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.
