Get your motor running, head out on the highway, looking for adventure in whatever comes our way....

I was born to be wild!!! We set off early so we could get to the land of Texan cowboys! Packed the car and we hit the road again. I seriously can't get over how much road kill there is here. It's like there's been a massacre on the side of the road...blood and guts everywhere. I think the animals are slightly dumb here...why would they ever think it's safe to cross the freeway, with the amount of cars that pass? They have no brains I'm telling you!!

We passed through crawley corner...yes that is home to Hannah Montana. How sad am I? Haha.
We got into the spirit of Texas and turned up the country western tunes while we were driving along. Didn't have a clue what songs they were but we were loving it.

As we entered the state we stopped at the state line to get our pictures by the welcome to Texas sign. Oh yes we were excited. I can't believe it takes 5 hours from entering Texas to get to Houston. I mean I could drive from Wales to England, in less time and that's a different country. We were driving in the same state.

We eventually got to our hostel. It was lush! We had definitely moved up in luxury standards. It was about 4pm so we got our bikinis on and went to try and catch the last bit of sun before it started to set. So about 10 minutes of it haha.

A lovely skype session took place with the Manchester sisters again just for a quick catch up. Danielle and mr Jay humphries had been talking on skype for 6 hours, he's all the way in Australia but practically living in Manchester. I think there might be a wedding on the cards soon...and I'm hoping my invite is written ready. Haha.

So we went back inside to try uploading some pictures when i got cornered by a guy called Shawn. He asked if I wanted to play monopoly with him after the weirdest conversation. I declined and said I was busy. He then slithered his way into the other room to Liz. I tried giving her a warning but it was too late she had been caught...the conversation was so bad and boring I've never wanted to shoot myself so much. If there was a gun I would have used it. Actually if I were to use it on anyone it would have been him. It took him about 10 minutes to get one sentence out...such a strange guy. If you were randomly asked 'have you tasted the water in your room yet?' as a conversation starter wouldn't you be like what??

We managed to escape after the most awkward conversation and went to have a few drinks on our balcony. Yes we even had a balcony in this hostel. I said it was plush! Then we went out to explore.  We were told by our host that it would be about a 10 minute walk to washington street , where all the bars were situated. Was it hell! The little lying torag! It took us almost 40 minutes just to find one bar, which wasn't very busy.

It was called swingers bar. At first I thought it's just a name...until we looked around, the table next to us started talking about how him and his ex wife used to be swingers. But she got too into it so he left. I mean was this conversation actually happening?

As we were leaving the waitress came over with two drinks on a tray and said 'the gentlemen at the bar bought these for you!' it was like something out of the movies. haha. Obviously we accepted them, drank them and left. We didn't even see the people that bought them for us to say thanks. Ooops!

We asked a few locals where was best to go. They said to just keep heading up the street. We did but everywhere was dead...we thought the best thing to do was head home and grab some sleep.

Nice early morning to get some sun. Had a lovely cup of tea and some brekkie and went for a nice relaxing morning by the pool. It took a while for the sun to come out from hiding but he did. We were lying down having some peace and quiet when a lady from the texas news comes out and asks us if we mind being filmed. The hostel opened just that weekend so they were doing a program on it. I'm sure we are just destined to be on television. I mean music videos, prank shows and now this. They couldn't have caught us at a worse time either...last nights makeup on, in bikinis, all sweaty. I now feel bad because we have probably lost the hostel a lot of business...oops!

The time came to set off again...we began our journey to Dallas. On the way we stopped at lake Conroe to chill for a little bit, maybe catch some sun but everyone is so god damn rich here they have made everywhere private property. Greedy b*****s how are us tourists supposed to view the lake? The answer to that is they can't. All we can do is drive around it. We did get some lovely views from the car though!

It was like a proper little road trip, stoppin at little places on the way. Montgomery was next...a beautiful little town...and I'm not exaggerating by little. It's population... 429. Crazy right? We had a little wander and got ourselves a nice beverage before continuing to Dallas.

We got to stop at the Sam Houston statue which Liz had said was 10ft tall.  She got that slightly wrong, just slightly he was infact 65 ft tall. Haha. He is one big fellow.

Liz was texting our Texan tour guide, Jack who was basically telling us all the cool places to stop. He told us to take a break at Huntsville the land of students. It's where he went to Uni so we took his word for it that it was good.  It was another lovely little town. You could definitely tell that we were back in studentville, and it felt grrrrrrreat to be back! Well as I'm sure you've guessed already instead of continuing to Dallas we booked ourselves into a motel and decided to party with the American students. We are still students at heart so it would have been rude not to join them! I'm sure you all agree?

