Lake Meredith and Alibates Flint Quarries

We spent the night in Borger, TX. It is right down the road from Lake Meredith which is a National Recreation Area. It was pretty cloudy and rainy so we couldn't see much. Apparently the water levels were at historic lows in the past decade and all recreation was pretty much closed but the water is rising again and people are starting to come back. We meandered around the shore line on our way to the Alibates Flint Quarries. We went into the visitor center right when it opened at 9am and were greeted warmly. They had a great video and a small exhibit documenting the people and geology of the area. We had a tour at 10 and the visitor center had some nice couches to wait on while we chatted with the rangers. Luckily the rain cleared out so we could still do our tour. Because the quarries are protected, the only access is through a tour. You start off in a big van that takes you up to a trailhead where you then hike a half mile up a mesa. The ranger was great and explained a lot of the edible plants, the wildlife, and the unique geology of the area that led to it being famous for its flint. There are over 700 quarries found in the area that is protected by the park service and we got to explore a couple. While you can't take anything from the tour, the visitor center does have a pile of flint that you are free to pick through and take.

We had stuck to National Park Sites the whole trip but my uncle and aunt told us we had to stop at The Big Texan in Amarillo. It is the home of the 72 oz steak challenge where if you eat a 72 oz steak in an hour then its free. Many have tried and failed but the current record holder ate THREE in TWENTY minutes! It was a 120 lb woman. I can't even fathom that. Nobody was attempting the challenge when we were there. I enjoyed a delicious buffalo burger.

The place was quite kitschy and touristy but it was a nice place to fill up before we made the drive into New Mexico. I was so excited to see the mountains looming in the distance. It has been too long since I've seen the Rockies. We made it to ABQ at 4:30 and Dad picked up his rental car and we caravaned down to Truth or Consquences. Our motel was quite cute in that in the lobby there was an old fat dog eating her dinner, in the backyard there were chickens, and in front of one of the rooms was a long term guest who was grilling his dinner outside his door. There was a nice picnic area where we sat and watched the sun set over the mountains.