Exploring Our Way to Pagosa Springs: Day One

David and I left home Sunday morning, July 24, headed to Pagosa Springs. Even though we could have driven there in one VERY long day or two reasonable days of driving, we decided to break it into three days so we could explore along the way. Sunday we drove as far as Amarillo, arriving there about 4:30 PM. After checking into a hotel, we went to eat dinner at The Big Texan. We knew we wouldn't even try to eat their 72 oz. steak dinner (it's free if you can finish it off), but figured based on Carol's recommendation, that we could get a good steak dinner there. We usually avoid eating much beef, but steak certainly seemed the appropriate thing to eat in the panhandle of Texas.

After dinner, we drove to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which is southeast of Amarillo. It was still hot (upper 90's), and we endured the heat to get some views of the canyon, but it was too hot to consider hiking around.

In addition to viewing the canyon, we went to the state park to see the musical performance of "Texas." This show, which is about the settlers of the Texan panhandle in the 1800's, has been playing in the Pioneer Theatre in Palo Duro Canyon since 1966. The stage has the canyon as a backdrop. We throughly enjoyed the performance, but the heat was pretty uncomfortable, even in the shade, and even at 10:30 PM, when the performance was over.

We weren't allowed to take pictures once the show started, but I did get one shot of some cast members who sang before the play began.