For some reason we thought it was Thursday... The lovely girl( and by that i mean b****) that served us in the restaurant told us it was Thursday night and they are the best student nights. We are travelling, and have completely lost track of days and time so we believed her. And why wouldn't we, why would anyone just lie to us. That's mainly why we booked the motel and stayed. It was only until we got out and there were a handful of people we realised it was in fact Wednesday. Aren't we just a pair of dweebs. Well I blame the girl from the restaurant she got us all excited for nothing and probably just laughed at us as we left.

Well there were lots of laughs in the room before going to check out the nightlife at the jolly fox. We had our vodka at the ready, the tunes were playing and Liz was singing/rapping to me her rendition of Bruno mars and eminem - lighters. One word...hilarious. Don't worry guys it's all on camera and will be up for all to see very soon.

As it turned out we had a pretty fun night. We got chatting to the barman and he just fed us shots all night. We showed him our claim to fame. The news clip we had filmed earlier that day had been aired on the news. We are more famous here in the US than we ever were at home. Watch out for these faces they we will be on your screens back at home very soon. After lots of shots and two dollar beers we decided to make our way back.

I was craving some pizza when I got in. No exaggeration here, I rang about 20 different pizza numbers trying to find one that was open, and would you believe I had absolutely no luck! I was determined but the reality was I was getting no where. It was just jot meant to be so after at least 30 minutes of trying I admitted defeat and went to sleep.

During the night I apparently had a conversation with Liz. She was asking me where the car keys were so she could get some savlon for her numerous bites, and my replies were about cakes and football. What? I cannot recall such a conversation but yes she caught it all on film. Embarassaing for me. The funny thing was I knew exactly where the car keys were but didn't tell her. She was asking me for about 20 minutes until she just went in my bag to get them. Haha.

The morning came around quickly and we continued on our journey up to Dallas. Of course a Mcdonalds came first, I didn't get my pizza so a McDonalds had to be it's replacement. I needed something I was starved!

The car ride journeys are still fun but one thing American radio stations need to learn are the words over played!! My god... If I hear britney spears or adele one more time...I think I'll scream. I mean there's playing a song a couple of times and there's 20 times in one trip. That's just annoying right? There's millions of songs out there...play them once in a while. I think even adele would be sick of the words 'someone like you' by now.

Well we finally got to our little hostel where the sign on the door says call to check in and also says parking around the back. Our instincts told us to just drive around. Maybe there was a back entrance. Our instincts were...incorrect. We drove around three times. We stopped at what we thought was the back and Liz pretty much tried breaking in until a huge dog started barking so she ran back to the car. It's safe to say that was not our hostel and she was trying to break into a locals property. Oopsie...we just drove back around to the front. We decided to just knock the door and hope someone was in.

We were in luck...A british guy came to the door with a huge blue Mohawk, his name is Noel.  He kindly phoned to check us in but the owner wasn't there at the time. It didn't take him long to get back and oh my gosh he is the most adorable man! His name is Carlos and he made us feel right at home. He gave us a small tour of the place although we had already had a wander and he told us on a Thursday night he takes his guests to a Saloon for some country dance lessons. We were instantly excited. Country dancing with some cowboys was why we were here in Texas haha.

Before getting ready we went for some unlimited pasta bowls in the olive tree and then got our dancing gear on and went to the Red River Saloon. We had some pre dance lessons with carlos just before leaving. It took us a little while but we got it in the end.  

The saloon was just as I imagined. Cowboys welcoming you at the door and lots of people learning the two step on the dancefloor. They even had a disco saddle instead of a disco ball. It was a new experience to say the least. We got a few drinks in and were straight on the dancefloor. Carlos took my hand and lead me to the dancefloor. I was a bit nervous but got really into it by the end and was loving it. I wasn't very good haha but I was enjoying that's all that matters.

Two French guys who were also staying at our hostel joined us a bit later. I would tell you their names but I can't remember them for the life of me. We know one as tight blue shorts, because that's what he was wearing when we met and the other...well. He told me a story about his name, apparently it means 'take a bath'...I'll remember the story forever but just can't remember the name. He said his parents were strange and just named him that...I just said that's maybe where he was conceived.  He looked up to think about it...he wasn't too impressed with what I'd said. Oops! I can't think of any other reason why he would be named after a bath though, can you?

Both me and Liz had a dance with the two. Not the greatest of dancers I have to say but they were up for a laugh and had pretty whitty sense of humours...I found that slightly strange for the French. I didn't think they had a sense of humour!

We all had our goes on the mechanical bull a bit later on in the night. I'm becoming a right little cowgirl with the new dance moves and the bull riding(which I will be a pro at by the end of our travels!) All I need now is a pair of boots, a texas accent and a cowboy on my arm, that's me sorted then!

