Our RV Adventures

Jan and I headed out about 1pm for some touristy things, but our first stop was the Cummins Diesel place right across the Interstate from us. In one of those ‘Doh’ moments, I figured that they would have the green antifreeze I needed if anyone would.

And they did have it, and the lady brought me out the 2 gallons I wanted, and was starting to ring me up when I noticed this.

I told the lady that, no, I wanted diesel antifreeze, not auto antifreeze. She then smiled and turned the jug around and I saw this.

Apparently since I last bought antifreeze for the rig, about two years ago, things have changed and they now make just one antifreeze for both. So it’s probable that I was looking at the right antifreeze before, but didn’t read the back of the jug. Oh well. Live and learn. I’ll still probably drain my green and replace it with red this winter.

Next, Jan and I headed about 10 miles west of town to visit Cadillac Ranch.

Funded by a local millionaire who owned the property, it was constructed in 1974 as an art project, and then moved further west in 1997. The cars are periodically repainted and visitors are encouraged to add their own artwork.

And as you can see, they do it very well.

Heading back into town, our next stop was the Traveland RV  Museum.

Part of a large RV dealership, it displays many examples from the early days of RV’s.

Here’s the prototype Itasca, serial #1, from 1975.

This is a 1953 Fleetwood, from the first year they built them.

This is a 1923 Kamp Kar, one of only a very few left.

This is an Airstream, used my Wally Byam, founder of Airstream, to travel the world in the 40’s and 50’s.

And this 1948 Flxible was used in the movie “RV” with Robin Williams. A really beautiful coach.

And lastly, a very rare Harley Davidson bicycle, and one of only two lefthand sidecar bikes still in existence.

 I didn’t even cover half of the RV’s here, so check it out when you’re in Amarillo. It’s free.

Our next stop was out by the airport where we visited the Texas Air & Space Museum. I wasn’t really expecting a lot since I knew they were just getting it off the ground. But what I wasn’t expecting to run into an old friend.

This is one of four Grumman Gulfstream II’s that NASA reconfigured to act as a Shuttle Landing Aircraft (STA). And it’s one of two of the four that I worked on at Ellington Field near Johnson Space Center when I was with NASA.

The left seat is configured with Space Shuttle controls and displays, and by approaching the landing strip with the main gear extended and the engines in reverse thrust, it simulates the Shuttle approach glide angle, i.e. the glide angle of a falling brick.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get a shot of the telemetry gear I installed and maintained without standing in one of the seats, which I didn’t think they’d appreciate.

It’s always nice to run into an old friend, especially so unexpectedly. It’ll be interesting to check back in a couple of years and see what’s new.

Our final stop for the day was for dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch, home of the 72oz Steak Challenge.

We last ate here in 2010 and definitely wanted to come back, but not to try the challenge. Just for a good steak.

The 72oz Steak Challenge has been around since the 60’s and is still going strong today. If you can eat a 72oz steak, a shrimp cocktail, a baked potato, a salad, and a roll, you get the steak free. Otherwise it costs you $72.00.

Here are the rules

The 72oz Steak Rules

Meal consists of: Shrimp Cocktail, Baked Potato, Salad, with Roll, Butter, and of course the 72 oz. Steak

1. Entire meal must be completed in one hour. If any of the meal is not consumed (swallowed)…YOU LOSE!
2. Before the time starts, you will be allowed to cut into the steak, and take one bite. If the steak tastes good and is cooked to your satisfaction, we will start the time upon your acceptable approval. The time will not stop, and the contest is on, so make SURE before you say “yes.”
3. Once you have started you are not allowed to stand up, leave your table, or have anyone else TOUCH the meal.
4. You will be disqualified if anyone assists you in cutting, preparing or eating of your meal. This is YOUR contest.
5. You don’t have to eat the fat, but we will judge this.
6. Should you become ill, the contest is over… YOU LOSE! (Please use the container provided as necessary.)
7. You are required to pay the full amount up front; if you win we will refund 100%.
8. You must sit at a table that we assign.
9. If you do not win the steak challenge, you are welcome to take the leftovers with you.
10. No consumption or sharing of the leftovers is allowed in the restaurant once the contest is over.
11. If you fail to complete the challenge, you must pay the full $72 dollars.

The table you sit at for the challenge is up on a raised stage and looks like this.

Two guys were about 30 minutes into a challenge when we got there and I was able to hook my Galaxy Tab into their WiFi and watch it from across the room. Unfortunately they need a better camera.

As it turned out, one of the guys won and got his name up on the board and his meal free. The second guy finished, but not before the one hour was up.

I got the 18oz Ribeye,

and Jan got a 20oz New York Strip. She wanted to have enough leftovers to take home for sandwiches. Both steaks were juicy and tender, and because they were grilled over an open flame, the edges were nicely charred.

For dessert we got a slice of their Carrot Cake to go.

Yes, a slice of their Carrot Cake fills up a standard take home container. We’ll probably get 3 servings each out of this.

That was about it for today. Tomorrow we’ve got a 313 mile run to Pauls Valley, OK to spend a few days visiting with our son-in-law Lowell’s parent’s Sonja and Lendel.

Really looking forward to it.

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Thought for the Day:

“So, women… a mistake? Or did he do it to us on purpose?” – Jack (Jack Nicholson) in The Witches of Eastwick

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