Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Crossing Texas
N30 27.411' W97 50.898
I awaken to the sound of engines revving, doors clunking, sun rising and generally friendly sounding chatter. A peek out the curtains reveal my new neighbour's to be a small fleet of early morning fishing folk. Must be quite the early morning activity in these parts - most industrious. So off to an early start for once I decide to make straight for the Texas border no more than a couple of hours away. These last few miles of Louisiana out of New Orleans turn out to be the best. Tranquil streams, meditative cows, school flag day and a ride on a ferry all add to the fun.
And so to Texas. The border town is a pure delight of architectural wonders (for oil folk at least). On one side of the street you would have a quaint neighbourhood of little houses with neat gardens and on the other industrial hell. Pays to have a good set of curtains in such circumstances. Safety is not taken lightly naturally, oh no. As you will see from this picture the protective wooden palette of shielding is tied firmly in place. Most reassuring...
Texans seem to like barns for their cars, obsolete cartoon merchandising opportunities and bridges. All of which lead me to Austin, Texas. Home, as I am sure you know, of Omega's newest friend The Crossings. How could I pass through this fine state without dropping in for a nose around? I arrive as the sun is setting and proceed up the steep and winding road to the campus. I park up, introduce myself at their guest services and have a wander around. My first impression is that there's a good energetic feeling and a sense of well manicured order to it all - though I can't shake the feeling that I'm walking around a science fiction film set.
Their day pass ($20 + tax - no staff discount) seemed to be the best way to check it all out thoroughly so I decided to crash in the parking lot overnight and spend the next day here (the nice lady in guest services said it should be OK).
At last I could sleep peacefully knowing that I was in a safe space without the chance of angry bears or mad axemen visiting me as I slept. Many is the occasion over the last three weeks where I had fallen asleep with all manner of worring noises fueling my dreams.
Alas I had not accounted for Chuck the ninja like night security man. In a display of duty that would have make Jordan proud he rousted me at 1.30am and began the interrogation. Name? Why was I there? Could he see my pass? Had I asked to be there? etc etc. My pathetic excuses weren't cutting it. There was no sympathy for my plight. Last years Omega staff sticker in the van window meant nothing to him (which to be fair is about it's exact value). So for the first time on my journey so far I was evicted from my resting spot. That it should be from Omega made the irony all the more delicious.
I'll be back!
And so to Texas. The border town is a pure delight of architectural wonders (for oil folk at least). On one side of the street you would have a quaint neighbourhood of little houses with neat gardens and on the other industrial hell. Pays to have a good set of curtains in such circumstances. Safety is not taken lightly naturally, oh no. As you will see from this picture the protective wooden palette of shielding is tied firmly in place. Most reassuring...
Texans seem to like barns for their cars, obsolete cartoon merchandising opportunities and bridges. All of which lead me to Austin, Texas. Home, as I am sure you know, of Omega's newest friend The Crossings. How could I pass through this fine state without dropping in for a nose around? I arrive as the sun is setting and proceed up the steep and winding road to the campus. I park up, introduce myself at their guest services and have a wander around. My first impression is that there's a good energetic feeling and a sense of well manicured order to it all - though I can't shake the feeling that I'm walking around a science fiction film set.
Their day pass ($20 + tax - no staff discount) seemed to be the best way to check it all out thoroughly so I decided to crash in the parking lot overnight and spend the next day here (the nice lady in guest services said it should be OK).
At last I could sleep peacefully knowing that I was in a safe space without the chance of angry bears or mad axemen visiting me as I slept. Many is the occasion over the last three weeks where I had fallen asleep with all manner of worring noises fueling my dreams.
Alas I had not accounted for Chuck the ninja like night security man. In a display of duty that would have make Jordan proud he rousted me at 1.30am and began the interrogation. Name? Why was I there? Could he see my pass? Had I asked to be there? etc etc. My pathetic excuses weren't cutting it. There was no sympathy for my plight. Last years Omega staff sticker in the van window meant nothing to him (which to be fair is about it's exact value). So for the first time on my journey so far I was evicted from my resting spot. That it should be from Omega made the irony all the more delicious.
I'll be back!
andy 6:09 PM