Texas Tawk!

Howdy &  hello! On our recent trip to Texas we noticed a few differences in our English language.
Y'all may find this Texan Translator mighty useful if you decide to visit the Lone Star state!


Texan                                                       Aussie

Ice box                                                      Fridge
Koozie                                                      Stubbie holder
Jetty                                                          Jetski
Dock                                                         Jetty or pier
Ice chest                                                    Esky
Butt/Fanny                                                Bum
Tank                                                          Pond
Coke                                                         Soft drink
Sure'nuff                                                   Sure enough
Right quickly                                            Quickly
Over yonder                                              Over there
Nu-uh                                                         No

Texas live!

We were fortunate enough to be able to share America's important day (Independence from England); fourth of July in a memorable way. Texas (a musical romance of panhandle history) performed  in a special 50th anniversary show. This musical is set in the outdoor amphitheatre in the Palo Duro Canyon and a better way to enjoy the show, cannot be imagined as you sit under a canopy of stars and the wonder of the canyon wall makes a natural back drop for the wild west. We were entertained with humour, song and dance as the history of the area unfolded before our eyes. Intermission saw a little comedy act as different groups from the audience were welcomed. Us Greenies won the award for the people who travelled the most distance to see the show. The gold plated dinner triangle presented to us was well earned for 15000 km trip. At finale the patriotic crowd stood proud as "The Star Spangled Banner" rang out and was followed by a spectacular display of fire works to celebrate the big event.

Much appreciated Greg and Rhonda for organising this for us. Cheers!

In the world kitchen! Texas!

Rhonda's Ranch Bread!

Ingredients:

1 cup cold water & 1 cup of hot water.
3/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 tab salt
6 1/2 cups SR flour
 yeast mix :3 tabs yeast & 1/2 cup of warm water

Method:

Melt butter in hot water,
then mix in eggs,salt, sugar and cold water.
Add yeast mix and combine.
Add flour a little at a time and mix well.
Dough should be still sticky.
Put in fridge for 8 hours.
Spray muffin pan and pull a golf ball size amount from dough,
dip in oil and kneed edges under to form rolls.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Cinnamon scrolls

Use above dough recipe, roll out and spread with butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon
Roll into scrolls. optional extra to add pecans.

Ranch Ramblings!

The GPS flat lines and Highway 287 continues its promise of salvation. Each mile we traverse, the gloom thickens; for 40 miles we drive blind, scanning the horizon searching for evidence of the existence of the LX Ranch. The radio mocks us as radar love slithers across the airwaves: 'I've been driving all night my hands are wet on the wheel and a voice in my head drives my heel...' and the reality dawns upon us that we are lost! A predetermined play list seems to have been programmed into the radio, for as ZZ Top's La Grange barks about 'old Texas town' , fingers of light break through the cloud cover and illuminates a green arch that radiates the LX Ranch sign. We are here!

Greg, whose belt buckle and spurs tell the story of rodeo glories manages the ranch, whilst his beautiful wife Rhonda is a true 'Jillaroo', who cooks for the cowboys, is Head of Mathematics at Bushland Middle School and drives the school bus. We were lucky to have shared a hike to Hasavu Falls through the Grand Canyon in 2013 and as we parted they mentioned that if we ever wanted to experience true Texan hospitality then they would be happy to show Y'all.

For five amazing days we shared stories, ate, laughed and drank. At Lake Betty we fished for bass and perch with lures whilst chewing down beef jerky and sucked down Coors. We practiced roping cattle and developed evasion skills that saw us leap high into the air. We trekked, hunted and wrestled to the ground a wild bob cat as deer watched on. Quad bikes were revved as we explored across the ranch, tasting wild plums and grapes as we went. Calf testicles (mountain oysters) were cut off, skinned, rolled in spices, deep fried and consumed. The grill was arced up on numerous occasions and mammoth steaks from freshly butchered livestock sizzled away. Friends and family were introduced and s'mores were roasted over the coals. Thighs were clenched tight as we mounted work horses and went for a gallop. With ear plugs firmly screwed in, we inhaled, pulled the trigger and blew our target away.

