I'm gonna be in Texas a long time. Made my way 75 miles today from DeRidder, LA to Silsbee, TX. On the way I stopped in Kirbyville to have some lunch. I picked a jerky/smoked meat place that was closed on Sundays (and didn't look that prosperous M-F). Spread out my stuff on the front wall and got nicely into lunch when this older couple pulls in in a beat-up Toyota p/u. She unrolls the window and I walk over. She's trying to tell me something, and finally the guy says "we own the place". So I apologize and offer to move, and although Mrs might have liked that, Mr says I can stay. Next thing I know he comes out and wants to know if I need to use the bathroom, or want anything to eat... "This is a restaraunt, you know". So out of the blue he starts telling me that he was the town drunk for 30 years (a working drunk though...). He went to rehab this summer for 3 months and has been sober since June. Can I pick 'em or what?
Temp is 52 at the campground in Silsbee. Rain showers tonight, and rainy over the next 2 days, but not as cold. We'll see what I can do with that.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
That's right, you're not from Texas...
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Hi Carl,
ReplyDeleteI threw a comment your way about a number of people that I know in Austin and Midland, if your path is taking you thru either of those places. Don't know if you would have seen it, as it was attached to an older post of yours.
If it is in keeping with the mindset of your journey, I am more than happy to provide contact info for some folks who I know would open their homes to you enroute.
Let me know if you are so inclined. If not...By God I used to love biking in Texas. Big horizons in all directions...Enjoy.
Widge
Hi Widge,
ReplyDeleteI did see your comment and miraculously was able to respond tonight (black magic, I guess). Anyway, I really appreciate your offer. My route does take me either around or through Austin. I have some other contacts I will talk with tomorrow and hopefully do a little birding with. Depending on how long (if at all) I spend with them, I may or may not go into Austin. I'll probably be in the Austin area in +/- 1 week. I'll know better in a couple of days how things are shaping up. I'm thinking that unless I pedal like crazy I may not make San Diego before I have to retiurn, so I might as well enjoy myself as much as I can. If you could drop me an e-mail at anderso.carl@gmail.com and let me know if you think your Austin friends would be around in that timeframe it would be great. Once again, thanks Widge, it is really nice of you to offer to make the connection for me.
Best,
Carl
Carl,
ReplyDeleteI spent a few months in Austin a few...ok... over a decade ago. But, I really enjoyed my time in the city. Hope you get a chance to spend some time there and hope it's as enjoyable for you as it was for me. Enjoy the long haul through Texas. Everything's bigger there. Have a steak if you can force yourelf. The best, steak of my life was in Austin. If not, they probably do Soy steaks pretty well too...can't say for sure.
Mark
Missed you Sunday...Step 2. Next weekend Gove Hill for Ted and me. We'll have to make a point to go up there together soon. Maybe March.
ReplyDeleteSnow all afternoon but only an inch or two, except in the "higher elevations". I'm sure Bolton got 30 inches, Stowe 36 and Killington 60". Maybe they exagerated a bit????? I spent all day putting lights on A cHRISTMES TREE at Severance Corners for SDI...a 30' tree with 115 strings of lights (maybe I exagerated a bit). Try 18 strings. In spite of the fact it was snowing and cold and damp, I enjoyed it immensely: manlift harnesses, lanyards, extension cords, stepladders...right up my alley! We finished at 7:00 pm and it was beautiful!
Enjoy Texas! Hope you like oil well pumps!
Loveya,
Bill
Well, I don't know if I'll have a steak, Mark, but so far the whole state smells like BBQ. Turns out my other contacts are actually near Austin too, so I might end up there...
ReplyDeleteBill, glad to hear you've got a little Xmas spirit going, even if it is macho style. You'ld fit right in down here my boy... everyone drives a pickup, most of them have dualies on the rear (the trucks, I mean).
Austin is a vegan mecca!! :)
ReplyDeleteAha! That explains why I had a great blackbean veggieburger with avocado tonight in Bastrop (30 miles out of Austin). Any place else in Texas they'd be slappin' their knees and rollin' in the isles if I asked for one of those.
ReplyDelete