After some tiring bull riding we were taken back to the hostel for a few hours. We were going to have a few free drinks there before going back to the saloon a bit later. The ride back a huge storm passed and lightening bolts lit the sky. It was Incredible. I was taking photos all the way home whilst being entertained by the French guys. They believed us when we told them we believed highly in christianity and that we stuck to all the rules of it. One replied with that's good then I don't have to cheat on my girlfriend now. Haha. A bit full of himself don't ya think?

A few more drinks went down nicely and before we knew it, it was time to go back to the saloon for the balloon drop. Now this is apparently a Thursday night tradition for the club. There are about 100 balloons in a net above a bar filled with $1 bills, $50's and $100's at a certain time all the balloons fall and the girls...yes ONLY girls get to pop them and keep the cash. Me and Liz were at the ready a long time before they dropped, but all the women knew when it was coming and all pushed their way in front...couldn't they just give us a chance? We were blatantly tourists! Well they were like vultures popping and grabbing! It was crazy. We weren't fans to be honest. I got 2 dollars though. So I am now two dollars richer than before haha. They say every penny counts!

We lost the motivation to be out after the balloon popping so Carlos, the darling that he is took us all home. I was up for a while watching family guy and chatting to the French guys for a while before I hit the sack and went off to dreamland.

We had a busy day ahead of us. So we were up nice and early...well after a slight lie in and we caught the train...a double decker train to the state fair of Texas. The train ride was quite amusing. A guy, pretty sure he was drunk, followed us onto our train and stood next to us pretending to be on the phone to a friend telling him stories about his adventurous day. He was soooo obviously faking the phone call, he kept stopping to talk to other people then re starting the conversation whilst looking at us to make sure we were listening. No idea why he wanted us to listen it was a pretty boring story. It turns out another guy was listening and told him he was on the wrong train haha. So he got off at the next stop. Serves him right for not paying attention and following us.

The excitement hit as soon as we reached the state fair! It was going to be a good day, I could feel it in my bones! I stupidly went and asked one of the coca cola ladies were to buy our tickets. She looked at me stupidly and pointed at the big booth with 'tickets' written massively on it that was right in front of me. I didn't feel stupid at all...haha.

Walking around it reminded me so much of an Eisteddfod at home, but instead of singing and dancing competitions they had goat and cattle competitions. So weird but awesome at the same time. We saw so much...a dog show which had frisby catching dogs, a bird show(slight dejavu of Orlando), lots of animals at the petting zoo. I now think I have more pictures of animals than of us on my camera. I've seen enough animals on this trip to last a lifetime. I went to have a stare off with a camel at one point which was quite entertaining. We watched some horse training and got a picture on a tractor...how cool are we? Then took a wander around the fun fair...loads of cool rides and funfair games. We tried to win some prizes but failed miserably. We weren't cut out for shooting some hoops or throwing rings onto bottles. We weren't even close, I was gutted I really wanted a giant crayola crayon pillow! Devastated! We got some photo strips done it was a proper best buds day out haha and it wasn't over yet. We caught the train back to get ready for our night out in Fort Worth, land of Rodeos and Billy Bobs saloon.

The journey there was interesting. A guy with little soldier tattooed on his neck and a tear under his eye started chatting to us. He heard the accent and basically started talking. He said 'so what do you girls do for a living? Are you models?'...I'll go with that. Loved it. Liz decided that would be our occupation for the night, if anyone asked that was.

Fort Worth is amazing...it's a proper little country western town. Loads of saloons, cowboys riding horses in the street holding beers...it was so surreal.

We were late for the Rodeo but got our tickets and went right on  in. It's weird this was like going to watch a football game to them. Their Friday night entertainment. I loved it. Started to cheer along with the crowds for the cowboys competing for Texas. We were getting right into the spirit of things. They were riding and lassoing to catch a calf...at first I thought they were going to kill the calf once it was tied up...it freaked me out. It was all good though they let them go at the end. They were just competing for the fastest time. Between each competition the miniature cowboys and cowgirls got in the ring to chase a calf, first kid to put a ribbon on the calf wins a prize. One of the competitions was for 7 and under. 7 and under?? Chasing a calf?? A little dangerous don't ya think? We thought it was crazy but don't panic when they released the animal it was a sheep. It was quite funny watching all those children chase a sheep around in circles. Picture it...I bet you're having a giggle.

The bull riding was last event of the evening and we couldn't wait. There's just something about a cowboy in his gear riding a bull or a horse. Sooo sexy! The countdown was on 3...2...1 and they were released. It's crazy...the bull just jumps around going wild, flinging the cowboy 'round and 'round. None of them lasted longer than 8 seconds. Crazy right? I think I'll stick to the mechanical bull. I'd probably well actually definitely be off a real bull in less than a second. You need some
Muscles for that job!

