Rob's Goofy Pics.

2011-10-13T14:26:00.001-07:00

2011-10-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

2011-09-21T06:46:00.001-07:00

Driving to/from the Airport

2010-01-25T08:09:00.000-08:00

I would be a liar if I told you that are not inconveniences and hardships about living in No Man's Land. Where to just to catch a morning Southwest Airlines flight to Houston means a 5 AM wake up call and an over two hour drive to Amarillo, but I must tell you that those who are either unaccustomed or remain undisillusioned by the only noise of the wind against their windshield or the lack of passing vehicles, can be treated to a view unlike any other. A view that one could even claim to be their own, despite the evidence that others have already be there, it could be yours today and yours for as long as you wish to have it. This is my No Man's Land.

Perfection in Woodward? Maracas' Tortilla Soup is a deadly pleasure.

2010-01-19T14:16:00.001-08:00

For those of you who do not know me, there are five food groups in my life. The Burger, the Pasta, the Steakhouse, the Spicy and the never too far from my heart, Soup group. Yes, Soup is good food and isn't just a bowl of colorful liquid that is typically placed in front of your main course and for an extra charge. I am someone who will actually search out far and wide for the best soup dishes and I now present for your visual pleasure perhaps the Best Chicken Tortilla Soup on the planet. Yeah I'll make that statement, how couldn't I after dinning on this feast of flavor and texture overload.

For the past few years diners looking for great Mexican food in Woodward, OK have had to look no further than Maracas; which sits tucked away in a tiny strip mall at the intersection of 34th St and Oklahoma Ave. Known for creating fantastically flavorful and authentic dishes, I first stumbled upon this place after the closing of El Sol, another Woodward, OK Mexican food heavyweight, and quickly discovered what so many were doing before me; this place is simply one of the best in Northwest Oklahoma. From the creamy queso and homemade salsa that smells of fresh cilantro, served with crispy, lightly salted chips, to the two crispy beef tacos, served on my request with tomatoes on the side (I can hardly stand raw tomatoes), but the ultimate is the soup, hidden at #30 towards the end on the menu, it is perhaps a well forgotten afterthought. However after one look at the bowl of goodness placed before me, I feel there maybe no other way to describe it; other than a guilty pleasure and as if it were made specially for you from someone's 90 year old grandmother. The chicken is correctly seasoned and cut to bite size, but the protein is upstaged by the vegetables; who are the real stars of this elegantly colored dish. The rough cut medley includes Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, and a freshly cut whole Avocado; all married perfectly in a delectable both as rich in flavor as it is bold in color. To finish the whole thing off Maracas melts a blend of cheeses, adds crispy tortilla strips and a generous topping of just cut cilantro.

Maracas is a must for all travelers who find themselves in Woodward and in need of finding a friendly, comfortable and fabulous dining establishment. The waiter was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu and service was fast even during their lunch rush. I of course recommend the soup, but I would find it difficult to believe that there is anything on their menu that isn't given the same best effort they put on display for my enjoyment. Maracas is a No Man's Land restaurant that would survive and strive anywhere and a place that I will visit again and again.

Maracas - Woodward, OK (580) 254-3532

Mexican Food

Alcohol: Beer

Service: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 2 1/2 stars

Food: 3 1/2 stars

Price: 3 1/2 stars

Overall: 3 1/2 stars

No Man's Land review's are out of 4 stars

The Eklund Hotel

2010-01-16T15:12:00.001-08:00

Alot of response was occurring since before the creation of this blog. One of the biggest topics of conversation has been over the love for this place, The Eklund Hotel in Clayton, NM. I can assure all of you that a visit to Clayton and a stay at the Eklund is currently in the works. I appreciate the positive response towards this project and I want to encourage all of you who wish for the High Plains Traveler to visit your special event or location to please speak up. The only way this blog and concept will work is with your help.

http://www.theeklund.com/
Sent from my iPhone

Where is No Man's Land?

2010-01-14T12:36:00.001-08:00

No Man's Land

For the purposes of this blog, No Man's Land is a geographical sub-region within the US Great Plains region. It is made up of 55 counties from 5 different states (Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas). The default borders of this region are 4 highways, to the South is I-40, to the East US 183, to the North US 50, and to the West is I-25. Could this region be expanded upon? Absolutely, one could argue that the larger High Plains region which stretches from the Canadian border to the Mexican border could all be called No Man's Land or the Badlands, etc. However for this blog this described area will be known as No Man's Land.

The grouping of these counties into a sovereign sub-region is based in part through their shared economies, populations, physical geography, climate, culture and the common struggles of all being mostly isolated, sparsely populated, rural counties. Although this region is home to major metropolitans (Amarillo, TX and Pueblo, CO); both are located on the fringe of the region's borders and while they can be considered the two economic centers of the overall sub-region, they do not dictate or control the area's overall characteristics. Outside of the two metros, there is a host of micropolitian cities ranging in population from 10,000 to around 25,000 and a grouping of smaller cities with populations under 10,000, but over 2,000. However the vast majority of communities within No Man's Land are small towns with populations under 2,000, and most under 1,000.

The idea behind this tourism blog is to cast light upon these so-called "castoff counties" and give them a positive forum where their hospitality, communities, services, and culture can be evaluated and accessed by those who wish to not just "pass through", but rather explore one of the last great blank spots within the continental US. Out here you can see all of the stars at night while the coyotes really do howl. The sun sets behind the horizon not a skyscraper as time passes with dignity, not hurried along with anxious haste. The natural splendor of our canyons, gorges, lakes, mesas, grasslands, plateaus, sand dunes, and agricultural fields will astound you and make you want to take a picture to remember a landscape that time seems to have forgotten. Explorers are wanted and needed in this New West.

Optima Wildlife Management Area

2010-01-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

Once featured on NBC's The Fleecing of America as a glaring symbol of government waste. The failed Optima reservoir has found a sort of second life as a rare wetlands refuge on the high plains. As well as back roads oddity of both horrific grandeur and spectacular vistas.

The dam itself a piece of history as the last WPA project completed after numerous delays in the 1970's still stands as an odd testament to lack of oversight and understanding of an individual region's environmental conditions. The lake itself will never fill up due in part on several conditions including the lack of flow from the main water source, the Beaver River (due in some part to increased irrigation), the presence of permeable soils, and a high regional evaporation rate. The reservoir as so many other likewise projects was marketed as both a recreational and environmental (flood management, drinking water, etc.) opportunity and although there has not been a flood on the Beaver River since construction; Optima has been labeled as one of the Army Corp. of Engineers greatest failures and is used by numerous Environmental Geology Professors as an educational example of what not to do.

The now nearly hidden dam and mostly dry lakebed sits unmarked about 20 miles east of Guymon and a less than 5 mile drive, east by northeast from the town of Hardesty using US 412 and a rather peculiarly wide blacktop 2 miles outside of town. Currently the access road across the dam remains open, but due to recent talk about a damaged guardrail it's future as an opened road is in question. There are several paths one can take to gain access to the lakebed and in dry conditions a road is available (although I do not recommend you try this in anything less than a 4x4). There are numerous decaying recreational facilities still standing and some structures are highly dangerous to enter, so stay out and explore this site safe. My personal recommendation is to drive the dam access road and visit the main visitors center, get out and look around, but please be careful of debris and rattlesnakes (yes, people they are out there). Perhaps the most telling and laughable sight you will witness during your viewing of Optima is the presence of boat ramps and a sign describing the fishing opportunities for this lake that never filled up. After visiting Optima, a small cafe in Hardesty is great option for lunch or a 30 min drive to Guymon to visit the Seafood and Taco stand is a must.