Day 9 - Texas and More...
- Paul Mullan
- Sep 27, 2017
- 2 min read
We said goodbye to Sayre in light rain and headed straight onto an old alignment right outside our motel. Parts of the road were still visible through the undergrowth so we pushed our way through for a mile or two although the overgrown and unused road soon forced us back on to a more later and drivable portion of the road.
In Shamrock at the impressive restored Conoco Gas Station we were greeted by Hazel, always eager to ensure her guests get a real sense of the past.
Next stop was the Devils Ripe Museum which is always a highlight with someone in the group. Who would have thought barbed wire could attract such interest... but it does.
Into Amarillo, the home of the Big Texan, the Rattle Snake that has sat dormant on every previous visit was very much alive as we witnessed it striking it's prey that had been conveniently placed at its disposal for a one time use.
Cadillac Ranch was Cadillac Lake... no chance of adding our artistic touch to the buried car bodies this trip, thanks to 3" of rain yesterday!
The Midpoint Cafe at Adrian provided a chance to sample Dennis' homemade pies and buy some merchandise. The Blueberry and Banana got the thumbs up... but lining up our people and the Ponies certainly cemented the halfway point of our journey across USA.
In search of Long Horn we back tracked 20 miles on the i40 to Vega and discovered Bob Middleton had one on his farm.
We scooted out on an ATV to find Big John in the middle of a pasture and lured him back to the gate with the promise of food. This was certainly a highlight for several of the team who had been on the lookout throughout the trip across Texas.
More Interstate to the state line and Glenrio, the starkest reminder of what shifting a main road can do to a community...
but then just five miles across the line in New Mexico and we find Russell's Truck Center and it's collection of immaculately preserved classic cars and gidgets and gadgets of all sorts... nothing short of top shelf.
The Blue Swallow is home for the night as you'd expect in Tucumcari, Pizza for dinner and Smors* around the fire with our hosts, Nancy and Kevin.
*toasted marshmallows, Hersey's chocolate inside two biscuits!
