When writing this travelogue, I realized what a newspaper journalist must be going through. The information has to be correct and interesting. Also, visually provocative so the reader will keep coming back for more. Yes, I do tend to be colorful and I try not to ruin a good story by sticking to the facts. So let’s get started!

Dalhart, Texas
Feed lot town … cattle pens as far as the eye can see. Sorghum and feed cornfields ready for harvesting. The enclosed cattle are literally stacked in segregated areas like cordwood. Most likely, If those ordering a Big Mac could see the knee deep muck and mounds of manure the cattle are lying / standing in just before they are led to the processing plant, they would not order one. Only that guy on the food channel, Zimmern, the one who eats exotic morsels like bats, rats etc. could justify eating beef raised under those depressing conditions.

Remember the old black and white movies of the British in India. The women carried smelling salts (ammonia capsules). Visualize an older matron in India being overcome by the stench … a male companion quickly cracks open an ampoule to restore her senses. When younger, I always tried to find out how those ampoules smelled, never did … UNTIL NOW!!!

Dalhart has to be the ammonia capsule capital of the world, courtesy of the methane producing and urinating cattle. Eyes and lungs cry out for your biological defenses to come forth and crush the foul molecules invading your body. The previous cool fresh air is no longer available … windows are quickly rolled up … air conditioning on max … accelerate past as quickly as possible. Finally, relief, reach the center of town with the perfumed animal stench far behind us.

Sands Restaurant was recommended, at the local gas station, to get a good sandwich and cup of coffee.

Remember the television show, Mel’s Diner? And, “Kiss my grits,” Flo.

Well folks … there she was/still is. Thin and lanky in her late … late … 70's. Smiling, with a “beehive” hairdo. Verbally bantering with the customers. Her voice drowning out the others.

I asked for a large coffee to go. She said, “honey, you can have anything you like. Why I’ll even carry it to the car for you.” My ruddy complexion may remind you how the girl pumping gas brought it on … but this was just the opposite … I knew this is how she got most of her tips ... yes, I gave her a good one.

Until next time .... Take care.