Saturday - First Leg Home to Shamrock, TX

6 am comes early in Flagstaff.  Barely awake we filled the car with luggage and our bodies with food, attempting not to confuse the two.  Our destination for today, Shamrock, TX!!!  Eleven hours on the road, eleven hours of rapidly changing landscapes, eleven hours of comedy satellite radio.  Bless Hertz and providing satellite radio in Thor.  While the comedy was not always great, it staved away the threat of road snoozing.  The two of us have completed 75 percent of the road work of this trip and managed not to execute any Thelma and Louise type scenarios; driving into a canyon whilst clasping hands was highest on our worry list.  Having reached the flatlands of north Texas, our fears have been allayed.

Immediately prior to reaching Amarillo, TX we found ourselves drawn to yet another tourist trap and maybe the oddest one.  Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the Cadillac Ranch.  In 1974 an artist decided to plant several Cadillacs nose down on a farm.  My guess was that he assumed that with enough rain and some agricultural know how, Cadillacs would begin to sprout.  Alas, only the originals remain.  These originals have been visited by many spray paint wielding pilgrims over the past 38 years.  Now each of the vehicles is covered in a techni-colored sarcophagus, it's beautiful, a tear may have been shed.  

Passing through Groom, TX would could not help but notice a massive cross that looked almost identical to the one that is visible from Interstate 70 in Effingham.  This prompted an immediate Google search.  We not only discovered that the people of Effingham are COPYCATS but are also megalomaniacs insisting that their cross be 8 feet taller to claim biggest giantist ridiculous cross fame.  Groom, TX now brought us within an 78 miles of Shamrock.  This was either then longest 78 miles of our lives, or Shamrock was rapidly moving northeast into Oklahoma to prevent us from invading.  Erin creepily lowered her voice to a barely audible whisper and implored that Julie "Drive Faster", apparently fearing that Shamrock may overhear.  Luckily it did not move quickly enough and we successfully managed to lasso the city and park ourselves in the shockingly well appointed Holiday Inn Express.

This is the smallest town, yet nicest hotel of the trip.  The hotel is booked solid and the city has nothing to offer other than highway access and Big Vern's Steakhouse.  OK folks, let's talk steak.  We had mixed expectations. This is Texas, steak should be great. We had in fact driven past several cows, one of which we may have eaten.  We each ordered a 10 ounce strip steak and drinks in giant fishbowls, ate until our sinuses were full of beef.  There was food in front of us and we didn't want to eat it...we had become everything we've ever hated.  No sooner than they had cleared our plates, our check was pushed into our faces and we were practically escorted out the door.  However, we highly recommend Big Vern's - really great steak and the staff was actually very friendly.

After having our drink service cut off by the staff at Big Vern's, we scoured the town for an establishment that would sell us booze in order for us to cap off our night.  After visiting 3 different locations, we finally found a gas station with a beer and wine selection.  While waiting in line at Shamrock's newest travel center to smell like us after a camping trip, Julie was flattered to find a nod from one of the locals.  In her "softest" voice, she leaned in to Erin to say, "That guy behind you has my name tattooed on his neck."

So, we wrap up this trip with a bottle of gas station chardonnay sprinkled with ice cubes while finishing our last post and watching Silence of the Lambs. We can't think of a better way to end our Great Western Adventure!