Two-Steppin Texas

Although Louise is tempted to begin this blog with a rant about Texas roads and their idiotic design, she will spare you those details and rant about Texas in general. (Thelma is giving her the "be nice" look).

After an 8 hour trek from New Orleans to Dallas, we entered cowboy land with an unimpressed Louise and quite confused Thelma. "Where is my small, country city, with cowboys and saloons?" asked Thelma. Louise laughed. Obviously, Dallas already failed to impress one of us.

Since our concierge in New Orleans became our best friend, we figured we would ask the Days Inn lady for authentic places to eat Dallas cuisine with which she replied, "Of course. Just down the road is a Red Lobster and one stoplight further we have an Olive Garden." Now, Dallas failed to impress both.

We took matters into our own hands and found the biggest honkey tonk in the US, BILLY BOBS. With our cowgirl boots and flowered dresses, we ventured into the great unknown of Texas entertainment.

After arriving at Billy Bobs, we decided (since going out on the dance floor as a two-steppin' couple might turn a few conservative cowboy hats our way in a not so friendly way) to entertain ourselves, hence the photoshoot below.

Where have all the cowboys gone?

oh, Bull Riding! Too bad there were no bulls to ride.....RUDE.

I think we'll pass....

After our short stay in Dallas, we began our 11 hour trip to Taos, New Mexico. Below is a picture of what the first 9 hours looked like. However, we did find ways to make the time fly by...thank goodness for books on tape that spark cheesy, romantic conversations. (If you could describe, in detail, your perfect date, what would it be? This conversation lasted an hour....) If only we had a tape recorder.

Everything is bigger in Texas. For $1.39, look what someone found to eat!

While on I-40, all of a sudden, Louise shrieked and exclaimed, "Oh my goodness, we have to turn around!" Puzzled, Thelma looked around at the open road and thought Louise ate way too much cinnamon bun. But, to her astonishment, a Road Trip staple, "Cadillac Graveyard" magically appeared to their left.

We pulled over. And someone went frolicking to release a calf cramp. Remember, ELEVEN HOURS!

Vintage Cadillacs buried by an artist in the 60's and grafitied over time. Very cool!

Thanks to a Pennsylvanian, motorcyle ridin' couple, we were able to capture the first completely random road trip gem.

We made it through Texas. Most people that travel long distances in cars get quite moody and unhappy. Instead, with the first glimpse of breathtaking New Mexican mountain views, Louise glanced over at Thelma and said, "are you crying?" Thelma replied, "We are no longer in Texas and this is just so beautiful..." And then....Louise started to cry too.

"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home." John Muir