Starting mileage 958
Ending mileage 1123
From here on I am expecting the trip to become a lot more interesting. This is the start of the July 4th weekend and I have the Texas Ranch Steak Hotel, Santa Fe with a days rest, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, Laughlin the mini Vegas and the beaches of San Diego. All a lot more scenic and less historic.
I filled up before I left Clinton and as I was finishing a squeeky voiced woman across the pumps asked where I was headed. I told her Amarillo and her face lit up as she asked me if I was a Christian. I regretably said no and she seemed dissappointed as the largest cross in the state rested in a town called Groom just outside of my destination. I told her I was a photographer and promised to stop there.
I hit the 1000 mile mark just short of Texas. As soon as I had crossed the state line the scenery took on an instant change. No longer the rolling hills and farmlands I had been used to. I was now riding through sun dried grasslands with nothing on the horizon either way. The drought I had heard of was very evident.
I followed the I40 all the way to Amarillo, 180 miles in just under 3 hours stopping for gas just once. This stop did let me cross paths with a deeply religious man. He pulled up in an old Volvo and stepped out wearing a tshirt that announced Jesus is God across the front and a verse from the bible I guess on the back. After telling me his life story whilst filling up he asked me whether I could donate $5 towards his petrol bill in the name of god. Normally I detest beggars but I guess I was feeling charitable and it makes for a little story.
Religion is so deep set in parts of the US, its such an eye opener. Along with the hundreds of McDonalds dotted along every town and freeway exit there are numurous billboards telling you to come off at the next exit and join in prayers ! I dont have a problem with it but it is rammed down your throat a lot. The hotel tv's are full of evangelist channels and readings. Blergh, just not my scene.
I finally turned off the Interstate and rode into Amarillo. The big Texan Ranch was very easy to find. I had seen billboards with directions before I had even crossed into Texas. Everything is big here, They have a huge cow outside, a huge cowboy boot by the entrance, a lot of huge cars parked up and or course a lot of huge people. The main advertising for this place is the challenge of a 72 oz (2kg) steak. You have an hour to eat it and if you succeed you will have your name forever immortalised in their book and on their website. Oh you will also get your steak for free. I say free but im sure there will be hospital bills and laxative costs. I heard one story of a guy that tried it that couldnt go to the toilet for 8 days !!!!
I settled down at the bar for the evening and ordered a 12oz steak. Ha 12oz looks so small to what everyone else was ordering but I have a figure I need to look after and this was more than enough. With the 2 free sides aswell as a pint of their finest ale I was full in a very short time.
I got speaking to a lot of people that night. One person of note was a guy with the weirdest twitch. He was eating at the bar and his right elbow kept coming up to ear height, like he was doing a chicken wing impression. You can imagine the difficulty he was having as this was his knife arm not his fork arm. He tried to cut his steak and up popped us arm as if it had a mind of its own. I tried my best to contain my laughter and had to keep looking the other way.
I met Mr Grumpy 61 year old truck driver. He swore as he was trying get served a beer. Those f*ckers got served quicker than me grumble grumble. The head barmaid instantly told him off and said any more swearing he was out. I didnt realise swearing was a problem here so I made a concious effort to not relax my tongue to much. He was mr miserable. He came home once a year and spent the rest of the time driving his truck around all the states of the US. His truck had a shower, a bed and everything he needed in his life. I cant imagine how a person can be happy being that solitary, then again look at the end result. I was relieved when some guys I had met earlier cam back and I can turn my back on grumps. I ahd a great night boozing it up with Mark and his wife Jane. I hope you guys read this as I want to say thank you for a very fun night. Buttery nipples are great shots, thankyou.
This trip is not all about the places I see but moreso about the people I meet. Genuinely nice people are making my trip a lot of fun. Texas is the 'friendly state' and my night at the Texas Ranch proved this so.
