Monday February 3, 2014

We got up early again this morning, around 5:30. That is about as late as the cats allow us to sleep as they must have their spoonful of moist food at the crack of dawn!

The weather was clear and it felt fairly warm considering the posted temperature was 13 degrees. The wind was not blowing so was pretty nice. We got everything closed up and ready to leave in record time and needed fuel. Larry decided to drive back about 4 miles to a truck stop that we saw coming into town last night. We fueled up and grabbed breakfast and left the truck stop the way we came in. We were driving for about 15 or 20 miles before realizing we were on the wrong route! In order to find an area to turn around, we probably drove another 3 or 4 miles. We headed back toward Joplin and found Rt 44. So our early morning start ended up being a lot later due to our sightseeing tour around the Joplin area.

We drove all day and the weather stayed nice. The sun was out off and we did not have snow which was a very good thing. We got to Amarillo, TX around 3:30 and decided to try a new RV Park. We normally stay at a small park called Overnight RV. We found a really nice park named Amarillo Ranch RV Park which was about 4 miles beyond where we normally stay. When Larry registered, the desk clerk told us we should try out The Big Texan Steakhouse. We knew about the place from previous trips through Amarillo but we have never eaten there. They advertise a 72 oz steak and if you can eat it as well as the sides of a potato and salad within an hour, your dinner is free. If you don't finish it, the cost of your meal is $72. We decided to have the desk clerk make us a reservation for 6:30. The steakhouse sends a car out to pick you up and then returns you to your residence.

We both showered and dressed and were ready when a big Cadillac with a huge pair of steer horns on the hood pulled up to the motor home. The guy jumped out and opened the door for us just like in the movies!!! He drove us to the steakhouse and during the ride gave us the history of the place. It once sat on Route 66 but when the road was closed, they moved to a place in Amarillo. They have the restaurant, a motel with a swimming pool shaped like the state of Texas, and horse stables for people traveling with their horses.

The restaurant itself has two bars, a gift shop, and an area where they house a rattler snake for viewing--like I would walk within 50 feet of it!! Snakes freak me out to the point of nightmares! They also had a fudge shop in the restaurant as well as live entertainment. When we arrived, they seated us right away. We looked over the menu and each ordered steak, Larry got a sirloin and I ordered a petite fillet. The service was very good and friendly but when they brought our salad, it looked as though some of the vegetables had been frozen. It was ok but not the best. When our steaks came and I cut into mine for the first taste, I was amazed at how tender and favorable it was. I am not a real steak lover but I have never had a steak this good. Larry's was very good as well but we shared a taste of each others steak and his was nothing like mine. I will truly say I have never had a steak so wonderful. The rest of the meal was just so so but I would return just for the steak.

The entertainment consisted of two old men, one played guitar and sang, the other came equipped with hearing aids and oxygen tubes in his nose and he played the fiddle. As we were eating our meal, the two older guys came to our table to sing. There was another younger man who played the bass but he was obviously on break when they came to our table. The guy who sang didn't do too bad a job but we asked for a couple of songs and I'm pretty sure he didn't know all the words so made up his own. Ha!

As we were finishing our meal, the waitress told us that they had two people that were going to do the 72 oz steak challenge. They have a table placed on a riser in the middle of the restaurant where they sit when they do the challenge. The waitress also told us that if you order the 72 oz steak without doing the challenge, the price is $200 rather than $72. WOW! I know I don't like steak that well! We stayed around for awhile to see that the challengers were a guy and gal probably in their mid 30's. Don't know if they did it or not as we left after they started eating. We looked around the place for awhile and then went out for our ride back to the RV Park. I had a great time  having drinks with my new Mexican friend. I posted a picture of us setting in the bar enjoying each others company.


We had a good time. I told Larry I would consider this our anniversary dinner since the weather was so nasty on our anniversary we didn't go anywhere. I just wanted to clarify that so he did not think he was celebrating my birthday early. Ha!

In checking the forecast, they are calling for 1-3 inches of snow for Amarillo for tonight. Guess our luck may have just ran out for great traveling weather.