Texas

3 ways to know you're in Texas


Texas started off on the right foot, with first a trip through Border Patrol (who determined we were not Mexican, but took our word on our American citizenship), then the sight of a coyote crossing the road, and finally being pulled over by a real Texas highway patrol officer! He was very sneaky, parking his patrol car in the dark facing on-coming traffic, then flipping on his brights and woop-woops as we drove by. It was terrifying, but we managed to lose him for a little while. We were going not too fast, but when he caught up with us, he asked us to slow down and we did. All in all, a not un-pleasant exchange. We slept that night in the Balmorrhea State Park, a sort of suburban camping experience, with campsites laid out in rows covered by cement awnings. We set up the tent by a little stream and fell asleep to the humming and chirping of myriad bugs.

Texas Wildflowers & Peaches

The sparse and scratchy desert of West Texas gave way to lush & verdant landscapes as we drove East.



We left the interstate for the road bound for Austin, and marveled at the number and variety of wildflowers on the shoulder, as well as the sheep up ahead of us.



Peach Country was especially lovely and reminded us of Upstate New York. The peaches were delicious and tart. A stop on a country road off the highway was the perfect opportunity for the day's physical activity.




Swimming in Austin

After a couple of wrong turns and a tip from our old friend Greg Zehenter, we discovered for ourselves Austin's Barton Creek.

It was too fun and muddy to take pictures, so you'll have to use your imaginations. When we arrived at Zilker Park in Austin, the wind was so large and howling as to rip tree branches off trees and slam the car doors for you. Melanie estimated at least 35 knots and certainly gale force. We questioned the wisdom of swimming in such wind, but pressed on and soon the wind had moved on as well. Eventually we found the rope swing Greg had told us about, and after clandestinely changing into bathing suits in a public park, we each made our way into the lovely blue water. Keith remarked how much we looked like a commercial -- three beautiful girls laughing and swimming in the heart of Austin. Some turtles were discovered on a log, and a rainbow appeared overhead. We were where we were meant to be. The rope swing provided endless opportunities for fun, and prompted Melanie to let her head go underwater.
The swimming and water-treading left us famished, so we GOOG-411ed an open organic restaurant. We got an open vegetarian restaurant with organic rice.

Camping took place in a spooky and empty state park in the presence of stray cats, white lurking creatures, and more bugs than we knew could exist in one place. In the morning, it was beautiful.