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klb1122
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- Joined
- Sep 11, 2006
- Messages
- 2,531
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- Location
- Houston, TX
- First Name
- Kory
- Last Name
- Burleson
Disclaimer: It seems like most of the trip reports on this site have been about Colorado this summer. Some of this may be redundant after reading the others, but I’m going to write about it anyway. Oh, and this is going to take me a while because I have over 2,000 pics to sift through. 
Background: Dad was sure the Trippin’ Connies would not take to the road this year. This thought came from the birth of my daughter, last November. But, all I can say is, my wife is AWESOME! She certainly wasn’t jazzed about being a “single mom” for a week, but she dealt with it for me. I felt nervously unprepared as the trip approached. Between taking care of my daughter, renovating our house, and being busy at work, I really didn’t have much time to even think about the trip. Hotel reservations were made two months early, and the general routes were planned earlier in the year. But, I left changing my tires, oil & filter, and misc. checks until the final days before leaving. While putting the wheels back on the bike, I realized I must have gotten air in the rear brake line while swapping out the rear subframe. I changed this out a month prior so I could mount my left side bag, which was impossible after TC 2 without the assistance of a bungee cord and safety wire. I packed in the final hours before going to bed the night prior to leaving.
Our wolfpack expanded once again this year. We finally convinced my brother, Brett, to ride along. After selling his two bikes in the last year, the decision wasn’t too tough when my dad offered to lend him the Honda ST1300 to take the trip on. So this trip consisted of the original two Trippin’ Connies (dad and I on our 2008 Kawasaki Concours 1400s), my Uncle Randy on his Yamaha FZ1, and Brett on his loaner Honda ST1300.
Day 1 – July 24th, 2011
Houston, TX to Amarillo, TX - 595 miles
Starting mileage and MPG cleared:
The plan was to meet at Randy’s house at 5:00 am. It was going to be a tough haul for me, since he lives four houses down the street. I woke up at 4:00 am, finished packing a few final items, scarfed down some pop-tarts, kissed my wife and daughter bye, and road down the street. Dad and Brett were a few minutes early. Before taking off, Dad and I tested to see if we could hear each other via the Autocoms. I heard him, and he heard me for one split second. After that he couldn’t hear me anymore. I figured one of us had a setting off, so we just hit the road, leaving at 5:15 am.
I planned on stopping every 120 miles or so for gas. This would keep us somewhat fresh and make it about four even stops before hitting Amarillo, the night’s destination.
The first leg was uneventful and boring. Dad and I are used to talking to each other most of the time while we ride. Honestly, it was going to take away from the trip if we weren’t able to figure it out.
As to be expected, there was a huge herd of deer on the side of the road, just south of Huntsville. Everyone saw that, but I was the only one to see the single deer standing right next to the shoulder just a quarter of a mile prior. Also, it was interesting to see some of the wildfire damage to the north of Huntsville.
The first gas stop was in Centerville. While here we started testing a few things with the Autocoms. Push-To-Talk switches in the correct positions… check. Frequencies the same… check. We unplugged the Kenwood two-way radios and tested them without going through the Autocoms. Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. Nothing wrong with the Autocoms, but the Kenwoods were messed up. Dad’s would transmit to mine, but he would get nothing back from me. Good to know that these expensive radios were useless in less than two years.
Next stop was in Mansfield, after breaking off on US 287 from I-45. We’d remain on US 287 for the remainder of the day.
Ah, finally something good to take a picture of.
With each passing ranch you could see the cows trying to take cover in whatever shade they could find… next to a building, a bush, another cow. I couldn’t imagine standing out in that heat all day. I’d never make it as a cow in Texas. Third gas stop of the day was in Wichita Falls.
The last break of the day was in Childress.
We rolled into the La Quinta entrance at 3:30 pm. We were hot, and happy to be at our destination so early.
We discussed where to eat. I had hoped for Coyote Bluff Cafe, but they were closed on Sundays. We decided to give the Big Texan a try. It was definitely an interesting place. I wasn’t in the mood for a regular steak, so I got a chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and macaroni. The food was decent, but the rolls were the best part, to me at least.
Menus
It was featured on the very first episode of the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food.
“The owners Danny and Bobby Lee, say the challenge originated with their father Bob Lee. The Big Texan Steak Ranch was built next to the stockyards in Amarillo and when the work day was done the place filled up with hungry cowboys. Bob decided to have a contest to see which one could eat the most and play upon those cowboy egos.
Everyone put money in a hat and the one who ate the most got all the cash. Clever idea. However, the winner ate 4 and a half 1 pound steaks, a shrimp cocktail, a baked potato, dinner salad and a roll in under an hour. Bob Lee couldn't believe it and announced that any other person that could eat that much in his restaurant would eat for free! And the Big Texan legend was born.
Adam calls this steak "a bicycle seat of meat". And that's probably an under estimation. He goes in with a strategy and easily overtakes his competitors and leaves them in the dust. Finishing the entire steak first in about 20 minutes he moves on to the rest of the meal and finishes everything in just under 28 minutes.”
Tempting, but no one attempted the challenge while we were there.
I forgot my bathing suit at home and Randy wanted to try and find some better fitting ear buds, so we headed for Walmart as Brett and Dad went back to the hotel. Success for the bathing suit, not so much for the ear buds. Back at the hotel we jumped in the pool, which was nice and cool for being so hot outside. Later, we introduced Randy to the show My Strange Addition, which entertained us for the rest of the night.
