August 4: Too Much Excitement for One Day?
Well, today wasn’t an easy day but boy was it worth it! Oven-like heat, high humidity, crosswinds, thunder, lightning, rain, cold, and the dirtiest hotel room I’ve ever stayed in, let alone heard of. But today’s ride from Ozark, Arkansas to Eureka Springs to Rogers to Amarillo, Texas included one of the top motorcycle roads in the country, my favorite food cart, an awesome steak house, and time with a great friend.
My hotel room last night was perfectly situated right off highway 23 and the well-known “Pig Trail Scenic Byway,” a 19-mile section of road that winds through the Ozark National Forest. As I headed out this morning I passed by lush green fields and meadows before entering the forested area and a rich canopy of trees. Once in the national park the road began to twist and turn and gain in elevation while at the same time providing beautiful glimpses of the mountains, valleys, and rivers. It rained heavily most of the time, making it surprisingly cold but at the same time creating a beautiful mist off of the mountains and rivers when the rain abated.
From the end of the Pig Trail, I headed west to Rogers to the Rockin’ Pig Saloon and lunch with my good friend Caitlyn Carkner. This eatery won the content for my “Favorite Bite of Summer” last year and for good reason. The Wagyu beef burger with special sauce was so moist and tasty it melted in my mouth. The bread pudding was made over several days and packed a punch with a crispy exterior, soft interior, delicious spices, and a buttery caramel dipping sauce. Wow!
After a great lunch with Caitlyn, I headed several hundred miles southwest to Amarillo, first taking toll road 412 and then interstate 40. The heat was so intense I spent much of the time thinking of the bottomless cup of iced tea I would enjoy when I got to the Big Texan Steak Ranch. The funny thing is, the last two hours the weather changed dramatically with thunder, lightning, rain, and cold cross winds. So, by the time I got to the steakhouse I ordered two large mugs of hot water instead.
I always eat at this steakhouse in Amarillo because the portions are big, the prices are reasonable, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is so festive. A roaming band will play songs on request for you and there is a running contest to see who can earn a free 72-ounce steak by eating the whole steak along with a shrimp cocktail, salad, roll, and baked potato. My dinner was wonderful and reasonably priced.
I thought the excitement for the day was over when I checked into my hotel room at 11:00pm. I had to make a tough call, though, about whether to stay given the conditions. But I have decided to overlook the dead bugs and garbage on the floor, the large stains on the furniture, someone else’s personal items left in the room, and the seedy looking characters outside. I’ve removed all the tools and spare gas from my bike, am wearing my flip flops instead of touching the ground and am praying there are no bed bugs. It’s a super cheap room, it’s late at night, and at this point I’m just going to chalk it up to another part of the adventure!