Greg and Rhonda not only showed us life on the ranch but also some great Texan institutions. At the Cadillac Ranch we placed our tag and watched as Greg branded a Cadillac with our initials; a 72oz (2.1 Kg) steak awaited at the Big Texan and belt buckles, chaps and boots were on display at Cavenders. The wilderness of the Palo Duro Canyon acted as the backdrop to Texas, the musical and fireworks exploded above the canyon roof as 4th of July celebrations brought a memorable end to our experience.

Texas Tucker!

Like all of our travel experiences, we look forward to trying the local cuisine. Our hosts Rhonda and Greg certainly made sure we tried all things Texas. Rhonda is the ranch chef and can rustle up a mighty fine feast. Every morn, we woke to a delicious cooked breakfast; eggs, bacon, biscuits (scones to rival old Flo), cinnamon rolls and burritos. Dinners consisted of huge steaks, mountain oysters which are actually calf testicles that are deep fried into tasty little treats, beer battered bass freshly caught in Lake Betty by us truly, catalina salad, corn cob and sweet potato.

No trip to  the lone star state is complete without of visit to the themed restaurant "The Big Texan". Here you can order a 72 ounce steak (for those of you metric minded, it is the size of a Sunday roast). Now the challenge here is - if you can eat the steak, 2 bread rolls, a side salad and 2 prawn cutlets within an hour you get it all free. If not, you are up for a dollar an ounce. If your attempt is on stage, that is! For private dining you could be up for $250 for a fail.

The reigning champ is a petite woman, who managed to eat not one but three 72 ouncers with all the trimmings within the hour. The first was downed in a total of 4 minutes flat, the second in 7 minutes and the final took a total of 8 minutes. This phenomenon earned her the world record plus $5000 prize money.

 The story don't end there folks, the champ returned to the restaurant a couple of hours later for dessert! Like every thing in Texas, the desserts are big! One serve is enough to feed four and she ate 3 desserts.

Gluttony at its best!

Caprock Canyon!

Our first visit to Caprock Canyon was that of an observer.  We witnessed lightening crashing over the prairie and the cacophony of thunder rolling through the canyon.  The light refracted and splintered sending out shards of light to caress the canyon walls. Oche reds careen into a carpet of wildflowers that erupt from the soil.  Bison roam and make their presence felt, prairie dogs stand to attention and a scattering of roadrunners scamper by in a blur.

Our second visit sees us as participants. We hike the canyon floor in isolation with only nature as our companion. The azure sky frames the canyon, whilst down on the trail, prickly pear cactus, wild sunflowers, mexican hats and canyon thistles mark our progress towards Fern Cave, a 8 ml return hike that takes in the Upper Canyon and Canyon Loop trail.  In temperatures that hit 39C/103F, we walk through a scene taken straight out of a Wild West movie; dung beetles feast, lizards dance away from our footsteps and the Hoodoo geologist formation resembling a couple in a dance like pose monitors our movements from above.

The Caprock Canyon, with its cliffs and ravines provided us with a close up and personal look at geology in action.

On the road again!

A 16 hour flight (longest, long haul flight in the world), a bottle of Jameson under Brad's belt and regular visits to the toilet, to say ooroo to James set the scene for our 1000 mls road trip through the North of Texas.

Pickups, RV's and interstate truckers surge pass our compact Ford focus (road runner) as meerkat Brad strangled the steering wheel in a vice like grasp. The GPS pinged, the wireless crackled with cowboy moans about lost love , fiddles play and a Pastor preaches about the 'keys to heaven' as we sojourned down HWY 287.

Ghost towns beckoned. Names such as Turkey, Quitaque and Silverton, conjure up Bate's Motel like images. Signposted water towers, desolate main streets, RV trailer parks, lone windmills, oil pumps abandoned in fields and bizarre signs decorate the landscape.  However, the reality is always greater than fiction; as we stopped at these towns, whether for fuel,  a photo opportunity or to grab a coffee, we were greeted with much excitement, well wishes and stories that we felt like long lost kin.  Hospitality is certainly big in Texas!