Wednesday, October 21, 2015

And now the rest of the story...
On the road two weeks ago heading into the Texas Panhandle.  A week crisscrossing the Panhandle, wi-fi less, limited cell phone connection, rain, dust storms, small towns fading into history, meeting the real individuals of the Panhandle.  This is the rest of the story.
Cotton is king in the Panhandle.  Peanuts and wild pigs run a close second.
Shorty grows peas, beans, okra, cantaloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, and sweet corn.  "Anyone who needs food can come to my garden, pick anything they need, it's all a dollar a pound."
 Gas station For Sale.  Make an offer.
Once thriving communities playing host to stories of the past. 
Deserted schools and scoreboards.
Chairs along a main street echoing laughter once heard.
The rumble of my Harley brought Dennis into the street.  "Been ridin' Harleys for over 40 years.  Come on in and sit a while.  Know anything about fixing a stuck clutch?"
Mid Way Drive Inn.  Mid way between Quitaque and Turkey, TX or New York and Los Angeles.
 Girls at the Dixie Dog Drive Inn.  Best corn dog special ever.
Gas stop at Bob's Oil Well full service.
Kickstand down at the Hotel Turkey.  Built in 1927.  Good food, good bed, good stories with the ranchers.  All the ingredients of a great American road trip.

That's the rest of the story.

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Headin' for the Panhandle
Packed the Low Rider, kickstand up, heading for the Texas Panhandle.  Early morning rain cleared to blue skies dotted with puffy clouds.  Tail wind north on I25 to Springer, NM.  From Springer following the Santa Fe Trail to Clayton, NM.  Dropped south to Dalhart, TX into the great Panhandle.  Hamburger highway to Dalhart = thousands of hamburgers on the hoof.  Spending the next 5 days zig zagging across the Texas Panhandle riding the black ribbon of highway into towns lost in history.  Working with a  Texas photographer, riding, exploring, making photographs of yesterday's way of life.  Motophoto Tour at it's best.
Gladstone, NM.  Looking for faces in the strangest places.  Gladstone Trading Post.  High on my list for Green Chili Cheese Burgers.  

Kickstand down in Dalhart.  Bagged my seat.  Rain tonight.  For all you bikers...be sure to add "key to bike" on your check list before heading out of town.

be strong, be safe, Carlan