Amarillo by Evening

After saying goodbyes, our adventure began at 8:00 this morning.  We logged 560 miles today.

We have a family tradition. For over thirty years now, whenever we go west on I-40, we stop at the Big Texan.  It brings back memories and smiles whenever we arrive.

As an example, after postponing vacation for a week because Hurricane Elena was candy-dancing in the Gulf, she turned toward Florida.  With reassurance from all the weather experts that she was headed east, we left Mississippi bright and early, making the Big Texan by nightfall.  The next morning we flipped on the Weather Channel to see Elena's progress.  During the night, she had made a 180 degree turn and was in the process of barreling over our then home in Gulfport.  Within the hour, we were headed back south to repair the damage.

Several years later, we backpacked with our sons on the Rainbow Trail outside Pagosa Springs, Colorado.  After hiking for five days, we sat on a ridge on the Continental Divide and posed a very important question.  Would you like to spend one more night on the trail and eat freeze-dried turkey tetrazzini (again!)... or should we pack up and head to the Big Texan?  In a unanimous decision, we hiked eleven miles the next day so that we could swim in the Texas-shaped pool and eat barbecue.

The Big Texan is our launch pad for adventure.  We will rest well tonight.