Road Trip Across America 2021 (Part 4) Texas!

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

The Road Trip Across America (in pandemic, post divorce) continues through Texas.

May 5 – Long drive to Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. https://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm Dad so excited to have me see it. He went when he was 10 with Grandma Erlene (would’ve been her birthday today), Uncle Gary, and Lola (my Great Grandmother)! The Rogue and I wandered underground for an hour. Amazing nature. Then ate at the Cactus Cafe (Rogue’s nickname).

Midland, Texas

Long drive in the middle of oil fields to nowhere. Construction. Stressful drive.

Rusty Bucket BBQ on train tracks. Brisket and chicken and green beans. Small room tonight at La Quinta Inn. Rogue and I getting along after long day.

San Angelo, Texas

May 6 – Made it to Grandma Erlene’s hometown! Loved our cute hotel in the heart of old downtown. Went shopping at Eggemeyers General Store https://discoversanangelo.com/listing/eggemeyers-general-store/ and ate appetizers at Miss Hattie’s (former brothel) http://www.misshattiesrestaurant.com/ then stumbled into sports bar with bizarre corn hole tournament at Whiskey Richards. Then games in our hotel – pool, air hockey wild match, arcade games. So much fun “playing”. One of our highlights on the road.

Grandma’s Hometown, Cemetery

Next morning I found the “Great Greats” graves at the local cemetery with the help of Adam the groundskeeper. Quite the quest. Also Grandma’s high school. Felt her presence. Could imagine her there in the heart of Texas. I miss that fiery spirit, with the twinkle in her eyes, her Cinco de Mayo birthday when we’d always share a few margaritas.

Grandma with my dad and uncle

Grandma Erlene

Grandma

Great Grandma Lola “Mama Granny” & Great Great Grandma (!) with me

Lola and parents

Brady, Texas

May 7 On the drive to Austin went through a couple of small cute towns. Lunch (wings) in Brady. Very old fashioned. Truly another world in the Heart of Texas.

Austin, Texas

Hyatt House Downtown Austin. Nice enough but location horrible, like Skid Row in every direction. Very disappointing first opinion of the city. Not what we expected. Walked Sixth Street. Just overall dirty, and the homeless had completely taken over during Covid with tent cities. Two weeks here.

To be continued in Part 5!