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Family Encounters of the Texas Kind

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Judy
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Bill and Jerry Billingsley
After hand washing my jerseys at the church in McLean, Texas I pedaled down the brick road to Lolly’s for dinner. 

The downtown used to have a movie theatre, three womens dress shops, a grocery, several banks and motel. After the highway was routed around the town businesses started to falter. 

Lolly’s was a newer restaurant / grocery set inside one of the former dress shops. 

“How many miles you put on today,” asked David Baird. He was a muscular man with tattoos on his forearms having dinner at Lolly’s with his family and asked me to join them. 

The family encounters really make the tour special. 

Also at the table was David’s wife Candace, their two kids. 

Candace’s parents and then the grandparents, Bill and Jerry Billingsley joined in. 

Jerry was a hoot. She had rich, thick black hair and talked a lot about their busy cowboy lifestyle as they traveled to rodeos and watched their kids and grandkids compete. 

Married to Bill for 53 years Jerry said, “Couldn’t a done it without my faith.”

Uplift Capitol of the World

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Judy
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Molly McDowell was the wonderful neighbor to First Lutheran Church. She had been the janitor at the church for 30 years. 

“When I was a sophomore in high school I worked at the local bra factory,” she said. “That was a big employer for women in those days. 

Molly is 76. She was soft spoken and talked about family and McLean. 

“My grandfather, Cal Fraser, would sell eggs to the cafes in town,” she said. “That was way before the government got involved.” 

The bra factory lent itself to the town’s current handle of the “Uplift Capitol of the World.”

“I was in the cutting department,” said Molly. “The bras were cotton back then and if you were sewing you had to be fast.” 

Today the Devils Rope/Route 66 Museum is housed in the very building that used to be the bra factory. 

IN TRIBUTE: Bob Becker

By
Judy
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Today Judy Steffes is riding in tribute to Bob Becker.

If you would like me to ride in tribute of your loved one, please email a photo to [email protected] or [email protected], include the person’s name and a brief note if you like, and send your contribution securely by clicking HERE.

The entire $100 donation is tax deductible and will go toward Alzheimer’s programs at Cedar Community.

IN TRIBUTE: Pat Bohn

By
Judy
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0

Today Judy Steffes is riding in tribute to Pat Bohn, courtesy of Peg Ziegler. 

Finding my OWN rattlesnakes, thankyouverymuch!

By
Judy
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Some photos from Vega to Amarillo and into Conway, Texas. Clicked off 65 miles on Thursday. 

Thought this was an interesting because it featured the colors of the Green Bay Packers but did not say it was the Packers.

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I understand with the recent storms I will have no trouble finding my own rattlesnakes on the road. A woman from the Lutheran church in Amarillo said, “Oh they’re terrible this year!” Her comment about rattlers was similar to how we talk about mosquitoes or lake flies. 
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A look at the crazy amount of garbage people leave behind in the cornfield at this free tourist attraction along I 40. One man said they’re half empty spray cans that people leave for others. It looks horrible.

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This big guy (below) is just down the road from the Cadillac field. He’s touting the Second Amendment.

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Gas prices in Amarillo right before the July 4 holiday.
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This is Mike. I met him at a rest stop along I-40 just east of Amarillo. He was getting on his rain gear and I asked him if the headwinds were always this strong. “It’s the Panhandle,” he said. We talked a bit about the storm warnings and I thought I was in the clear because the threatening skies were definitely ahead of me. 

“But if you look here there’s another system coming up behind us,” he said pointing at the radar on his phone. “If I could fit your bike on my bike id be happy to give you a lift.”

Oh my. I had to hustle. 

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You can see the rainbow ahead and I didn’t even bother with a photo of what was behind. 

Headwinds were about 15 mph and I had 15 miles to go before I would find shelter at Loves truck stop.

That was exhausting … And the so was finding a place to stay. 

There were no churches at the intersection town of Conway. The Executive Motel wanted $69 and the Motel Cafe wanted $40. 

