Everything is Big in Texas
Trip Start
Nov 19, 2007
1
50
217
Trip End
Ongoing
Amarillo, Texas
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Blasted through Oklahoma staying last night at a 'Flying J' truck stop. Took off this morning figuring we would find a State Park to settle into but.........temperatures hit 99 degrees so staying anywhere but in airconditioning or on a lake was OUT. Route 40 took us over many bodies of water that did not intrigue us as all the waters are muddy brown. We did some Post Office work and checked out Red Rock Canyon State Park that did have some great red rocks but no water for us to soak in while waiting out this heat wave.
The views all through Oklahoma and now Texas are fantastic!!! Texas welcomed us with a gorgeous and artsy visitor's rest center with amazing vistas. We picked up a book on CD at Cracker Barrell before striking out across Oklahoma, about Billy the Kid. The book is just too boring so we have given in and will be returning it unfinished but the information and stories about Texas and New Mexico were not lost on us. Very interesting to be in the area that this book is describing many years before.
Getting hungry and always on the "Ultimate BBQ Quest" we were lured into "Big Texan Steak Ranch Restaurant" advertising a 72 ounce steak with all the trimmings that if eaten inside an hour, you get for FREE! Otherwise you pay $72 for it! Also the signs boast "KILLER RIBS".
This restaurant is a small version of an old western town complete with hotel, bars, bank and sidewalks imprinted with branding iron logos. The restaurant is styled after a saloon with upstairs dripping with velvet and beaded stained glass lights. The downstairs is appointed with long, heavy, dark, wooden tables and carved chairs. The Balcony runs around the entire place adorned with mounted animal heads looming over the guests heads as they dine. They pulled out the stopper when they made this place. It was fun and friendly and had very decent ribs and salads. Shane's still #1 beating them in the tender, sweet and succulent categories!
The restaurant has stretch limos with horns from long horn steer attached to their hoods, ready to pick you up and take you home for free! One of the drivers ambled on over to talk 'friendly like' when Andy struck up a conversation with him. He told us about a canyon only about 30 minutes south of Amarillo that claims to be second only to The Grand Canyon! So, here we are staying in Walmarts to rest up and be ready to jump on the southern route to see his suggestion. Apparently there is RV camping and the works! I will report tomorrow!
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Comments
Fun hearing about your time in one of my stomping
I make it to Amarillo quite often to visit the copper smelter, refinery and rod line of ASARCO which was once the largest copper company in the world but has fallen from grace and is now in bankrupsy. The plant in Texas is suing its Mexican owner as they bought it and purposly drove the USA division into the ground for less than scrupulous reasons and a string of bad business decisions.
I spent 2 weeks in Amarillo years ago and the main weekend event was to visit Palo Duro Canyon. Once Hazelett hosted a users meeting there of rod producers from around the world which included a hundred of us going to the great 'America' show down in the canyon.
The last time I was at the Big Texan with some Russians last Summer the big Texas cowboy style plant manager we were with corrected my comment 'that's quite a steak' by saying 'Ouut heeer we caaull that a RAOOUST'
I will say the steak is better than the ribs in that area but that is because they favor beef over pork.
Hope you saw the Cadillac Ranch heading out of town.
Keep up the postings, love keeping up with your adventure.
Reed