Everything is Bigger in Texas

Day 19, and we're headed for Texas. We had the Cadillac Garden, Texas Road TV, and two fabulous meals to fill our day. At 6:30 am, it was only 57 degrees. Kind of chilly for July 5th, but we figured it would get a little warmer as the day progressed.




We passed more black lava, on both sides of Route 40, left over from the eruption of Mount Malpaiso between 1065 and 1200 AD. There was also some road construction and a tractor trailer rolled off the edge of the new pavement and onto the adjacent dirt road near Tucumcari. There was no ambulance, so we think the driver was not injured.

Lunch was supposed to be at Golden Corral. But when you're planning to have supper at one of the 10 Best Pig-Out Places, according to the Travel Channel, it's important to arrive hungry. So we went to Denny's, and instead of getting fries on the side, I got veggies. It could make all the difference between being in the clean-plate club and.... not being in the clean plate club.

Crossing the state line into Texas, the time changed to Central Time. The Verizon phones changed before the AT&T did. The sky is so gigantic out west that we could see weather on all sides for miles around. Once again, as two years before, we would probably be approaching Amarillo in a T&L storm. But maybe not.

At home we have trash companies named "Waste Management" and "BFI". In Texas they have "Waste Wranglers". And they have lots and lots of cattle, but we did not see even one Texas Longhorn. We did see the Cadillacs, but were not able to stop. Pulling over for photos when the speed limit is 75 mph is not advised.

Our next stop - The Big Texan! Steak as far as the eye can see! We were seated close to the platform where the table for the contestant sits (stands?). If you think you can finish off a baked potato, salad, and 72 ounce steak in one hour, it's yours for free. The webcam remains fixed on that table. There was a family dining at the table next to us, and judging from their conversation, they were on the phone with someone who could actually see them on line. Bonnie and Clyde tried calling the kids back home to try the same thing, but were not successful. No matter. It was a good meal in a big dining hall with tables close together, and servers in western garb. It was a good time. After we ate, we walked around the store for a bit, and Bonnie and I got some fudge. What's better than fudge after a steak dinner? No one attempted the 72 ounce steak, but we did discuss sharing one, giving us each 18 ounces. 18 ounces would be a huge steak, and there are people that eat 72. I don't know how they do it. You can't tell me that they train for a 72 ounce steak by eating lettuce.

The Big Texan has an extra service for its customers. They provide limo service to and from the local hotels in old Cadillacs with longhorn hood ornaments. Nice, but they're no Grand Marquis.