Day 15: Texas Hell and Day 16: Texas Shuffle

Yesterday we crossed the Texas state line.  Now we are in the panhandle of Texas.  So far it has not been our favorite state.  High heat, heavy winds, and a flat undulating long long long road to Amarillo.  The long day on Saturday already had us pretty wiped out but yesterday pretty much fried everyone.  We are now in a new time zone so on top of a long day we lost an hour and most people got in after 5:30 pm.  You would just look ahead to see the road baking in the sun, whipped by the wind and the horizon that you could never reach.

Once we reached Amarillo, our hotel was at the famous Big Texan, which is a hotel and steakhouse in quintessential Texan style.  The steakhouse claim to fame is that your steak is free if you can eat their 72 oz ribeye with 2 side dishes, in one hour.  We actually watched a 26 year old accomplish this.....I chose to pay for my 6 oz filet.  Didn't take the challenge.  I could barely eat all of that.

Today was only 93 miles from Amarillo to Shamrock Texas.  We all rode pretty casually and the wind was gentler but ever present today.  Much of the day followed the old Route 66 and we even had lunch and visited the famous Route 66 Devils Rope Museum in McClean, TX.   (I learned today that Devils Rope is barbed wire)

Shamrock is a hot but proud little town.  Jeanine and I coming from Fresno are probably the most immune to the high temps.  It has been a little humid but the wind feels cool and that is something we don't really get in Fresno during the summer.  The cycling folks from the Northeast and cooler climates are roasting.  Jeanine and I took off for a spin around the town and did some sightseeing after we got in and the rest of the group thought we were pretty crazy.  It was probably about 96 degrees and felt fine to us. 

Tomorrow should also be a little easier.  105 miles, 2,500ft climbing and we will cross into Oklahoma.  Yee Haw!

Nothing exciting to see.  Flat terrain, open land, telephone poles.  And pacelines were the key to survival!

Our final destination in Amarillo;  The Big Texan:  Home Sweet Home on the Range

Leaving the hotel this morning.  Again, I can't emphasize enough the monotony of the terrain.

 

Grain Elevators.  You see them from miles away because they are the only thing vertical besides telephone poles.

Shamrock.  This restored Route 66 gas station was featured in the movie Cars.  And the water tower below is the tallest water tower in the great state of Texas!

Hope you all are surviving the summer heat.  I heard Fresno is breaking heat extreme records....it could always be worse.  I guess I should be glad I am not riding all day in the Central Valley.

I appreciate hearing from you and thanks for the words of encouragement.  We are past the half-way mark and it feels pretty good.

Love to all,

Lori

 

 

 

 

 

---

What's for dinner tonight? Find quick and easy dinner ideas for any occasion.