Zooming in on Eagle Rock (4,510 feet).

The photo above is slightly deceiving. It's actually a shot of one rock formation in front of another. If you look carefully, you can see how Crown Rock (4,615 feet) is visible in front of part of South Bluff (4,705 feet) in the center of the photo.

Ditto the photo above. In this case, Dome Rock (4,547 feet) sits in front of South Bluff (4,705 feet).

In the photo above, I'm zooming on an unnamed summit of 4,630 feet that sits beyond South Bluff.

Panorama picture #1 of 3 that shows Dome Rock, Crown Rock, and South Bluff.

Panorama picture #2 of 3 that shows part of South Bluff, Sentinel Rock, Mitchell Pass, Eagle Rock, and Scotts Bluff.

Panorama picture #3 of 3 that shows Scotts Bluff.

Three-picture panorama of the Scotts Bluff National Monument.

And so began my journey on Route 71 heading south. I was going to be on this secondary road for around 3 hours from Scottsbluff, Nebraska to Limon, Colorado. And while I had been on the southern third of this roadway last year, (from Brush to Limon in Colorado), the first two-thirds of today's adventure would be something new.

The photos above and below give a good indication as to what was happening, or more accurately, what wasn't happening. There wasn't much difference between the familiar and unfamiliar sections. Route 71 is a mostly straight, flat, and isolated two-lane highway.

I had the road all to myself today. Not only did I encounter nothing that could pass for "traffic," seeing another vehicle was a rare occurrence.

Once I reached Limon, Colorado, my journey south would continue on US Route 287. Like Route 71, traffic on Route 287 was non-existent. The photos above and below give you an idea what this road was like.

I took the photos above and below near the town of Hugo, Colorado.

Just like Route 71, this road was also mostly straight, flat, and isolated.

I took the photos above and below near the town of Wiley, Colorado about 45 minutes after I took the previous photos near Hugo.

The scenery was pretty much identical to what I had been seeing for the past 4 hours.

This was a wonderful drive ! I had the road all to myself. The only time I encountered other vehicles was when I was actually in one of the small towns scattered along the route.

Another hour passed which meant sunset would be off to the west. My camera is limited in low-light conditions. But it managed to capture the great colors in the sky.

Looking west from US Route 287 somewhere in southern Colorado between Lamar and Springfield.

I believe the wind turbines seen in the photos above are part of the Twin Buttes Wind Farm in southern Colorado.

The arrival of sunset brought about the end of my picture taking adventures for the remainder of my journey to Amarillo, Texas. But I had one more photo op planned for today at the Big Texan Steak Ranch.

The Big Texan was one of the two reasons why I selected Amarillo for my first overnight stop, (we'll get to the second reason tomorrow morning).

I've seen numerous "Top Ten Restaurants" programs on the Travel Channel over the years. Any list that pertains to steakhouses almost always includes the Big Texan.

This place is most famous for its "72 oz. Steak Challenge." If participants can finish the 72 ounce sirloin steak meal in one hour, it's free.

There may have been a time in my younger days where I could have finished a 72 ounce steak without a problem. But not any more !

The Big Texan Steak Ranch opened in 1960 north of this location along historic Route 66 which passes through Amarillo. The restaurant's giant sign quickly became a well known landmark along "The Mother Road." When Interstate 40 replaced Route 66 as the main east-west thoroughfare, the Big Texan moved as well, giant sign and all.

The Big Texan is a restaurant and motel complex located along Interstate 40 and is decorated as you would expect a roadside attraction to be.

The restaurant building features several individual rooms. The room seen in the photo above was decorated with all kinds of news articles and old pictures.

The restaurant was featured in the premier issue of Unlimited Action Adventure Good Times magazine in 1997.

The restaurant also features an old-time "shooting gallery." I remember seeing these at Hershey and Kennywood parks when I was growing up in Pennsylvania.

Players shoot at targets, each of which has a unique action when hit.

A cart of cattle horns seems appropriate here.

The first thing visitors see when entering the dining room is a table on a raised platform underneath a series of timers.

The 72 Ounce Steak Challenge is held here.

If participants can eat the full meal in one hour, it's free.

Time is kept on the wall in front of the table.

I was seated in the far corner, which was great for picture taking.

This place was decked out for the holiday season.

There is a lot going on here in terms of the decorating.

Woody from the Toy Story franchise looks out over the dining area.

Christmas decorations.

More Christmas decorations.

The restaurant has a second floor balcony that is lined with old pictures.

I believe the portrait in the picture seen above is of founder Robert J. "Bob" Lee.

Bob Lee founded the Big Texan in 1960 along "The Mother Road" US Route 66 which passed through Amarillo. The restaurant was moved to this location in the early 1970s.

Live music was featured on this night.

My camera doesn't do well in low light. But you get the idea.

A big Christmas tree was set up on one side of the dining room.