I asked the manager at Loves if u could throw up my tent on a piece of grass out back. “You can,” he said. “The truckers any bother you but the snakes might.”

Inviting, but no. 

The skies were really dark and the Lightning was large so I opted for Motel Cafe. 

Pam at the counter checked me in. “Oh yeah the snakes are bad this year. Matter of fact we just had one crawl up the drain,” she said as I slid my credit card across the counter. 

#allabouttheadventure

Tall Tales from Texas – Part 1

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Judy
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Rosemary and Blondie

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Judy
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My last set of photos as I passed through Tucumcari, New Mexico and crossed the Texas border.

Sharing this photo album:

Lots of old-school neon signs line the Historic Route 66 in Tucumcari

Loved the Motel Safari sign (above) with the tobacco ad
showing the “most doctors” endorsement.
The Blue Swallow Motel came highly recommended by locals.
Owners put a lot of work into the building.
“Cooper” was the greeter at the Historical Society in Tucumcari.
It was the former Central School House in 1903. In the 1930’s
it was a soup kitchen, and from 1936-37 it was a hospital.
Just one of the nuggets from the display. The writing is priceless.
Some of the photos at the Historical Society that really captured my attention.

Majorette Dorothy Aull and Twirlers Ruthie Callers Drake
and Juanite Graham from Tucumcari High School.
They were known as “The Rattlers.’
The story of outlaw Black Jack Ketchum fascinated me. It dated to 1901
and there was a lot of documentation on his “hangin’.”
According to the article in The Quay Sun:
Ketchum was very pale as he mounted the platform but showed no fear. A priest stood at his side. He declined to make a speech and merely muttered “Goodbye, please dig my grave very deep.” Ketchu mad the strange request that he be buried face down.
When the body dropped through the trap, the half-inch ropes severed his head cleanly as if a knife had cut it. Many spectators turned away in horror. Dr. Slack pronounced life extinct in five minutes. The drop of seven feet was too great for so heavy a man. 
Credited with 15 murders, 38 years of age, 6 feet in height, 200 pounds, black hair, mustache and beard, muscular and strong and a very dark complexion.
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Just a glimpse at the current temp…
Lots of opportunity to pick up a souvenir
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand…….
Obviously a snake.

I’m told to beware of snakes, especially when I step off the side of the road.
(Photos below) Taking advantage of a smidge of shade along I-40.

My Morning So Far

By
Judy
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2

Safe inside First Baptist Church. Storms should end by 9 and then I’ll get on the road.

As I wait out this strong morning storm, I’d just like to thank all the wonderful people who have helped me along the way….

Pastor Mike and his family (photo above) from First Baptist Church in Vega, Texas let this weary traveler throw a sleeping bag down at the church overnight. Such a simple thing that meant so much.

Brandon at the bike shop in Tucumcari (photo above) put a liner in my wheels to help ward off frequent punctures. He also threw in a another spare inner tube.

Paula (photo above, with me) – in charge of the fabuous History Museum in Tucumcari. She helped turn the old schoolhouse into a great collection of local artifacts and she got me connected with Gail at the Chamber of Commerce.

Gail (photo above) is from Waukesha, Wisconsin. She took me to the Economic Development Committee meeting where I was given the opportunity to share my story about the tour and Alzheimer’s. Then she set me up at a wonderful hotel for the night.

The kindness of strangers throughout this trip has been amazing.

IN TRIBUTE: Al Steffes

By
Judy
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0

Today I’m riding in honor of my dad, Al Steffes.

If you would like me to ride in tribute of your loved one, please email a photo to [email protected] or [email protected], include the person’s name and a brief note if you like, and send your contribution securely by clicking HERE.

The entire $100 donation is tax deductible and will go toward Alzheimer’s programs at Cedar Community.

Where’s Judy? Follow along on the Amazing Ride for Alzheimers!

By
Judy
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0

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