Route 66 Day 12
by Bryan Patterson


June 28, 2015 - So we were up and raring to go, we had checked the maps and this was going to be a big ride. Now as we are about to cross into Texas y’all got to read this through with your Southern drawl, otherwise it just won’t be the same. So come on put on that Southern accent and read on.

We’re a dyslexic bunch, we’ve got Lil Missy from Southern Texas, she’s wanted for bank robbery in Mobile, sweet face but I ain’t going to cross her! Then there’s Big Bad Jerry now he’s a cattle rustler and a wanted man. Seen some wanted posters with his face on them. Pretty quiet but seems to be a nice guy. Think he was shot through both ears once. Cristian is a religious man and he’s been trying to forgive both o’ these their sins, but I don’t think it’s doing much good now. Then this fella Sidd who we picked up from the side of the road, talks posh like, but again seems like a nice guy. Now James our covered wagon driver, he says he’s from little old England, but I suspect that he’s really Hualapei tribe. Good driver though. Finally we have Mark who’s been run out of most States for trying to distill Irish whiskey and if you hadn’t guessed yes he’s from Ireland, Dublin actually. I hope that you’ve still got your Southern accent goin” on now.

So we left Tucumceri and rode on, but with trepidation, as we knew there might be a posse up ahead looking for these guys. As we rode on we found ourselves on a really rough part of Route 66, a gravel road which actually stretched for a long way. On the side of the road was a “Modern Washrooms” building which had seen betta’ days but was still standing. On we rode and back onto paved Route 66, rounding a bend we found part of the early Route 66, now literally covered over and only just visible. Soon we came to the New Mexico Texas border and crossed safely, but not before hidin’ both Lil Missy and Big Bad Jerry in the wagon. Mark decided that it would be OK as he had not actually tried to distill whiskey in Texas – YET!!

So onto the Amarillo, and I think we actually came up with a song that might make the chart, we called it “Show me the Way to Amarillo”. We all think that this might be a big hit one day. Our horses were still strong so we rode on to Amarillo and put up the tent. Now there is a Big Texan steak house close to our camp site, which we wanted to try as we had heard good things about the steaks, ribs, pork and the delicacy for the day was chicken steak. So disguised we had the big wagon with the horns on the front drive us to the Big Texan. What a place, apparently the best steaks in the country. Hey this is Texas what else would they say except maybe there ain’t nothing in life ‘cept beef and Texas. Now they have this huge challenge which is as follows. If you can eat a 72 ozs steak plus all the side dishes, potatoes, salad, shrimp cocktail and if you could finish this inside the hour it was free. The kicker was that if you couldn’t if was $72!! Now what an offer, but I have been sworn to secrecy and cannot tell you who tried and nearly made it, other than there was 23 oz of steak left. Ya might say close!! But what a great night and no posses in sight!

We had done well and had ridden most of the way on Route 66 with only a small detour to avoid meeting any Texas sheriffs. One might say a darn good satisfying ride. Well done gang.