November 29, 2025 (Sat.) - Cold Breezes, Cute Kittens, and Cowboy Steaks.
We didn’t do much today, both of us sleeping in—Lynn up at 9:00 (thanks to a 2 AM Benadryl dose) and Kirk at 10:15. Outside, the cold lingered in the 40s, though the wind made it feel closer to the 30s.
The day was spent tucked inside, keeping warm. Having already seen everything we wanted in town, we took it easy—chores, phone calls, movies by the fireplace. Several states back we’d picked up a pack of frozen cinnamon rolls at Walmart, but after reading the directions (which seemed endless: thaw, rise for hours, then bake), they’d been relegated to the freezer. Today, with the cold and the wind, Kirk decided to give them a try—skipping a few steps. By mid-afternoon, he set them out to rise.
Around 4 PM it warmed up a little, just above freezing temps, so we ventured out for an early dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch again (it was 44*, feels like 33*). Kirk wanted Lynn to experience the full dining room, not just the bar. Even at that hour there was a short wait—about ten minutes. We browsed the gift shop, where Kirk bought a hat band for his new cowboy hat, and wandered to the back patio, where we discovered several cats and a litter of kittens. Lynn was smitten, especially with a tiny calico, and it was hard not to scoop one up. Luckily, our table was ready before temptation won.
We landed a balcony table with a sweeping view of the restaurant. Lynn’s seat faced the stage for the famous “Free 72 oz. Steak Challenge,” where contestants attempt a 72 oz. sirloin, a roll, three fried shrimp, a baked potato, and a salad—all within an hour. Fail, and it costs $72. The spectacle is live-streamed, and during our visit five challengers took it on. The first three bowed out early; we didn’t stay long enough to see if the last two succeeded. Interestingly enough, the World Record holder is a 125# woman who finished in 4 minutes and 18 seconds!! That’s a staggering amount of food.
Our own meal was solid, though not quite Thanksgiving-level. Kirk ordered a filet, Lynn went for chicken fried steak again, and Kirk surprised her with a glittery pink-and-purple cocktail served in a cowboy boot glass (actually, it’s plastic) she got to keep. Pretty and delicious!
By 6:45 PM we were back at the RV. With freezing temps forecast, Kirk had to disconnect the water hose again, meaning early showers. The water pump worked for a while, then mysteriously stopped. Too cold to dig through storage compartments, Kirk left the troubleshooting for morning (it was 35* out, feels like 23*). Oddly enough, by 8:30 PM the pump came back to life via the RV app, even though earlier neither the app, interior touchscreen controls, nor the manual switches had worked. Strange. With that sorted, the evening wound down quietly. By then, the cinnamon rolls had risen perfectly, and Kirk baked them in the air fryer—they’ll be waiting for breakfast tomorrow.
Weather – High 48*, Low 26*. Wind 19-26 mph with 37 mph gusts. No rain. No humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – The Big Texan Steak Ranch.
Notable – The Big Texan Steak Ranch, kittens!
November 30, 2025 (Sun.) - Too Cold to Do Much.
Another quiet day, wrapped in the cold. Lynn didn’t sleep well, waking almost hourly between midnight and 6 AM before finally getting up. The weather app read 19° (feels like 16°)! Since she was awake, she put the time to use working on the blog while Kirk slept. Around 8:30, she glanced out the window toward the bathhouse and spotted a young girl outside—in shorts, a t-shirt, and flip-flops. At 20°! Not long after, a massive flock of birds passed overhead, seemingly fleeing the chill too.
Kirk surfaced around 10, and we shared the cinnamon rolls he’d baked yesterday. Not bad, considering they came from frozen. Forgot to take pics, but they look like yesterdays baked rolls but with frosting. Being Sunday, the RV park had mostly emptied out—there went our wind barrier! By 11 we headed out to refill propane again (the heaters have been working overtime) and stock up on groceries ahead of tomorrow’s travel day.
By 1 PM we were back at the RV, settling in with lunch before diving into some online Christmas shopping, a little TV, and plenty of relaxation. Lynn experimented with her new nail kit—still a work in progress, but not bad for her first solo attempt (last time in TN, Chris lent a hand). Dinner was simple in the RV, followed by dessert: leftover cake from The Big Texan Steak Ranch. Kirk enjoyed carrot cake, while Lynn had lemon—both surprisingly good even a day later. Tomorrow we’ll continue heading west, hoping the temperatures climb just enough to take the edge off the cold.
Not a lot of pics today.
Weather – High 37*, Low 17*. Wind 5-15 mph with 26 mph gusts.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing to report.
Notable – Nothing to report.
