

Photo- Myself on Vision the horse.  Is that a goofy smile or what?

Lisa, the trainer held the two horses of the younger riders while Mom (Jeanna) and myself followed behind.  Jeanna's horse kept on wanting to stop to eat the fresh grass on the way along.  I was laughing because Jeanna would try to get her horse to go but it was SO much more interested in eating the salad.  I was saying," Salad bar break!"  We went along the road and up through the pasture areas towards a race track area.  We did a loop around the track then back through the pastures and up to the Happy Trail that went through the woods.  It really was a wonderful experience and I wasn't as bad as I thought I would be.  They were English saddles with out the horn on the saddle and you were supposed to sit more up right than in a western saddle I guess.  I didn't have any problems with sitting straighter and I was surprised how comfortable it was.

Photo- People fishing off the dock as I was waiting for my turn on Walt's boat tour.

Photo- Walt, Mr. Skipper for the day and looking totally at ease in his boat.

Photo- Deceptively calm looking water but with eddies and tidal pools
just under the surface under the Deception Pass Bridge.

Photo- Deception Pass Bridge as seen from across from a National Forest area path I hiked.

Later on, I met some of the wedding party.  Walt, Jean's new husband, was giving tours on his boat out by Deception Pass.  It was a bit chilly and overcast but it was still fun to be out over the water.  We went under the huge expansion bridge that spans the pass.  I asked Walt why it was called Deception Pass and he stopped the boat under the bridge and pointed out the water.  It looked deceptively calm but underneath you could see tidal pools going each and every direction.  I bet the sailors in the olden days hated coming through here.  Next he took us over to some logs that were tied together where sea otters like to hang out.  The logs are cut down, tied together and then sent out on the bays where they are eventually sent some where to be processed.  The sea otters take advantage of these little floating log islands to "sun" themselves.

Photo- Sea Otters "sunning" themselves.

DAY 3-- On Whigby Island...

I woke up around 6AM to the pure sound of silence.  It’s so peaceful here at this Wildwood FarmBed & Breakfast.   In fact, I felt like my heart rate fell just as I drove down the valley where the B&B is located.  It’s surrounded by evergreen forests and there are large fenced off areas with pastures.  Horses and a few colts are frolicking around the pastures.  It’s just amazing.

I took a walk in the morning around the B&B with Otis; an older dog that resides at the B&B.  Of course, Otis wanted me to throw his rubber squeaking toy in the shape of a female chicken with a bathing suit on.  I said okay but I throw like a girl.  He didn’t seem to mind.  After a few throws then he started leading me off on a tour of the farm.  He would lead the way and then stop.  He would take a look over his shoulder as if to say, “Well, are you coming or what?”  So I followed Otis around and he led me on a loop around some of the Pastures.  I even got to pet and talk with a couple of horses along the way.

Shortly after returning from my walk breakfast was ready.  Another AMAZING thing about the Wildwood Farms is the breakfast.  It started out with fresh ground strong coffee just the way I like it.  Then apiece of raspberry sweet bread; followed by vanilla yogurt with granola topped with fresh black berries.  Then it was a waffle (You KNOW how I LOVE my waffles!) that was served up with a homemade black berry syrup.  Also, served was breakfast potatoes and bacon.  I was a bit disappointed that my stomach wasn’t larger because it was all SO good.

About mid breakfast, as I sitting there eating and watching the horses frolic in the pasture, a fog literally rolls in.  The B&B owner told me that it was the marine layer and that’s what keeps the temperatures so mild here.  He went on to explain that it usually will “burn off” as the day goes on. It will last anywhere from an hour to 8 hours depending on the time of year.

I went on talking with the owner.  He bought the property about 18 years ago as an investment.  His daughters, all three now grown; started taking horse riding lessons.  “Well, one thing led to another and this,” he pointed out to the pastures around,” is the result.” The horse part of the farm basically breaks even at best, but it is the B&B and horse tack/clothing/gifts store that keeps things really going.  I guess that as of tomorrow evening I will not be the only guest at the B&B.  They have had most of the summer weekends this year booked solid, and I can understand.  If you are up this way and need a relaxing place to stay…this would be ideal!

Shortly after breakfast the fog lifted and I managed to get out for a bike ride.  It was a bit chilly and windy. There’s a great deal of rolling hills on the Island and a bike ride is a workout.  It was just what I needed after that breakfast.  I managed a little over 20 miles and rode north from the B&B to Dugualla Bay with some beautiful views.  It was wonderful and I only had 4 stop signs along the route that I took; almost like a biker’s paradise.