New Mexico to Texas Panhandle.

Well we finally got out of New Mexico and are sitting in Amarillo Texas but not sitting too easily as the area is under a severe thunderstorm warning - PING PONG SIZE HAIL - and a tornado watch - yikes!

Hopefully it wil pass us by but nevertheless we have parked close to the severe weather shelter AKA the brick built toilets.

On a lighter note it is pleasant to see cattle grazing on grass instead of dodging the cactus in the desert.

Before we left New Mexico we visited a couple of unusual attractions.

The first was Madrid where some of the film the Wild Hogs was fimed.

It is an old mining town which has become an artists colony.


This is the cafe from the film.








Anyone seen the hose and my cable ties?





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But some of the stuff was more conventional.









The second was Tinkertown museum. It is a living testimonial to a man called Ross Ward’s belief in self determination, independence and his ability to carve, paint, create and improvise out of scrap. At age 57, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and passed away November 13, 2002.


This car was one of his last pieces






Manyof his earlier pieces are animated using old washing machine motors, cranks wire and lots of ingenuity.








However this was the exibit that created some wonder in me.

What is a 35 foot wooden boat built in Malden in England doing in a shed in the desert in New Mexico USA.

The story of it's voyage to it's current resting place would be interesting.