Can anyone tell me how long of a drive it is from Fort Worth to Amarillo? I have to be in the Panhandle for business this week and I'm trying to plan the best route.

Thanks.

Highway 287.....4 1/2 hours or so?

Probably closer to 5.0 to 5.5. Pretty easy drive, but pay attention to the speed limit signs as you come in and out of the little towns. Lots of them make their money from the 287 traffic.

Easy on/off gas stops:

Love's as you come into Wichita Falls from the southeast
Childress
Memphis
Clarendon

Seems like we don't have good luck with the west side of WF or Vernon.

Just going to Amarillo, or somewhere else? Any other suggestions?

And if you're thinking about the Big Texan Steak Ranch...remember, average food, above average prices.

Do they still have camels in a couple of pastures alongside 287?

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Yes. I know one of them is the Waggoner Ranch, don't know the name of the other ranch that has them on the north side of 287.

Thanks for the info guys, wasn't sure how long to account for. I travel 287 up to Vernon, this will be my first trip to Amarillo since starting my new job. I'll be in Amarillo for a day and Pampa for a day. This will probably become a regular trip for me, and I'll end up all over the Panhandle when I go. I sell pumps for oil & gas wells, so you can guess where I'll be most of the time...

love the camels! we knew we were halfway to the grandparents' house when we saw the camels.

Even if you didn't see the camels, you noticed the trees looking like mushrooms.

I always figured someone could run a kick-@$$ brush clearing business with the right combination of sheep, goats, cows and camels.

5 hours.. hw 287.

watch out for Estelline!!!! there is a cop there who is vicious!

also, have fun driving the drive. I love 287 to amarillo.

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watch out for Estelline!!!! there is a cop there who is vicious!

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If it's the same cop as a few years ago, he's not exactly vicious. Someone I know used to talk to him occasionally.

He just wants people to slow down in his town but too many big city people refuse to take small towns like Estelline serious.

He really bristles when people refer to Estelline as a speed trap. According to him, he sits out on the side of the road in plain site and idiots still drink like crazy around him. They don't need a speed trap -- they already have too many speeders just normally.

Any good local dives to stop in for a bit along that way?

Local dives? A lot of counties along the way are "dry", so you are pretty much SOL, if that's what you are looking for.

If you are looking for food, it varies. I believe it is Quanah where they have a restaurant in an old railroad depot they moved up next to 287. It started out really good, but it has been through at least one change of owner, and I don't know how it is these days.

If you have time in Wichita Falls, McBride Land & Cattle is a good steak house, a few blocks off 287 downtown.

And on the speeding: As I said in my first post: Almost all the towns along 287 strictly enforce their speed limits, so pay attention. It seems to me that Estelline, Memphis and Chillicothe are among the most heavily patrolled, but watch them all.

Best burger is at Mighty's in Claude. But only the one in Claude is good.

The Wichita Falls -- Amarillo stretch is badly in need of a BUC-EE'S, preferably in Claude or Childress.




VIDEO

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My point in all this is actually simple. I think that God allows non-Christians to make incredible things because in a sense, everything wonderful points to the most Wonderful One. Everything beautiful points to the Beautiful One. Think about this - how many times have you heard people talk about how clean Buc-ees’ bathrooms are? They’re the best! Can you believe that clean bathrooms are noteworthy? Have you ever finished watching a great movie and just been left in speechless awe? Or have you ever had a great meal and had nothing to say about it except that it was amazing? I think God allows us to have those feelings because they are essentially proof that our innate knowledge and need for something bigger than us still beats within. In a sense, I think great things and experiences are all evangelistic in that they point our hearts to the reality of God’s presence.

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BUC-EE'S testimonials

But in the meantime, you poor souls will have to make due with Love's and Allsup's.

sorry eric... didn't know he was family!

but all joking aside, i think if you are

a. referenced in a song or
b. known by all who have traveled 287 between amarillo and dallas

you are probably a police officer who is patrolling a speed trap. but thats just my two cents. i would say that chillicothe is pretty bad as well.

For Wichita Falls local places:

Casa Manana - get the red tacos.
McBride's Steakhouse
Samurai of Tokyo - hibachi
Parkway Grill - sports bar & grill
Sevi's Burrito's


Or you could just stop at an Allsup's and get a burrito. =D

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He just wants people to slow down in his town but too many big city people refuse to take small towns like Estelline serious.

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What the heck in Estelline is there to take seriously? Dude drives a nice patrol car for such a pothole of a town.

I'd sure hate to cross that main street in Estelline on foot. That could be rather dangerous.

By the way, one thing that many people don't realize is that a lot of the small town cops will call in the license plate number for every car they see that they don't recognize. They'll also routinely pull through every motel/hotel parking lot around at night and call in the plate of every car there.

Crooks thinking it is safer to avoid the main highways and take the small backroads instead end up finding themselves captured.

For example, a few years ago there was a story about the cop in Gruver at the time checking the license plates of cars coming through town and one of them came back to someone who was desperately wanted and considered extremely dangerous. He was asked to follow the guy but to make no effort to stop the car -- just keep the DPS updated on his position. When the car got on the bridge over the Candian River just north of Borger, the DPS sealed off both ends of the bridge and arrested the crook without incident.

am I the only one wondering what % ownership the sip has in that C-store

You have to stop at least once at Norman's Catfish in front of the Best Western. But not for the catfish. Go during lunch for the buffet. Chicken fried steak strips that are really just piles of meat and fried breading in a warming pan. All sorts of other tasty comfort food. Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade rolls, etc. Rumor is that there may be some salad somewhere in the dining room, but I've never noticed any.

Really, REALLY good, but your cholestorol will go up 15 points as soon as you get out of your car and step foot in the parking lot.

[This message has been edited by DeadArmadillo (edited 3/28/2009 6:52p).]

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am I the only one wondering what % ownership the sip has in that C-store

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I thought Bucee's were owned by an Ag?

i hate driving through estelline. i got a ticket there when i was a fish going home for christmas. was passing a truck and that 55 sign is on a curve so i didn't see it. the truck wasn't slowing down, but i got stopped. hate that dude. and he doesn't always park in plain sight. sometimes he's down in that rest area where you can't see him til you're on top of him.