Day 5: From Oklahoma to Texas

There's nothing like the smell of cow crap after dinner. 

Yep, we're in Texas. 

Amarillo.

We spent more time on Route 66 today, touring more small-town stops in Oklahoma and Texas. A lot of places were closed for New Year's Eve (the National Route 66 Museum, Erik OK's curiosity shop, and the Devil's Rope (barbed wire) Museum, but we did manage to find quite a few original gas stations and motels - some restored, some dilapidated. A border town we went through was completely abandoned, Texola. Between Alanreed and Groom, TX we drove on an old stretch of the Route called the "Jericho Gap," a break in the paved road that was not bypassed until the late 1930's and was feared for its car-trapping mud. My dad feared it more for the dust and quickly turned around and headed for interstate. We saw a few other Route 66 oddities - a leaning water tower (erected as a bet, to see if it would remain standing) and the tallest cross in the western hemisphere. We pulled into our destination town - Amarillo, TX - about 2:00 this afternoon. Amarillo has done a good job of maintaining the historic Route 66 area, so we stopped in a few antique shops along the old strip. My dad was thrilled, so much so that he had to go back to sit down in the motorhome; I picked up an old hat, a fuzzy deer nic-nac, and a book. Though it was a short day, we knew we had a long night with New Year's Eve ahead, so we checked into the campground about 5:00 and saved the rest of the Amarillo sights for the next day.

For our New Year's Eve outing, we chose Big Texan Steak Ranch, home of the 72 oz. steak. (If you eat it and all the sides, it's free.) The restaurant sent a longhorn limo to the campground to pick us up (as in horns on the front of the car). The restaurant was on the original Route 66 but had to be moved in the 70's when the road was torn up. Everything about it said Route 66 and Texas. Big. Overdone. Crazy. Perfect. My dad made quick friends with the owner of the gift shop, who may very well come to visit in NC and who also told us not to order the shrimp... or the chicken fried steak... or the barbeque, but that the steak was great. And it was! It was only a 6 0z., but we still couldn't each finish ours. Then after a few photos and some time in the shooting gallery, we boarded the cow limo for "home." And yes, as we exited, the smell of cow crap wafted through the night air.

Now, we wait another 45 minutes until "our" New Year, while those of you back at home are already celebrating. It's bittersweet, and I miss being there to celebrate with you all. I wish you all the best, and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Good night 2008...