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I have every intention of picking up on my previous UK blog. keep an eye on http://www.sallyingreatbritain.blogspot.com/

Journeys End

Another Amarillo Adventure comes to an end. Im finishing this off in a coffee shop in South London which is a far cry from the Panhandle. Today however, i received the most touching reminder of my trip this summer.......

.......see you next time!!!!

If you've been having peeks at this site i'd love to hear from you.

leave a comment or email me direct at vaughan_sally@hotmail.com

XIT Rodeo - Dalhart

The XIT ranch used to be the worlds biggest ranch. Contrary to popular belief, the "XIT" does not stand for 'Ten In Texas' (though it did indeed cover 10 counties). More accurately it was so named because the letters could be branded on cattle with the use of 1 simple branding iron. Despite this apparently fool-proof registered brand, rustlers eventually got wise by turning the brand mark into a five-pointed star.

On my visit to Dalhart (about 2 hours north of Amarillo), which is the seat of the XIT, I was thrilled to be given a very special gift. It may not look like much, but that little piece of barbed wire is from the original ranch fencing - over 100 years old.


Every August, the tiny town of Dalhart becomes host to one of Americas largest rodeos....
..the day i went it was the watermelon feed.....



Ready to rumble.

Claude, Texas

Half an hour southeast of Amarillo is the town of Claude (population, 1313). It is famous for 2 things...

1. having one of the last remaining fully operational 'Soda Fountains' in the region,

2. Being the location for a number of films including "Hud", staring Paul Newman. His boots are collecting dust on a shelf in the Pharmacy.

"The Man with the barbed Wire Soul...HUD!" (1963).

Traders of the Lost Arts

Ross and Co. leather crafts in Amarillo is the place for handmade boots and repairs.

Ricky Cates, distinguished craftsman, showed me around.

There are very few skilled leather craftsmen around these days.




They make boots of all shapes and sizes (well, generally the same shape i suppose!) - high tops, low tops, ropers, riders. Calf or bull leather is most common but other popular leather choices are kangaroo, ostrich, elephant, shark and top of the range - alligator.








Handmade 'off the peg' or custom made to specification.

The boots to the left are father and son. Cowboys and ranchers often have their Brand on their boots. Here L/ is the father and L// is the son.


Available in any colour.








Owner Charles Ross is 4th generation Texan and continues the family bootmaking tradition. The familly business was established in 1919. The picture he holds shows the founder family members.

Lauren Ross, aged 10, is already showing an interst in the business and puts together her own boot designs.

These Boots Were Made For......

...Walking, Working, Riding, Dancing......Whatever - they needed Fixing!!


Ricky Cates at Ross and Co. did the job.

Removed old soles and heels...





Sanded,trimmed, scratched, glued and nailed...

...stitched and waxed...









...and good as new!

Say... "Chihuly" !!

Kolbi...
Sam...

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  Tyler...
  
  
  Me...
  
  
  
  Background by Chihuly.