Bengal Trailer Invades Arizona Part 1

This is part 1 of a 3 part Blog recapping the epic Bengal Trailer Trip to Arizona:

I think we all knew how miserable a 3,600 mile round trip could be but I don’t think we knew how much fun it would actually turn out.

Thursday

Everyone met at The Bengal Trailer Barn around 5:00 pm. With not much done, everyone chipped in to pack coolers, tables, and kegs. There was even a visit from Tony who wasn’t able to make the trip. He did however throw his Bengal Road Game Hat into the bus so he could be there in spirit. After a pit stop to ice everything down The Bengal Trailer was ready to hit the road. Packed with Greg, Rick, Tony, Anthony, Adam, and Kathleen the BT was off and running.

As the trip began we thought what better way to kill some time than to watch a trilogy. So we popped in the Hunger Games as we cruised past Louisville and St. Louis. However, it was talk of the McRib being back that made us make a pit stop before we got very far.

Friday

By the time Friday morning was upon us we had already made it through Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.  As we got into Oklahoma we decided we needed to experience a short drive on Route 66 if only for a minute. So we pulled off in Elk City, OK and made a quick stop at the Route 66 Museum for a photo-op.

We made it through Oklahoma and cruised our way into Texas, with one stop on our minds….The Big Texan in Amarillo. If you’ve never been there this is a MUST stop. As you pull into a gravel parking lot filled with tourists and truckers you start to see some of the things that give this place its reputation…a BIG cow statue, a BIG cowboy sign, and signs that read “Everything is bigger in Texas”. Once you walk in you see a gift shop, a candy store, an arcade shooting gallery, a bar, an oversized bear, and rocking chair to boot. As you walk to get seated you walk past THE Big Texan, a 72 oz. piece of steak that is the size of a small child. And if you eat it within an hour, you eat it for free. And if you think those kinds of challenges are only for Texans you’re wrong. Our friend Kevin has dominated the challenge in the past.

As we walked along the old wooden floors to sit at tables that match, we sit down and look around to see ourselves surrounded by animal heads plastering the wall.
We also noticed two friends on an elevated stage trying to join the club of those who have conquered the Big Texan Steak Challenge. With about 5 minutes left on the clock it was clear one person was within reach while the other looked like he was defeated about 25 minutes prior to that. A crowd gathered around the stage to cheer them on. They counted down 10, 9, 8…3, 2, 1. A large cheer erupted as the one friend beat The Big Texan. When about 15 minutes went by, we looked over at him and although he got his steak for free he looked miserable. He looked like he just ran about 3 marathons. At least he has bragging rights!

Also while we were there we were serenaded to by David Waddle, a Big Texan staple. He came by and sang Folsom Prison Blues, On the Road Again (for obvious reasons), The Gambler, and his original song The Ghost of Pancho Villa. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eckg4ull8jQ)

Also while there, there was a band we kept passing back and forth on the road that pulled into The Big Texan at the same time we did. The trouble is we had no idea who they were. We knew if only Catfish were here, our questions would be answered. Instead we had to go over and ask who they were. So Greg, with a little swagger in his step along with myself went over to their table. “So we have no idea who you guys are but can we get a picture for my brother in-law?” Greg said. It turns out they were the “psychedelic hip-hop punk rock” group the Kottonmouth Kings. They were incredibly gracious and even took a few photos with us. One even started reciting ex-Bengal’s, Ickey Woods, Boomer Esiason, etc . . . . and would only take a pic with us if I let him wear my Bengals hoodie.

After we ate our food, we ventured over for a group photo in the large rocking chair, shot at the arcade shooting gallery and walked through their gift shop. To make it official, Anthony purchased a cowboy hat to wrap up our time at the Big Texan. But we needed to get back on the road to get to Scottsdale at a decent hour.

The sun was setting and the New Mexico landscape was just stunning. You could really begin to see the change of the scenery. The feel of south west was really starting to set in.  It was here that the first hiccup of the trip happened.

While riding down a hill in New Mexico, the trailer began to swing pulling the bus with it. Adam fought the steering wheel and did everything he could just to keep the bus on the road and not lose the trailer in the process. He was successful but also cemented a few jokes being hurled his way labeling him as a bad driver. Once he got the trailer stopped we got out to take a look at the damage. In the back, everything was scattered and deep fryer oil was all over. On the outside, the sides of the trailer and the insulation were cracked and broken off where the kegs were being shifted around. A mess?…yes…A loss?…no. We packed it back up and hit the road again, not yet knowing we had one more bump in the road ahead.

It was around 2:00 am when we were about 2 hours outside of Scottsdale, comfortable beds, showers, and our final destination.

That is when the lights on the dashboard of the bus began to slowly fade. We drove for a bit longer but the fading continued and the bus began struggling. We pulled into a local bar and then moved it to a gas station down the road. While we were in the gas station the bus finally died. After a quick assessment we realized our alternator had gone out. We called AAA and found they won’t change batteries (only charge them) and wouldn’t even be able to come out to look at it for another few hours. So Greg talked to the gas station clerk and a person who the clerk knew. The generous person offered to take Greg up to a Walmart and get a new battery. The plan…change the battery and hope we can run off the battery for 2 hours.  When Greg returned, a quick change of the battery happened and we were back on the road as quick as we had left it.

However, the trip didn’t end there. We made it another hour and half and were only 30 minutes outside of Scottsdale when the new battery went down. Luckily for us, the Bengal Trailer reinforcements had already made it to the hotel.

Jack, Imholt, Ricky, and Johnny had taken an Allegiant flight earlier in the day. According to them the flight was filled with Bengals fans. During the flight, a flight attendant had gotten over the PA system to announce to all Bengals fans to tailgate with the Bengal Trailer on Sunday before the game(AWESOME). Once landed, Imholt had rented a car and met up with the Kenkels. In true Bengal Trailer fashion, they made it to the hotel, set their stuff down and went out to hit the town. Luckily for us Jack decided to be the DD.

As we were broke down on the side of the road for the second time we made numerous calls to Imholt trying to wake him up to see if he could come get us. After a night of partying in Scottsdale he was sleeping and not waking up. We finally were able to get a hold of Jack who had the rental car keys from DD’ing earlier in the night. Jack threw on his shoes. He then went to the front desk to get directions to our location printed off and headed our way but not before picking up another new battery from the store.

While we waited for Jack to arrive we had the opportunity to look up at the desert sky and see some of the best star gazing you’ll ever see. With not a cloud in the sky you could see every glimmer possible. It was impressive to say the least.

Once Jack arrived, another battery change took place and the Bengal Trailer cruised into Scottsdale!

To read part two click here