After watching a few crazy cowboys we made our way over to Billy Bobs saloon. A group of texans walked with us...basically called us scrawny because we were cold. How rude! Haha. It was freezing though. The temperature had just dropped and we were wearing next to nothing.

We got in there and the place was just huge. It was like a shopping mall but instead of shops it had bars...and bars oh and more bars. The place could hold 3000 people. Crazy right? We just didn't know where to start. It was too big in there. Plus I can't get over how short we were in there...Liz who is classed as tall at home was shorter than pretty much everyone. So just think how I felt...like a right midget!

There was apparently a famous band playing but I'd never heard of them so they can't be that famous. We got chatting to some guys at a bar one of which was apparently 'the boot king', a local celebrity. People were coming up to him asking for pictures and things. Id never heard of him and neither had google(we did a bit of google stalking when we got home...as you do.) One of his friends even though we were putting on accents just to talk to this 'local celeb'. I had to show him my passport...which then he thought I'd forged. I mean who forges a passport... and secondly why the hell would I go to all that trouble to talk to somebody I had never heard of? Silly boy! We were all chatting for a few hours in there and then we called Carlos for a ride home.

I rang and rang and all I kept getting was a different guy, Ivan answering saying that Carlos was either on his way or not coming. Now this was the only number I had for him and that really wasn't an answer...if he wasn't coming what were we supposed to do? I asked Ivan was there anyway if contacting him and he just said no. Great help he was... Our only option really was to wait. Luckily Carlos came to the rescue and took us home. Ivan had also asked on the phone how much was Carlos asking for to take us home. He had offered so we though 'ah free lift, great news'. Just incase he was going to ask for money at the end me and Liz pretty much said a quick thank you an legged it to bed. I fell straight to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I was a goner.

I woke early the next morning to call the lovely Lowri to wish her a happy birthday. Gutted I couldn't be celebrating with her...I'll try finding her a cowboy and wrap him up to send as my gift :). Good plan aye! Liz rose a few hours later and we both got ready to explore Downtown Dallas.

Off to the train we went...we had an hour to wait before we became patients at the 'heart attack grill'. Yes that's right we joined their diet program. As soon as you enter waitresses dressed as nurses come to put your patient gown on. The doctors(chefs) are cooking behind the grill. They usually take your weight before eating but I'm pretty sure the scales were broken. Maybe someone that's 350stone stood on them...if you are that weight you can eat for free. It would probably be easy to get to that weight if you ate in there daily...with their quadruple bypass burgers, Full fat buttershakes, fries fried in lard and full fat coke. Their biggest burger...8000 calories alone. 8000!!! That's just insane. Whats even worse is the record for someone eating it is 2 minutes. That is one fatty I bet! Just the thought of it turned my stomach but we braved it and got 1/2 a pound burger with fries and a shake.

It wasn't long after ordering that the food came and omg it was huge and so greasy. So greasy in fact that when I took my first bite the grease just ran down my face. Ewwww! It was like climbing everest trying to finish the bloody thing. But I was determined...even if I was sick after it. 35 minutes later we had finished. It took us 35 minutes to eat the smallest burger on the menu. How the hell some dude ate the biggest one in two minutes I'll never know.

Well I have never felt so full after a meal in my life...seriously! I felt as if I had eaten about 4 elephants and they were all weighing me down.

We were struggling walking to where Kennedy was shot. Passing his memorial on the way...and I must say  if I were a dead president I would be livid with a memorial like that. Just 4 slabs of concrete in a square! What does that even mean?Shocking. We got to see where he was shot as well but to be honest we had lost all motivation to do anything because we were so full. Eating made us sleepy!

We made our way back to the train station and had an hours wait until it left. For some reason on a Saturday the trains only run every two hours...that idea definately wouldn't go down well at home. Saturday shopping days and Saturday nights are big things at home! We filled a bit of the hour having a little catch up with Aled. Yeah buddy!

Carlos, our personal chauffeur, took us to the cinema in the evening we decided to have a nice chilled evening watching the gorgeous Justin Timberlake in 'friends with benefits'.
Mr Timberlake is just mmmmmmm. He could marry me anyday. Maybe I'm one step closer now...I am climbing the celebrity ladder you know! He'll recognise my face soon enough haha.

A lovely lie in this morning. It was needed, we have a long drive to Nashville ahead ahead. The laundry has been put on...it's free here so we are taking advantage, and we are just chilling for the day before our road trip continues.

Our time in good 'ol Texas has come to an end. It's been fun playing with the cowboys...dancing the two step and riding bulls. We've had a hog-killing time!

Let's ride 'em cowboy...all the way to Tennessee!

Y'all stay classy
J.L xxx