Dad and I stayed at this same hotel two years ago and thought it was pretty decent, which is why I had us staying there on day 1 and 6. Two years of wear and tear made the hotel a little funky, but for the price it still isn’t all that bad.
More to follow.... eventually.
Background: Dad was sure the Trippin’ Connies would not take to the road this year. This thought came from the birth of my daughter, last November. But, all I can say is, my wife is AWESOME! She certainly wasn’t jazzed about being a “single mom” for a week, but she dealt with it for me. I felt nervously unprepared as the trip approached. Between taking care of my daughter, renovating our house, and being busy at work, I really didn’t have much time to even think about the trip. Hotel reservations were made two months early, and the general routes were planned earlier in the year. But, I left changing my tires, oil & filter, and misc. checks until the final days before leaving. While putting the wheels back on the bike, I realized I must have gotten air in the rear brake line while swapping out the rear subframe. I changed this out a month prior so I could mount my left side bag, which was impossible after TC 2 without the assistance of a bungee cord and safety wire. I packed in the final hours before going to bed the night prior to leaving.
Our wolfpack expanded once again this year. We finally convinced my brother, Brett, to ride along. After selling his two bikes in the last year, the decision wasn’t too tough when my dad offered to lend him the Honda ST1300 to take the trip on. So this trip consisted of the original two Trippin’ Connies (dad and I on our 2008 Kawasaki Concours 1400s), my Uncle Randy on his Yamaha FZ1, and Brett on his loaner Honda ST1300.
Day 1 – July 24th, 2011
Houston, TX to Amarillo, TX - 595 miles
Starting mileage and MPG cleared:
The plan was to meet at Randy’s house at 5:00 am. It was going to be a tough haul for me, since he lives four houses down the street. I woke up at 4:00 am, finished packing a few final items, scarfed down some pop-tarts, kissed my wife and daughter bye, and road down the street. Dad and Brett were a few minutes early. Before taking off, Dad and I tested to see if we could hear each other via the Autocoms. I heard him, and he heard me for one split second. After that he couldn’t hear me anymore. I figured one of us had a setting off, so we just hit the road, leaving at 5:15 am.
I planned on stopping every 120 miles or so for gas. This would keep us somewhat fresh and make it about four even stops before hitting Amarillo, the night’s destination.
The first leg was uneventful and boring. Dad and I are used to talking to each other most of the time while we ride. Honestly, it was going to take away from the trip if we weren’t able to figure it out.
As to be expected, there was a huge herd of deer on the side of the road, just south of Huntsville. Everyone saw that, but I was the only one to see the single deer standing right next to the shoulder just a quarter of a mile prior. Also, it was interesting to see some of the wildfire damage to the north of Huntsville.
The first gas stop was in Centerville. While here we started testing a few things with the Autocoms. Push-To-Talk switches in the correct positions… check. Frequencies the same… check. We unplugged the Kenwood two-way radios and tested them without going through the Autocoms. Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. Nothing wrong with the Autocoms, but the Kenwoods were messed up. Dad’s would transmit to mine, but he would get nothing back from me. Good to know that these expensive radios were useless in less than two years.
Next stop was in Mansfield, after breaking off on US 287 from I-45. We’d remain on US 287 for the remainder of the day.
Ah, finally something good to take a picture of.
With each passing ranch you could see the cows trying to take cover in whatever shade they could find… next to a building, a bush, another cow. I couldn’t imagine standing out in that heat all day. I’d never make it as a cow in Texas. Third gas stop of the day was in Wichita Falls.
The last break of the day was in Childress.
We rolled into the La Quinta entrance at 3:30 pm. We were hot, and happy to be at our destination so early.
We discussed where to eat. I had hoped for Coyote Bluff Cafe, but they were closed on Sundays. We decided to give the Big Texan a try. It was definitely an interesting place. I wasn’t in the mood for a regular steak, so I got a chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and macaroni. The food was decent, but the rolls were the best part, to me at least.
Menus
It was featured on the very first episode of the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food.
“The owners Danny and Bobby Lee, say the challenge originated with their father Bob Lee. The Big Texan Steak Ranch was built next to the stockyards in Amarillo and when the work day was done the place filled up with hungry cowboys. Bob decided to have a contest to see which one could eat the most and play upon those cowboy egos.
Everyone put money in a hat and the one who ate the most got all the cash. Clever idea. However, the winner ate 4 and a half 1 pound steaks, a shrimp cocktail, a baked potato, dinner salad and a roll in under an hour. Bob Lee couldn't believe it and announced that any other person that could eat that much in his restaurant would eat for free! And the Big Texan legend was born.
Adam calls this steak "a bicycle seat of meat". And that's probably an under estimation. He goes in with a strategy and easily overtakes his competitors and leaves them in the dust. Finishing the entire steak first in about 20 minutes he moves on to the rest of the meal and finishes everything in just under 28 minutes.”
Tempting, but no one attempted the challenge while we were there.
I forgot my bathing suit at home and Randy wanted to try and find some better fitting ear buds, so we headed for Walmart as Brett and Dad went back to the hotel. Success for the bathing suit, not so much for the ear buds. Back at the hotel we jumped in the pool, which was nice and cool for being so hot outside. Later, we introduced Randy to the show My Strange Addition, which entertained us for the rest of the night.
Dad and I stayed at this same hotel two years ago and thought it was pretty decent, which is why I had us staying there on day 1 and 6. Two years of wear and tear made the hotel a little funky, but for the price it still isn’t all that bad.
More to follow.... eventually.
